Technification of Open Pit Explotation

through Topography and

Implementation of Mining Plans in
Minas Belencito - Monjas - San Antonio
ANGÉLICA María LEÓN Pedraza,
COLOMBIA
Key words: Plan implementation, Geology and
Mining, Photogrammetry, Women in mining
 Introduction
The success of any type of Project is divided into two fundamental parts: Planning and
execution, In the case of mining, planning is essential to make decisions, determine the sequence of ore
extraction, establish production programs and generate the required supply.
In Argos, Long, medium and short term planning is generated that allow to have a clear
navigation chart, with this guideline is done the modeling and calculation of the quantities to
be extracted; the project by the Directorate of Canteras, who follow the guidelines that are
marked in the field by the survey commissions, is the help of the project.
If it is true that the planning of a mine is similar to the planning of any other project, there is
something that differentiates it and is that the value of the business is limited to the mineral
resource, this is exhaustible and therefore objective planning of the extraction must be carried
out.
The knowledge of the site to be exploited and the correct topographic description will allow us
to economically evaluate the project and carry out a more objective planning, adapting the
design to obtain the best possible geometry. The objective of strategic mining planning is to
establish a geometry and operating sequence that allows the deposit to be extracted in the best
way taking into account all the technical, economic, operational, economic, environmental,
social and characteristics guidelines of the topography and the deposit, while ensuring
compliance with environmental standards. This document will show the evolution of the
extraction of the San Antonio Mine, Mina Monjas and Mina Belencito through the
implementation of optimal Mining Planning and marking and monitoring in the field with
topography, currently allowing to have safe, profitable and sustainable operations.
THEORETICAL MARK
Mining design and planning seeks to optimize mining resources and reserves by ensuring proper
exploitation; using technical standards for the approval of mining processes in Argos and
complying with the company's sustainability policies.
It focuses on making designs and modeling in 3D according to the Geology of the Site, quality
and the costs of extraction, transport and other topics typical of the operation.
Operationally, The Mining Planning should be guided in:
- Compliance with production estimates to meet plant requirements.
- Detect critical areas in a timely manner, to give immediate solution.
- Cost reduction.
- Increase extraction, according to production needs.
- Increase development work, resulting in increased reserves to CP.
- Effective coordination between the staff of the productive area, by exchanging daily
experience in problem solving and meeting goals, which encourage real teamwork.
- Participate in defining the scope and premises of Resource Development projects to
ensure the availability of mining resources and reserves.
- Interact with the areas of geology and resource development to geotechnically validate
mining designs and the possibility of taking advantage of new raw material alternatives
respectively.

A short-term mining plan is developed based on long- and medium-term planning guidelines
and contains:
- Requirements of raw materials in quality and quantity.
- Volume of mineral and sterile to be removed.
- Plans with operating sectors and quantity of material to be extracted in each area.
- For cement, simulation in specialized software to establish the mixture with the
expected quality.
- Indication in site plans and storage form of the extracted sterile.
- Mining infrastructure works to be developed (roads, water conduction works in the
mine, etc.).
- Extraction sequence over time in quality and quantity.
- Areas available for environmental recovery.
01 SPATIAL LOCATION OF THE
PROJECT

02 Mining Planning Process

03 Result

04 Conclution
SPATIAL LOCATION OF THE PROJECT
The farms in mention represent a small percentage of the one belonging to the organization,
these mines are located in the Department of Boyacá in Colombia as shown in Image No. 1.

Image1: Location of the Study Quarries. Source: Own Google Earth.

 Minning Planning Process
Input Information
1. Geology
It has the deposit modeled in 3D solids, allowing to visualize the spatial distribution of
resources, the quality and quantity of the mineral of interest and sterile materials, as well as the
characteristics of each formation, the bearing and blighting, the depth and form, and the
chemical composition.
The Geological field is very wide, but we can determine 4 basic steps to obtain the model:
.
A.Prospecting
It is the stage in which activities and operations are carried out that allow to determine the nature
and characteristics of the deposit in a given area. Image No. 2 shows geological paths on a
visual of potential high ground and visual inspection of an existing operating front

