Chapter 11.

Cost Calculations for Highly Mechanized Cut-and-Fill Stoping*

Go r d o n M. Pu g h

Da v i d G. Ra s m u s s e n
not handle this size equipment. The most desirable
means of access enables equipment to be driven into the
INTRODUCTION stoping areas. Ramps can enter the stope by being
driven upward in the vein walls or by being developed in
the vein on top of the fill as the stope advances. This
The two unit operations in cut-and-fill stoping that ramp system not only permits the use of rubber-tired
would benefit most from increased mechanization are equipment in multiple working places but also enables
drilling blastholes and moving broken ore to the ore- its removal for repairs without component breakdown.
passes. Drilling in current practice is done with hand-
held jackleg and stoper drills. Broken ore is commonly
moved from the face to the orepass by a small slusher.
This type of equipment can be easily moved through the
raises.

Hand-held drills have a slow drilling rate and require

one operator for each machine. Drilling can be done
much faster by small jumbo-mounted machines as two
or more drills can be operated by one miner.

Load-haul-dump (LHD) units move broken ore

from the face to one or more orepasses at a much faster
rate with less loss and dilution than slushers. These units
are mobile and may be used at more than one place
during a shift.

The problem which must be overcome in applying

this higher degree l of mechanization is the restricted
means of access inherent in current practices. Cut-and-
fill methods are usually applied to mining veins that are
narrow, irregular in dip and strike, or where ground con-
ditions require the support of sand fill. The mechanized
equipment which is needed to accomplish high produc-
tion cannot be raised or lowered through raises without
being disassembled.

A jumbo which will give the desired performance

would be mounted on a rubber-tired carriage with a
diesel engine for propulsion. Twin hydraulic booms run
by a small air motor would carry pneumatic drills. Over-
all dimensions of the unit would be about 8 m (26 ft)
in length, 1.6 m (5 /2 ft) in width, and 1.6 m (51/2 ft)
in height.

An LHD of the desired capacity would be rubber-

tired and either diesel or electric-powered. The overall
dimensions of a 2.3-m (3-cu yd) unit will be about 8 m
(26 ft) in length, 1.8 m (6 ft) in width, and 1.5 m
(5 ft) in height. It will weigh about 12 700 kg (28,000
lb).

It can readily be seen that conventional raises can-


A stoping section consists of three blocks of
different geometric shapes. The first and last blocks to
be mined will be triangular in the plane of the vein, and
the blocks between will have the shape of parallelograms
(Fig. 1).
The first block will develop the initial ramp by
breast stoping and filling to the ramp floor (Fig. 2).
The ramp will need to be completed through to the
next level be- fore stoping of the subsequent block
can begin. The subsequent blocks are mined by back
stoping with the next ramp being developed at the other
end of that block (Fig. 3). The length of each
subsequent block can be varied without changing the
slope of the ramp. As the new ramp is developed, the
previous ramp is filled along with the stope cut. Access
up and down is maintained through the stope. The
final block is again breast stoped as no new ramp will
be developed at the end line for jumbo egress.
Boreholes provide ventilation between levels as
well as utility access. They can also provide a
secondary escapeway for personnel during periods of
development. These boreholes would be located about
3 to 4.5 m (10 to 15 ft) in the footwall and spaced
about 183 m (600 ft) apart along the vein.
The orepasses are spaced about 61 m (200 ft)
In the proposed method, as in conventional cut-and-
fill stoping, sand fill will replace the mined-out ore. By
constructing an inclined timber floor at one end of the
stope, a ramp can be maintained on top of the fill and
advanced as the stope is advanced cut by cut (Fig. 1).
The ramp is, therefore, developed during the stoping
process and is only driven as a tunnel when rising over
and around the sill and crown pillars.
610
apart in the vein. This spacing allows not only a short
tram for the LHD unit but also provides surge
capacity for the ore between haulage trains. These
passes are raised from the haulage levels. As
development progresses, the raises are driven through
the sill pillar, and then car- ried in the fill as stoping
progresses. Ventilation and utilities can be maintained
through an orepass when it is not needed for ore. The
end line orepasses are intended for this purpose as
well as for personnel emergency egress.
Overall dimensions and criteria assumed to illustrate
the ramp method of access in a highly mechanized cut-
and-fill stope are: haulage level spacing of 61 m (200
ft); ramp gradient of 17%; average dip of approximately
1.57 rad (90°); initial stope length of 358 m (1177 ft);
subsequent stope length of 179 m (588 ft); average
stoping width of 3 m (10 ft); sill pillar thickness of
3.6 m (12 ft); crown pillar thickness of 1.8 m (6 ft);
bored raises of 1.5-m (5-ft) diam; and cribbed orepasses
of 1.2 x 1.2 m (4x4 ft) through the sill pillar and
1.2 m (4 ft) square inside the cribbed portion.
DEVELOPMENT
The ramp access system lends itself well to conduct-
ing the several phases of development concurrently.
Haulage Drifts and Raises
The first development step will be to drive the
3 x 3-m (10 x 10-ft) haulage drifts above and below
*Pugh, G. M., and Rasmussen, D. G., 1977, “Stope Mech-
anization—Vein Mining,” US Bureau of Mines HO 26024,
August, Dravo Corp. For detailed cost calculations see also
Section 2.2, Chapter 13; Section 3.1, Chapter 4; Section 3.2,
Chapter 10; Section 3.3, Chapter 6; and Section 3.4,
Chapter 7.
612 UNDERGROUND MINING METHODS HANDBOOK

the stope blocks. The boreholes can be made from short in between these distances depending on ground condi-

footwall crosscuts while the drifts progress. The ore- tions or other factors. In this chapter, the longer length

passes can also be driven from the lower drift through was used for all calculations.
the planned sill pillar. Initial Cuts

Sill Pillar Up Ramps The initial stope cut is advanced in the vein above

The up ramps can be started as their locations are the sill pillar, and because it involves drift-type break-

passed by the haulage drifts. They will crosscut into the ing and mucking, the cut is considered to be develop-
footwall at angles from 2.09 to 2.35 rad (120 to 135°) ment. The orepass raises will be broken into as the cut

with the haulage drift direction. The ramp will curve is advanced to provide short tramming distances. A

back toward the vein at an average gradient of about grizzly will be installed at the raise collar. The raise at

0.2 rad (10%), then steepen to 0.3 rad (17%) on the the end line will be used for ventilation access.
straight segment. In Fig. 4, two plans are shown; one
ramp is 57 m (188 ft) in length and the other 88 m
STOPING

(290 ft). The difference in lengths is due to the curve One of three stoping systems will be used depending

lengths and gradients. Actual design lengths could fall on the individual block’s position within the vein length.
 O 5 IO 20 SAND FILL IN FIRST BLOCK

I-------- 1 1------------------I

SAND FILL IN SUBSEQUENT BLOCK

SCALE In FEET

Fig. 3. Back stoping operations. Metric equivalents: in. X 25.4 — mm; ft X 0.3048 = m; yd X 0.914 4 — m.
 613
CUT-AND-FILL STOPING

Fig. 4. Typical up ramp turnouts. Metric equivalent: ft X 0.3048 = m.

