Executive Summary:

The Fishmeri Orebody, Enga Province.

The Fishmeri deposit is located in the Enga Province and about 15 km east of the existing Porgera Mine
and is an epithermal quartz-gold roscoelite mineralisation. The mineralisation occurs in veins and
veinlets and is consistent throughout the strike length. The Augite-diorite intrusive complex has caused
the hydrothermal process of mineralisation.

1|UG Mine Design: Fishmeri Deposit.

Geological Setting and Mineralization
Regional Geology

The tectonic units of Papua New Guinea result from collision and accretion of the Australian continental
plate to the south with the Pacific oceanic plate to the north (Fleming et al., 1986). The zone of
interaction between the two plates forms the Central orogenic zone. The Papuan platform that hosts the
Project is separated from the Central orogenic zone by the Lagaip fault zone, located some 30 km
northeast of Fish Meri Project.

The Late Jurassic to Cretaceous pelitic, terrigenous, shelf sediments of the Chim Formation were partially
eroded during Paleocene emergence and unconformably overlain by Eocene to Miocene limestone
(Figure 1). Limestone deposition ceased following commencement of Eocene uplift and tectonism due to
continental collision and/or crustal thickening. On the Papuan platform, folding and southerly thrusting
occurred. Later Miocene calc-alkaline igneous activity within the Central orogenic zone took place.
Mineralized intrusive rocks occur within this zone and Fish Meri, Porgera and OK Tedi intrusive systems
may have been derived by the southward migration of tectonism (Fleming et al., 1986).

Figure 1.0. The regional geology of Porgera Mine and nearby Fishmeri deposit. Source:

Local Geology

Fish Meri is located in Enga Province 15 kilometers east of the existing Porgera Gold mine and is an
epithermal quartz-gold roscoelite mineralization. Because the deposit is so close to the Porgera deposit
in Enga, similarities in local geologies will be assumed.

The three main lithologies expected are the black and brown sediments, altered sediments and diorite
intrusion complex. The black sediments are Chim Formation composed of grey to black calcareous
mudstones and clayey siltstones. The light-coloured mudstones are called the brown sediments. The low
grade contact metamorphism in the vicinity of the intrusive dykes and stocks has formed the altered
sediments (slates). There are also extensive sections of highly blocky and brecciated rockmass resulted

2|UG Mine Design: Fishmeri Deposit.

from the intrusion mechanisms. The intrusive complex (Porgera Intrusive Complex or PIC) consist the
hornblende diorite and the Augite hornblende diorite (W.Claeys, 2007).

The mineralization of Fishmeri occurs lenticular, near vertical, consistent and regular along the strike of
Roamane Fault where the Augite-diorite intrusive complex has caused the hydrothermal process of
minreralisation. The hydrothermal mineralization is formed from the magmatic phases of the PIC. The
hydrothermal veins are rich quartz-roscoelite deposits.

Mineralization.

Mineralization is basically epithermal, and occurs within the Porgera intrusive complex.

Fishmeri Deposit is an epithermal vein-type gold deposit but it shares many characteristics with
porphyry copper deposits. Remnant heat from the intrusive rocks drove the boiling and upward
migration of hydrothermal fluids and resulted in the emplacement of mineralization. The movement of
these fluids was controlled by permeability of the rock mass, which developed in and around faults and
tectonic zones of dilatancy.

As such, the mineralization tends to occur as a lenticular, near vertical, consistent and regular orebody
along its strike and the geometry of which is strongly influenced by the orientation of fault structures
and subsidiary fractures. Deposition of ore minerals in epithermal systems is also dependent upon
temperature and hydrostatic pressure. These conditions are generally closely related to elevation, with
reduction of both temperature and pressure as the fluids migrate upwards.

Gold is suggested to have been transported as a chloride complex in early magmatically derived
hypersaline fluids and deposited as disseminate auriferous pyrite during cooling as a result of
sulphidation and sericitization reactions with mafic igneous wall rocks.

3|UG Mine Design: Fishmeri Deposit.

Reserve Report: Fishmeri Deposit, Enga Province.
Cut-Off Grade Calculation
The net value of a mine, according to Pakne (2016) is simply the difference of its Income and Costs. A
positive value means the mine is operating profitably; conversely a negative value for a mine making
losses. When the net value is zero, however, the mine is at the break-even point where cost equals
profit.
Net Value=IncomeCost
The formula is calculated in terms of unit values, usually in $/t or $/m^3.

For the Fishmeri deposit, the following formula as recommended by Yowa (2016) was used instead:

Cost+(inflation component)
BECOG=
[ Price- ( Royalty component ) } *Mill Recovery
At break-even, where cost equals profit;

Income=Grade Price Recovery

and
Cost =Operating unit cost +Capital unit cost
The grade is what is known as the Break even Cut-off grade (BECOG).

Capital cost estimations are shown under the Mine Costs Estimations section of this report later.

Table 1.0 summarizes the data utilized to calculate and presents the BECOG.

Break Even Cut Off Grade.

Parameters Value
Operating Unit Cost ($/t) 122.91
Inflation (%) 1.05
Price (US$/g) 38.59
Royalty (%) 0.02
Capital Cost ($/t) 19.60
Mill Recovery (%) 0.95
BECOG (g/t) 3.76 (~4.0)
Table 1.0. BECOG Calculation parameters.

The application of the BECOG leaves only the economically viable deposit to be mined. Therefore, the
BECOG of 4.0 g/t will exclude all blocks of grades less than 4.0 g/t from the block model to leave the
final reserve shape.

4|UG Mine Design: Fishmeri Deposit.

In addition, the mines incremental and Mill cut-off grades were estimated.

Incremental Cut-off Grade

Incremental Cut Off Grade

Parameters Value
Total Variable Unit Cost 64.23
Inflation 1.05
Price 38.585209
Royalty 0.02
Mill Recovery 0.95
ICOG 1.69
Table 2.0. ICOG Calculation Parameters

Mill Cut-off Grade

Parameters
Mill Variable Cost
28.15
G&A Variable Cost
3.26
Mine Variable Cost of Load &Haul 10.53
Inflation 1.05
Price 38.585209
Mill Capital Cost ($/t) 3.7
Royalty 0.02
Mill Recovery 0.95
MCOG 1.33
Table 3.0. MCOG Calculation Parameters

Reserve Estimation
Reserve Estimation Method: Cross-Section Method

5|UG Mine Design: Fishmeri Deposit.

The Fishmeri deposit grade and tonnage (physicals) can be accurately estimated using the Cross-section
method. Because the orebody is relatively consistent along the strike, a single cross-section is necessary
to determine the overall shape, volume, tonnage and grade of the entire deposit. This single cross-
section is presented as a two-dimensional block model which we assume to be consistent throughout
the orebody in shape and thickness.

The orebody shape is the final reserve shape after the application of the predetermined 4.0 g/t Break-
Even Cut-Off grade (BECOG), which was calculated under the preceding subsection Cut-off Grade
Calculation.

Figure 2.0. New Fishmeri deposit shape cross-section.

The deposit is comprised of both Indicated Reserves and Inferred Resources, separated by the 1725mRL
mark (Appendix A). The blocks are further subcategorized into distinct ore zones I, II and III according to
their grades 4 g/t, 6 g/t and >12 g/t respectively. Indicated and Inferred resources are computed
separately then combined into a single representative global deposit.

Both Fishmeri in-situ and likely Mineable reserve calculations have been done.

In-situ Resource Estimation and Summary

The Fishmeri deposit is estimated to have an overall reserve of 22.1 million tonnes at an average Grade
of 5.47 g/t and an estimated metal content of 3,901,165.76 ounces.

6|UG Mine Design: Fishmeri Deposit.

Indicated reserve: 17.7 million tonnes @ 5.69 g/t; Inferred Resource: 4.4 million tonnes @ 4.6 g/t

ORE RESERVE:

Indicated resource (>1725mRL)

Total Tonnage: 17, 671, 500 t

Average Grade: 5.69 g/t

Total Au content: 3, 233, 145.82 Oz

Inferred resource (<1725mRL)

Total Tonnage: 4, 428, 000 t

Average Grade: 4.6 g/t

Total Au content: 654, 205.78 Oz

Global/ Combined Reserve:

Total Tonnage: 22, 099, 500 t

Average Grade: 5.49 g/t

Total Au content: 3, 901, 165.76 Oz.

Dilution and recovery percentages will then be utilized in determining the estimated Mineable reserve of
the deposit.

The calculation of the in-situ resources is detailed on the following page.

Overall Deposit Resource Estimation.

Data given:

7|UG Mine Design: Fishmeri Deposit.

S.G (t/m^3) = 2.7
The number of blocks containing their specified grades were counted using the COUNTIF function in MS
Excel. The results are as follows:

Indicated #Blocks Inferred #Blocks

Grade Ore First Section (L=5m) Total Blocks First Section (L=5m) Total
Zone Blocks
1.5 I 512 35,840 163 13,040
4 II 384 26,880 115 9,200
6 III 275 19,250 49 3,920
12 IV 89 6,230 0 0
Table 1.0. Total Blocks in Fishmeri deposit, according to Ore Zones before BECOG application.

Since the blocks counted are 2D and from a single cross-section only (under table header First Section),
they had to be multiplied by 70, which is the number of blocks (of the same 5x5x5m dimensions) lying
along the 350m strike length for the total number of blocks of the four different grades within the
deposit. The result is displayed under table header Total Blocks.

The volume (and consequently tonnage) of the entire deposit was calculated by counting the number of
blocks in the block model according to ore zones and multiplying that by 125 m^3 (each block has a
uniform volume of 125 m^3 (5m x 5m x 5m dimensions). The resulting total volume and tonnage per ore
zone in the Indicated and Inferred reserves are displayed in Table 1.1 and 1.2.

The overall deposit is comprised of both Indicated Reserves and Inferred Resources, separated by the
1725mRL mark (Appendix A).

Indicated Reserve

Table 1.1 details the grade and tonnage of the deposits Indicated reserve, according to ore zones.

Grade (g/t) Ore Tonnage Factor Number of Blocks Total Volume Tonnage (t)
Zon (m^3)
e
1.5 - 2.7 0 0 0
4 I 2.7 26,880 3,360,000 9,072,000
6 II 2.7 19,250 2,406,250 6,496,875
12 III 2.7 6,230 778,750 2,102,625
Total: 52,360 6,545,000 17,671,500

Resource Grade: 5.69 g/t

Resource Tonnage: 17,671,500.00 tonnes

Table 1.1. Calculation of Indicated Resource Physicals according to Ore Zones after BECOG application.

Inferred Resource

8|UG Mine Design: Fishmeri Deposit.

Table 1.2 directly below details the grade and tonnage of the deposits Inferred reserve, according to ore
zones.

Grade Ore Tonnage Number of Total Volume Tonnage (t)

(g/t) Zone Factor Blocks (m^3)
1.5 - 2.7 0 0 0
4 I 2.7 9,200 1,150,000 3,105,000
6 II 2.7 3,920 490,000 1,323,000
12 III 2.7 0 0 0
Total: 13,120 1,640,000 4,428,000

Resource Grade: 4.60 g/t

Resource Tonnage: 4,428,000.00 tonnes

Table 1.2. Calculation of Inferred Resource Physicals according to Ore Zones.

Combined/Global deposit:
Therefore, combining the Inferred and Indicated deposits;

Total Tonnage: 22,099,500 t

Average Grade: 5.47 g/t

The combined/global deposit is the in-situ tonnage and grade of the deposit. From this, the likely
mineable reserves to be mined will be determined from the application of expected dilution and
recovery percentages.

Mineable Resource Estimation and Summary

Mineable resource calculations utilize both estimated recovery and dilution percentages to estimate the
likely grade and tonnage of the material that will be mined. These calculated physicals are realistic as
they take into account both expected recovery and waste dilution of mined tonnage stemming from the
factors such as the selected mining method, orebody geometry and the stability of the wall rocks (Pakne,
2013).

The calculation of the likely mineable grade and tonnage requires the in-situ deposit grade and tonnage
as well. This was previously defined in the previous section of this report but because only the indicated
portion of the deposit will be mined, final mineable reserve physicals will only consider the in-situ
indicated resource physicals.

Total tonnage to be handled:

9|UG Mine Design: Fishmeri Deposit.

 Total tonnage=Insitu tonnage+(dilutioninsitu tonnage)
Grade expected:

Metal Content
Grade=
Total Tonnage
Where

Metal Content =((Insitu gradeinsitu tonnage)+( Dil gradedil tonnage ))mine recovery
Indicated Final Mineable Reserve

Dilution Grade: 1.5

Dilution Tonnage: 1,767,150.00
Minable Grade: 5.3
Minable Tonnage 19,438,650.00
Table 1.4. Indicated Final Mineable Reserve Physicals

Then:

ORE RESERVE PHYSICALS:

Indicated reserve (>1725mRL)

Total Tonnage: 19, 438, 650 t

Average Grade: 5.3 g/t

Total Au content: 3, 312, 695.98 Oz

Therefore, the Fishmeri deposit is estimated to have an overall reserve of 19.44 million tonnes at an
average Grade of 5.3 g/t and an estimated metal content of 3,312,695.98 ounces.

Mining Method Selection

Selection of Sublevel Mining method with Transverse Stopping as the variation for Fishmeri Project is
based on the geometry and geotechnical properties of the deposit and also considering other factors.
Selection has been made based on the analysis of following criteria.

Method selection Criteria

10 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Fishmeri Project mining method selection has been done by using flow chart designed by Hartman
(Hartman, 1987).

The Hartman Flowchart

Hartman (1987) developed a flowchart for defining the optimal mining method to suit the Orebody in
question. The chart shown in Figure 1.0. below is qualitative and it is mainly based on the geometry of
the deposit, with some reference to the ground conditions. This method should only be used as an
approach to the proper method selection.

Figure 1.0. (Hartman flowchart for Mining Method Selection (Hartman, 1987).

Therefore, our chosen method of underground mining as per the geological constraints is the Sublevel-
Stoping method.

Fishmeri: A Brief Geotechnical Overview.

Rock Strength and Stability
General Characteristics of the Fishmeri orebody.

The Fishmeri deposit is located in the Enga Province and about 15 km east of the existing Porgera Mine
and is an epithermal quartz-gold roscoelite mineralization. The mineralization occurs in veins and

11 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
veinlets and is consistent throughout the strike length. The Augite-diorite intrusive complex has caused
the hydrothermal process of mineralization. Important geotechnical site data are as follows:

Table 1.0. Important geotech parameters for Fishmeri deposit.

The above will be utilized in various geotechnical aspects of mine planning and development, starting
with rock mass classification.

Supports and Reinforcement.

According to the famous Brady & Brown (2005):

Support is the application of a reactive force to the surface of an excavation and includes
techniques and devices such as timber, fill, shotcrete, mesh and steel or concrete sets or liners.
Reinforcement, on the other hand, is a means of conserving or improving the overall rock mass
properties from within the rock mass by techniques such as rock bolts, cable bolts and ground
anchors.

Rock Mechanics for Underground Mining by Brady & Brown, 2005.

Support will be considered for:

the hanging wall,
the tunnels (drifts, cross-cuts, drives and adit) roof (back), sidewalls (ribs) and floor,
the stope drawpoints (brows),
the main access/decline and
any underground infrastructure excavations (refuge chambers, drill cuddys etcetera).

All three main applications of support and reinforcement which will be considered for this project:

12 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 local support and reinforcement to support individual blocks or loosened zones on an excavation
boundary;
general or systematic reinforcement in which the objective is to mobilise and conserve the
inherent strength of the rock mass; and
support and reinforcement system designed to resist the dynamic loading associated with rock
burst conditions.

