Course

Steps in Open Pit Mine Design
Level: Intermediate
Facilitator: Anoush Ebrahimi, SRK Canada 

Abstract:
Understanding the stages of mine development and the mine design process is essential for all team members involved in a mining project, particularly decision-makers. This course offers a thorough review and discussion of open pit mine design principles, enriched with practical examples and exercises. Key elements of mine design are introduced and explained in detail.
Participants are encouraged to bring their laptops for hands-on exercises during the workshop.
The course begins with an overview of the stages involved in mining projects, followed by an introduction to strategic mine planning as a critical evaluation tool for open pit projects. It demonstrates how strategic mine planning techniques establish the foundation of a project by defining key elements such as the scale of operation and limits of the mine. Additionally, it explains how these techniques can uncover opportunities and identify potential risks in different stages of project development.
Key open pit mine design techniques are briefly introduced, including the Lerchs-Grossmann (LG) pit optimization algorithm. The course delves into design input parameters and constraints, examining their influence on project economics. Topics include determining mill production rates, managing mining dilution, analyzing cut-off grades, stockpiling strategies, mine production scheduling, and optimizing net present value (NPV). To enhance understanding, real-world case studies and examples are incorporated.
Some topics are supported by case studies and real-life project examples to enhance understanding. To solidify the concepts, participants will engage in hands-on exercises during the workshop. Please bring your laptop to class to participate in these practical activities. 

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 35 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.