SHORT COURSES

Steps in Open Pit Mine Design 

Level: Intermediate 

Facilitator: Anoush Ebrahimi, SRK Canada 

Understanding the mine design process and the stages of mine development is crucial for all team members involved in a mining project, especially decision-makers. This course provides a comprehensive review and discussion of open pit mine design principles, supported by examples and practical exercises. Key aspects of mine design are introduced and explained in detail. The course begins with an overview of the stages of mining projects, followed by an introduction to strategic mine planning as a vital evaluation tool for open pit projects. It illustrates how strategic mine planning techniques can reveal project opportunities and risks. Participants will learn about open pit mine design techniques, including the Lerchs-Grossmann (LG) pit optimization algorithm. The course covers design input parameters and constraints, exploring their impact on project economics. Additional topics include mill production rate determination, mining dilution, cut-off grade analysis, stockpiling, mine production scheduling, and NPV optimization. Real-life case studies and examples are included to enhance understanding. Participants are encouraged to bring their laptops for hands-on exercises during the workshop. 

Short Course Objectives:  

• Understand the principles of pit optimization and mine planning for decision-makers in mining projects. 

• Gain familiarity with the procedures, terms, conditions, limits, and critical inputs of mine design. 

• Assist readers of technical reports and investors in better understanding and interpreting mine design reports. 

• Discuss key mine design terms and concepts, such as best case, worst case, base case, cut-off and cut-over grade, strip ratio, metal equivalent, and dilution. 

• Review and discuss specific mine design techniques, including the LG algorithm and production scheduling.  

Target Audience:  

• Engineers and geologists involved in mining projects 

• Managers and directors of exploration and mining companies 

• Bankers, financial professionals, and investors 

• Project managers unfamiliar with mine design 

About the instructor:  

Dr. Anoush Ebrahimi is a mining engineer with over 30 years of experience in mine planning and design, covering projects from conceptual studies to mine construction. He has designed open pit mines in both Canada and internationally, many of which have gone into successful operation. Anoush specializes in strategic mine planning, mine evaluation, open pit optimization and design, production scheduling, and mine layout optimization. He is a professional engineer and a qualified person (QP) in Canada. Dr. Ebrahimi also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia and is an active member of CIM, SME, and Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (EGBC).