Before any type of support is decided, the rock mass in which the mine will be constructed in will be
classified according to strength, cohesion and elastic properties. This is done using rockmass
classification schemes, some of which will be briefly outlined immediately.

Rock Tunneling Quality Index, Q

On the basis of an evaluation of a large number of case histories of underground excavations, Barton et
al (1974) of the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute proposed a Tunnelling Quality Index (Q) for the
determination of rock mass characteristics and tunnel support requirements. The numerical value of the
index Q varies on a logarithmic scale from 0.001 to a maximum of 1,000 and is defined by:

RQD Jr Jw
Q= x x
Jn Ja SRF
where RQD is the Rock Quality Designation
Jn is the joint set number
Jr is the joint roughness number
Ja is the joint alteration number
Jw is the joint water reduction factor
SRF is the stress reduction factor.

The Q Index is used calculate N, or modified N number to analyse the stability of preliminary stope
dimensions, in an empirical stress analysis method using the Matthew (or Matthew-Potvin) Stability
graph. For this deposit, the Q index is estimated to be 30 (given in datasheet).

The Rock Mass Rating (RMR) System

The RMR system uses the following six parameters, whose ratings are added to obtain a total RMR-value:
1. Uniaxial compressive strength of intact rock material.
2. Rock Quality Designation (RQD).
3. Joint or discontinuity spacing.
4. Joint condition.
5. Ground water condition.
6. Joint orientation

In Fishmeri Project, the RMR is 70, which allows for a full-face, 1-1.5 m advance where complete
support must be provided 200 m from the face.

Rock Mass Class Excavation Rock Bolts Shortcrete Steel sets

(20mm diameter, fully
grounded)
ii- Good Rock Full Face Locally, bolts in crown 50 mm in crown where none
RMR: 61-80=> (70) 1-1.5m advance, 3m long, spaced 2.5 m required
complete support with occasional wire

13 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 200 m from face. mesh
Table 1.0. Guidelines for excavation and support of tunnels in accordance with the RMR system (After Bieniawski
1989).

Stand-up time Estimation.

The significance of the stand-up time concept is that an increase in the span of the tunnel leads to a
significant reduction in the time available for the installation of support. For example, a small pilot tunnel
may be successfully constructed with minimal support, while a larger span tunnel in the same rock mass
may not be stable without the immediate installation of substantial support. It utilizes the rock mass
classification results.

Stand-up time is the length of time that an excavation can withstand loading stresses at its boundary
without collapsing. This ultimately depends on the quality of the rockmass in which the excavation is
created. For the project, the RMR of 70 (between 61- 80) in Table 2.0 has an average of 6 months stand
up time for an 8 m span, but as our maximum span is only 6 m we expect the stand-up time to be longer.
In Fig 1.4 the graph allows a stand-up time of 24 months/ 2 years for a 6 m roof span (for the decline)
and about 1.5 years for the a 5.5 m roof span (for the ore drives and cross-cuts).

Table 2.0. Guidelines for excavation and support of 10 m span rock tunnels in accordance with the RMR system
(After Bieniawski 1989)

14 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 Figure 1.4. Relationship between Stand up time span and RMR classification, after Bieniawski (1989).

If, during development or production ground support is needed then theyd be in the form of spot
bolting, some shortcreting and the occasional wire mesh.

Stress Analysis

Before support can be decided on for underground excavations and their openings, the stress
concentrations around the excavation at the boundary must be calculated. This is done empirically in this
report.

Stress Concentrations at Mine Openings

The stresses within the rock mass underground have more impact upon the stability of the proposed
mine design itself compared to a surface mine. These stresses are the primarily the result of the weight
of the overlying rockmass itself, apart from other forces of tectonic origin. In their pre-mined,
undisturbed form theyre known as the in situ states of stress or virgin states of stress; principle stress 1
(Pzz), 2 (Pyy) and 3 (Pxx) in Figure 1.2.. After excavation, such as when a mining opening is created the
stresses within the vicinity of the new opening are re-distributed and become induced stresses; as a

15 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 result the originally stable surrounding rockmass may
become unstable and subject to different forms of
failure (flexure, slabbing, spalling, rockbursts etc).

Figure 1.9. Method of specifying the in situ state of stress

relative to a set of global reference axes (Brady et al,
2005).

In situ stresses have a vertical and a horizontal

component: Pzz (1) and Pxx (3) which are related
by k which is the ratio for vertical and horizontal
stresses. Pyy (2) is the remaining component that is
usually zero as its influence is weak in comparison to the other two. Another important assumption is
that because the rock is competent (as mentioned in the previous section) the rock is CHILE material
(continuous, homogenous, isotropic, linearly elastic) therefore perfectly elastic, according to the theory
of elasticity for competent rocks.

When an underground excavation is made in a rock mass, initial in situ stresses in the rockmass prior to
excavation are redistributed around the boundary of the excavation. Whether these new stress
distributions might cause the failure of the excavation is the reason that the stress concentrations along
these mine openings are calculated during the mine development phase of the project, or at least
reasonably estimated so if necessary support measures can be implemented, or else the mine opening
be moved elsewhere/re-designed to ensure final mine development and production will be executed
safely.

Underground openings are made so that essential excavation infrastructure like ore drives, cross-cuts
and levels can be developed. Each opening shape (and the excavation after it) has different
concentrations of stresses (tangential stresses) along its boundaries therefore theyre suited to different
geotechnical environments. Usually, the horse shoe shape is preferred because its found to be the most
stable, followed by the circle, ovaloid and the rectangle/square. It is for this reason that the horse shoe
design will be used as it also provides the extra space needed to accommodate the transportation of
mine auxiliary service via pipes and tubes.

Tunnel Cross-sectional shape

Most contractors like a simple horseshoe shape for tunnels since this gives a wide flat floor for the
equipment used during construction. For relatively shallow tunnels in good quality rock this is an
appropriate tunnel shape and there are many hundreds of kilometres of horseshoe shaped tunnels all
over the world.

Stress concentrations will generally be the least troublesome if smooth shapes are used, without corners
and reentrants, and if the major axis is aligned to the major principal stress, with the ratio of width to
height proportional to K. By superposition, the stress concentrations can be found corresponding to
other values of K.

16 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Basically, the tangential stresses of underground mine excavations need to be calculated at their
particular depth, of their particular shape and dimensions to see whether they can be supported by the
surrounding rockmass given compressive and tensile strengths. The effects of pore-water pressure will
be incorporated into the calculations if possible, given that the mine is wet (indicated from core results).
The process in Appendix A after Brady and Brown (2007) will be used to determine whether the design
specifications for the opening is acceptable.

DESIGN AND STRESS CALCULATION

Assumptions made.
1. Pyy (2) is usually 0.
2. The rockmass is CHILE material.
3. Primary vertical stress (Pzz) acts directly downward onto the excavations backs, and primary
horizontal stress (Pxx) is related to Pzz by K, whose values are displayed in Table 3.0.
4. Specific density of the rock is 27 kN/m^3

Determining the value of k.

The horizontal-vertical stress ratio k can be determined from the graph displayed in Figure 1.5. Because
horizontal stresses are expected to change with increasing depth, primary horizontal and vertical
stresses change as well. Using the rockmass Elastic Modulus of 76 GPa at regularly spaced descending
distances extending down to
a maximum depth of 375 m
(the mines deepest level is at
1725 mRL from the surface
2100 mRL) the following k
values were generated for
the calculation of changing
horizontal stresses in Table
1.0.

Figure 2.3. Ratio of horizontal to

vertical stress for different
deformation moduli based upon
Sheoreys equation. (After
Sheorey 1994).

Depth below surface z (m) K Type of Excavation/Opening

0 0 Mine Portal.
200 3.8 Entrances to levels, drives & x-cuts.
245 3 Entrances to levels, drives & x-cuts.
275 2.75 Entrances to levels, drives & x-cuts.
315 2.45 Entrances to levels, drives & x-cuts.
345 2.35 Entrances to levels, drives & x-cuts.
375 2.2 Entrances to levels, drives & x-cuts.

17 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Table 3.0. Generated k values proportional to changes in depth.

Pore pressure effects

Owing to the presence of water in drill cores making the mine a wet mine, the effects of water through
pore pressure will be briefly examined.
Some rocks are weakened by the addition of water, the effect being a chemical deterioration of the
cement or binding material. In most cases, however, it is the effect of pore water pressure (PWP or P)
that exerts the greatest influence on rock strength. If drainage is impeded during loading, the pores or
fissures will compress the contained water, raising its pressure. The resulting effect is described by
Terzaghis effective stress law:
as pore pressure P increases the effective normal stresses are reduced and the Mohr circles are
displaced towards failure.

Therefore consideration of water in the rockmass prior to mine development is important. Rockmass
classifications do this, as well as empirical stress calculations. Note the horizontal stress is estimated
using the k value from Figure 2.3.

Figure 1.8. Effect of PWP on rock strength, as seen by Mohr circles and the Mohr-Coulomb formulae.
Pore water pressure, or PWP is therefore roughly estimated at a friction angle of 40 as follows:

(45+ 2 )1
tan 2
P=( 3[ ( 1 3 )UCS ])/
40
45+
2
2
tan 1
P= /
203.15
P= =56.43 MPa
3.6

Pore water pressure at an example depth of 375 m (1725mRL) is 56.43 MPa. Therefore, failure is
expected to occur when
UCSP=17056.43=113.57 MPa

The new, reduced rock strength of 113.57 MPa is exceeded.

18 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Openings and their stress concentrations (after Brady et al, 2005).
Because the preferred horseshoe shape has similar geometry to a vertical ellipsoid, especially its arch
where stress concentrations are expected to be the greatest, equations used to calculate ellipsoid
boundary stresses will be used to estimate the horseshoe boundary stresses at its arch.

Ellipsoid
The previous discussion has indicated that useful
information on boundary stresses around a mine
opening can be established from the elastic solution for
the particular problem geometry even in the presence
of discontinuities. It is now shown that simple, closed
form solutions have greater engineering value than
might be apparent from a first inspection. Figure 2.4
illustrates a long opening of elliptical cross section, with
axes parallel to the pre-mining stresses. For the
particular cases of =0, and =0, = /2:

Figure 2.4. Stresses acting upon an Ellipsoid.

Figure 2.5. Tangential Stress Formulae for an

Ellipsoid.

where A and B are boundary circumferential stresses in the sidewall(A) and crown (B) of the
excavation, and A and B are the radii of curvature at points A and B. The stress distribution around a
circular hole in a hydrostatic stress field, of magnitude p while q = W/H.

19 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
The following example stress analysis on a level
opening are assumed to occur in relatively laterally
restrained conditions. 1

Figure 2.6. Loading conditions for preliminary mine

opening design.
pB

3 pA 6m

5m

Using the equations in Figure 2.5., if sigma 1 in Figure 2.6. is taken to be sigma B and sigma 3 to be sigma
A then:

1=B= p(k1+k
2H
B
)

2W
1K +
A )
3=A=p (1K +2 q ) =p
Where p=vertical stress which is the weight of the overburden z (.z), K is the ratio of vertical to
horizontal stress at depth z, and q is the width to height ratio (W/H). pA and pB are the radius of
curvature given as and W^2/2H and H^2/2W respectively.

As an example, for a horseshoe-shaped tunnel opening at level 1725mRL (375 m from the surface):

1=(0.027 369)(2.21+2.2
12
3.6
)=29.17 MPa
2 5
12.2+
2.08 ) = 10 MPa
3=(0.027 373)

Because the boundary vertical and horizontal stresses of 29.17 MPa and 10 MPa respectively dont
overcome the rocks compressive strength of 113 MPa (after the effects of PWP have been accounted
for), the preliminary design dimensions are deemed stable.

This can be applied to all openings in the mine (portal, decline, levels, cross cuts, decline crossings) as
the opening shape is just the same but it must be noted that the values of p and K differ according to
depth.

20 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
The Zone of Influence/ Minimum Separation Distance.

Under elastic conditions, two openings will interact with each other if separated by a thickness of rock
less than two times the sum of their dimensions in the direction parallel to the separation. The zone of
influence of an opening is related to both excavation shape and pre-mining stresses. It is the area around
the excavation (tunnel) where the redistributed stresses are present and act upon any point within the
zone.

This means that the stresses induced on the boundary of one excavation (tunnel) affect the stresses on
the other nearby excavation (tunnel). That means that there is a radius of influence. The radius of
influence can also be interpreted as the minimum separation distance. However, if that length isnt
available then whether the stresses on one excavation will affect the other must be determined. This is
important because parallel excavations in the mine during development must be created away from each
others zone of influence to prevent any disturbance of the natural redistribution of stresses after
excavation which simplifies the support work needed.

This is done by computing the stress state induced by one excavation (tunnel) at a position from the
center of the other excavation (tunnel), and then using this computed stress state to determine the
stresses induced on the boundary of the second tunnel.

However, for simplicitys sake, a general rule of thumb will be introduced:

The minimum horizontal or vertical distance between two identical openings is greater than twice their
width.
Yowa, 2017.

The following table is constructed dictating the minimum separation distance between underground
tunnels:
Between Dimensions Width Minimum Chosen
(m) Separation separation
distance (m) distance
(m)
Two Portals @ 2100 mRL 5mx6m 5 2 x 5 =10 m 15 m
Two adits from 2100 mRL to 5 m x 6 m 5 2 x 5 =10 m 15 m
1935mRL
Two declines from 1935 mRL to 5 m x 6 m 5 2 x 5 =10 m 15 m
1700 mRL
Levels 5mx6m 5 2 x 5 =10 m 30+ m
Drives 5.5 m x 5.5 m 5.5 2 x 5.5 = 11 m 11+ m
Cross-cuts 5.5 m x 5.5 m 5.5 2 x 5.5 =11 m 11+ m

21 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
APPPENDICES
APPENDIX A: A logical framework for mine excavation design in massive rock.

A logical framework for mine excavation design in massive rock (Brady et al, 2005).

22 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Mine Development
Primary-Secondary Transverse Mining (Bottom-Up Method).
General planned mine development layout for Fishmeri underground mine is divided into two
categories:

1. Surface
2. Underground

Surface Development
The surface developments commence at the entrance to the property and mine opening site. It extends
throughout the area to a point at the twin decline portals and encompasses all the buildings, yards,
controls, surface control structures and equipment needed to services the underground mine.

The surface will cover the following facilities and properties and more:

Ore communition facilities

Ore treatment facility
Explosives storage.
Equipment bay.
Administration building
Power plant
Roads
Material supply yards
Shaft collars (backfill, ladder way and ventilation)
Tailings dam
Water supply

The ore will be concentrated and milled on site. Therefore, treatment facilities will be located on site as
well. Power will also be supplied by an on-site power plant and will be enclosed with one perimeter
including the Administration building.

Access roads will also be constructed to the mine site. This will pass through the mill/power
plant/administration area and to the shaft collars which will enable ore to transport to the underground.

Power pylons will be erected along the access road to the power plant towards the shaft collar for power
line to pull to the underground plant via the shaft plant.

A material supply yard for supply of necessary materials to the underground will be constructed near the
shaft for easy access. As with the other infrastructure the material supply yard will be located in a
manner that takes in consideration the tendency of subsidence to occur.

Water needed for production and auxiliary operations will be supplied from a water source outside the
vicinity of the main plant.

All auxiliary services will be detailed later on further down the report.

23 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Underground Development
*Please refer to the mine Plan, Section and Long-sectional Views drawn on the tracing paper.

