A Case Study of Incorporating Variable Recovery and Specific Energy in Long-Term Open Pit Mining

Integrated Optimization can find optimized solutions for a project to define open pit and mine scheduling with greater reliability. This work aims demonstrate how the insertion of geometallurgical variables significantly change financial return project. Two are considered in planning simulations. Specific energy corresponds consumed comminution ore, process recovery measures percentage metal incorporated into product. Three scenarios were developed considering an iron ore deposit. In Base Case (BC) scenario, was fixed, specific not considered. GeoMet1 considers variable varying each block. GeoMet2 both as presented Net Present Value (NPV), respectively, 3.68% 13.57% lower than BC. overestimation BC results be viewed optimistic case that is very common mining industry. These show use fundamental obtaining more reliable planning.