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Geostatistical Algorithm Selection for Mineral Resources Assessment and its Impact on Open-pit Production Planning Considering Metal Grade Boundary Effect

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Abstract

Mine planning is influenced by many sources of uncertainty. Significant sources of geological uncertainty in mine planning include uncertainty in layout of geological domains and uncertainty in metal grades. These two sources of uncertainty cannot be modeled separately because the distribution of the grade is controlled usually by geological domains. Two approaches exist for combining these two sources of uncertainty: the joint simulation approach and the cascade approach. In this paper, these two approaches were compared using a real case study. To this end, uncertainty in iron grade (quantitative variable) and ore zones (qualitative variable) was modeled using both approaches. There were some considerable differences in the results obtained by each approach, which confirm the importance of choosing the most appropriate approach with consideration of the dominate features of a deposit.

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Acknowledgments

The first and third authors are grateful to National Agency for Research and Development of Chile for grants CONICYT/FONDECYT/Nº 3180655 and CONICYT/PIA Project AFB180004, respectively. The second author is grateful to Nazarbayev University for funding this work via the Faculty Development Competitive Research Grants for 2021–2023 under Contract No. 021220FD4951.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Metallurgical and Mining Engineering, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile

    Mohammad Maleki

  2. School of Mining and Geosciences, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan city, Kazakhstan

    Nasser Madani

  3. Delphos Mine Planning Laboratory, Department of Mining Engineering, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile

    Enrique Jélvez

  4. Advanced Mining Technology Center, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile

    Enrique Jélvez

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  1. Mohammad Maleki
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  2. Nasser Madani
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  3. Enrique Jélvez
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Correspondence to Mohammad Maleki.

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Maleki, M., Madani, N. & Jélvez, E. Geostatistical Algorithm Selection for Mineral Resources Assessment and its Impact on Open-pit Production Planning Considering Metal Grade Boundary Effect. Nat Resour Res 30, 4079–4094 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-021-09928-z

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