Techno-economic analysis for development of a drive in view of geo-mining conditions - a case study.

This paper presents all the rock mechanics studies carried out at an underground metal mine in Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh. The rock mechanics investigations in this mine include optimization of pillar dimensions by numerical modelling, the feasibility of hangwall lode mining at shallow depth, support design for deeper levels, instrumentation to monitor the strata for an experimental hangwall stope. The main aim is to improve extraction ratio and the mine safety levels from these rock mechanics studies to develop a mine. The effect on the linear advance in both footwall lode and hangwall lode is studied, monitored and found that there is almost 25% increase in total cost per round of blast due to difficult geo-mining conditions and affecting total cost per tonne of ore extracted from hangwall in contrast to footwall lode development and safety aspects. A critical case study with techno-economic cost analysis in view of their geo-mining conditions has been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]