The ore bodies and mine workings are in exceptionally solid rock and accordingly are amenable to low
cost sublevel stoping methods. Ore is transported to the surface mill facility by haul truck because the
mine is wet therefore it is better if there are few underground infrastructure. The access-decline, which
is the main entryway into the mine, is a spiral twin decline about 15 m apart developed about 375 m into
the footwall of the orebodies.

Six main levels are driven from the intake decline in waste towards the Orebody from the east. From
those levels a footwall drive (FWD) is developed which runs parallel to the strike of the Orebodies until it
reaches the ends of the second orebody. Two Waste drifts (WD) are developed from those ends (in
waste) until it reaches the hanging wall where another drive, the hanging wall drive (HWD) will be
developed to connect them both at its ends. The two planned Return Air Raises (RAR) for return air will
be raised from the two ends of the hanging wall drive at the mining front (at 1725mRL).

35 cross-cuts will be developed from the FWD into the orebodies until it terminates at the HWD. Their
purpose is the extraction of the orebodies. They will be developed in ore when theyre intersecting the
two orebodies and in waste when theyre not developed through ore.

At each level sumps will be created, and the escape way raised to the next level. Underground
excavations like drill cuddies, refuge chambers and substations will all be carried out every two levels.

All effort will be made to reduce time developing through waste, as it is a no-profit generating mine
operations.

Development Sequence: Timeline

Development of the mine underground will commence once the twin decline has been developed all the
way to the mining front level 1725 mRL. A high development rate of 4000 tonnes/day is chosen as the
rate of development through both waste and ore, so we assume development is dependent upon the
bogging rate (4000 tpd).

Mine development is to proceed as follows:

PHASE 1: Twin decline development (plus installation of ground support).

The development of the proposed twin decline commences (an intake decline for traffic into the
mine and another for traffic leaving the mine) immediately after site preparation and other
necessary surface work has been completed. Decline development is expected to reach the
1700mRL, and has a grade of 15% throughout.
Block numbers were obtained directly from a scaled decline drawn on graph paper to estimate
the tonnage required for excavation.

3
blocks 125 m 2.7 t 228,150 tonnes
338 3 2 declines= =57.04 days
decline block m 4000 tpd
Therefore in total about 58 days are allowed for Phase 1 to be completed.

24 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
PHASE 2: 1725L and 1755L level & Assoc. Infrastructure & RAR Development (plus fan installation).

Development for levels 1725L and 1755L will occur together, but not simultaneously as level
1725L will advance faster by at least 20 m than 1755L. Both levels 1725L and 1755L will
terminate before they reach the orebodies, and the haulage drifts take over to be driven through
the center of Orebody 1 and 2 extending into the hanging wall where they intersect the middle
of the HWD. Ground support installation per level is also part of this phase.

For 1725L main level plus haulage drift:

125 m3 2.7 tonnes 24, 300 tonnes
72 blocks = =6 days
block m3 4000 tpd
For 1755L main level plus haulage drift:
3
125 m 2.7 tonnes 24, 300 tonnes
72 blocks 3
= =6 days
block m 4000 tpd
For FWD development at 1725mRL:
2 tonnes tonnes
356 m 25 m 2.7 =24,030 =6 days
m3
4000tpd
For FWD development at 1755mRL:
tonnes tonnes
356 m 25 m2 2.7 =24,030 =6 days
m
3
4000tpd
For Waste Drift on the south side of the orebody at 1725 mRL:
3
125 m 2.7 t tomnes
35 blocks 3 =11,812.5 =2.95 days
block m 4000 tpd

For Waste Drift on the north side of the orebody at 1725 mRL:
3
125 m 2.7 t tomnes
35 blocks 3 =11,812.5 =2.95 days
block m 4000 tpd

For Waste Drift on the south side of the orebody at 1755 mRL:
125 m3 2.7 t tomnes
39 blocks 3 =13,162.5 =3.29 days
block m 4000 tpd

For Waste Drift on the north side of the orebody at 1755 mRL:
3
125 m 2.7 t tomnes
39 blocks 3 =13,162.5 =3.29 days
block m 4000 tpd

For HWD development at 1755mRL:

tonnes tonnes
356 m 25 m2 2.7 =24,030 =6 days
m3
4000tpd
For HWD development at 1755mRL:
2 tonnes tonnes
356 m 25 m 2.7 =24,030 =6 days
m3
4000tpd
RAR Development:

25 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 375 m 2.7 tonnes tonnes
4 m2 2 RAR=8,100 =2.025 days
RAR m
3
4000 tpd

Therefore in total about 52 days are allowed for Phase 2 to be completed.

PHASE 3: 1785L and 1825L main levels and Assoc. Infrastructure & UG Excavations.
Here development times for the main levels, FWD, HWD, Waste Drifts, Waste Drive and the
cross-cuts will be estimated in a similar fashion to Phase 2, therefore they will be skipped but we
assume it takes 52 days as well.
However, the development is different here as underground excavations will be made for a drill
cuddy, a refuge chamber, the second pump station and a power substation. As mentioned
before, the sumps will be excavated as well on both levels, then connected with a single
borehole of 0.5 m. Another 30 days will be given for the construction of these excavations.
This includes installation of ground support in necessary areas.

PHASE 4: 1900L and 1855L main levels and Assoc. Infrastructure.

Here development times for the main levels, FWD, HWD, Waste Drifts, Waste Drive and the
cross-cuts plus installation of necessary ground support will be estimated in a similar fashion to
Phase 2, therefore calculations will be skipped but we assume it takes 52 days as well.

PHASE 5: Pump station 1 excavation & Installation of Auxiliary Services.

In this final phase the infrastructure needed for the use of Auxiliary UG mine services will be
developed. Here,
The Pump station 1 (PS-1) will be excavated at the 1700 mRL directly under Pump station
2 (PS-2). A mains raising hole will be raised from PS-1 to PS-2 then further up until it
connects with the adit for the exiting traffic. There the pipes from the mains raise will be
installed along the adit which will continue until it exit through the portal. The pumps for
dewatering will be installed in each station and placed behind demarcation walls to
prevent silt from getting to them.
Pipes and cables for pastefill, water and power will be installed in the intake decline all
the way into each levels.
Six strip-backs will be created on the back of the decline between each levels for the
installation of booster fans and the accompanying ventilation bags (vent bags) that will
help direct the needed airflow into deeper working faces of the mine, especially in
Orebody 1.

A drain will be excavated on the floor of the twin declines, rich where the center line is
(not at the ribs as it is prone to failure). It will have a cross-sectional area of 1 m x 0.25 m
and it extends all the way to the bottom of the decline at 1700mRL where pump station
1 is located.

26 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Development Designs

1. The Adit

There are two adits to the twin decline which begins from the two portals situated at 2100mRL. As a rule
of thumb, both portals and adits are separated by 15m (>6 m height x 2), which means the twin decline
is also 15 m separated.

Design
Both portals, and therefore the adits have the same opening dimensions of 6m x 5m (height x width). A
geotechnical analysis has already been carried out on these preliminary dimensions which has deemed
them adequate, with a little ground support. All section drawings of the portal and adit are attached,
drawn to scale.

2. Twin Access/ Decline.

Primary opening of all underground mine is through a twin decline that will be used as an access to the
ore body. The decline begins at the 1935mRL and spirals at a constant gradient of 15% down to the
mining front at 1725mRL. One spiral will be used as a fresh air entry as well as the access for empty
trucks, and the second access will be used by the loaded trucks to haul bogged material to the surface.

Design.
Both declines have opening dimensions of 6m x 5m (height x width), and are spaced apart, as a general
rule of thumb, at ( > 5 m x 2) 15 meters so that one declines zone of influence doesnt interfere with the
stress distributions around the other decline, increasing the potential for instability and failure. All
section drawings of the twin decline are attached, drawn to scale.

In addition, both declines are connected by crossings at every level, about 7 meters down the decline
past each level entrance from the decline. Only loaded trucks are to use these crossings, as this is to
ensure that loaded trucks are brought up to the surface as quickly as possible.

3. Shafts

The mine will be a two shaft mine which will consist of:

2 x Ventilation shaft

27 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
The ventilation shafts, as Return Air Raises (RAR) will be sunk in a straight line to the 1725mRL,
connecting all hanging wall drives that run through the hanging wall to the surface at 2100mRL.

Design
A summary of the RARs dimensions etcetera is as follows:

Diameter: 2 m
Vertical depth: 375 m (Surface @ 2100mRL Level 1 @ 1725mRL).
Location: At the northern and southern end of the hanging wall drive across all levels.

Support
Concrete will be used for ground support during shaft sinking. It is selected simply because it provides
greater strength factor, best air flow characteristics (minimises air resistance), and doesnt need much
maintenance.

4. Levels.

The secondary openings to access the ore body are essentially horizontal levels which are the main
levels.

Design
There will be six levels that will be located vertically apart from each other. All levels will be terminate at
some distance away from the ore body for development of haulage drifts. Levels will be excavated
horizontally from the intake decline for further access to the ore body. Dimensions of all levels will be
same, which is 5 m width x 6 m height, and is determined primarily from drilling and ore/waste mucking
equipment. All levels will be of the horseshoe-shaped cross section with adequate support. These
openings are designed to last the life of the mine.

5. Drives (FWD and HWD)

There is a footwall drive (FWD) and a hanging wall drive (HWD) at every level of the mine.

Design.
Dimensions of all drives will be same, which is 5 m width x 5.5 m height, and is determined primarily
from drilling and ore/waste mucking equipment. All drives will be of the horseshoe-shaped cross section
with adequate support. These openings are designed to last the life of the mine.

28 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 Figure 1.0. Section of a typical drive.

6. Cross-cuts/ Drawpoints

An analysis is required on all stope drawpoints (DPTs)

because this is the only way that stopes can be mucked
(loaded). Should the drawpoints fail, then the stope is
most likely lost. It is usually the case where there will
be a large increase in stress around the drawpoints
which will manifest itself as spalling and rock noise. A
support pattern using cable bolts at the brow is
suggested which will be suited for the stope for the
duration of its life.

Design
Cross-cuts will be excavated as extensions from the
footwall drives. They will intersect the ore bodies
horizontally, and are of dimensions 5 m x 5.5 m (width
x height) in the shape of a rectangle with rounded top
edges. They extend all the way to the HWD where they
finally end.

Optimum spacing of drawpoints, within the constraints of the stope dimension is very important if a
drawpoint system is to be considered adequate to meet production needs effectively. This is related to
Zone of Influence, which is covered under the geotechnical section of this report. The minimum distance
separating one cross-cut from the next would have to be 10 m and greater, which the current mine
design doesnt achieve as the stopes are 10 m long and quite short. However, as each stope is to be
mined in a sequence that doesnt allow mining of two immediately adjacent stopes (and the use of two
immediately adjacent cross-cuts) the potential geotech issues are assumed to be avoided.

Support
A good drawpoint system promotes uniform drawdown, making transportation of mucked material
easier to the surface and also maximizes the recovery of the stope. Long life of the drawpoint/ cross-cut
is usually achieved with close monitoring of development processes like wall blasting and the installation
of proper support (often in the form of rock cables or grouted rebar combined with wire mesh or
shotcrete). Cable bolting will be carried out on the brow of the drawpoint (the edge of the crosscuts
back where bogging takes place) to ensure stability.

Support Standards for Development

Support standard outline the ground support information for all mine developments, except for where it
was stated (like cross cuts and the shafts). The RMR of the host rockmass was used to derive the
following support standards as presented in Table 1.0.
Rock Mass Class Excavation Rock Bolts Shortcrete Steel sets
(20cm diameter, fully
grounded)
ii- Good Rock Full Face Locally, bolts in crown 50mm in crown where none
RMR: 61-80=> (70) 1-1.5m advance, 3m long, spaced 2.5. required
complete support with occasional wire

29 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 200m from face. mesh
Table 1.0. Guidelines for excavation and support of 10 m span rock tunnels in accordance with the RMR system
(After Bieniawski 1989).

Support for the portal and adit will be comprised of split sets, wire mesh and if needed at all, shortcrete.
Roof bolting using rock bolts/split sets is more effective because it is an active support method, utilising
the rock to support itself by internal reinforcing stresses. Also, because the host rock is strong and
requires less support unnecessary ground support methods will be forgone, as a very extensive rock
support system will only increase the cost.

Most of the excavations are of 6m x 5m cross-sectional dimensions with the shape of the cross-section
considered to be horse-shoe shaped. Empirical stress concentration analysis in the Geology and Geotech
section of this report showed that stress concentrations are the highest around the back of the tunnel, at
the top rounded edges and around the sides (ribs), so support will be placed as required. Support begins
at 200 m from the portal. Basically, wire mesh will be placed on the back and halfway down the ribs of
the tunnel. To hold the mesh up, split sets will be placed into the crown.

In Fishmeri Project, the RMR is 70, which allows for a full-face, 1-1.5 m advance where complete
support must be provided 200 m from the face.

In depth discussion of the mines Geotechnical properties will ensure in the next section of this report.

Drill and Blast Standards for Development.

(a) Primary Development Adit, Twin Declines, Main Levels and Haulage Drifts.

The primary development will be a twin decline of 6m height, 5m width with 15% gradient spanning a
length of 210 m (1725mRL to 1935mRL).

a. Development Design

There are two types of development; Lateral Development and Vertical Development. Jumbo Drill will
mostly be used in development operations in Fishmeri Underground Mine. The main operations for the
Jumbos will be boring, bolting and meshing.

The following figure shows the cross-section of the development face.

Face pattern & blast sequence Information:

Area of Drive

A = (6m*5.5m) + (3.14*0.52) = 33.79m2

Number of Blast Holes

48 (from graph below)

Note: Number of blast holes may vary depending on rock type, geology, explosive characteristics
and blast hole diameter.

30 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 Figure 6.0. Borehole Tunnel area relationship (Holmberg, Hustrulid and Cunningham)

Hole Diameter

50mm

Reamer Hole Diameter

150 mm

Hole Depth

H = 0.15 + 34.1 - 39.4 2

= 0.15 + (34.1*0.15) 39.4*0.152
= 4.4m

Advance

I = 0.95H
= 0.95 * 4.4
= 4m

31 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Figure 7.0. Blast sequence and face pattern.

The blast sequence is shown in Figure 7.0 above.

Cable bolts are employed in the ore drifts to support the stopes. The cable bolts are
installed in a 1.5-2m grid with effective lengths of 5-10m. Cable bolts holes are being
drilled by two Tom truck cable bolt rigs.

Proposed dimensions of openings.

For the mine design, it has been decided that the following dimensions for the horseshoe with rounded
edges openings be implemented for the following infrastructure:

Mine Development Dimensions:

CL Height (m) Width (m) Length (m)
Main Access (Decline) x 2 6 5 Length of spiral
Portal and Adit x 2 6 5
Levels 6 5 Length of level
Drives 5.5 5.5 Length of drive
Cross-cut 5.5 5.5 Length of cross-cut
Table 4.0. Proposed underground opening dimensions.

These dimensions were chosen to accommodate the largest mining equipment, which are the
articulated haul trucks and mine service infrastructure like the decline drain, ventilation bag, personnel
walkways, lighting, paste fill pipe, power, water pipes etcetera.

32 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Stope/Production Development
Stope Planning
To do a sub-level stope design, the following information is required:

The preliminary stope design

Geological data
o Diamond drill hole data and stratigraphy
o Block models (grade indicator)
o Faulting
Survey data
Relevant mining standards and regulations
Key indicators Metal prices, development unit costs, equipment scheduling and availability, and
others.

Once all these are known to the highest degree of certainty, the final design of the stope can begin.
However, for the purpose of pre-feasibility only preliminary stope designs will be presented.