Image No. 2 unit distribution and geomorphology, Argos mining titles. Source: Argos
B.Exploration
It allows to have a more detailed knowledge of the deposit, evaluate its economic viability,
characterize the ore, determine in general the physical and chemical characteristics of a deposit
generating as a product generate solids very approximate to reality.
C.Sampling and Analysis
Samples obtained from drilling are used, tested in certified laboratories that issue reliable
results; subsequently a geostatistical work is determined the best way to establish each is the
quality sectorized in a model called qualities or blocks, where each block contains its own
physical and chemical characteristics which is a powerful tool of description of the deposit.
2.Modeling
With georeferenced drilling mesh, chemical sampling, geostatistics is carried out the modeling
of the solids of each lithological unit of the site, allowing a complete description of the Geology.
3.Topography
It is essential to have as much detailed description as possible of the topography where the
Project will be developed, it should include all the infrastructure, location of roads, populations,
drains, ambienta, social and legal restriction polygons in order to establish the actual area to
intervene.

Image No. 5 Geological Cartography, Solids of the Deposit and Model of Qualities . Source: Argos
4. Geotechnics
A comprehensive study is necessary to determine the conditions of stability of the terrain
according to the characterization of the materials present in the Project, in order to determine
the safety factor and geometric parameters such as: the angles of each slope, the height of the
benches, the berm widths and the global angle of the slopes
Output Information

DESIGNS AND GEOMETRIES

According to the analysis that is carried out, the optimal mine design is sought through the
specialized software, geometries are obtained in 3 dimensions and planes, this includes the
designs of Sterile Layout Areas, pathways and all the necessary infrastructure.
 TOPOGRAPHICAL REPLANTING IN THE FIELD
MARKING OF CHAMFERS ACCORDING TO DESIGN
MARKING OF VOLADURA PLACES
WITH LEVELS IN msnm
MARKING NEW WAYS
MARKING OF STERILE
DISPOSITION AREAS
VOLUMETRIC CALCULATION

The volumetric calculation of the movement of sterile and minerals gives us the indicator of
stripping ratio: it is the ratio between the number of tons of sterile to be removed to obtain a ton
of ore in an open pit farm.
𝑅𝐷 = 𝑇𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑑𝑎𝑠 𝑑𝑒 𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑙
𝑇𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑑𝑎𝑠 𝑑𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙
 SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS
Currently in the organization, three-dimensional software specialized in planning, design,
extraction and geology is used to store extensive databases and generate complete graphic
outputs.
 MINERA PLANNING
A step-by-step of the process already described is performed, some of the input information is
processed and the results are obtained, the main object of the software is to optimize the times
and generate more reliable information. Mining Design Stages in Sofware:
TOPOGRAPHY AND PHOTOGRAMETRIA
Toposurface generation: Terrain contours
MINING SEQUENCE
 RESULT
REDUCING THE LIST OF DESPORTS WHILE MAINTAINING MINE
DEVELOPMENT

During the last years (Approximately 12) it has been managed to form a team made up of
professionals in Topography, Mines and Geology who worked hand in hand have implemented
the model of Technical Mining Planning, being at the forefront of new technologies and the
innovation of processes.
It has been podiumd that the optimization of the designs and the ideal topographic control
allows to reduce the ratio of convertible of the three mines as shown below:
 TECHNOLOGY OF THE MINE'S GEOMETRIA
When marking on the ground, the mining operator has a guide to follow and makes the cuts and
fills according to the chamfers installed in the field.
It is possible to see slopes with heights and angles established in geotechnical studies; Flat
berms with the right widths, roads with optimal designs, safe operation, topography with well-
defined geometric sides and compliance with international standards. The following
photographic records show the process of cutting and filling technology in theMines and the
final result
SAN ANTONIO MINE
BELENCITO MINE
MONJAS MINE
 Conclusions
- It is possible to demonstrate the technology in a mine through topographic control, well-
defined berms and slopes and developed ore cloaks
- Topography has become a very dynamic profession, it must incorporate more knowledge
into daily applications in addition to the essence of the surveyor is required to have a broader
field of action.
- The technology of mining operations is necessary to be able to guarantee the extraction of
minerals, it must be at the forefront of technology.
- Between different Teamworks with people with different capacities allows to achieve
success in any project, this with a clear guideline established in a previous planning.
- Topography is an indispensable tool in the implementation of a mining planning, since it
allows to make precise cuts and fills, rethink established alignments and comply with the
monitoring and production indicators.
- An unsentweight mine cannot guarantee its long- or medium-term existence.
- Untracked topographical mining becomes a mine with unsafe operations.
- A No Topography mine will generate arbitrary geometries, even though a Mining planning
has been established, it will not be able to reach the objectives set with the design data.
THANK YOU