The ramp is developed on the fill, through to the upper tion this tunnel intersects the drift. The last stope cut

drift by the first stope. The subsequent stope operations can then be filled tight to the crown pillar.

then back fill the former ramps and develop new ones
along their endlines. The final stope is then worked
upward by filling the last ramp without developing a
new one at its endline.
3
First sand fill is essential to the success of this
method. Sand that is as free of slimes as possible should
be used for rapid draining and quick setup. To ensure a
hard traveling surface it may be necessary to add port-
land cement to the upper few inches of fill.

First Block

Stoping in the first block progresses by enlarging the Subsequent Blocks

area above the projected ramp line to form a 2.4-m While the first stope is still producing, the up ramp

gradient is projected up the rib walls and holes

(8-ft) high face, then by breasting down 2.4-m (8-ft) drilled to support the timber caps on 1.2-m (4-ft)
deep rounds with a two-boom jumbo. Calculations indi- centers. The caps are wedged between the walls and
cate two rounds should be made for each mining shift. cradled in “bull horns” inserted in the drill holes. A
LHD units will move the broken ore to the orepasses. deck of 76-mm
They can be either diesel or electric and have a capacity
between 1.5 and 2.6 m (2 and 316 cu yd).

When a cut is completed to the endline, the equip-

ment and utility lines are removed, and the cribbed ore-
passes are built up to the next floor level. The ramp

and the initial stoping cut should be advanced in the next
block. However, stoping cannot begin until the up ramp
in the preceding stope is completed through to the upper
level.
The first ramp must be filled to the floor level of the
initial cut to provide through access. Back stoping can
(3-in.) thick planks is then nailed to the caps. Burlap
covers the underside of this ramp chinked into any open-
ings. Fill can then be run into the stope for its full
length with care to be taken to see that it fills tightly
under the ramp decking (Fig. 2). A ramp 14.6 m (48
ft) in length is constructed for each 2.4 m (8 ft) of fill
height.
The remaining stope cuts will proceed in a similar
manner until the crown pillar is reached. The ramp is
then turned into the footwall again and driven to the
elevation of the upper haulage drift. At the sill eleva-
then begin at either end of this stope. The two-boom
jumbo will drill up holes in a pattern of four holes wide
for 9 to 12 m (30 to 40 ft) along the vein each shift to
break a 2.4-m (8-ft) cut. The broken ore will be moved
to the nearest orepasses with an LHD. Drilling and
mucking can therefore continue simultaneously without
being isolated by a muck pile, because access can be
maintained by way of either ramp.
Fill will be added in much the same manner as it was
in the first stope. The portion of the up ramp for the
preceding stope below the stope level must be filled
along with the stope. As the stope progresses upward,
the utility lines can be removed from the ramp to be
filled and added to extend the lines up the near ramp.
Final Block
The final block will not develop a new ramp as did
the former blocks. Because there will be no new ramp,
breasting rounds will probably again be used to avoid
trapping the jumbo behind a muck pile. Filling of this
614 UNDERGROUND MINING METHODS HANDBOOK
Table 1. Summary of Mining Costs
Cost, $
First block 639,343
Subsequent block 464,186
Final block 308,375
Total 1,411,904
•Excluding sill and crown pillars to give a recovery of 89.4% of reserves in place.
’Operating costs only. Does not include amortization of capital, etc.
’Metric equivalent: st x 0.907 184 7 = t.
3
block will be simplified as no new ramp deck will need
to be constructed.
APPLICATION MODELS
This general concept can be used in many situations
1
and ore body dimensions. To be able to estimate costs,
productivity, and other comparable measurements, how-
ever, certain criteria were assumed to provide a model.
These were as follows: daily production of 725.7 t
(800 st); 240 operating days per year; a vertical shaft
1067 m (3500 ft) deep; an average vein thickness of
3 m (10 ft); an average selling value of ore of $40.00
per ton; an initial mine development time of two years;
a total mine life of 17 years; costs and rates as derived
in the earlier portion of this study; all blastholes drilled
with a two-boom jumbo; the broken ore is mucked and
trammed by a 2.6-m (3-cu yd) LHD; rockbolts are
used for ground support; stope cuts are 2.4 m (8 ft)
high; stope fills are made after each cut; all development
headings 3x3m(10xl0ft) are untimbered but rock-
bolted; rail haulage for all ore from the stopes is ade-
quate to maintain continuous production; the raise bore-
holes are done by a contractor and are to be drilled in
the footwall at 183-m (600-ft) intervals; the maximum
ramp gradient is 0.3 rad (17%); the cribbed orepasses
3
Cost Per Ton? $
Minable*
Tonnage
92,069 6.95
86,262 5.38
68,501
4.50
246,792
5.72
are carried in fill at 63-m (208-ft) intervals; haulage
levels are 61 m (200 ft) apart for calculation purposes,
but this concept could enable greater spacing; and all ore
excluding the pillars is taken.
Table 1 gives the cost summaries and productions
from each of the three stoping block types. Table 2
gives breakdowns of both the development costs and the
stoping costs for the first block type. This block will
yield about 83 440 t (92,000 st). Table 3 shows similar
information for the subsequent block types for produc-
tion of about 78 000 t (86,000 st) per block. The final
block cost breakdown is shown in Table 4 for produc-
tion of about 62 130 t (68,500 st). The first block is
estimated to be the most expensive to mine because it
involves breast stoping and high development costs. The
subsequent blocks are less expensive to stope because
back stoping can be used, although the development
costs are still high because of the smaller tonnage de-
veloped. The final block will be the least expensive to
mine because the applicable development costs are very
much lower than the other two types.
The costs derived were calculated, based on knowl-
edge of both the productivity and cycle time elements,
for each of the mining methods being considered. Costs
 Table 2. Summary of First Block Mining Costs

Mining Tonnage Cost Per Cost Per Ton Prorated

Cost. $
Operation Produced Ton, $ Over Block Tonnage, $

Haulage drift 10,308 125,603 12.19 1.36

436 cu 33,060 0.36
Ventilation boreholes
yd waste

Drive ramp through 1074 cu 23,548 0.26

sill pillar yd waste

Drive ramp through 1074 cu 20,694 0.22

crown pillar yd waste

8748 74,214 8.48 0.81
Initial stoping cut
146 4,729 32.84 0.05
Drive orepasses
16,000 0.17

