Rapid mine development – current trends

Abstract

Vertical and lateral mine developments have conventionally been performed by drill-and blast. In this paper mine development advance rates are tracked through the 1800s to date. The records indicate, that while advance rates initially increased with the development of new technologies in drilling, explosives and blasting accessories and technology, current advance rates attainable by this excavation method have flattened off, and to some extent declined. In recent years the world economy has been in a major crisis. This crisis has affected the mining industry in such a way that mining companies have become more forward thinking than ever before. Each mining project will have to result in quick returns in net present value (NPV). Strategies to achieve this objective include adopting low cost mining methods where they will normally not be used, technologies for fast mine development, and mine automation. The paper examines the limits of the drill-and-blast excavation method, and the alternatives of non-explosive excavation methods for quick access to orebodies, and concludes that the successful adoption of both low cost mining methods, and mine automation in today‘s world economy hinges on quick access to orebodies.