Assets optimization applied to surface mines operations (Min_AO project)

• Grant number: 12/13372-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2012
• End date: July 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mining Engineering - Mining
• Agreement: Vale-FAPEMIG-FAPESPA
• Principal Investigator: Giorgio Francesco Cesare de Tomi
• Grantee: Jonas Rodrigues Paulino
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Company: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Politécnica (EP)

Abstract

Aiming to meet the growing worldwide demand for consumer goods, mining companies continuously seek higher levels of production. To this, new equipment and processes are constantly incorporated by the processes to maximize the production within specific market standards. However, allocating these resources in an optimized manner is becoming an increasingly complex task, that requires great effort by the planning teams. Thus, what is observed today in open-pit explorations is a gap regarding the use of effective techniques and tools to assist the decision-making process for mining operations. In this scenario, this project intends to incorporate assets optimization in the mine´s operational decision-making process, taking into account the various current surface mining methods as well as those that are arising as future tendencies for the coming decades, providing a simulation environment for mining operations through the use of optimization principles in mining assets. To achieve this, an extensive literature research about the theme will be initially performed, highlighting the most relevant issues, with so, allowing the development of a management tool that may efficiently assist the decision-making process linked to assets optimization in surface mines. Aiming to achieve these objectives, pilot tests will be performed in one of the country's operating mine. The results, as well as all the methodology adopted in this research will be the subject of a master´s degree thesis and will be published in other forms of scientific publications, such as mining conferences and journals with relevance. (AU)