Install chutes

Total development* 19,202 297,848 15.51 3.24

Cost Per Ton

Breast stoping
Stope Ore, $
Build timber ramp
72,827 195,176 2.68
Timber operations
21,865 0.30

Backfill 19,980 0.27

91,034 1.25
Miscellaneous
13,440 0.18

Total stoping 72,827 341,495 4.69

6.95
Total production 92,029 639,343

* Except where noted all development is done in the vein. ’Metric

equivalents: cu yd x 0.764 554 9 - m ; st x 0.907 184 7 = t.
 CUT-AND-FILL STOPING 615

Table 3. Summary of Subsequent Block Mining Costs

Cost Per Short ton

Mining Tonnage Cost Per Prorated Over

Cost, $
Operation Produced* Block Tonnage, $
Short Ton, $

Haulage drift 4,860 60,678 12.49 0.70

Orepass raises 73 2,227 30.50 0.03
Bored vent raise Waste 11,020 — 0.13
Ramp and initial

stope cut 4,172 57,445 13.77 0.67

Orepass chutes — 9,600 — 0.11
Final ramp Waste 20,694 — 0.24

Total development* 9,105 st 161,664 17.76 1.88

Drill and blast

(back stoping) 77,157 79,472 1.03

Mucking — 27,005 0.35

Temporary ground

support — 49,380 0.64

Build ramp — 20,176 0.26
Crib raises — 16,603 0.22
Backfill — 96,446 1.25

Miscellaneous — 13,440 0.17

Total stoping 77,157 st 302,522 3.92 5.38

Total production 86,262 st 464,186

‘Except where noted all development is done in the vein.

* Metric equivalent: st x 0.907 184 7 = t.
 Table 4. Summary of Final Block Mining Costs

Cost Per Short Ton

Mining Tonnage* Total Cost Per
Prorated Over
Operation Produced Cost, $ Short Ton, $
Block Tonnage, $

10 x 10-ft* bulkhead Produced 308,586 Short Ton, $

68,493 Cost Per Short Ton
39.75
0.01

Orepass 16 636 39.75 0.01

— 3,200 —
Orepass chute 0.05
— 208 —
10 x 10-ft* bulkhead
0.01
243 2,141 8.81
Initial stope cut
0.03

Total development 259 6,185 23.88 0.09

Breast stoping 68,234 182,867 — 2.67

Backfilling — 85,292 — 1.25

Cribbed raises 20,592 0.30

Miscellaneous —
13,650 0.20
(engineering,
68,493 —

salvage, etc.) 302,401 4.43

Total stoping 308,586 4.51

Total production
Metric equivalents: ft x 0.3048 = m; st x 0.907 184 7 = t.
 UNDERGROUND MINING METHODS HANDBOOK
616

Table 5. Summary of Productivity Estimates for Highly Mechanized Cut-and-FHI Stoping

Calculations of the number of men required to produce 800 stpd*

Backstop! ng
200 st per shift per stope is achievable on a continuous basis

Stope crew = 1 jumbo operator

1 miner

1 LHD operator

3 per shift

Assume 2 stopes each being worked on 2 shifts per day to give 800 stpd
12 men per day + 4 utility crew (stope preparation, salvage, piping, etc.)

Total = 16 men per day

Backstoping productivity = 800 st = 50 st per miner shift

16 men

Breast Stoping

Assume 2 men per stope per shift will produce 100 st (2 rounds per shift) so that 4 stopes worked on 2 shifts per
day basis produce 800 st.

Stope crew = 1 jumbo operator

1 LHD operator

= 16 men per day + 8 utility crew

= 24 men per day

Breast stoping productivity = 800 st = 33.3 st per miner shift

24 men

‘Metric equivalent: st x 0.907 184 7 = t.

for equipment, fuel, tires, and other expendables are plan. Total costs calculated from dollar-per-foot fig-
-
1976 figures, and equipment hourly operating costs for
each piece of equipment are included at the end of the ures were then expensed over the ore block directly as-
sociated with the development. The development costs

entire cost section. The labor cost used has been fixed do not include shafts, slopes, or other major support

at $10.50 per hr, based on average rates at underground systems, but only the costs incurred for the development
mines in the United States and including 35% markup of the specific tonnage block.

for fringe benefits and 25% for an incentive payment Stoping costs were calculated, using derived unit

system. operation costs, for drilling, blasting, mucking, stope

The total mining cost, based on these assumptions, preparation, and ground support installation when re-

consists of two parts: development costs, and stoping quired. Selection of proper unit operations was made

costs. Development costs are determined by first creat- for specific stoping cases and their related costs compiled

ing a development plan of drifting, raising, and chutes to give a stoping cost.

or mill holes. Several specific development plans are It should be reemphasized that costs given include

considered for each stoping method. Prior to this, ap- labor, direct operating costs of equipment, and expend-

propriate unit costs were applied to the development ables. These costs have been allocated to the assigned

sl LL P1LLAR -
 CUT-AND-FILL STOPING 617

tonnage for the example stoping block. Equipment capi- ried in the fill. Bored or driven raises can be located in

talization and depreciation have not been included. the footwall near the switchback stations to serve as ore-

The stope productivity measured in tons per miner passes. Other convenient locations for these orepasses

shift will depend on the blasting technique employed. could be intersected by short crosscuts.

The first and the final blocks require breast stoping and Irregular endlines and raking ore shoots can be

for this method 30.2 t (33.3 st) per miner shift was es- worked by locating the switchback stations to conform

timated to be the productivity. The intermediate or sub- with the endlines. The orepasses would be the limiting
sequent blocks are back stoped to produce about 45 t factor.

(50 st) per miner shift. Table 5 gives a derivation of

MINE SYSTEM CONSIDERATION
these estimates.

This ramp method of cut-and-fill stoping will be best Any innovation or change in a stoping system will

suited for very long ore shoots in veins or continuous affect the total mine system. There will be improvements

beds. Any number of the subsequent blocks may be to certain facets but there are also some limitations

The remaining blocks will be removed in an upward

added to extend the stoping area. The lengths of these retreating sequence similar to the method described pre-
intermediate stopes may be extended beyond the 179 m viously under final block method. The down ramps will
(588 ft) shown in this model.

Short ore shoots can also be stoped using this ramp

system by three different approaches: the vertical dis-
tance between the haulage levels can be reduced, which
may be practical for operating mines with established
close-level spacing, but the development costs would be
somewhat increased on each ton of ore produced; the
ramp gradient could be steepened (most of the available
rubber-tired equipment can travel grades efficiently up
to 20%); or the ramps can be made to switchback to
gain vertical distance to whatever haulage level spacing
is desired.

