Optimization of Sustainable Mining by Drilling

Narrow-vein steeply dipping deposits are challenging to mine economically because they are poorly oriented for surface mining, and underground mining normally requires development of extensive underground infrastructure before mining the vein. Memorial University is collaborating with Novamera for the development of innovative narrow-vein mining technology called Sustainable Mining by Drilling (SMD). The SMD technology is based on the concept of mining by drilling, where the full ore vein will be excavated through a sequence of directional drilling and large diameter borings steered using integrated subsurface imaging methods. All the ore is recovered as drill cuttings, which eliminates the need to use explosives (and associates emissions) to fragment the ore and the need to crush the ore as a first stage of mineral processing, and since the ore is recovered using surface operations. All these factors give the SMD technology the potential to mine with at lower cost with improved safety than conventional practices and with better sustainability as measured by energy consumed and emissions generated per tonne of ore mined. The proposed research will optimize key SMD components in preparation for commercialization of the technology.

Faculty Supervisor:

Stephen Butt

Student:

Partner:

Novamera Inc.

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Mining

University:

Memorial University of Newfoundland

Program: