The tracking of metal content on a surface mine: Article

Article published in Resources Policy

Abstract:

The ore and metal accounting and reconciliation processes at most South African mines have been a long-standing challenge. The establishment of measurement points for measuring, monitoring and tracking measurement variables are necessary, to determine where actual problem areas in the production value chain are located. The aim of the study is to investigate digital technologies for measuring, monitoring and tracking ore material from the mining face and reporting in real/near real time on a dashboard in a control room on surface.

A literature review was conducted on topics that embody metal accounting and reconciliation with focus on digital technologies available for ore tracking. These include the mine call factor (MCF) theory; Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) used in asset tracking; laser technologies used to measure as-built of working areas to determine the rate of mining and volumes of materials mined; the use of video analytics to determine movement of humans, materials and fragmentation. The paper proposed a conceptual framework for ore tracking to enable discrepancies between what is planned and actual to be determined in real of near-real time.

This study demonstrates that ore tracking is possible through the application of digital technologies during the production phase of the mine value chain. Monitoring variables such as tonnage discrepancy, MCF, tonnage measurements from different systems, quality assurance and quality control analysis (QAQC), and mine to mill reconciliation at measurement points can be reported in real/near real-time on a dashboard.

View full article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301420722000228?via%3Dihub

Cudjoe, M.N.M and Cawood, F.T. The tracking of metal content on a surface mine: A digital mining technology approach. Resources Policy, Vol. 76, June 2022, Impact Factor 10.2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2022.102571