Stope name Designation

Stope blocks are named firstly by the RL its base rests upon, then followed by which orebody theyre in
(in most cases, either O1 or O2 as there are two orebodies in the Fishmeri deposit) and finally, separated
by a dash, their position from the edge of the orebody starting from the south. A single stope will be
used as an example throughout this section of the report called 1725O2-A, indicated in Appendix A. All
other stopes within both orebodies will be named in the same manner.

Preliminary Stope Dimensions

1725O2-A has a preliminary stope dimension of 10 m x 65 m x 30 m (the second dimension, which is the
length, varies according to the orebodys width) in the order of width, length and height. The last
dimension is the perpendicular height, from which the true stope height 39.16 m is derived. The stope is
estimated to be inclined 50 degrees.

33 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 Figure 1.0. Stope dimensions for
H= 30 m 50 1725O2-A
H =39.16 m

W= 10 m

L= 65 m L= 65 m

All other stopes within the two orebodies will be of the same width 10 m, for optimized mucking
purposes whilst their lengths and heights will vary. All stopes contain blocks of 4 g/t, 6 g/t and 12 g/t
ores.

Design Considerations
Stope shapes and sizes are controlled by numerous factors. It would be easier to have big stopes. This
would mean less development for more tonnes. Geology and rock mechanics factors, however, largely
determine the size and shape of stopes in order to minimize failures, ground movement and increase
overall safe working conditions. However, it was recommended that stope height range between 30 m
40 m. One aspect remains universal in all SLS designs, all of them are designed to minimise the amount
of waste taken with ore. In many cases small areas of waste may be included for some reason, but
usually stopes are designed to fall within the cut-off grade for that area.

Rock Mechanics
This is one of the more important aspects relating to stope final design. Whole stopes have been lost
because of failure to recognize potential ground movements, induced stresses and other rock mechanics
issues. Stress analysis involving stope dimensions will be considered here.

The stress analysis to be considered in this project consists of an empirical method known as the
Matthews Stability Graph. This assesses the stability of stope spans. According to the analysis the stope
crown falls within the transition zone (leaning towards the stable zone). This indicates failure may take
place given current design geometries.

The third analysis looked at the over break potential, where the inverted wedge supposedly does fail.
It is then estimated to where this failure my take place. This failure is then looked at to see whether it
holds any safety concerns, will impact other openings or mine infrastructure and what tonnes and grade
this failure contains. A decision is then made as to how this potential failure will be regarded.

Stability Analysis: Matthews Stability Graph

To check whether the stope will fail or not, the Matthews Stability graph is employed. Stopes must
always be within the stable range. Conversely, the graph can be used to determine dimensions of stope
as stope dimensions related to hydraulic radius, and usually we end up having largest dimensions, with
large dilution (>10-15%) needing lots of rock support. A balance needs to be found between all three
(dimensions, dilution and support).

34 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Essentially, as mentioned, its an empirical method and site specific. The stability graph is used in all
stoping methods, hence its usefulness and versatility.

Firstly, N and the hydraulic radius of the stope is calculated. Rock Mass Number, N is the rock mass
quality Q value when SRF is set at 1 (i.e., normal condition, stress reduction is not considered), or simply
N is a stress-free Q index. It helps calculate N, which is the desired Modified Stability number.

RQD Jr
N=Q ' =
Jn Ja
Where RQD is the Rock Quality Designation
Jn is the joint set number
Jr is the joint roughness number
Ja is the joint alteration number and

The Q rating can also be used to find out stand-up time (Saiyang, 2017). Stand time allows for mining and
back filling of the stope.

For the case of stope 1725O2-A, because the given Q index value is 30, N or Q is estimated to be a value
slightly greater than 30. We estimate Q to be 50.

However in mining, stress and other important factors must be considered therefore N (modified N) can
be computed as,

N ' =Q ' A B C

Where Q is the stress-free Q index.

A is the stress condition of the stope.

B is the Joint orientation factor

C is the gravity factor.

Factor A: Stress Condition

35 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 ` Figure 1.1. Graph used to estimate Factor A (Yowa, 2016).

In order to use the graph is Figure 1.1 the ratio of uniaxial strength to induced stress must be
determined. This is interpreted as

c UCS
=
1 Lithostress
In Papua New Guinea, horizontal in-stress is at a minimum as stress-releasing tectonic activities like
earthquakes occur frequently. This leaves the vertical in-situ stress as the dominant lithostress, which
can be estimated using the following formulae:

Dominant Lithostress=Density Gravity Height

For stope 1725O2-A:

Uniaxial Compressive Strength = 170 MPa (as provided by Geotech drilling and tests).

Ore Density = 2.7 t/m^3 or 2700 kg/m^3

Gravity = 10 m/ s^2

Height = 1800 m

Lithostress = 2800 x 10 x 1800 = 50, 400, 000 Pa or 50.4 MPa

Therefore, the ratio of uniaxial strength to induced stresses is

170 MPa/50.4 MPa = 3.37

Referring back to Figure 1.1, we can see that A= 0.28

Factor B: Joint Orientation

36 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 Figure 1.2. Graph used to determine Factor B (Yowa, 2016).

There is no data for any structures within or near the orebody that can cause potential instability
problems. Factor B will be ignored.

Factor C: Gravity

37 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 Figure 1.3. Graph used to estimate Factor C (Yowa, 2016).

The first graph in Figure 1.3 will be used, dealing directly with the orientation and inclination of stope
1725O2-A as an example. Since stope 1725O2-As surface is inclined at approximately 50 degrees, the
resulting gravity adjustment factor C is 4.

The modified stability number N is now

N = 50 x 0.28 x 4 = 56

38 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 Figure 1.4. The Matthew Stability Graph

1725O2-As hydraulic radius is calculated as follows (the largest face was analysed):

Area x y 30 65
HR= = = =10.26 10 m
Perimeter 2 x +2 y 60+130
From the stability graph in figure 1.4 we can see that the stope 1725O2-A, with its current preliminary
dimensions, will not fail and holds no safety concern however precautions will be taken in the form of
cable bolting into the hanging wall and ground monitoring systems.

39 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 7450mN

Looking at each orebody and the stopes within it per level, the mining sequence in mind is adapted from
mine first; for our case it was decided that the most westward orebody (Orebody 1 or O1) is to be mined

A general rule noted on the mine design page of Queens University Mine Design Wiki: Stope Sequencing
The two mining fronts (there are two mining fronts; one for each orebody) will begin at the lowest level
which is a simplified diagram of the production sequence in mind. The primary stopes are outlined and
bottom-up operation, the mining front is to start at level 1725 mRL. This is shown by the figure below,

variation method to suit the simpler Fishmeri orebody. Only one level will be used to demonstrate the

(2015) to aid in the production sequencing is no more than two sublevels are mined ahead of the
and backfilled first then retreat into Orebody 2 or O2 and mine that last for every level. Since this is a
The order of production sequencing for the Fishmeri orebody begins with deciding which orebody to

7400mN

the popular sublevel stoping 1-5-9 stope sequence (Queens University Mine Design Wiki, 2015)
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4

sequencing, and that will be the level that the example stope 1725O2-A (shaded red) is in.
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
7350mN 4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4

of 1725mRL, where the indicated part of the reserve is separated from the inferred.
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
Mining Method: Bottom-Up Primary Secondary Transverse Sublevel stoping.

4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4

Figure 1.6. Plan View of Fishmeri deposit at 1725 mRL.

4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
7300mN 4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
shaded in yellow, whilst the secondary stopes in are outlined in blue.

4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
7250mN 4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4

40 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
7200mN 4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
7150mN 4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
1. Extraction Sequence

4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
7100mN 4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
Mine Production

4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
7050mN 4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4

The Sequence
7000mN

20300mE
20250mE
20150mE

20200mE
20100mE
20050mE
20000mE
pillar [the secondary stope] before recovering it, and both sides of the pillar [the secondary stope]
cannot be mined simultaneously.

As mentioned previously, modification of the 1-5-9 stope sequencing will be drawn up for both
orebodies as they will be mined simultaneously with the mining direction from north to south. The
mining is done per level at each of the six levels, with the mining front starting at the 1725 mRL as the
mining method selected is a bottom-up method.

It must be noted that individual stopes whose lengths are greater than 30m will be mined in two parts; a
strike length will be drawn across the stope to divide it equally in halves. Using stope 1725O2-A as an
example, one half will be called 1725O2-A1 and the other 1725O2-A2. A slot will be opened up in A1 so
that it will be mined first, then A1 is backfilled and cured before opening up a slot in A2 so it can be
mined too.

The mining sequence detailed in the following description and in Figure 1.8 is at level 1725mRL, where
our familiar example stope 1725O2-A is located. The sequence is as follows, but it is important to note
that all activities occur firstly in Orebody 1 then in Orebody 2:

After developing the cross-cuts that intersect Orebody 1 (O-1) through Orebody 2 (O-2) we mine 1s
firstly in whilst developing 2s drawpoints. Fill 1s with consolidated backfill (paste for this project) whilst
mining 2s and developing 3s. By the time 3s are being mined, 2s are filled and the 1s are cured and
mucking development for 4s is occurring. When 4s are being mined, 2s are cured, 3s are filled and
development for 5s can commence. While 5s are being mined, 3s are cured, 4s are filled and
development is ongoing for 6s. When 6s are being mined 4s are already cured, 5s are being filled and
so forth to the last secondary stope that is to be mined, and so forth. This is simply Phase 1, of the 1725
level.

The process is again repeated as Phase 2, 3 and 4 for the 1725 Level. After 1725 Level has been
completely mined out and backfilled, we move up to the next level which is the 1755 Level at 1755mRL
and repeat the sequence all over again, in four phases. We allow for a repetitive production sequencing
throughout the entire mine because the Fishmeri deposit is continuous of a simple, rectangular shape
down the levels and across the N-E plane at each level.

The attached Plan View of the mine shows the arrangement of primary and secondary stopes at
1725mRL.

41 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 2. Equipment Selection
The determination of the initial mobile equipment fleet is an important step in the overall underground
mine design process, and is typically based on the production targets, mining methods, and access
dimensions. Not only does the mining equipment employed in the operation impact the overall mine
productivity, ventilation requirements, and maintenance considerations of the entire mining operation,
but also the overall project economics. The initial capital cost calculations, annual operating costs,
equipment replacement considerations, and other financial implications play a significant role in
establishing an accurate forecast of the net-present-value of the mining operation.

Equipment selection for a hard-rock mine typically begins with or soon after the planning parameters of
the stoping operation is completed; therefore, equipment used for stoping should be suitably sized for
the stope dimensions and the characteristics of the ore body.

All underground deposits require a method of accessing the ore body; thus, multiple factors should be
known, such as daily production rate and the equipment selected for development and production, with
the associated sizing, utilization, and costing data to assist in determining the best layout.

Table 1.0 and Table 2.0 below show the planned mining fleet, including the surface units required to
support the mine plan. The maximum number of units is shown for each equipment type, and these
numbers vary throughout the mine life, especially trucks. Table 1.0 show the primary production fleet
(except for drilling rigs).
Major underground equipment requirements will vary with time, especially haul trucks and LHDs.

Name Capacity Production Rate Dimensions (m) Turning Dimensions

(Bucket size) (t/day) (m)
(m3)
R3000H 10.5 4000t/day Height Max dump = 5.408 Outside Clearance
Underground Height top of ROPS= 3.002 Radius 7.536
Mining Length(overall digging) = 11.632 Inner Radius 3.247
loader (LHD) Width = 3.554 Axle Oscillation 8o
Height (dump clearance) = 2.553 Articulation Angle
Turning Radius 42.5o
R1700G 8.8 Height Max dump = 4.899 Outside Clearance
Height top of ROPS= 2.557 Radius 6.878
Length(overall digging) = 11.632 Inner Radius 3.229
Width = 2.650 Axle Oscillation 8o
Height (dump clearance) = 2.553 Articulation Angle 44o
AD45B haul 36.6 Height top of load (SAE 2:1) = Outside Clearance
truck 4.333 Radius 9.291
Height (body loading) = 3.473 Inner Radius 5.310
Length overall = 12.040 Axle Oscillation 10o
Width = 3.480 Articulation Angle
42.5o

Table 1.0. Load and Haul Equipment for the mine.

The largest equipment can fit into the pre-determined access ways.

Other necessary underground and surface equipment include:

42 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Underground Equipment Peak Units
Jumbo (Boomer 282) 3
Tamrock 3
Scissor Lift 3
Buggie Drill 2
Boom Truck 1
Toyota Man Carriers (Crews) 2
Truck c/w Boom 2
Toyota Truck (Technical) 1
Toyota Truck (Shifters) 1
Toyota Truck (Electrical) 1
Toyota Truck( Mechanical) 1
Tractor UG Forklifts 2
BTI Rockbreaker/Blockholer 1
Longhole Drill 3
Shotcrete Unit 1
Emulsion Bulk Loader 1
6-Tonne UG LHD 1
Fuel/Lube Truck 1
Subtotal Underground 42

Surface Equipment
Surface Pickup Truck 4
Surface Forklift 1
Mine Rescue Vehicle (MINECAT UT99C) 1
Loader for Backfill (Surface) 1
Shortcrete truck plus one spraying unit 1
Tom truck units 2
Subtotal Surface 9
Total Underground & Surface 51
Table 2.0. Surface and total equipment that will be needed by the mine.

To ensure that the equipment selection is sufficient to keep up with the determined production rate of
4200 tonnes per day, and to calculate how many of each will be needed per shift to keep up with said
production rate productivity calculations will be carried out for the loaders and the haul trucks only.

Productivity Calculations

43 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Cycle Time Calculations

Tonnes per Bucket

Tonnes
= ( Volume Bucket ) x ( Muck Swell Factor ) x ( Muck Density )
Bucket
8.8 x 0.7 x 2.7
17 tonnes/bucket
Travel Time

Travel Distance
Travel Time=
Travel Speed
200 m

100 m/min
= 2.0mins (each way)

Total Cycle Time

Total Cycle Time=( Load Time ) + ( Dump Time )+ (Travel Time ) x 2+( Delay Time)

0.5 min+0.5 min+ ( 2.0 x 2 min ) +1.0 min

6.0 min/trip
Trips per Day

mins
Trips
=
24 hourx 60 ( hour ) x ( LHD Availability ) x ( Stope Availability )
Day Cycle Time

24 hourx 60 ( mins
hour )
x ( 0.8 ) x ( 0.8 )

6.0
154 trips /day

44 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
LHD Mucking Rate

Trips Tonnes
LHD Mucking Rate = x
Day Bucket
Trips Tonnes
154 x 17
Day Bucket
2618 tonnes/ day

Annual LHD Production

Effective hours of peration/ yr =EffectiveHrs/Shift xShift / yr

Annual LHD Production=Effective hours of Operation/ yrxProductionRate
4380 hoursx 109 tonnes/hour
477 420tonnes / yr

Number of LHDs

ProductionTarget / yr
Number of LHDs=
Annual LHD Production
(1500 000 tonnes/ year )

477420 tones/ yr
3.14=3 production LHDs

Haul Truck

Haul Truck Volume

Truck Volume=( Bucket Capacity ) x ( Fill Factor)

Truck Volume=36.6 x 0.9 x 2.7
Truck Volume=88.938
Truck Volume=89 tonnes

45 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Haul Cycle Time

Total Cycle Time=( Load Time ) + ( Dump Time )+ (Travel Time Loaded ) + ( Travel Time Empty )+ ( Delay Time )
Total Cycle Time=( 2.5 min )+ ( 0.5 min )+ ( 30 min )+ ( 23.3 min ) + ( 1.0 min )
Total Cycle Time=57.30 min /trip

Trips per Day

mins
Trips
=
24 hourx 60 ( hour ) x ( Haulage Availability ) x ( Stope Availability )
Day Cycle Time

24 hourx 60 ( mins
hour )
x ( 0.8 ) x ( 0.8 )

57.30
16 trips /day

Haulage Rate

Trips Tonnes
Haulage Rate= x
Day Trip
Trips Tonnes
16 x 89
Day Trip
1424 tonnes/ day

Annual Haulage Production

Effective hours of peration/ yr =EffectiveHrs/Shift xShift / yr

Annual Haulage Production=Effective hours of Operation/ yrxProductionRate
4380 hoursx 59 tonnes/hour
258 420 tonnes/ yr

46 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Number of Haul Trucks

ProductionTarget / yr
Number of Haul Truks=
Annual LHD Production
(1500 000 tonnes/ year )

258 420 tones/ yr
5.80=6 production Haulage

3. Drill and Blast Standards for Production.

Stope Blasting (Production Blasting)

Both Jumbo and Tamrock drills will be used in production drilling of the stopes. The stopes will be drilled
downwards for bogging at the haulage level mostly using Tamrock Solo Longhole Drilling (Simba).

i. Standard Drill & Blast Design

The example stope 1725O2-A will be used as the example stope here, but generally speaking the stope
length varies between 30m 70m throughout the orebody. Stopes with lengths longer than 40m cannot
be mined in one go, therefore it must be divided in half to be mined in two phases.

Firstly, a slot (4m4m) will be blasted to create an initial void whereby half of the stope will be blasted
out. After mucking, the stop will be backfilled with paste. After the stope cures, the second phase will
commence, that is, a slot (4m4m) will then be blasted to create an initial void whereby the remaining
half of the stope will be blasted out.

Given below is a sample scenario of the stope production blasting;

Explosive Information

Explosive: ANFO
Energy (RBS): 3730 j/g (RBS = ANFO Relative Bulk Strength)
Blow Density: 0.95 g/cc
Rock Density: 2.8g/cc
Blasthole Diameter: 102mm
Booster: 400g or 250g

Stope Information:

Stope Dimension: 30m 65m 10m

Total Tonnes: 30m 65m 10m 2.7t/m3 = 52,650 t
Slot Tonnes = 4m 4m 16.3m = 704.16 t

47 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
So for the first half of the example stope 1725O2-A which is stope 1725O2-A1:
Stope Dimension: 30m 33m 10m
Total Tonnes: 30m 33m 10m 2.7t/m3 = 26,730 t
Slot Tonnes = 4m 4m 16.3m = 704.16 t
Remaining Tonnes after blasted Slot (4m 4m) = 26,730t 704.16 t = 26,026t

Figure 1.0. Ring Pattern Standard

Ring Information:

Stope Tonnes: 26,026t

Note: The table gives the average tonnes for each of the rings.

Ring Tonnes (t) Grade (g/t)

1 2,892 4.0
2 2,892 4.0
3 2,892 4.0

48 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 4 2,892 4.0
5 2,892 4.0
6 2,892 6.0
7 2,892 6.0
8 2,892 6.0
9 2,892 6.0
Table 1.0: Ring Information

For stope 1725O2-A2:

Stope Dimension: 30m 32m 10m
Total Tonnes: 30m 32m 10m 2.7t/m3 = 25,920 t
Slot Tonnes = 4m 4m 16.3m = 704.16 t
Remaining Tonnes after blasted Slot (4m 4m) = 25,920t 704.16 t = 25,216t

Ring Information:

Stope Tonnes: 25,216t

Note: The table gives the average tonnes for each of the rings.

Ring Tonnes (t) Grade (g/t)

1 2,802 6.0
2 2,802 6.0
3 2,802 6.0
4 2,802 6.0
5 2,802 4.0
6 2,802 4.0
7 2,802 4.0
8 2,802 4.0
9 2,802 4.0
Table 2.0. Ring Information

Charge Length:

(Assuming that the 9 rings have the same profile)

Ring Hole Type Hole Length (m) Stemming Length (m) Charge Length (m)
Number
Stabbi A 3 1 2
Stabbi B 3 1 2
Longhole C 5.2 2 3.2
Longhole D 15.2 2 13.2
Longhole E 19 2 17
1-9 Longhole F 16.3 2 14.3
Longhole G 19 2 17
Longhole H 15.2 2 13.2
Longhole I 5.2 2 3.2
Stabbi J 3 1 2

49 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 Stabbi K 3 1 2
Table 3.0. Charge Length

Figure 2.0: Plan View of Ring Pattern Standard

(a) Tonnes & Grade of Blast

Stope 1725O2-A1:

Tonnes=26,026 t

( ( 2,892 4 ) 5 ) +( ( 2,892 6 ) 4)
Grade= =4.89 g/t
26,026
Stope 1725O2-A2:

50 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 Tonnes=25,216 t

( ( 2,802 4 ) 5 ) +( ( 2,802 6 ) 4)
Grade= =4.89 g/t
25,216
4.89+ 4.89
Aaverage Grade= =4.89 g/t
2
(b) Powder Factor and Energy Factor

102
2000



x kg /m
0.95 g /cc=

0.95 g /cc=0.95 t /m3=950 kg /m3
102
2000


x=950 kg /m3
7.76 kg
Mass of Explosive= 1,288.5=9,998.76 kg
m
Therefore,

9,998.76 kg
P . F= =0.26 kg/t
39,204
(c) Likely Burden & Spacing

Burden, B:

e
D bh=B 1000 24 ( r
+18 )
Where, Dbh = blast hole diameter

B = Burden
ex = explosive density
r = rock density

d 24 ex
B=
1000 r( + 18 =
1000 )
102 24 0.95
2.7 (
+18 =2.7 m )
Spacing, S:

51 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 1
1
S= ( 1.15 ) B=( 1.15 ) 2.7=2.7 3.1
(d) Drilling Factor

Stope tonnes = 39,795.84t

Blast Hole Drilled Meters = 107.1m 15 = 1,606.5m

DF = 39,795.84t / 1,606.5m = 24.8t/m

(e) Blast Sequence:

52 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 Figure 3.0. Plan View - Blast Sequence

53 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 Figure 4.0. Plan View - Blast Sequence

Given above is the Standard drill & blast design for the production stopes. This standard design will be
used for all the production stopes. Hence, the length and width of the stopes will vary from one level to
another, however, the thickness of 10m will remain constant for the 350m strike length. The 10 m
thickness is basically to ensure high recovery of the blasted muck.

54 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 ii. Slot Pattern - Standard

For the production stope, the slot is fired and opened and the rings are fired after. The success of the
stope blast depends on the slot. When a slot fails, a new slot will be re drilled and blasted.

Slot Design

The height of the stope (from backs of bottom level to the floor of top level) varies between 30m 34m.

Information

Ore density 2.7t/m3

Youngs Modulus 75 GPa
Explosive type ANFO
Explosive density 0.95t/m3
Detonators Dynos Nonel LP&MS
Blast Hole diameter 102mm

a. Designs:

Slot Pattern (4m4m)

a) A 4m by 4m slot pattern

I. Effective relief hole diameter

eff = 110 + (11.4) L

= 110 + (11.4)30
= 452mm

II. Number of reamer holes

= eff/n0.5
= 452/ 40.5
=226mm

III. Critical Space

CS = 2 * (eff)*(E/Eo) *(REE/100)
=2*(226) * (76Gpa/76Gpa) * (100/100)
= 452mm

This is the standard template to be used for in all the down hole slots.

Reamers 4
Charge Holes 17
No of rings - 9
VR = 8.7 ~ 9
Bit size:

55 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Reamer = 200mm
Charge holes = 102mm

Slot Pattern (4m4m)

Figure 5.0. Slot Pattern (4m4m) Cross Section

b. Powder Factor:

102
2000



x kg /m
0.95 g /cc=

3 3
0.95 g /cc=0.95 t /m =950 kg /m

56 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 102
2000


x=950 kg /m3
Mass of Explosive=7.76 kg / m 30=232.8 kg

Therefore,

232.8 kg
P . F= =0.18 kg /t
1,296
c. Drilling Factor:
Slot tonnes = 1,296t
Blast Hole = 17 * 30 = 510m
Reamer Hole = 4*30m =120m
Total distance = 510m +120m = 630m

DF = 1,296t / 630m = 2.06 t/m

iii. Explosive type:

The explosive products to be used in the stope blasting are; ammonium nitrate (ANFO), emulsion,
package explosive (busters), detonators (electric & non electric detonators), green cord, boosters, Ikon
detonators, z bar, devil detonators. Other accessories used in the blast include; spiders, liners, collar
pipes, stem aggregates, chock block, firing lines and so forth. The charging is done by pneumatic devices.

For the stope production blasting, both high and low density explosives will be used. The high density
explosives will be used in the middle part of the stope while the low density explosives will be used on
the stope boundary basically to avoid dilution and wall instability.

4. Stope / Production Mucking

Mucking is the process of excavating blasting material,
usually ore, using loading equipment into a material-
transportation system like trucks, trams, conveyors
etcetera that take it to the next stage of production which is
crushing and grinding which indicate the onset of mineral
processing.

In the mining of the Fishmeri deposit, mucking will be

firstly undertaken by the operator-controlled CAT Loaders as
free bogging, then remote bogging will be used to muck
out the rest of the stope when the brow of the stope is
open.

57 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .

10 m
The blue-shaded area indicates the extent of free bogging, while the unshaded area remote bogging will
attempt to recover. By all means, the drill and blast design of the stope will attempt to push more
material to the entrance of the drawpoint to make free bogging easier.
Figure 1.5. Mucking of stope.

There are two loading bays in the mine at each level: one where the haulage drift intersects the FWD
and the second where the haulage drift intersects the waste drive between both orebodies. Loading bay
1 (LB-1) will be used when the extraction of Orebody 1 is taking place, and LB-2 for the extraction of
Orebody 2.

A disadvantage of the extraction method detailed in the previous section is the inefficient stope mucking
characteristics. By requiring a bottom up moving draw point following the vertical retreat of the stope,
muck must be carried out in areas at the stope crowns that have previously been subjected to stress
distribution and stope blasting. With the bottom up vertical retreat, each stope access becomes a
drawpoint and thus requires significant reinforcement, along with all exposed backs. This will be done
with cable bolts driven from ore drifts into the immediate hanging wall.

Additional footwall development in waste may also be required on each sublevel to establish multiple
points of access to each stope to allow for effective mucking.

5. Material Transportation
Blasted material will be loaded by underground CAT R3000H Loaders and R1700G loaders from the
stopes according to the sequence it is mined (refer to the previous section Extraction Sequence). The
loading bay throughout the mine is where the level intersects the footwall drives (FWD-1 and FWD-2);
trucks converge here from the intake decline and are loaded accordingly in a First-Come-First-Serve
(FIFO) manner. The truck fleet for this mine is homogenous, composed of CAT AD45B trucks.

The loaded trucks return to the surface via the return decline.

6. Stope Reconciliation
Stope reconciliation is all about comparing how successful the stopes design is, by measuring the
amount of waste introduced into the ore. One way to monitor the performance of a stope is through a
stope reconciliation practice called Cavity Monitoring System, or CMS. CMS utilizes laser technology to
scan stopes right after blasting processes have been carried out, and the resulting 3D image of the stope
is generated in the accompanying software allowing Drill and Blast engineers to identify where the extra
material called overbreak and underbreak were introduced from outside the design stope boundaries.
Dilution and recovery are important terms here, affecting the overall economic viability of the stope
being mined.

7. Backfilling
Backfilling Method
In the Fishmeri orebody, the preferred fill type is paste as it is a slurry type backfill with very little water
drainage. Rock Fill (RF) combined with Paste will also be used interchangeably in the backfilling of
secondary stopes. Rill angles for RF is 42 - 45 and PF are flat (180). The mining method used in
Fishmeri orebody is the Primary Secondary Transverse. This method uses the basic principle for the Cut

58 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
and Fill Method. Hence, once a stope is cut (mined), it will be filled with material in order for further
mining to progress.

1. Backfill Plant

i. Paste Backfill Plant Design

The paste backfill plant will be designed to prepare a 250 mm (10 slump) backfill using mill tailings. The
paste backfill plant will be developed around the dewatering of tailings and then adding cement before
the mixture is pumped to the stopes. The paste backfill plant is summarized as follows:

Thickened tailings are pumped from the tailings thickener underflow to an agitated filter feed
storage tank.
From the filter feed storage tank, the thickened tailings can be split, with a large portion directed
to the vacuum disc filters and a small portion sent directly to the conditioning mixer for slump
adjustment.
Filter cake from the vacuum disc filters is conveyed to a conditioning mixer while the filtrate is
directed to a seal water sump and back to the thickener feed box. The filter drain as well as
clean-up of the paste backfill plant area is collected in a separate sump and also directed back
into the thickener feed box.
The continuous mixer discharge and normal Portland cement are weighed and fed into a batch
mixer to which process water is added so that the mixer discharge is of a consistent paste slump.
Normal Portland cement will be delivered to site, more than likely in isotainers and discharged
into one large capacity silo, designed to offer capacity for approximately one day of continuous
operation at the highest binder consumption rate.
The discharge of paste from the batch mixer will be delivered to the stopes via a pipeline in the
ramp down to backfill drifts.
Distribution of the paste will be via pumping as a result of the long distances and the flow
characteristics of paste.

ii. Plant Location

The location of the paste backfill plant was examined as part of a trade-off study looking at different
options. The three options examined for the paste plant were as follows:

Option 1: Paste backfill plant on surface adjacent to the mill building (base case);
Option 2: Paste backfill plant on surface as a stand-alone building above the underground
workings; and
Option 3: Paste backfill plant underground closer to the mine workings.

Description Option 1 Option 2 Option 3

Cost (US$) Cost (US$) Cost (US$)
Process Mechanical Cost 4.9 5 4.9
Direct Plant Cost 8.1 10.3 7.7
Paste Distribution Cost 1.4 1 1.1
Indirect Cost 5.9 6.5 5.6

59 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Contingency (20%) 3.9 4.4 3.7
Total Capital Cost 24.2 27.2 23.0

Table 1: Plant Location Capital Cost Comparison

Description Option 1 Option 2 Option 3

Cost (US$) Cost (US$) Cost (US$)
Consumables
Power 2, 488, 000 3, 277, 000 3, 085, 000
Binder 6, 627, 000 5, 744, 000 5, 744, 000
Other 669, 000 815, 000 718, 000
Labor 1, 588, 000 1, 979, 000 1, 696, 000
Total Operating Cost 11, 370, 000 11, 815, 000 11, 243,000

Table 2: Plant Location Operating Cost Comparison

For the above options, we compared the possible advantages and disadvantages and provided an
estimate of the associated capital and operating costs. Following a review of the trade-off study, we
made the decision to proceed with Option 1 with the paste backfill plant located on surface, adjacent to
the flotation plant.

iii. Paste Backfill Preparation and Transportation

A batch mixer will be used to combine the various batch constituents into the final paste product where
the conditioned tailings are mixed with normal Portland cement and water so that the discharge from
the mixer is of a consistent paste slump. The binder is added in proportion to the measured mass of the
conditioned tailings in the tailings weigh hopper. The batch mixer power draw is constantly measured
and water is added to the mixer in order to adjust the actual power draw required to obtain a 250 mm
(10) slump. The paste is then discharged from the batch paste mixer where it is retained within a paste
hopper. The paste hopper is the final receptacle for the paste prior to entering the underground
distribution system, and is essential to ensure proper operation of the positive displacement pump. Load
cells on the paste hopper ensure that the level of material in the hopper is maintained above a minimum
level to prevent the risk of air entering the distribution system.