An example for this variation on the ramp system as

shown in Fig. 5 has a strike length of about 244 m (800
ft) and a level separation of 165 m (540 ft). The ramp
switchbacks turn into the footwall at right angles to
make level stations. To make the reversed continua-
tion, the up ramp would be started in the footwall par-
allel with the vein, then turned into the vein. A sturdy
pillar will be left between the ramps. The ramp would
be developed through to the upper level in the same
fashion as previously described under “First Block.”
Alternating blocks will be taken leaving the blocks above
the ramps in place until the upper level has been reached.

involved with any stoping system.
Improvements
This highly mechanized ramp system will show sig-
nificant improvements over conventional practices in
productivity, operating costs, and safety.
Productivity: This will be increased in the following
operations: mucking of broken ore, drilling blastholes
in stopes, handling stoping supplies, installing utility
lines, ventilating stopes, and hauling ore from stopes.
Operating Costs: These will be lowered due to the
following factors: fewer manshifts per ton will not only
lower operating costs, but will require fewer support
be filled as mining progresses upward. Because one
ramp will be above the other, orepasses cannot be car-
employees; material handling costs will be reduced; sand
fill pours will be larger and therefore more efficient;
haulage costs from stopes will be less; and rubber-tired
equipment can be moved from one stope to another for
greater utilization.
Safety: Safer working conditions with less manual
labor will result from the following; jumbo drill opera-
tors will be back from the face under supported ground
or possibly under a canopy; danger from slusher cables
will be removed; material handling will be with LHD
units or underground trucks in place of man handling;
personnel access will be by the ramp instead of the
raises; and ventilation through the stope will be superior
as all dust and gases should exhaust away from the
working area.
Limitations
Several factors may limit the application of this cut-
and-fill stoping system: the long stope lengths must be

capable of standing open without extensive ground sup-
port; stope fills will require more time and larger ca-
pacity equipment than the smaller pours of the conven-
tional method; capital investment in equipment will be
50% higher than for the current method (see Table 9);
the method cannot be as selective in mining discontin-
uous veins as can timbered methods; and highly faulted
or irregular veins would be difficult to follow.
COMPARISONS BETWEEN PROPOSED AND
EXISTING CUT-AND-FILL MINING METHODS
A full evaluation of a new mining method can be
made by comparing it with contemporary method
Table 6. Vein Mining Development Cost Comparison for Stope Mechanization
Conventional Method
10 x
applied to the same conditions. The typical application
model as described previously was used for evaluation
of both the new and the old methods. This model is
similar to many narrow vein mining operations now or
formerly in production.
Comparisons were made in the subjects of devel-
opment, stoping, equipment and manpower require-
ments, and an economic evaluation analysis known as
ECONEVAL was made by computer for each case.
Development
The mine development periods, to gain full stope
production, are of the same duration. It is assumed that
Ramp Application
10-ft* b ald drift
 @ $71.36 per ft

= $21,468 First Block

7 x 7-ft bald l-drift

= 92,029 st $297,848
@ $71.52 per ft Short tons *ore
= $20,169
4-compartment raise
= $7,902 developed
Chute fronts 2 @$3,200
7 x 7-ft bald raise 191 ft
= $6,400 = 86,262 st $161,664
Subsequent Block
@ $82.45 per ft

= $15,752
Short tons ore
Total development cost
developed
= 68,493 st $6,185
= $71,691
Short tons ore developed in
block 300 x 200 x 10 ft x Final Block
162
= 48,600 st
Short tons ore
2000
developed

Total development
Cost per short ton ore $465,697
developed = $1.48
cost

$1.89
Cost per short ton
ore developed

'Metric equivalents: ft x 0.3048 = m; st x 0.907 184 7 = t.

 619
CUT-AND-FILL STOPING

Table 7. Comparison of Equipment Requirements

Conventional Method Highly Mechanized Method

Unit Total Unit Total

No. Type No. Type
Cost, $ Cost, $ Cost, $ Cost, $

2nd Year 2nd Year

3 Mucking machines 33,000 99,000 3 Jackleg drills 2,800 8,400

8 Jackleg drills 2,800 22,400 3 Stoper drills 2,000 6,000

8 Stoper drills 2,000 3 LHD diesels 87,240
16,000 174,480

Total Total
$137,400 188,880
2,800 87,240
3rd Year 3rd Year

2,000 28,000 105,520 261,720

10 Jackleg drills 3 LHD diesels

13,500 20,000 2,800 422,080

10 Stoper drills 4 2-boom jumbos
108,000
3,200 2,000 8,400
8 Slushers 3 Jackleg drills
25,600
2,000 3 Stoper drills 900 6,000
8 Scrapers
16,000
4 Timber saws 3,600
8 Tugger hoists
$197,600
Total 701,800
Total

4th Year Two-year total 890,680

7 Jackleg drills 2,800 19,600

7 Stoper drills 2,000 14,000

12 Slushers 13,500 162,000

12 Scrapers 3,200
38,400
12 Tugger hoists
2,000
24,000
Total
258,000
Three-year total
593,000
the first two years of development are in waste. Both
systems start stope development by driving three 3 x 3-m
(10 x 10-ft) haulage drifts in ore.
Stoping
Stoping in the conventional system will begin at
45 t/d (50 stpd) about the fifth month after the start
of the third year (months begin at the start of the third
year). Production will then increase by 45 t/d (50 stpd)
per month until the 24th month when 20 stopes will be
available to give continuous production of 725 t/d (800
stpd). Twenty-five percent of the stopes are assumed
to be out of production for fill or development at all
times (Fig. 6). Development ore could bring total mine
production up to 725 t/d (800 stpd) as early as the
eighth month, but this production would not be main-
tained.
Stoping in the highly mechanized cut-and-fill method
would begin about the eighth month after the start of
the third year and continue at 363 t/d (400 stpd) to the
26th month when it would increase to the full 725 t/d
(800 stpd). Four stopes in full production will actually
produce sufficiently more than 725 t/d (800 stpd) so as
to make up for any downtime for sand fills. Develop-
ment ore, again, could bring total mine production up to
725 t/d (800 stpd) in the eighth or ninth month. Ore
from the haulage drifts would be intermittent after the
12th month (see Fig. 7).
The conventional stoping system could come into
production earlier than the new ramp method; however,
considerably more miners would be required. These
miners would need to be highly skilled to accomplish
the development work required.
In the highly mechanized system, the miners that
drove the three haulage drifts could phase into the stope
development work and then into the actual stoping. The
net effect would be reduced personnel requirements.
Table 6 is a comparison of development costs and shows
the ramp method to be 28.6% higher than conventional.
EQUIPMENT AND MANPOWER REQUIREMENTS
Major equipment prices are tabulated in Table 7 to
give a comparison. This equipment would cost approxi-
mately $593,000 over three years for the conventional
method. The equipment for the highly mechanized
method would cost approximately $900,000 over a two-
year period. To start up the highly mechanized system
would, therefore, cost approximately 50% more than
the conventional method. This is to be expected as ex-
pensive, but more efficient, equipment would be used in
place of cheaper but less efficient equipment.
Manpower requirements for both the conventional
and highly mechanized methods are estimated and com-
pared in Tables 8, 9, and 10. Table 8 shows 29 salaried
employees for the conventional and 22 for the highly
mechanized method. Fewer shift foremen will be re-
quired to supervise stoping, as well as fewer support
personnel. Table 9 shows 136 hourly employees for the
conventional and 85 for the highly mechanized method.
The greatest reduction in labor is in the stope mining.
Total personnel are compared in Table 10. Labor cost
per ton is $18.01 for the conventional method and
$11.82 for the highly mechanized method for a reduc-
tion of 34.4%. Productivity is 4.4 t (4.85 st) per man-
shift for the conventional method and 6.78 t (7.48 st)
for the highly mechanized. Tons per total manshift will
therefore be increased by 54.2% if the highly mecha-
nized method is used.
ECONOMIC EVALUATION ANALYSIS
The comparison of the two cut-and-fill methods was
carried further by applying the costs and productivities
to the computerized evaluation program, ECONEVAL.
This program was developed by the Office of Coal Re-
620 UNDERGROUND MINING METHODS HANDBOOK

