Martine Mshana

Planning the Impossible? Managing Interface Blasting Without Halting Production One of the toughest challenges we face as mine planners is this: 🔺 Stripping waste in the upper cutback 🔻 Mining ore in the lower cutback 💣 And now — you need to schedule a blast on the interface between them. From a planning and scheduling standpoint, it’s a delicate balance. You're walking a tightrope between production continuity, safety, and slope integrity. This is what I think; Here’s the approach that’s worked consistently in the field: ✅ Advance stripping with a setback (trims) — adjust your crest limits to maintain a safe distance from the lower cutback edge. ✅ Schedule buffer time to build temporary catch berms or bunds above the drop zone — these small features prevent big problems. ✅ Stagger the blast sequence — break the blast into smaller pads and schedule each with clearance time for inspection. ✅ Coordinate blast windows with operations — pause lower cutback activity, and build this downtime into your schedule early. ✅ Reduce charge energy at the interface, and consult D&B for delay timing aligned with void proximity. ✅ After the blast, schedule immediate cleanup and berm repair to clear any fines or blockages before recommencing traffic. ✅ Most importantly, work hand-in-hand with geotech and operations — good schedules only work with good collaboration. This isn’t just another blast — it’s a high-risk interface event that can impact haulage, ore supply, and safety. It demands proactive planning, flexibility in scheduling, and a sharp eye for interdependencies. 🔄 As planners, we don’t just make the maps — we protect the people and the plan. Have you had to schedule interface blasting before? What worked for you — and what would you do differently? 👇 I’d love to hear how others have navigated this planning puzzle.

1. What is Mine Planning? Mine planning is the process of creating an operational plan for a mine. It typically involves the development of a number of different plans, such as production plans, financial plans, and safety plans. The purpose of mine planning is to ensure that the mining process is as efficient and safe as possible. 2. What are the Benefits of Mine Planning? Mine planning can help improve the overall efficiency of a mine by reducing costs, optimizing resources, and improving safety. By creating an operational plan, mines can better identify potential risks and develop strategies to mitigate them. Additionally, mine planning can help ensure that the mine is in compliance with local laws and regulations. 3. What are the Different Types of Mine Planning? The most common types of mine planning are strategic planning, tactical planning, and operational planning. Strategic planning involves setting long-term goals for the mine and developing strategies to achieve them. Tactical planning involves developing short-term plans to reach the goals set in the strategic plan. Operational planning involves the day-to-day activities of the mine, such as production and safety. 4. What are the Steps of Mine Planning? The steps of mine planning typically include data collection, design and optimization, scheduling, and implementation. During data collection, the mine must gather information about the site, such as geological data, environmental data, and economic data. During design and optimization, the mine must create an efficient plan based on the data collected. During scheduling, the mine must assign tasks to personnel and create a timeline for the project. Finally, during implementation, the plan is put into action. 5. What are the Challenges of Mine Planning? One of the biggest challenges of mine planning is that it requires a lot of data that may not always be available. Additionally, mine planning must take into account a variety of factors, such as safety, environmental impact, and economic feasibility. Finally, mine planning requires a large amount of technical expertise to ensure that the plan is efficient and effective. 6. What are the Best Practices for Mine Planning? The best practices for mine planning include having a comprehensive plan, involving stakeholders in the process, and regularly reviewing the plan. Additionally, the mine should consider the impact of the plan on the environment and the surrounding community. Finally, the mine should ensure that all safety regulations are followed and that the plan is in compliance with local laws and regulations.

In the dynamic world of mining, mine planning engineers face unique challenges every day. A small oversight in planning can lead to delays, increased costs, or operational inefficiencies. So, what are the common pitfalls, and how can we sidestep them? Here are the top 10 mistakes to avoid in mine planning, with tips to steer clear of them: 1️⃣ Underestimating Resource Variability Failing to account for grade or geological variations can result in inaccurate production forecasts. Always integrate robust geological data into your models! 2️⃣ Ignoring Environmental Constraints Neglecting sustainability regulations can halt operations. Stay informed about evolving compliance requirements and design with sustainability in mind. 3️⃣ Overlooking Equipment Availability Planning with unrealistic equipment utilization can derail timelines. Collaborate closely with operations to align plans with maintenance schedules. 4️⃣ Poor Communication Across Teams Misalignment between planning, operations, and maintenance teams leads to inefficiencies. Foster regular collaboration and clear reporting channels. 5️⃣ Overcomplicating the Plan Complex plans can be hard to execute. Strive for simplicity while addressing all key operational aspects. 6️⃣ Failing to Monitor Compliance Plans are only effective if implemented. Regularly track compliance to identify gaps and recalibrate as needed. 7️⃣ Inadequate Risk Assessment Overlooking risks like geotechnical instability or unexpected costs can be catastrophic. Develop a comprehensive risk management framework. 8️⃣ Neglecting Long-Term Strategy Short-term wins are great, but don’t lose sight of the mine’s life-of-mine goals. Integrate a balance of short-term gains with long-term sustainability. 9️⃣ Ignoring Technological Tools Not leveraging modern mine planning software or AI-driven solutions is a missed opportunity. Stay ahead by adopting the latest tech advancements. 🔟 Resisting Feedback and Adaptability Mining is dynamic; clinging to rigid plans can limit success. Encourage feedback, learn from it, and adapt your plans accordingly. Remember: A successful mine planning engineer doesn’t just create plans—they enable efficient, safe, and sustainable mining operations by learning from mistakes and continuously improving.