A wet, dynamic dust collector attached to the batch mixer will prevent the release of any cement dust
from the mixer, with the resultant dilute waste slurry flowing to the clean-up sump. As described in
Section 4.0, the underground distribution system cannot be designed to operate by gravity, therefore
pumping is required. A service or standby piston pump will pump the paste through the distribution
pipeline to the stopes.

iv. Pipeline Design

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The preliminary pipeline design will be composed of 6 Schedule 80 carbon steel pipe. The grade of pipe
will likely be an API 5L Gr.X52 or higher to support the pipeline stresses while providing enough wear
thickness to accommodate some loss of internal pipe wall thickness. Based on the fine nature of the
tailings, it is not anticipated that ceramic lined or induction hardened piping will be required. It is
possible that there could be some benefit to using those materials at key locations such as elbows or the
bottoms of boreholes; however, at this time it is considered likely that carbon steel will be the most cost
effective solution. Further optimization of the wear materials in the pipeline could be done during the
first few years of operation.

The underground piping will be hung from the back using dywidag and channel hangers. Bracing will be
installed at all changes in direction and will consist of a rigid pipe clamp with angles welded to anchor
plates that are bolted to the back. Provision for cleanouts, pressure transducers, flush points and rupture
spools will be made at regular intervals along the pipeline length.

v. Paste Fill Strength

Based on the estimated UCS test, the binder requirements for a 250 mm (10) slump material would be
would be 7%, 5% and 2.5 wt% binder addition, respectively, for the strength requirements shown above.

The average cement content required on a yearly basis will be between 4 and 5%.

2. Stope Backfilling
a. Backfilling in accordance with Mining Sequence

Since the mining method is primary secondary transverse stoping, backfilling will be done in accordance
with the mining sequence. The primary stopes will be mined out and backfilled with paste fill. After the
paste fill is cured, the secondary stopes will be mined out and filled with paste and rock fill combined.

61 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Figure 1: Long Section View Showing Backfilling Sequence

Figure 2: Plan View Showing Backfilling Sequence

Backfill plays an important role in the progress of the underground mine. When a void stope has been
backfilled, it now becomes the platform for further mining. In reference to the accompanying long
section view, if stope S2.3 is to be mined, stope S3.2 must be backfilled so the mining equipment can be
able to access the ore stope S3.3 and mine it. This will produce a platform for mining the remaining
stopes and for the progress of the mining.

62 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
The mining sequence is illustrated on the other page to give a fair idea of a mining scenario with its
backfilling used in underground mining at Fishmeri orebody.

Figure 3.0. Mining sequence

In the same figure above, the stope S2.4 can be mined from the access to the right. Hence, it depends on
the established access. Yet stope S3.2 must not be left void before mining S2.3 from the left due to the
reasons mentioned. And importantly, the type of materials that will be backfilled is of paramount
importance and is determined by the stope, its location and hence for further mining (in horizontal or
vertical mining directions).

b. Types of Backfill

i. Rock Fill (RF)

Rock fill is the waste rock material used in the filling of voids underground. The waste rocks come from
within the UG mining or if not enough from the surface.
Since RF is loose rocks, they are used to fill an open stope where there will be no mining taking place
right below the stope.

RF can also be used together with PF and Paste Fill as shown in the figure below.

63 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Figure 4: Long section

Once the bottom part of the stope (foundation) has been filled with Paste, the remaining portion can be
filled with RF as shown on the figure above.

ii. Paste Fill (PF)

Paste fill (PF) refers to the mixture of cement with mill tailings which are smaller in size (45mm) than the
CAF aggregates. The cement content varies depending on the UCS required subsequently in relation to
the mining sequence.

PF is transported to the pour level in pipes as slurry form from the paste plant located near the adit of
the 5 Level Twin Decline.
Paste Fill has high uniaxial and UCS strength than RF and CAF with high density than CAF and completely
fills the void without any tiny openings. PF is used to fill stopes that are vulnerable to collapse and it can
also be combined to fill stopes that will be filled with CAF or RF but needs stronger bund wall. PF is also
used as connecting/joining materials to evenly distribute stress among filled materials.

c. Paste-wall Construction

Once a stope is empty, it is bulk headed (sealed) off. A bulk - headed wall/paste wall is built to keep the
paste fill inside the stope. It is equipped with drains that reach into the stopes which assists with stope
drainage. This will be done by the construction/paste fill crew.

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Figure 5.0. Paste Wall Design.

Figure 6.0. Plan View of Paste Wall

65 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 d. Backfill Infrastructures

The backfilling plant will be located on the surface. The paste fill material will be pumped from the
surface and transported by 125 mm diameter pipes to the stopes via the twin declines.

e. Backfill Production

Presented below is the scenario outlining the duration of a stope backfill and curing.

Stope A1:

Stope Volume = 30m 33m 10m = 9,900m 3

Duration of Fill = 9 days (216hours)

Paste Backfill Rate: 9,900m3/(9days 24hrs/day) = 46m3/hr.

Backfill Cure: 21 days

With the backfill rate of 46m3/hr, it will take at least 9 days to backfill the stopes and 21 days for the
stopes to cure.

Summary: Stope Design Features

The design features section of the final design is basically a summary of the stope to date. Here special
emphasis is placed on the smaller or more detailed design features and include final stope dimensions,
drilling layouts, stope extraction, etc. This is still a summary and most of the aspects mentioned here is
to give the reader an idea behind the stope design and how things will be done. As an example, stope
1725O2-A is used again. See the attached Appendix B and onwards for details to the 1725O2-A summary
below.

1725O2-A lies at the edge of orebody two (OB2) and is designed to yield approximately 50, 625 tons @
4.77 g/t. Owing to its length (>30m), it will be divided into identical stopes 1725O2-A1 and 1725O2-A2.
The stope will be drilled from one sublevel directly above it; 1765SL, but development requirements for
the production of the stope will be in 1725L. 1725O2-A is approximately 32 m in perpendicular height, 10
m wide and 65 m in length.

1725O2-A is to be drilled from level 1765L and includes two Cut Off (CO) slots and Main Ring (MR)s. A
slot will be opened down from 1765L using 102mm holes for the CO and all MRs. The decision to do this
is based on the availability of the 102mm rig (DR11, DR12).

Down holes from 1765L will be drilled. There are nine rings for each production D&B sequence to the east
of the 4mx4m slot. High density explosives (ANFO) will be used for firing within the stope, whilst
boundary rings will be fired using low density explosives (Isanol 50).

A single drawpoint will be developed on 1725L for the extraction of 1725O2-A1 and 1725O2-A2. The
stope will be mucked by underground CAT LHDs from two drawpoints on 1725L into haul trucks to be
directly transported to the surface via the return decline (AD-2).

66 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
1725O2-A is currently scheduled to be filled with Pastefill. As it is a primary stope in the Primary-
Secondary extraction sequence, it will be completely filled with pastefill up tp level 1765L. 1725O2-A1 will
be mined and backfilled first, then 1725O2-A2. The pastefill will be piped to Orebody 1 and Orebody 2 via
the intake decline AD-1 via fill line in the 1725XC-1. Lines are also set up for the filling of 1725O2-A
through the HWD.

Appendix

APPENDIX A: Selection of stope 1725O2-A

1725O2-A

APPENDIX B: Summary Physicals for stope 1725O2-A.

67 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Life of Mine (LOM) and Production Rates.
Life of Mine.
To calculate the entire time taken to completely mine out the Fishmeri deposit, the Taylors Formula will
be used:
0.25
Life of Mine=0.2 ( ReserveTonnag e )
0.25
0.2 19438659 =13.28 14 years
It will take about 14 years to fully mine out the Fishmeri orebody.

Production rate per Day.

Production rate (tonnes per day) can also be calculated using another formula supplied by Taylor:

Production per day =0.0143 194386590.75

0.0143 194386590.75=4,186.35 4,200 tonnes per day
This estimate is based on the assumption that the mine operates for a total of 350 days per year.

A working schedule of 2 shifts per day will be utilized with 10 hours of work per shift. The other four
hours within a day will be used by workers to change shift, or for equipment to be refueled etcetera.
Therefore, the mine will operate for a total of 700 shifts with 7000 working hours per year.

68 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Mine Cost Estimations.
Mine costs are divided into two main categories; Capital expenditure and operational expenditure.

Capital Expenditure (CAPEX)

Yowa (undated) stated that:

A capital development comes under the capital expenditure (CAPEX) category while an operating
development comes under the operating expenditure (OPEX). CAPEX developments require a very high
capital as they serve as the primary accesses for the entire mine and are treated as initial capital
investment of the mining project. CAPEX development like any other capitals expenditures do qualified
for tax rebate. OPEX developments are accesses that directly linked to the extraction or exploitation of
the orebody. In most cases, an OPEX development is short-lived than a CAPEX development.

The most common CAPEX developments are the shaft, decline (incline), level access, footwall drive
(FWD), cuddy, sump, some stockpiles, and other developments for establishing fixed infrastructures like
pump station, electrical substations, paste reticulation, primary ventilation raise and drive, crib room,
escape way (ladder way), workshop, magazine, refuge chambers, ore pass, draw points and chutes.

This first part of the economic analysis report serves to outline the necessary CAPEX for underground
development of the Fishmeri Orebody, which is to be mined using the unsupported Sublevel Stoping
method.

Capital Cost Estimation for Mine Development (after OHara, 1980).

The capital cost estimations for the Fishmeri body underground mine were modelled after OHara
(1980), in a manner that is simple and easy to understand. The entire underground fixed CAPEX were
classified as follows:

1. Shaft Sinking
2. Mine Development (ore reserve tonnage equal to 2000 times daily mill tonnage)
3. Hoisting Plant.
4. Compressor Plant.
5. Underground Mining Equipment.
6. Underground Mine Maintenance Facilities.
7. Infrastructure: Electric Power Supply/Distribution and Water Supply part of Processing Plant;
General Plant Services, Access Road to Main Thoroughfare, Townsite and Housing.
8. Feasibility, Design Engineering, Planning
9. Project Supervision, Management, Expediting and General Construction Facilities including
Camp Costs.
10. Administration, Accounting, Legal, Key Operating Staff Employment.

Appendix A presents the formulae and necessary parameters used to estimate the mines fixed CAPEX.
Some of these parameters require input like shaft cross-sectional area (in the case of a rectangular
shaft), production rate (ton/day), number of employees, average width of mining stopes etcetera. Graph
ranges are also provided as a rough guide to selecting appropriate values that allow the estimation to be
feasible.

69 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
In addition, a correcting annually-differing Mine & Mill factor is divided over a common base of 1400
(Mular & Poulin, 1998) and multiplied to all the items as listed above to update the fixed CAPEX to the
relevant year, which is 2017.

It is estimated (roughly, as the actual figure is unavailable in online literature) that the Mine and Mill
factor for the year 2017 is: 1982.9

Infrastructure for a Mine/Mill Complex. .

Originally, infrastructure costs were estimated jointly and separately for a mine/mill complex by O'Hara.
These costs are largely attributable to the mine, if it is underground, and not to the mill. Some flexibility
to assign separately a proportion of infrastructure costs to the mill and the rest to the mine is obtained
by calculating the joint costs and apportioning them according to experience. However, for this instance
(in the case of this orebody Fishmeri) it will be assumed that mill infrastructure is included in the
following largely-mining infrastructure calculations so it will be unnecessary to redo the calculations
again.

Infrastructure costs are determined herein as follows:

(1) General Plant Services

(2) Access Road to Main Thoroughfare
(3) Townsite and Housing
(4) Feasibility, Planning and Design
(5) Supervision. Camp
(6) Administration, Accounting, Legal, Key Staff.

Items (1) and (3) depend upon an estimate of the number of employees at the mine/mill complex; item
(2) depends on estimates of the lengths of roads and bridges. Items (4) to (6) reflect a portion of these
costs that are associated with infrastructure and previously estimated as part of the processing plant.
Appendix C summarizes infrastructure capital cost estimation, which uses equations developed by
O'Hara.

The number of employees in the mine/mill complex is estimated to be 300, with 100 employees on a
FIFO schedule.

Capital Cost Estimation for Mineral Processing (after OHara, 1980).

The O'Hara method and the popular ratio and factored estimation techniques to determine capital
expenditures for processing plants are described with corresponding examples.

Infrastructure costs are estimated in a separate section, under the mine capital expenditure. O'Hara has
itemized mineral processing plant fixed capital costs which may be divided into the following categories:

1. Plant-Site Clearing and Mass Excavation

2. Concrete Foundations and Detailed Excavations
3. Crushing Plant, Coarse Ore Storage, Conveyors
4. Concentrator Building
5. Grinding Section, Fine Ore Storage
6. Flotation and/or Processing Section

70 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
7. Thickening and Filtering Section
8. Concentrate Storage and Loading
9. Tailings Storage
10. Electric Power Supply and Distribution (Mine/Mill)
11. Water Supply (Mine/Mill)
12. Infrastructure: General Plant Services, Access Road to Main Thoroughfare, Townsite and Housing.
13. Feasibility Studies, Design Engineering, Technical Planning
14. Project Supervision, Contract Management, Expediting and General Construction Facilities
including Camp Costs.
15. Administration, Accounting, Legal, Pre-Production Employment of Key Operating Staff

Cost-Parameter equations were developed for all items other than items (11) to (13) which are
calculated as percentages of the others.
Water Cost Estimation (after OHara, 1980).
The cost of water flowing into the mill is also estimated using the below figure:

Figure 1.0. Water requirement estimations for the mill.

All the above CAPEX yield a sum of

Total Mine CAPEX Cost: US$ 307,910,430.28
Total Mill CAPEX Cost: US$ 99,271,973.05
Total Mine/Mill CAPEX Cost: US$ 407,182,403.33

71 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
To obtain the CAPEX unit cost that was used in the BECOG calculation:

*Mine life and annual production were obtained using Taylors Formula for mine life. This is shown under
the Life of Mine section of this project report.

Details as to how the above figures were obtained are found attached in the Appendix of this subsection,
as spreadsheets.

Operational Expenditure (OPEX)

For the mine, its operational costs were estimated as shown in Tables 1.0 to 3.0 with the total
operational expenditure cumulating after the last table.

COST DESCRIPTION UNIT COST UNIT %Variable Cost Variable Cost

Mining:
Mining Administration 6.5 $/t 44% 2.86
Engineering 1.2 $/t 0% 0
Training 0.05 $/t 0% 0
Survey 0.25 $/t 0% 0

Geology 0.75 $/t 0% 0

Level Services & Construction 5.2 $/t 96% 4.99
Power 3.8 $/t 100% 3.80
Ground Support and rehab 3.2 $/t 100% 3.20
Production Drilling 2.2 $/t 74% 1.63
Production Blasting 0.2 $/t 34% 0.07
Loading 3.8 $/t 93% 3.53
Truck Haulage 7.6 $/t 92% 6.99
Backfill Waste Rock 3.5 $/t 0
Backfill CAF $/t 97% 0.00
Backfill Paste 8.9 $/t 0
Diamond Drilling-Geology 4.3 $/t 64% 2.75
Diamond Drilling-Geotech 0.05 $/t 64% 0.03
Fixed Equipment Maintenance 3.4 $/t 30% 1.02
Mobile Equipment Maintenance 6.5 $/t 30% 1.95
Total: 61.40 32.83
Table 1.0. Mining Operational Costs.

