Challenges with Density-Based Grade Estimation at LKAB’s Underground Iron Ore Mines

• Published in: Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration
• Main Authors: Manzoor, Sohail, Gustafson, Anna, Schunnesson, Håkan
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Luleå tekniska universitet, Geoteknologi 2022
• Subjects: Sublevel caving; Grade control; Fragmentation; Bucket weight; Bucket volume; Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology; Geoteknik och teknisk geologi; Luossavaara; Northern Sweden
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-93634; https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-022-00688-9

Sublevel caving operation relies on the estimation of ore grade at drawpoints, as the mine management uses grade to decide whether the material at a certain ring should be loaded or abandoned. Grade is estimated in various ways, including visual estimation, density-based calculation, and sampling an...