MATHS IN MINING
Acknowledgements
Queensland Resources Council (QRC) would like to acknowledge Thiess Pty Ltd, and
in particular Jack Pippenger, for the information contained in the following
PowerPoint.
Overview
Mathematics is integral to the mining industry – used daily in many areas of the
mining operation.
The next few slides detail just a few of the uses of Math in operating a successful
mine.
Geology
Math used constantly in Geology:
•Exploratory drilling finds the coal.
• Volumes calculated based on material thickness and average hole separation.
• Coal reserves calculated using coal volumes and material density.
• Quality and washability requires extensive math including calculus.
• Math expressions (algebra) also used to
predict faults and other geologic strata.
Surveying
Math used in surveying:
• Establish mine boundaries
• Mark drill holes
• Construction design
• Track actual work done.
Pit Design
Math used in Pit Design to establish safe and cost effective operating conditions:
• Highwall and lowwall angles based on material conditions (Requires Trig,
Geometry and Calculus)
• Actual mining volumes require Trig. and Algebra.
• Trig. And Geometry also used for
detailed design work.
Completed
Strip
Drill and Blast
Math used in drill and blast design:
• For calculating spacing between holes.
• Volume of explosives in holes
• Powder factors.
Equipment Scheduling
Math used in Equipment Scheduling: Activity Unit Quantity
• Determine productivity (‘000)
Truck/Excavator – Prime BCM 11,157
• Volumes or Tonnes moved Waste
• Hours of operation required Cast – Prime Waste BCM 794
Dozer – Prime Waste BCM 610
• Labour requirements
Dragline - Prime Waste BCM 7,072
• Cost of production. Total – Prime Waste BCM 19,632
Dragline - Rehab Waste BCM 3,718
Dragline - Total Waste BCM 15,303
Blasting – Waste BCM 16,110
Blasting – Coal BCM 0
Drilled Metres M 217
Coal Mined ROM t 6,587
Coal Produced PTE 5,169
Role of Computers
Computers have provided significant improvements in use of Mathematics in
mining:
• Computerised modelling
• Volume calculation
• Equipment scheduling
• Costing.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O
Resource Pit Strip 25-Jun-08 - 25-Jul-08 - 25-Aug-08 - 25-Sep-08 - 25-Oct-08 - 25-Nov-08 - 25-Dec-08 - 25-Jan-09 - 25-Feb-09 - 25-Mar-09 - 25-Apr-09 - 25-May-09 -
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Dre K2E K2E\11 3 13
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K4E K4E\9 2 82 8
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West West\1 2 2 1
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West\10 2 5
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West\11 1 7 8 5
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Central Central\1 3 19
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Central\2 4 12
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Ex3600 K2E K2E\10 3 7 6 9 7 9 3 6 10 12
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K2E\11 2 2 2 1213 5 6
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K2E\12 4 141 14
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K4E K4E\9 3 4 5 8
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K4E\10 1 4 4 8 4 8
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West West\10 22223 45 5 6 7 7 10
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West\11 25 5 67 7 7 10
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Central Central\1 4 5345 8 9 910 11 12 13 13 15 15 19
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Ex55001 -
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XPA
Ex55002 K2E K2E\11 2 2
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K2E\14 11 15 6 15 6 15 6 14 613
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K2E\15 7 15 7 1¨ 12 7 15 7 15 814
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K4E K4E\10 3 9 3 8
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K4E\11 9 1 9 1 8
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K4E\12 4 9 1 91 5 1
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Central Central\2 8 9 10 12 12 1616 20
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Role of Computers
Biggest assistance of computers is providing opportunities to study scenarios or
options:
• Changing equipment
• Changing digging methods
• Effects on costs and productivity.
But never trust computers to do all the work or do it right!
Completed
Strip
Summary
Mathematics is used daily in many ways to aid the mining industry.
All forms of math used from basic to Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry and Calculus.
Mining would be in the dark without
mathematics.
Links:
[Link]
[Link]