Table 8. Comparison of Manpower Requirements for

Salaried Personnel

Highly
Conventional
Mechanized
Method
Method

Annual No. Combined No. Combined

Job Classification
Salary, $ Employed Cost, $ Employed Cost, $

Mine superintendent 30,000 1 30,000 1 30,000

General mine foreman 25,000 1 25,000 1 25,000

1
Maintenance superintendent 25,000 1 25,000 1 25,000

Shift foreman 20,000 8* 160,000 4* 80,000

3
Maintenance 20,000 60,000 3 60,000
1
Sand fill boss 20,000 20,000 1 20,000
1
Senior mining engineer 20,000 20,000 1 20,000
1 19,000
Senior geologist 19,000 1 19,000
1 18,000
Safety engineer 18,000 1 18,000
1 16,000
Ventilation technician 16,000 1 16,000
3 45,000 3
Survey crew 15,000 45,000
45,000
3 2
Samplers 15,000 30,000
12,000 —
1 —
Bonus clerk 12,000
12,000 1
1 12,000
Draftsman 12,000 12,000 V
1 12,000
12,000 _ t
Secretary 12,000
1 —
12,000 22
Mine clerk 531,000
29 412,000
Total Salaried
+ 35%
burden
716,850 556,200

’Based on 2 shifts per day, 4 shift foremen per shift.

Based on 2 shifts per day, 2 shift foremen per shift.

♦ Clerk and secretary combined.

Table 9. Comparison of Manpower Requirements for

Hourly Personnel

S Total cost
t
Job Classification o @ $10.50 per hr* x
p 1920 hr per year
e
Electrician m
i
n
Welder e
r
s
Warehouseman
F
Lampman i
l
l
Janitor
c
r
Laborer e
w

Total surface T
o
t
Surface shaftmen a
l

Hoistmen d
e
Underground shaftmen v
e
l
Grizzly tender o
p
m
e
Motorman n
t
Track maintenance m
i
n
Utility men e
r
Laborers s

Total underground service T

o
t
Haulage drifts a
l
h
Raises o
u
r
Total development miners l
y
 $1,713,600

Conventional* Highly
Mechanized*

Method
Method

4
4

3
3
3 2

2 2

1 1

4 4

17 16

4 4

4 4

6 6
2 2

8 8

3
3

4
4
4
4

35
35

8
8

8
2

16
10

64
18

4
6

68
24

136
85

$2,741,760
‘ Based on 2 shifts per day, 2 operating levels, 8 stopes per level, and 2 miners per stope crew.

r Based on 2 shifts per day, 3 stoping areas, and 3 men per stoping area.

♦Includes burden.
 CUT-AND-FILL STOPING 621

search to provide a reliable standardized estimate of the Table 11. It is shown that the average operating cost for

rate of return on investment. It is this figure that will the conventional method is $19.63 per ton, whereas for

be of paramount interest to any investor or loan the highly mechanized method it is $13.72 per ton. The
operating cost for the mechanized method will
then be
institution.

Input data used in the analysis was specified in the 70% of that for the conventional method. This saving

application model described earlier in the chapter. Other of 30% in operating cost is very significant when one

costs were assumed to be similar to costs obtained from realizes that it comes totally from the increase in stoping
working mines. These assumed costs are equal for both efficiency. The other unit operations and costs are held

methods. Typical and current interest, tax, depletion, constant.

and depreciation rates were applied equally. The commodity value of $40.00 per ton of ore pro-

Estimates of operating costs for each year were duced was first applied to the ECONEVAL program.

needed as input data. These costs were developed in The results were that the conventional method of stoping

Table 10. Comparison of Manpower Requirements for

Total Personnel

Conventional Highly Mechanized

Method Method

No. Annual Cost No. Annual Cost

Salaried
Hourly 29 $716,850 22 $556,200
2,741,760 85 1,713.600
136
Total
$3,458,610 107 $2,269,800
165
s Short tons
h per
Manshifts per year o manshift
r
t
Annual production
t •Metric
o equivalent: st x
n 0.907 184 7 = t.
Labor cost per
 39,600 25,680

192,000 St* 192,000 st

$18.01 $11.82

4.85 7.48

Table 11. Operating Costs Per Year for Conventional Cut-and-Fill vs Mechanized Cut-and-FIII

Conventional Cut-and-Fill Mechanized Cut-and-Fill

Year 1,$ Year 2, $ Year 3, $ Year 4, $ Year 5-17, $ Year 1, $ Year 2, $ Year 3, $ Years 4-17, $

Stoping 0 0 1,621,139 1,921,640 2,215,680 0 0 877,282 1,079,040

(1154) (11.54) (11.54) (5.62) (5.62)

Underground haulage 0 0 140,480 166,520 192,000 0 0 156,100 192,000

(100) (1.00) (1.00) (1-00) (1.00)

Hoisting 0 0 0 0

84,288 99,912 115,200 93,660 115,200

Pumping 0 0 0 0
(0.60) (0.60) (0.60) (0.60) (0.60)

Ventilation 0 0 112,384 133,216 153,600 0 0 124,680 153,600

(0.80) (0.80) (0.80) (0.80) (0.80)

4,214 4,996 5,760 4,683 5,760

(0.03) (0.03) (0.03) (0.03) (0.03)

