Integrated geometallurgical modelling of heavy mineral sands accounting for profitability, extractability and processability under uncertainty

Integrated geometallurgical modelling of heavy mineral sands accounting for profitability, extractability and processability under uncertainty

Wambeke, T.
Benndorf, J.

Civil Engineering and Geosciences

Geoscience & Engineering

2014-05-15

The development of a mineral resource is inherently connected with a substantial amount of risk due to the large financial investment required at the time that the geological knowledge is rather limited and the comprehension of the so-called “modifying factors” is incomplete. Ongoing research has shown that a great deal of the risk can be mitigated by considering a probabilistic resource model instead of a single determinist one. Unfortunately, too often probabilistic resource models are only restricted to the characterization of uncertainty in metal grades. This paper presents a coherent framework with geostatistical modeling techniques to assess the geological uncertainty and spatial variability of all the factors impacting a heavy mineral sands operation. The framework integrates profitability through grade characterization with extractability and processability through the modeling of slime content (fine clay particles), oversize (fraction greater than 2 mm) and in-situ density. Since the spatial distribution of these properties is governed by the geological facies, it is necessary to first address the problem of identifying of identifying the geological domains. The challenge lies in the simulation of the transitional behaviour of especially the slime content and oversize, but also grade content, across soft boundaries. A new simulation methodology was developed to accommodate these boundary effects. Moreover, the methodology is especially designed to facilitate the updating of the resource model later on when production data becomes available. The integrated effort results in a comprehensive characterization of resource uncertainty. Eventually this approach will result in the only “real” risk-robust design option and operational strategy.

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:732c93bd-6126-4999-918b-7dab6afc6340

TU Bergakademie Freiberg

Freiberger Forschungsforum 2014, 15. Geokinematischer Tag, Freiberg, Germany, 15-16 May 2014

Institutional Repository

conference paper

(c) 2014 The Author(s)