A

COMBINATION OF experience,
research and technology coupled
with block cavings big advantage
lower cost means that the number of block
caves is expected to increase significantly in
Australia, and globally, over the next five to
10 years.
The block caving process works by collaps-
ing ore due to its own weight and can be
employed when the rock mass contains natu-
ral fracturing that will cave on its own when
undercut. The collapsed ore then flows down
into chutes or drawpoints where it is collected
for processing.
Although usually used to mine large ore
bodies that have consistent, disseminated
grade throughout, Rios Northparkes mine
was the first in the world to use block caving
on a relatively small ore body.
Rios technology partner at Northparkes -
global mining software supplier Gemcom -
implemented its unique block caving-specific
PCBC system in 1996, and 12 years later
there is a better understanding of how block-
ing caving applies to smaller ore bodies.
Gemcom PCBC is now used in 80 per cent of
the worlds block caving mines.
A principal adviser in mining with Rio
Tintos technology & innovation group, Jo-
Anne Dudley, has been with Rio for 12 years
and is arguably Australias most experienced
PCBC user.
PCBC has been used at Northparkes since
block caving commenced and is still the only
commercially available and supported soft-
ware used to generate Block Cave Reserves,
Dudley said.
Gemcoms vice president of advanced tech-
nologies, Tony Diering is regarded as a global
block caving expert and has been working in
the field for 20 years. Diering has also been
involved with block caving at Northparkes
since the early days.
The biggest change Ive seen over the years
is that block caving is now more accepted.
It was once seen as a radical method of
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF MINING JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2008 37
I UNDERGROUND MINING FEATURE
Pioneers in
block caving
Although Rio Tintos Northparkes copper mine in central west
NSW is the only block caving operation in Australia today,
advances in technology and major cost benefits should see a
host of Australian operations follow Rios pioneering footsteps.
Argyle diamond mine
Typical draw point layout using Gemcoms PCBC system Creating a slice file from a block model using Gemcoms PCBC system
38
underground mining, but its been proven at
sites such as Northparkes and another Rio
copper mine, Palabora in Africa, said Diering.
Dudley said, In the early days PCBC
was difficult to use, however, over time Tony
and the Gemcom team have made significant
improvements its now much more
user friendly.
PCBC is used to generate reserve estima-
tions for any mineralised area being consid-
ered for block caving. This means that PCBC
is used from Order of Magnitude study level
right through to monthly reconciliation in our
operating caves, Dudley said.
Block Model manipulation means that
models can be constrained or given proper-
ties that are useful for scheduling, such as
impurity content or fragmentation predictions.
A schedule of impurities is useful
for metallurgical scheduling and
fragmentation schedules are very
important for cost estimation in a
block cave mine, Dudley said.
PCBC also has a proven track
record in providing the critical
information that is needed in
the multi-million dollar block
caving start-up stage, according
to Diering.
PCBC also keeps production
schedules current under the
dynamically changing conditions
of an operating block caving
mine, he said.
Risk is reduced for large capi-
tal projects through the evaluation
of multiple scenarios. Modelling
and forecasting is vastly improved
by using multiple material mixing
options and there is a complete
integration from pre-feasibility
modelling right through to daily
production.
Production scheduling can be
rapidly updated and modified for
real production statistics, while the
powerful reporting system enables
effective monitoring of dynamic
situations, said Diering.
Block caving will soon be in
operation at Rios Argyle diamond
mine in WAs Kimberley region
however Dudley said PCBC had
been used at Argyle for a while.
PCBC was used throughout the
Argyle pre-feasibility and feasibili-
ty studies and will be used during
mining operations for predicting
the life of mine schedules and
periodic reconciliations, she said.
The underground development
phase of the Argyle diamond mine
is in progress after the Rio Tinto
board committed $1 billion to the
project. The go-ahead was given
after the State Government agreed
to royalty concessions and a com-
mitment by Argyle to continue its
benchmark indigenous employ-
ment program in the Kimberley.
Indigenous employment accounts
for about 25 per cent of the Argyle
workforce, and the company aims
to increase this figure to 40 per cent by 2010.
The transition from open pit to under-
ground mining will initially involve the
extraction of up to eight million tonnes of ore
annually for a recovery of about 20 million
carats of diamonds.
Mining contractor Macmahon Holdings
Limited has been busy for several months
now laying the foundations for what is
believed to be the largest underground mine
development currently under way in Australia.
A performance-based contract will be
worth $180 million to Macmahon over
four years. The companys basic brief is
to prepare the mine for mining and ore
extraction by 2010-11.
The task involves constructing 37 kilome-
tres of underground development in readiness
for the massive block-cave mining operation.
Other key works include the excavation of
two underground crusher chambers, and
2.8 kilometres of vertical development work.
A conveyor will also be installed to enable
the diamondiferous ore to be raised to the
surface for further treatment.
The underground mining phase will start
nearly 500 metres below the natural lie of the
land and about 250 metres below the bottom
of the open pit. Its estimated that 62 million
tonnes of diamondiferous ore will be mined
over the estimated mine life to 2018.
A second stage of underground sub-level
cave mining could see the life of the mine
extended beyond 2018 to 2024, but at this
point of time the focus is on getting the block
cave operation into production.
Newcrest Mining is also looking at
block caving for its Telfer gold mine in WA
and Ridgeway Deeps gold and copper mine
in NSW.
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2008
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF MINING 38
UNDERGROUND MINING FEATURE I
Different forms of material movement generated by
Gemcoms PCBC system
Drawing column representation of grade distribution
using Gemcoms PCBC system
Effective storage and plotting of draw point observations
in drillhole format using Gemcoms PCBC system
Example of template mixing using Gemcoms
PCBC system

Production scheduling
can be rapidly updated
and modified for real
production statistics
FROM PAGE 37