Miscellaneous

surface equipment 12,000 12,000 12,000 12,000 12,000 12,000 12,000 12,000 12,000

(0.09) (0.09) (0.06) (0.08) (0.06)

Ore-waste handling 0 0 0 0

280,960 333,040 384,000 312,000 384,000

(2.00) (2.00) (2.00) (2.00)
(2.00)

Sand fill operation 0 0 175,600 208,150 240,000 0 0 196,125 240,000

(125) (125) (125) (125) (1.25)

0 0)
Surface lagoon 0 0 84,288 (0.60) 99,912 ( .
6 115,200
 (0.60) 0 0 93,660 115,20
0

(0.60)
(0.60
)

Surface ore haulage 0 0 210,720 249,780 288,000 0 0 243,150 288,000

(1.50) (1.50) (150) (1.50) (150)

Miscellaneous
20,000 20,000 35,000 35,000 50,000 20,000 20,000 35,000 50,000
operating expense
(0.25) (0.21) (0.26) (0.22) (0.26)

Total annual cost 2,761,073 3,264,166 3,771,440 2,138,740

0 0 2,634,600
Short tons mined 140,480 166,520 192,000
156,100 192,000
19.60 per st 19.64 per st 13.71 per st 13.72 per st
16.95 per st

Average 19.63 per st 13.72 per st

Figures in parentheses represent cost per short ton in dollars.

Metric equivalent: st x 0.907 184 7 = t.
622 UNDERGROUND MINING METHODS HANDBOOK

Table 12. Sensitivity Analysis to Variation of Commodity Value

Conventional Highly Mechanized

Commodity Percent
Method Equity
Variance Method Equity
Value, $ per st*
Rate of Return Rate of Return

$40.00 -20.00 0.0 9.76

-19.00 0.0 10.33

-18.00 0.0 10.85

-17.00 0.0 11.34

-16.00 0.0 11.83
0.0 12.31
-15.00
0.0 12.73
-14.00
0.0 13.14
-13.00
0.0 13.56
-12.00 0.0 13.99

-11.00 0.0 14.45

-10.00

- 9.00 0.45 14.90

- 8.00 1.16 15.35

- 7.00 1.86 15.79

- 6.00 2.55 16.19

- 5.00 3.21 16.58

- 4.00 3.86 16.96

- 3.00 4.51 17.34
 - 2.00 5.13 17.72

- 1.00 5.76 18.10

$50.00 0.00 6.31 18.48
1.00 6.83 18.89

2.00 7.35 19.30

3.00 7.86 19.71

4.00 8.37 20.11

5.00 8.87 20.52

6.00 9.38 20.91
7.00 9.87 21.32

8.00 10.36 21.70

9.00 10.85 22.05

10.00 11.31 22.40

11.00 11.73 22.75

12.00 12.15 23.09

$60.00 13.00 12.58 23.44
14.00 12.98 23.78
15.00 13.38 24.11
16.00 13.73 24.46
17.00 14.08 24.80
18.00 14.44 25.13
19.00 14.83 25.47
20.00 15.22 25.81

‘Metric equivalent: st x 0.907 184 7 = t.

 623
CUT-AND-FILL STOPING

would not only yield no profit but would never return creasing production and decreasing costs. The key to its

the equity in investment. Because there can be no nega- success is the use of the efficient mobile equipment sug-

tive value for a rate of return, the program was rerun gested. To use less productive equipment even for this

for the two methods using a commodity value of $50.00 unique stoping system would fail to produce the results
per ton. For conventional cut-and-fill stoping, the equity derived in this study.

rate of return is 6.31%, the total investment rate of

return is 6.31%, and the equity payback is 11.04 years.

INVESTMENT
RETURN ON
For highly mechanized cut-and-fill stoping, the equity

RATE OF
rate of return is 18.48%, the total investment rate of

*
return is 18.48%, and the equity payback period is

6.26 years.
x

It can readily be seen then that the rate of return on

the investment in the highly mechanized mine is nearly
three times the rate of return for the conventional mine. 16
The equity would also be paid back in just over one half
the time.
14

The computer program also produces a sensitivity

analysis of the rate of return by the variation of the

commodity value (Table 12). These values are varied

from 20% above the $50.00 value to 20% below. Fig. 8

IO
illustrates the results of this analysis graphically with the

varied commodity values noted at the corresponding

method that the break-even commodity value is about

$45.00. If we assume that a rate of return of no less

than 10% would make the mining venture attractive, 4

then for the conventional method, the value of the com- VARIANCE COMMOOiTY VALUE

modity would need to rise to about $54.00 per ton. The

-20%
highly mechanized method, however, appears to be prof-
2
-10% + 10%

itable from values of $40.00 on up. Drops in the com-

mo di ty value could be
much more than 20% before a loss would occur
while using the highly mechanized I 40/tWI
/
>50 Awi IM/Wi
/

method. The element of risk to investment for this /

/

method is therefore much lower than it is for conven-

tional stoping method. Fig. 8. Graph of sensitivity analysis, through the

method
The highly mechanized cut-and-fill stoping ECONEVAL economic evaluation. Metric equivalent: st X
described in this report is a practical approach to in-
0.907 184 7 = t.

APPENDIX

Table 13. Costs to Drive Haulage Drift and Ventilation Raises

Drive Haulage Drift

Cost of trackless 10 x 10-ft* drift at 7.6 ft advance per round = $71.36 per ft
Track installation

labor cost = 1 man-hr per ft installed = $10.50 per ft

supply costs = $19.27

$101.13 per ft

1242 ft of haulage drift at $101.13 per ft = $125,603

tonnage mined = 10,308 st*

cost per short ton of development ore = $12.19

cost per short ton prorated over block tonnage = $1.36

Ventilation Raises

ventilation raise cost = $55.10 per ft

3 raises per block x 200 ft x $55.10 per ft = $33,060

cost per short ton prorated over block tonnage = $0.36

‘Metric equivalents; ft x 0.3048 = m, st x 0.907 184 7 = t.