Mining is an industry driven by valuable resources, but the costs behind extraction are often less understood. Let’s dive into the key elements that define mining costs and how they shape operations worldwide! Mining costs are more than just a figure on a spreadsheet—they are the backbone of any mining project. They break down into a few major categories: 🔹 Operating Costs: This is the fuel that keeps the mine running daily. Labor, energy, equipment, and consumables like explosives and drill bits fall into this category. Without careful management, these costs can easily skyrocket! 🔹 Capital Costs: These are the heavy upfront investments—think of building the infrastructure, purchasing machinery, and even exploration. It’s a make-or-break moment, and poor planning here can sink even the most promising projects. 🔹 Sustaining Capital: Mines need constant upkeep to keep production steady. Replacing equipment or upgrading facilities ensures operations don’t stall. It’s the key to longevity. 🔹 Environmental Costs: Responsible mining means factoring in environmental protection and post-mining land restoration. Compliance with regulations and sustainable practices can be costly but are essential for the future. 🔹 Transportation & Taxes: Getting the mined materials to market adds a logistical layer, while royalties and taxes can significantly impact profit margins. Each cost category is a moving part in the complex machine of mining operations. Understanding these costs and optimizing them is the difference between success and shutdown in this high-stakes industry! What do you think is the most challenging part of managing mining costs? Let’s talk about it in the comments!

When it comes to mining, the focus is often on the big picture—how much ore is being produced, or what the market prices are. But have you ever thought about the real costs behind every mining operation? The truth is, it’s not just about the minerals you’re extracting, but how much it costs to get them out of the ground and keep everything running smoothly. Here’s the big question: What’s the most important cost factor that keeps a mine sustainable in the long run? Is it maintaining equipment and infrastructure to avoid breakdowns? Or is it investing in environmental responsibility to ensure future operations aren’t threatened by regulations and fines? Maybe it's about reducing transportation costs or optimizing energy use to keep the mine efficient. It’s a complex puzzle, but it’s one worth solving. Every cost decision you make can impact not just the immediate bottom line, but the long-term viability of the entire operation. Let’s break it down together and get the conversation going. What do you think is the most critical piece of this puzzle?

Simply put, optimization is figuring out the best pit size that meets the company's goals while also considering engineering, safety, and operational needs. Often, this means finding the pit size that gives the highest net present value within defined engineering, safety and production constraints . In an open-pit mine, you need to remove a lot of waste to get to the valuable minerals (ore). A big pit lets you get more ore, which means more money and a longer-lasting mine, but it also means more waste to remove, which costs more. A smaller pit means you remove less waste, so it's cheaper and more profitable, but you get less ore and the mine won't last as long. Optimization is finding the right pit size that gives you the most revenue by balancing cost and profit distribution. => How do you figure out the best pit size? After the resource model (a 3D representation of the deposit with details like grade, rock type, and rock properties) is created by resource geologists, it is turned into a planning model by mining engineers by adding and subtracting information. This involves three main activities: 1. Resize the model blocks (cells) to a size that can be practically mined. This reduces the grade in each cell while increasing the tonnage. 2. Introduce geotechnical parameters like safe slope angles and rock structures. Geotechnical engineers define structures and rock domains important for safe and stable high walls. 3. Add necessary planning parameters and remove unimportant ones, like certain grade estimation parameters. 4. Define the economic model by adding cost and revenue factors to each block. This planning model is then imported into optimization software, such as Whittle, Datamine 's studio NPVS or Maptek 's Vulcan, for optimization. => What does the software do? These software programs use advanced math to combine production, economic, and engineering factors to create a series of pit shells. Each shell shows the economic value, from the most profitable small pit focused on high-quality ore to the least profitable large pit with more waste. These algorithms create pit shells for each economic value by looking at geotechnical, operational, and cost factors. => Which pit shell should you pick? Now you have several pit shells to choose from. Each shell has different benefits: one gives the highest net present value, another has the most reserves (commodity quantity), and another minimizes risks (a smaller pit with high profit). Which shell and sequence you choose depends on the company's goals. These might include maximizing the mine's life, minimizing risk to boost profit, or other objectives. Setting these goals is the first step in planning the mine. What else is important in the process of optimization? #mining #optimization #miningtechnology

Unlocking the Secrets of Cut-Off Grade Optimization in Mining. Curious about how mining projects determine which parts of a deposit are worth extracting? The answer lies in cut-off grade optimization—a critical, yet often overlooked aspect of mine planning. In my latest article, I delve into the most effective methods of cut-off grade optimization, explore lesser-known strategies, and discuss the key factors that influence these crucial decisions. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just curious about the inner workings of mining, this piece offers valuable insights that could change how you view mining operations. Ready to dive in? 🛠️ Read the full article and discover how mastering cut-off grade optimization can transform the profitability and longevity of mining projects. 👉 Read the Article Now

In mining, valuable minerals are found in rocks known as ore. The "grade" tells us how much of the valuable mineral is in the ore, usually shown as a percentage or in grams per ton. For example, a grade of 75% means that 75% of the ore's weight is valuable mineral. Similarly, a grade of 2.5 grams per ton (g/t) means there are 2.5 grams of the valuable mineral in each ton of ore. Grade isn't the same everywhere in a mining deposit—some areas have higher grades, some have lower, and some may have none at all. Higher grades mean more valuable minerals and higher profits, while lower grades yield less revenue. If the grade is too low, the costs of mining and processing can exceed the revenue, leading to losses. The "cut-off grade" is the minimum grade that makes mining profitable. Anything below this grade is considered waste.