Calculations of tonnages available for mining in panels and blocks?

Question

Anyone can tell me how to calculate tonnages available for mining.............Ask for more details if the question is not clear......

Answer 1

That is simple if you use the metric system.

WxLxHxSG=tonnes

Multiply the 3 dimensions of the block (width, length, and height) in meters to get the cubic meters of volume, and then multiply that by the specific gravity to get the metric tonnes.

For example, let's say we had a volcanogenic massive sulfide lens that we know from surface outcrops, drilling and underground exposures is 2 m thick, it has a strike length of 200 meters, and it has a down dip extent of 150 meters. We have done specific gravity tests to determine the SG is 5. The volume of this block of "ore" is 2 x 200 x 150, so we have 60,000 cubic meters. Each cubic meter of ore has a mass of 5 tonnes, so now we have 300,000 tonnes of ore available for mining.

Of course ore bodies are never regular in shape, dimension or grade, so complex geostatistics such as kriging are used to come up with an accurate estimate before mining ever commences.

Hope that helps!