624 UNDERGROUND MINING METHODS HANDBOOK

Table 14. Costa to Drive Ramp and Initial Stoping Cut

Ramp Cost

40 ft* of sill and 290 ft of ramp x $71.36 per ft = $23,548.80

Initial Stoping Cut

1040 ft x $71.36 per = $74,214.40

Total

97,763.20
ANFO,
4.8 lb x
Tonnage produced = 8748 st* 7.4 cu yd
x $0.15 x
2
Development tonnage cost = $11.18 per st
support
brow, 2
Cost per short ton prorated over block tonnage = $1.06 men for 1
•Metric equivalents: ft x 0.3048 = m; st x 0.907 184 7 = t. shift @
$10.50
per hr

supplies,
4 mats @
$2.70
each and
Table 15. Estimated Conditions and Costs for Driving a

15 bolts
5 x 5 ft Raise for 14-ft Height @ $2.64
each

Conditions stoper,
bits and
steel, 650
ft @
Drill and blast two 8-ft* rounds to break 14 ft total $0.15 per
ft

Assume 35 holes per round maximum

Assume additional brow support of 4 mats and 15 rockbolts For 14 ft of

Assume 2 men for 3 shifts for this work raise,
drilling and
blasting
Powder factor of 4.8 lb per cu yd * costs
$52.51 per
Caps and primers $1.21 per hole ft

Costs
Mucking
costs
Drilling and blasting costs
7.4 cu yd
drill and blast 2 men, 2 shifts @ $10.50 per hr x2=
14.8 cu
yd x 1.2
blasting supplies, 60 caps @ $1.21 each swell
factor =
3
17.76;
 10.80

39.60

97.50

$735.16

$336.00

72.60

10.66

168.00

use 18 loose cu yd
= 10 scooptram loads
with a 2-cu yd bucket at 90% fill factor

with a 10-min cycle time and 50 min hour = 2 hr mucking

2 hr @ $10.50 per hr 21.50
2 hr @ $16.01 per hr 32.02

$53.02

Total Costs

Drilling and blasting $735.16

Mucking 53.02

$788.18

Short tons of ore produced = 24

Cost per short ton of raise ore - $32.84

Raise cost = 6 x $788.18 each = $4,729.08 or $0.05 per st of stope block tonnage
Chutes
5 x $3,200 = $16,000 = $0.17 per st

Total raise cost prorated over stope block tonnage = $0.22 per st

‘Metric equivalents: ft x 0.3048 = m; lb x 0.453 592 4 = kg; cu yd x 0.764 554 9 - m .

 625

CUT-AND-FILL STOPING

Table 16. Breast Stoping Costs

Drilling and Blasting

Using computerized simulated drilling program it was found that one 8-ft* breast
round could be taken by 2 men in 32.4 + 42 min * 75 min, and would cost $1.31
per st *

Temporary support
$21.12

8 bolts @ $2.64 each

13.00
drilling material and supply costs,
50 ft @ $0.26 per ft
$34.12

$0.64 per st

drilling bolt holes takes 32 min

installing bolts assume 28 min

60 min

Mucking Total time to

take round =
75 + 60 + 60
= 195 min or
3.25 hr
Mucking use 3y2-cu yd* LHD

2 men could
3.5 cu yd x 90% fill factor x 1,2 swell factor x 75% availability take 2
= 1.97 cu yd per cycle, or 4.41 st per cycle rounds per
6yrhr shift

Haul cycle Cost of labor

for travel and

0.5 min load lunch = 2

men x v/2 hr x
3.0 min haul (maximum 200 ft, 150 fpm * average speed)
$10.50 per hr

0.5 min dump $31.50 Total

cost per
4.0 min total haul cycle short ton =

$2.68
at 50 min per hr = 12.5 cycles = 55.13 stph capacity

•Metric
Assume 1 hr mucking time equivalents: ft x
0.3048 = m; fpm x
0.005 08 - m/s; cu
yd x 0.764 554 9 =
m;

Operating cost of SVi-cu yd LHD = $23.03 per hr = $0.43 per st

2 s st x 0.907 1 84 7
=- t.

Totals 1

T
 able 17. Costs to Build Timber Ramp

Timber Requirements

12 10 x 10-In. * timbers required on 4-ft* centers per lift

12 10 x 10 in. by 10 ft =1000bdft*

48 10-ft x 3-in. x 12-in plank = 1400 bd ft

2400 bd ft

Assume $150 per 1000 bd ft, therefore timber cost = $366.00

Add 10% for spikes, wedges, etc. 36.60

= $0.30 per st

Total timber $402.60

Other Supplies

Use bull horns to facilitate installation

Drill four 2-ft holes per timber = 96 ft @ $0.15 per ft = $14.40

24 bull horns @ $3.00 each - 72.00

1 roll brattice @$60.00 per roll = 60.00

Total supplies $146.40

Time Analysis

2 hr drill

2 hr hang 10 x 10's

272 hr lay deck

VA hr lunch and travel, i.e., 4 men, 1 shift

@ 10.50 per hr =- $336.00

Ownership and labor for the scooptram @ $14.19 per hr for 8 hr = $113.52

Totals

Total cost = $998.52

Cost per ft of ramp = $998.52/48 ft = $20.80 per ft

Total ramp length = v'162 + 990 + 48 = 1003.7 + 48 = 1051.17

Total cost of ramp floor = 1051.17 x $20.80 = $21,865 = $0.30 per st*
•Metric equivalents: in. x 25.4 = mm; ft x 0.3048 = m; bd ft x 0.002 359 737 = m - st x

0.907 1 84 7 = t.
626 UNDERGROUND MINING METHODS HANDBOOK

Table 18. Cost to Raise 5 x 5-ft Cribbed Orepasses

Labor Costs

Consider 2 men

remove grizzly rails 0.25 hr

build 8-ft crib 0.5 hr

replace rails 0.25 hr

1.00 hr

6 cribs @2 man-hr each = 2 manshifts Labor

cost = 16 hr @ $10.50 per hr = $168.00

Material Costs
Cost per short
6 x 6-in. * cribbing by 5 ft * long x 4 sides =120 bdft * per ft of height ton prorated
6 cribs x 8 ft high = 48 ft of crib or 5760 bdft over stoped
tonnage =
3 $0.27
Use $200 per 1000 bd ft to allow for cutting = $1,152
Cost of fill has
Add 10% for nails, etc. = 115 been
calculated
previously at
Use 3 rolls of brattice cloth @ $60.00 each = 180 $1.25 per st’

$1,447 •Metric
equivalents: in. x
25.4 = mm; ft x
0.3048 = m; bd ft
x 0.002 359 737 =
Supplies Transport m ; st x 0.907 184
7 = t.