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Process:
Primary Crusher 0.8 $/t 90% 0.72
Mill Administration 0.5 $/t 0% 0.00
Concentrator 3.2 $/t 98% 3.14
Desorption/Refining 2.4 $/t 97% 2.33
Pressure Oxidation 5 $/t 95% 4.75
Water System 0.9 $/t 100% 0.90
Oxygen Plants 5.9 $/t 97% 5.72
Lime Plant 2.1 $/t 96% 2.02
Assaying 0.01 $/t 47% 0.00
Grinding 8.5 $/t 97% 8.25
Mill Training 0.2 $/t 0% 0.00
Metallurgical Engineering 0.3 $/t 0% 0.00
Lime Delivery 0.25 $/t 90% 0.23
Secondary Crusher 0.1 $/t 100% 0.10
Total: 30.16 28.15
Table 2.0. Mineral Processing Operational Costs.

General and Admin (G&A):

Maintenance 6.35 $/t 30% 1.91
Accounting 2.9 $/t 0% 0.00
Supply 4.5 $/t 30% 1.35
Asset Protection 3.85 $/t 0% 0.00
Stategic 1.45 $/t 0% 0.00
Environment/Sustainable 0.8 $/t 0% 0.00
Development
Community Affairs 2.05 $/t 0% 0.00
Occ Health & Safety 0.95 $/t 0% 0.00
Personnel 1.05 $/t 0% 0.00
Administration 7.45 $/t 0% 0.00
Total: 31.35 3.26
Table 3.0. General and Administrative Operational Costs.

All operational costs from those three different areas in the mine add up to a total unit cost of
122.91 $/t that varies within $64.23/t.

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Appendix: CAPEX and OPEX Estimations

Appendix A: Formula required to estimate CAPEX (OHara, 1989).

74 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
APPENDIX B: Different factors afecting CAPEX Calculation.

75 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Appendix C: CAPEX Estimation (Spreadsheet).

Mine Economic Analysis

Cash-flow Model
A mine exists to produce revenue to pay back its investors and to generate income that can cover its
running costs; therefore it is of great importance the mine project is economically viable. For this project,
Cash-flow Model integrated with a depreciation method was drawn up to assess its profitability.

The 200% Double Declining Balance Cash-flow model was used. The 200% DDB method of depreciation
is used because it is beneficial to both the state and the persons that own the project, as it allows for a
quick recovery of start-up capital in the initial years of production and then when the production and
revenue start to ramp up, taxes imposed by the government increase as well. Both the state and the
project owners are at an advantage.

The project will be fully financed at 100% Equity by the project owners. This is possible because of the
current gold prices and the high grades of the overall deposit.

The Fishmeri Deposits Economic Viability at a gold price of US$1200/Oz and an average mineable
deposit grade of 5.3g/t is summarized as shown in Table 1.0:

NPV ($m) $ 380.66

IRR (%) 24%
PBP 4.06
KE 0.95
Table 1.0. Summary of the Fishmeris Economic Viability Parameters.

The project is viable, with a Net Present Value of US$380.66 million, an Internal Rate of Return of 12%
which is higher than the discount rate of 10%, a short payback period of about 4 years and a Capital
Coefficient value of 0.95.

76 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Sensitivity Analysis
Introductory excerpt taken from CAPCOSTS: A HANDBOOK FOR ESTIMATING MINING AND MINERAL
PROCESSING EQUIPMENT COSTS AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND AIDING MINERAL PROJECT
EVALUATIONS by Mular, A. & Poulin, R. (1998).

A sensitivity analysis examines the effects of variations in project parameters on investment decision
criteria. The profitability of a mining operation is directly influenced by variations in cost, revenue and
recovery parameters and by other economic and financial variables, which the end result is shown in the
NPV.

A range of possible NPV's are calculated by testing the extent to which individual variables influence the
economic attractiveness of an investment. Usually, a series of calculations is made using various values
of the variable under consideration while holding all other variables constant. This is the simplest form
of sensitivity analysis, examining the effect of one variable at a time. By varying a particular parameter
over a range of values, a range of profitability values is obtained for the project.

By analyzing all parameters in this way, the sensitivity analysis enables a decision-maker to define the
parameters to which decision criteria are most sensitive. These strategic parameters can be given more
attention at the estimation stage and given careful scrutiny at the subsequent risk analysis stage; three
families of parameters are used, namely, cost, revenue and recovery however since one individual cost
can be lowered to overall productivity expenses, cost per unit of metal could be more representative.

Sensitivity is used to answer "what if' questions. This would include best case and worse case scenarios,
where many parameters are varied simultaneously.

For this deposits sensitivity analysis, only variations in metal price and metal grade will be considered.

Grade and Price effect on NPV

Sensitivity Analysis: Grade

3000

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

-500
4.0g/t 4.3g/t 5g/t 5.3g/t 6g/t 12g/t

Figure 3.0. Sensitivity Analysis on grade changes.

77 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 Sensitivity Analysis: Gold Price
500
450
400
NPV (US$ m)
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
$1000/Oz $1050/Oz $1100/Oz $1150/Oz $1200/Oz $1250/Oz

Figure 4.0. Sensitivity Analysis on Price.

It can be seen that grade changes impact the NPV of the project more than price. Grade changes were
used with the given gold price of US$ 1200/Oz, whilst price changes were made with the calculated
reserve grade of 5.3 g/t constant. Therefore, mine profitability changes drastically as blocks of grades
greater or less than 5.3 g/t are mined so mine operational costs must be altered accordingly to maintain
profitability.

78 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Service and Infrastructure.
1. Mine Ventilation
The overall necessity is that in all places where personnel are required to work or travel, airflows
must be provided in such quantities that will safeguard safety and health, comply with statutory
requirements, and that will also furnish reasonable comfort

McPherson, 1993 in Subsurface Ventilation Engineering.

The basic principle of good ventilation is its effectiveness. With that in mind, it must be recognized that
the primary function of any underground ventilating system is to effectively ventilate the workings in a
way that air is breathable by workers and doesnt contain physical (heat and humidity, dust particles) and
chemical (gases, exhaust fumes) pollutants that may adversely affect the workers, whether it be long-
term or short-term effects.

It is common knowledge that air always flows from areas of high pressure to low pressure. Therefore, a
pressure difference must exist between the mine and the surface for the mine to be ventilated by the
total primary volume capacity of air. In ideal circumstances only the pressure difference is required to
cause air to flow however in reality resistance to airflow must be factored into the calculation of the
required air intake capacity. Fans are used to create this pressure difference. McPherson (1993) identifies
mine pressure to be either negative (exhausting system, since a fan creates a suction in the system,
putting mine pressure below the atmospheric datum) or positive (blowing system).

For the case of the Fishmeri deposit, only a preliminary design will be suggested that centers around a
required pressure difference, mine resistance and intake capacity estimated roughly using empirical
methods and general rules of thumb.

Factors that determine total primary volume capacity (and pressure) requirements include:

(a) The depth of the mine or tunnel.

(b) The mine or tunnel complexity.
(c) The mining, tunnelling and extraction methods.
(d) The size of development openings.
(e) The equipment being used underground.

Ventilation Safety: Threshold Values.

Mine underground personnel are continuously exposed to airborne contaminants. Provided that there is
a time and concentration limit to exposure, the worker will not develop any adverse physical effects in
response to repeated and occasional exposure to the contaminants. Limits in place are called Threshold
Limit Values, and is defined in turn by the Time Weighted Average (TWA), the Short Term Exposure Limit
(STEL) values and the Ceiling Limit. Appendix A lists the various airborne contaminants found in
underground conditions, and their TLVs.

79 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
The Time-Weighted Average (TWA) is the average concentration to which nearly all workers may be
exposed over an 8 hour shift and a 40 hour work week without known adverse effects. However, many
substances are sufficiently toxic that short-term exposures at higher concentrations may prove harmful
or even fatal. The Short-Term Exposure Limit (STEL) is a time-weighted average concentration occurring
over a period of not more than 15 minutes. That is, concentrations above the TWA and up to the STEL
should not last for longer than 15 minutes. It is also recommended that such circumstances should not
occur more than four times per day nor at intervening intervals of less than one hour.

The Ceiling Limit is the concentration that should not be exceeded at any time. This is relevant for the
most toxic substances or those that produce an immediate irritant effect. TWA, Ceiling Limits and STEL
values differ across mines.

Sometimes exposure time is longer than the standard 8-hours every day. Adjustments must be made to
cater for the extra worked hours, and this done using the Brief and Scala (1975) model to adjust the TWA
model:

8 ( 24h ) Eight hour Exposure Standard

Adjusted TWA Exposure Standard=
16 h
Where h is the number of hours worked per day. Because the mine design has decided on a 20 hour/day,
2 x 10 hour-shift, 140 hour work week it is recommended that TWA values be adjusted to the mines
needs. Each worker works 10 hours every day (there is one shift change for the next 10 hours).

In any given atmosphere, if there are two or more airborne pollutants (gaseous or particulate) that have
adverse effects on the same part of the body, then the threshold limit value should be assessed on the
basis of their combined effect. This is calculated as the dimensionless sum.

If the sum of the series exceeds unity (1), then the threshold limit value of the mixture is deemed to be
exceeded (ACGIH, 1989). This most often applies to gases like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, oxides
of nitrogen etcetera which affect the human respiratory (lungs), central nervous (brain) and circulatory
systems.

80 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
As an example, TLVs will be adjusted for common pollutants Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Carbon Monoxide
(CO), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) and gasoline vapor:

Carbon Dioxide
8 ( 2410 ) 0.5
=0.35
16 10
Carbon Monoxide
8(2410)50 ppm
=35 ppm
16 10

Oxides of Nitrogen
8(2410)25 ppm
=17.5 ppm
16 10
Gasoline Vapor
8(2410)300
=210 ppm
16 10
It is assumed the estimated total required airflow intake for the mine (estimated in the next Airflow
Requirements) will be sufficient to keep the air contaminants below their adjusted threshold values.

Airflow Requirements
When trying to estimate the airflow requirements, a maximum limit and a minimum limit will be
estimated so effective ventilation can be achieved. The maximum condition is when there is a maximum
number of workers or vehicles underground and vice versa.

Gas
When dealing with gases underground especially in preliminary empirical ventilation design, personnel
respiration and the fumes of diesel-operated underground equipment affect airflow selection the most.
Airflow intake must be sufficient to ventilate diesel exhaust gases and particulates to below their
respective TLVs. Appendix A lists the various contaminants found in underground conditions, and their
TLVs. McPherson (1993) suggests that to calculate the required airflow, consideration must be made for
the equipment rated engine power (kW), the number of personnel in the mine or area of the mine, the
rate of mineral production (tpd) and the number of vehicles in the ventilation split.

Equipment Selection
Key equipment to be used in mine production are listed as follows:

R300H LHD (Loaders) 3x

R1700G 3x
AD45B HT (Haul Truck) 10x
LV (Light Vehicles- Toyota Land Cruisers) 6x
Jumbo and Tamrock Drill Rigs 3x
Borehole Driller 1x

About 6-8m^3/s is an acceptable rate of airflow for each 100kW of rated diesel power (McPherson,
1993). We revert to this primitive form of airflow estimation as the concentrations of gases like CO2, CO,
NO etc. are unavailable for the equipment selected, and simply assume they (gases) are well diluted
below their TLVs with the estimated airflow.

81 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Respiration of personnel often refers to the concentration of carbon dioxide exhaled by each worker and
how much air flow is required to ventilate; legislative requisites are considered here. In Papua New
Guinea under the Mine Safety Act (1977) 2.75 m3/minute or 0.05 m3/s of airflow per person is the
minimum requirement in underground mines which must be satisfied.

Initial estimates of the number of personnel at any one time underground will therefore be undertaken,
and estimates of their airflow requirements made. This was done on a spreadsheet, and is summarised
in the table below:

Estimated Maximum and Minimum Airflow Required.

For diesel-burning equipment, the total maximum number of equipment that may be present in the
mine at any one time are listed down in Table 2.0, using 7m^3/s/kW as an acceptable airflow rate;

Model Equipment No. of equipment Est. Power Rating Airflow

(kW) Requirement
CAT R300H LHD (Loader) 3 230 48.3
CAT 1700G 3 220 46.2
CAT AD45B HT (Haul Truck) 10 170 119
TOYOTA LV Light Vehicle 6 180 75.6
JUMBO Drill Rig 2 100 14
TAMROCK Drill Rig 1 120 8.4
25 Total Airflow Req. 311.5 m^3/s
Table 2.0. Maximum airflow requirement estimation; diesel equipment.

For personnel, using the local required rate of 2.75 m^3/min;

Model Equipment No. of No. of people/ equipment Airflow

equipment Requirement
CAT R300H LHD (Loader) 3 2 0.003
CAT 1700G 3 1 0.0015
CAT AD45B HT (Haul Truck) 10 1 0.005
TOYOTA LV Light Vehicle 6 2 0.006
JUMBO Drill Rig 2 2 0.002
TAMROCK Drill Rig 1 2 0.001
Total Aiflow Required 0.0185 m^3/s
Table 3.0. Maximum airflow requirement estimation; personnel.

Adding both estimates gives the total maximum airflow quantity of 312m^3/s. Fan selection will center
on this estimate.

The same procedure is done for the minimum rate of air required, but the minimum number of
equipment and personnel will be used instead. This is shown in Tables 4.0 and 5.0;

Table 4.0. Minimum airflow requirement estimation; diesel equipment.

Model Equipment No. of equipment Power Rating (kW) Airflow Requirement

82 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
CAT R300H LHD (Loader) 2 230 32.2
CAT 1700G 2 220 30.8
CAT AD45B HT (Haul Truck) 7 170 83.3
TOYOTA LV Light Vehicle 3 180 37.8
JUMBO Drill Rig 1 100 7
TAMROCK Drill Rig 1 120 8.4
Total Airflow Required 199.5 m^3/s

and

Model Equipment No. of No. of people/ Airflow

equipment equipment Requirement
CAT R300H LHD (Loader) 2 2 0.002
CAT 1700G 2 1 0.001
CAT AD45B HT (Haul Truck) 7 1 0.0035
TOYOTA LV Light Vehicle 3 2 0.003
JUMBO Drill Rig 1 2 0.001
TAMROCK Drill Rig 1 2 0.001
Min. Airflow Required 0.0115 m^3/s
Table 5.0. Minimum airflow requirement estimation; personnel.

Adding both estimates gives the total minimum airflow quantity of 200 m^3/s. The airflow through the
mine must never fall beyond this if the concentration of airborne pollutants are to remain below their
respective threshold values.

Dust
Pneumoconiosis has been one of the greatest problems of occupational health in the mining industries
of the world, and its primarily caused by dust.

There are many techniques of reducing dust concentrations in mines, ranging from water infusion of the
solid mineral through to dust suppression by water sprays and air filtration systems. Nevertheless, with
current mining methods, it is inevitable that dust particles will be dispersed into the air at all places
wherever rock fragmentation or communition occurs. Dilution of airborne particles by ventilation
remains the primary means of controlling dust concentrations in underground mines.

Dispersed dust particles in the respirable range (less than 5 m diameter) will settle out at a negligible
rate. For the determination of dilution by airflow, respirable dust may be treated as a gas. However, in
this case it is realistic to estimate dust makes at working faces in terms of grams (or milligrams) per
tonne of mineral mined. This will, or course, depend upon the method of working and means of rock
fragmentation.

An estimate of the airflow required to dilute dust will be made using two assumptions: intake air
contains a concentration of 0.5 mg/m^3 dust, the rate at which respirable dust particles are added to the
airflow (1400 mg per tonne) and the TLV for dust particles in the return air (2mg/m^3).

83 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Since the mine produces 4200 tonnes per day, or 210 tonnes per hour over a 2 x 10 hour shift every day,
the required airflow needed to dilute the dust concentration within the mine is estimated as follows:

Average rate of mineral production = 2100/10 x 3600 =0.06 t/s

Average rate of emission of respirable dust = 1400 mg/tonne x 0.06 tonnes/s= 84 mg/s

Dust removal capacity of air, Cd = (allowable dust concentration - intake dust concentration) = (2 - 0.5)
= 1.5 mg/m3.

Required airflow = 84 mg/s / 1.5 mg/m^3=56 m3/s

Therefore, at least an airflow rate of 56m^3/s is required to dilute the dust concentration in the
circulating air. This is covered by the initial airflow rate estimated in the previous section Gas.

Heat
Heat is added to intake air by conduction and radiation from the rock strata, by auto-compression in
down cast shafts, and by diesel vehicle operation. The potential for heat pick up by mine access means
requires adequate assessment at the design stage, to ensure that the necessary volumes (and velocities)
of ventilating air are maintained when the mine is fully operational.

An important aspect of primary ventilation is the need to minimise the presence of water in the intake
airways, (shafts, adits, declines etc.), and in the main primary airways to reduce problems with humidity
and heat; moisture pick up in intake air should be limited by as many specific means as can be devised.
These include the use of water rings in shafts, covering drains, and piping drainage water to sumps.

The stages of determining the airflow required to remove heat from a mine or section of a mine are as
follows:

(a) Evaluate the sigma heat of the air at inlet, S1, using equations.
(b) Evaluate the highest value of sigma heat, S2, that can be accepted in the air leaving the mine or
section of the mine. This threshold limit value may be specified in terms of one of the indices of heat
stress or simply as a maximum acceptable (cut-off) value of wet bulb temperature.
(c) Estimate the total heat flux, q12 (kW), into the air from all sources between inlet and outlet.
(d) The required airflow, Q, is then given as

84 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
No estimates for the airflow to remove heat from the mine as wet and dry bulb temperatures are
unavailable to use in estimating S1 and S2. We simply assume the airflow quantities calculated for Gas
and Dust are sufficient to ventilate the mine, preventing any possible discomfort from humidity and heat.

The Ventilation Plan

A simple exhausting parallel ventilation is the chosen system in mind, as the mine isnt that deep (~300
meters) nor complex in design. Material handling is to be carried out via the main mine access which is a
twin decline. One of the major constraints on primary ventilation volume is intake air capacity, which is
used to calculate the required pressure difference to produce ventilation within the mine. Ventilation
pressure drop is important as it is used in overcoming the resistance of underground airways.

The main intake channel is the inwards primary access, or the decline. 110 kW Booster fans are in place
within the decline to propel air further into the crosscuts and into the levels and drives. Local circuit
(booster) fans increase the total primary flow, and generally operate at high volume and low pressure,
which requires less power. Ventilation bags (vent bags) are attached to these booster fans, and are
extended all the way into the stopes in orebody 1 (O1) to bring fresh air to the working face.

Air exits at either of the two return air raises (RAR) located towards the hanging wall. The RARs connect
all levels at the hanging wall drives, and because the ventilation is an exhausting system, there are two
250 kW ventilation fans at the surface attached to the air raises forcing air out of the mine by creating
the necessary pressure difference for the required maximum airflow of 300m3/s to occur by overcoming
mine resistance.

The principle of airflow into the mine is that the quantity of air flow into the mine is equal to the air
exiting the mine [air in equals air out].

Regulating flows is simpler to do and less costly, but increases the mine resistance and reduces total
primary flow. Only regulators will be installed before the RARs to help move exhaust air to the surface.
Local circuit (booster) fans increase the total primary flow, and generally operate at high volume and low
pressure, with a correspondingly lower power demand. Workshops in intake areas should have sprinkler
type fire protection.

Ventilation Infrastructure Dimensions

2 x Return Air Raises (RAR)

o Diameter 2 m
o Vertical Depth 375 m (from 1725mRL to 2100 mRL)
o Location: At the Western end of the levels, next to the hanging wall.
Escapeway
o 2 m x 2 m inclined shaft.

85 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 o Vertical depth
Twin Decline (Fresh Air Intake)
o Opening dimensions: 5 m x 6 m
o Vertical Depth 375 m (from 1725mRL to 2100mRL).
o Location: Directly east of the orebody.

The location of the second means of egress, which is the ladderway will have a negligible effect on
ventilation as it is not situated within the ventilation shaft (therefore reducing overall mine resistance)
however ladderway doors will be installed on each levels acting as regulators, preventing fresh air from
flowing to areas where there is no work taking place. Fresh air can also be allowed to flow in through
those doors.

Resistance Calculations
Resistance is the numerical estimation of the obstruction a quantity of airflow is expected to encounter
in its path around the mine from the intake through the underground workings to the exhaust
infrastructure. According to the Square Law pressure difference in the mine is equal to the square of
required airflow multiplied by total mine resistance.

Pressure requirement

Fan Selection

86 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Appendix A: Air Pollutants and their Threshold Limit Values (McPherson, 1993).

87 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Appendix B: Average values of friction factors (referred to air density of 1.2 kg/m3) and coefficients of
friction (independent of air density).

88 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Dewatering and Pumping System
Dewatering is an auxiliary operation carried out purposely to remove dirty, unproductive and harmful
underground water out of the mine, to the surface and into the nearby river systems.

89 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 1.1 Prevention

Entry into underground mine is prone to collect water. Surface flow into the portal of the Fishmeri
deposit is prevented by locating the entry on the high ground. The ground water flowing into the adit
will be controlled by injecting grouting.

1.2 Collection and Containment

At Fishmeri Orebody, sumps will be built on each of the levels where water seeping from the surface via
decline as well as from the mine workings will be collected and confined using borehole and piping
arranged to prevent accumulation and prevent fines accumulation. The sump provides surge capacity in
the event of power outage or pump failure and offers the opportunity for settling fines before pumping
the decanted water.

All mini sumps will be connected with a 1.0m diameter inclined raise which extends to the bottom of the
mine, where another inclined tunnel of diameter 1.0m connects it to the main sump at the bottom of
the ramp. The pump station is located there as well, which houses the pump and motor. This is the first
pump station. The pump is a built to handle m dynamic head. **The suitable pumps that will be
used at each level are the 10kW pumps which have effectively pimp water to the mini sumps where the
drain-holes are located, while water from there is drilled down to the main water dam with the help of
gravity. From the main dam station a 365kW pump will be used to pump the water right up the surface
via the ventilation shaft where it will be discharged into the nearby creek or river.

Also each level is developed at a gradient of 2-3% (a cross-fall of 2-3%) to allow for water flow (drainage)
from the end of the drive back to where the drain-holes in the sump are located at each level (drain-
holes are drilled from each level and fitted with poly pipes to prevent blockages).

Refer to Appendix D for the Dewatering Plan

1.3 Removal

Two main centrifugal pumps will be used to pump the water from the 1725m level sump via the raise
and into the adit. The pump forces the sump water through pipes up the dewatering raise of diameter
1.5 m that emerges into the main decline at level mRL. From there the pipes travel along the decline
and adit until the surface is reached where it is emptied into the nearby creek. The water will then be
pumped from the adit to the portal. A permanent discharge water line is established from Fishmeri
Orebody Portal to the site water management system. During development or production, discharge
water is pumped to a surface and then transported through discharge water line into to the main
treatment pit. Once water has been moved to the Main Pit, it will be subject to treatment with the
existing onsite facilities.

As in the case of power outages or major flooding in the underground workings, an emergency BMF
Diesel Pump will be installed where it can be manually activated. Notification of flooding conditions will
be via the 1800 sump level sensor alarm.

1.4 Source of Slimes

90 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
The water collected in the Fishmeri deposit contains slimes. Limiting the generation of these slimes is
one of the disciplines directly related to mine dewatering. To enact control measures, the sources of
slimes are identified below:

Drilling

Raise boring

Overloading of explosives

Attrition in the ore/waste handling system

Attrition in the road dressing/rock fill handling system

Comminution on haulage ways

Flushing fill lines

Breaking plugged fill lines

1.5 The Water Balance

The most important activity in analyzing a mine dewatering system is to compile a water balance that
identifies sources and defines the pumping rate. The Fishmeri deposit is in tropical climate, hence more
water is pumped all year round. In this event, only one balance must be compiled. The sources are
typically surface water, ground water, service water (drilling, dust suppression and washing), decant from
paste fill, flush water from fill and slurry lines, and condensation from ventilation air or chillers. Some of
this water is removed to surface in the ore and waste rock stream or evaporates into a ventilation circuit.
The remainder must be pumped.

The Table below is gives the Fishmeri orebody underground mine assumed water balance.

Origin Description Inflow (USGPD) Outflow (USGPD)

Ground Water Raise to surface 140,000
Declines 25,000
Diamond Drill holes 75,000
Other 45,000
Collected for Service water 85,000
Service Water Drilling 90,000
Dust Control 25,000
Washing 10,000
Chillers 0
Leaks in pipes 15,000
Backfill Decant Water 0
Flush Water 6, 000
Diesel Exhaust Trackless Feet 4,000
Ore & Waste Rock 3% moisture content 25,000
Slimes Removal from mine 5,000
Ventilation Evaporation/Condensation 10,000
Pumping Main mine Pumps 310,000

91 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 Total 435,000 435,000

Table 1.0. Fishmeri orebody underground mine assumed water balance.

1.6 Clear Water Pumping

Clear water is mine water for pumping containing less than 250 ppm of suspended solids that do not
exceed 35in size. A stricter definition is water containing less than 100 ppm of particles not exceeding
25. Clear water pumped often exceeds these criteria causing short life of pump components leading to
high maintenance and repair costs.

Sumps

Particles as small as 5may be decanted but the retention time and the resulting sump size is not
practical in a mine. Typical practice underground is to excavate two horizontal settling sumps, one of
which continues to operate while the other is being cleaned of slimes. Smaller operations often employ a
single cone or fan shaped vertical settling sump from which the slimes can be drawn off while
maintaining the mine water flow. If not wisely designed and carefully maintained, neither a horizontal
nor a vertical settler will work with any lasting efficiency.

Slimes

Slimes in a horizontal settling sump are about 15% solids by weight. When the sump is drained, slimes
will increase to approximately 30%. This material is difficult and messy to handle, even when left for a
week or more to consolidate further. At least one mine doubled the solids content when drained by
using a flocculating agent.

Centrifugal Pumps

Fishmeri orebody underground mine will utilize centrifugal pumps as the prime mover for dewatering.
Centrifugal pumps are reliable, relatively compact, and the multi-stages required for high heads can
direct drive with a single motor. Disadvantages include that they are efficient in a relatively narrow
operating range making variable speed drives not practical. Additionally, if a centrifugal pump runs dry,
or even when the outlet pipe is broken near the pump, they can draw enough amperage to burn out the
motor.

Centrifugal pumps have the following (approximate) characteristics.

Capacity varies directly with the speed of the impeller (RPM)

Capacity varies directly with the diameter of the impeller, D

The head varies with (RPM)2

The head varies with D2

The power drawn varies with (RPM)3

The power drawn varies with D3

92 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
 1.7 Dirty Water Pumping

Providing sufficient settling sump capacity in underground mines that experience huge inflows of ground
water is not practical. For this application, specially designed centrifugal pumps are employed dirty
water pumps. Characteristics of dirty water pumps are significantly different from the low-head
centrifugal slurry pumps employed in mine concentrators where the particles pumped are finely ground.
Linings made of natural rubber, neoprene, polyurethane, etc. are often used for these lowhead pumps.
Dirty water centrifugal pumps for mine service require wear surfaces of hard, tough, abrasion resistant
metal. In general, the hardness required (measured on a Brinell scale) is related to the hardness of the
particles of sediment (measured on Mohs scale). Typical rocks in a metal mine have the hardness of
feldspar. These particles are approximately as hard as

Unlike clear water, dirty water centrifugal pumps are often V belt driven which may add 5% to the power
losses, but provides a practical means to obtain an efficient pump design using a standard impeller
diameter and a standard motor speed. In the case of high heads and relatively small volumes, the
modern piston diaphragm pump provides reliable service at a high capital cost. These pumps run
continuously but capacity can only be adjusted in a relatively narrow range, unless they are fitted with
variable speed motors. The feed water is normally collected in a small sump to facilitate agitation and
provide a constant solids content. The piston diaphragm pump has a head capacity high enough to pump
to surface in one lift from any depth of mine operations. The pump system cost increases at great depths
because pipe beyond schedule 80 normally costs twice as much per pound (or kg) besides being
thicker walled. Maintenance cost for these pumps is low.

1.8 Centrifugal Pump Selection

A centrifugal pump is primarily described by its outlet size. The size of a pump is determined by its outlet
velocity, which can be determined by the following equation.

Q = VA

Where; Q = Rate of flow in CFS (m3/s)

V = Average velocity in FPS (m/s)
A = True area of pump outlet ft3 (m3)

For the Fishmeri orebody,

Q = 3.5 0.05086 = 0.17801m3/s

Pump efficiency depends on the specific speed (N s) of its impeller.

Ns =N Q 1/2 H3/4

Where, Q = Rate of flow

H = Total friction head
N = RPM of the impeller

For Fishmeri orebody,

93 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
HP = QH/3960E

In which, Q = Flow Rate (USGPM)

H = Total Head (feet)
E = Pump Efficiency

For the Fishmeri orebody, we select two 250 kW (Twin) pump to be used to transfer the water from the
sump out to the adit.

Escape way (Ladder way) System

Other Auxiliary Operations

The main auxiliary operations that will be
considered to help the production operation at the
underground mine are;

Electricity supply
Lightings (entire underground lightings)

Electricity supply

A hydro-power station generated from the nearby

river is built to provide a total power supply of 10
Mega-watts to supply the entire underground
operation. The electricity needed in the
underground mines production is to operate the
following equipment, machineries and other
electrical appliances that will be used during the
underground mining operation. It will be provided
via cables concealed in pipes mounted on the roof
of the main access (figure ) and extended from there into the different levels and drives in the mine.

Drills (Jumbo drills)

Water supply

The water supply at the mine is needed for daily usages, especially for production purpose. It is needed
at major production areas and to auxiliary areas that will help/contribute to the production processes.
The following are areas where a constant water supply is needed so that an effective production
operation can be maintained;

To Drilling machines
To workshop
To auxiliary rooms

94 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
Water is transported from the surface overhead in the main access via pipes that eventually extend all
the way into the drives.

Lightings

Lighting is very important in underground mines as it provides visible environment and working areas for
the underground workers. Lighting may also provide possible visible sight for the workers, for instance,
helps operators to see clearly the underground workstations and also improves visibility for workers.
Lighting boards (electrical lights) are installed in the main access (decline), the drives and levels, auxiliary
rooms, pumps and fan stations/cuddies, power station/cuddies, dam stations and other workstations.
Basically, lighting is needed for major areas where worker and operators need more light to see, observe,
judge and do work correctly.

Workshop

During the production operation, the workshop is a very important area of the auxiliary operation that
must be fully equipped and facilitated for repair and maintenance work of the mine fleets so that
production is not delayed because of technical or mechanical faults and failures. The workshop is located
on the surface because the mine is wet (as indicated from drill cores) for safety reasons. Substations exist
underground, however, to facilitate the necessary maintenance work an equipment may need.

95 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
96 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .
REFERENCE

Hard roc miner

SME Mining Text book

Underground Extraction method

MN 316-Notes

Basil Booth, Rocks and Minerals, Quintet Publishing Limited, 6 Bundell Street, London N79BH.

97 | U G M i n e D e s i g n : F i s h m e r i D e p o s i t .