Use LHD to deliver materials to job site

1 trip per crib + 30 min per trip = 3 hr. Allow 4 hr for contingencies
4 hr x $28.10 (ownership and operating costs of LHD) = $112.40
T
a
b
Total Cost l
e

$168.00 + $1,447.00 + $112.00 = $1,727.40 1

9
.
S
Cost Summary u
b
s
e
Cost per foot = $36.00 q
u
e
555 ft total of cribbed raise n
t
 Block Development Costs

Haulage Drift

600 ft’ x $101.13 per ft = $60,678

Produce 4860 st * development ore

Haulage drift cost amortized over block tonnage

Orepass Raises

3 x $53.02 per ft x 14 ft = $2,226.84

Produce 73 st development ore

Orepass raises amortized over block tonnage

Vent Raise

200 ft x $55.10 per ft = $11,020 $12.49 per st

Amortized over block tonnage
$0.70 per st

Ramp and Initial Stope Cut

$30.50 per st

$0.03 per st

$0.13 per st

(290-ft ramp and 515 ft initial stoping cut) x $71.36 per ft = $57,444.80

Produce 4274 st development ore $13.44 per st

Amortized over block tonnage $0.67 per st

Orepass Chutes

3 @ $3,200 each = $9,600 ’Metric

equivalents: ft x
0.3048 = m; st x
0.907 184 7 = t.
Final Ramp

290 ft x $71.36 per ft = $20,694

Amortized over block tonnage
$0.11 per st

$0.24 per st
 627

CUT-AND-FILL STOPING

Table 20. Subsequent Block Backstoplng Costs

Drilling and Blasting

A computer drill and blast simulator program was used.

Data obtained from a rock drill manufacturer for machine

energy output was used as input for the program and a

2-boom jumbo was considered. The printout shows that

442 ft* per shift can be drilled and blasted at a cost of

$265.55 per blast or $1.03 per st*.

Mucking •Metric equivalents: ft x 0.3048 = m; cu yd x 0.764 554 9 = m ;

st x 0.907 184 7 = t.
Use a 3V2-cu yd* LHD. Use the same time cycle as in first
block which produces 32.75 cu yd per 60 min hour =
77.22 stph

3
Because 200 st per shift is required, muck can be removed
in 2.59-50 min hour at a machine availability of 86%
Assume 3 shift hr are used to muck out 200 st, 3V2-cu yd
LHD @ $23.03 operating cost for 3 hr ($60.09) = $0.35
per st

Temporary Support

As in first block = $0.64 per st

Cost to Build Ramp

$20.80 per ft x 970 ft = $20,176 = $0.26 per st

Cribbed Raises

4612 ft x $36.00 per ft = $16,603.00 = $0.22 per st 3

Fill

Use the $1.25 per st figure

 Table 23. Volume of Ore In First Block
Table 21. Subsequent Block Engineering and

Assume 10-ft* thick vein and 12.35 cu ft* per short ton *
Miscellaneous Costs

Assume the same engineering and miscellaneous costs as in

first block: $13,440 or $0.16 per st*

‘Metric equivalent: st x 0.907 184 7 = t. H------------------ -------------- 990 ft

1090 ft- -4

Stope Tonnage

Table 22. Miscellaneous Costs

Volume of = 97,200 cu ft

Assume Volume of A = 801,900 cu ft

1 engineering shift per lift
@ 162 lb per cu ft = 72,827 st stoping
V/2 shifts pipe salvage, etc. Development Tonnage

4shifts material supplies, etc. 162

Haulage drift = 1242 x 10 x 10 ft x 10,308 st
6.5 manshifts @ $10.50 per hr = $546.00 per lift 2000
With 20 lifts per stope = $10,920
162
Sill drift = 1080 x 10 x 10 ft = 8,748 St
72,827 st* of stoped ore = $0.15 per st 2000

162
Ramp Around Crown Pillar
Raises = 5x5x12ftx6x = 146St
235 ft* @ $71.36 per ft = $16,769 2000
Development = 19,202 st
72,827 st = $0.23 per st

Total block minable tonnage = 92029 st

‘Metric equivalents: ft x 0.3048 = m; st x 0.907 184 7 = t.
‘Metric equivalents: ft x 0.3048 = m; cu ft x 0.028 316
85 ~ m ; lb x 0.453 592 4 = kg; st x 0.907 184 7 = t.
628 UNDERGROUND MINING METHODS HANDBOOK

Table 24. Minable Tonnage in Subsequent Block

588 ft----------

X
■586 ft

Stope Tonnage

3
Volume of stoped block 588 x 162 10 ft* = 952,560 cu ft* or 77,157 st*
Development Tonnage

Haulage drift 600 x 10 x 10 ft -e- 12.35 cu ft per st = 4,858 st

515 x 10 x 10 ft -e- 12.35 cu ft per st = 4,170 st
3x12x5x5fU12.35 cu ft per st = 73 st
Initial stope cut

Orepass raises 9,101 st

Total minable tonnage in block = 86,262 st

‘Metric equivalents: ft x 0.3048 = m; cu ft x 0.028 316 85 = m ; st x 0.907 184 7 = t.

Table 25. Volume of Ore In Final Block

3

Stope Tonnage

1040 x 162
Volume of ore in block
------ - -------x 10

—----------------------KMOfT

= 842,400 cu ft*
Stoping
= 68,243 st*

Development Tonnage
Volume of development ore

initial stope = 30 x 10 x 10 ft* = 3000 cu ft = 243 st

=4x4 x 12ft
orepass through sill
pillar = 192 cu ft = 16 st

= 259 st
Development

= 68,501 st
Total tonnage

‘Metric equivalents: ft x 0.3048 = m; cu ft x 0.028 316 85 = m ; st x 0.907 184 7 = t.

Table 26. Final Block Development

Total length of cribbed raise = 572 ft*

One ore chute

One 5 x 5-ft orepass

One 10 x 10-ft bulkhead at top of ramp in waste

Vent raise haulage drift plus ramp are existing from

previous block

Waste development is nil

Metric equivalent: ft x 0.3048 - m.

 629

CUT-AND-FILL STOPING

APPENDIX B.
Cost Summary

DRILL AND BLAST SIMULATION MODEL*

(In Dollars)

This
Yards
shows
broken
a per
representative
blast run for13.95 yd
breasting using

jacklegs to develop drilling and blasting times and costs Underground Percussive
Totals
for a particular run. Blasting Drilling
2.67 Per ton
1.24
1.42

Performance Summary
3.89 Per cu yd
2.07 1.81

Tons broken per blast 20.34 tons 54.26 Per blast

*123 28.94 25.32

Footage advanced per blast 5.98 ft 4.84 4.23 9.07 Per ft of advance

Drilling rate 12.00 ipm 0.32 Per ft drilled

Resultant powder factor 2.44 lb per ton

Working Variables

(Input + Calculated)
1.25

Rock Descriptors 162.00

1. Coefficient of rock strength

1.00
2. Weight of solid rock, lb per cu ft

1.38
Drilling Equipment Description

1. Type of drill (1.0 = jackleg, 2.0 = drifter)

2. Actual bit diameter, in.

 3. Amount of mechanization (0.3 = column mounted, 0.6 = jumbo) 0.70

Blast Round Design

1. Average hole depth, ft 6.50

2. Number of holes per blast 12.00

3. Percent pull 0.92
4. Excavation type (1.0 = drift, 2.0 = stope) 2.00

5. Width of heading, ft 0.0

6. Height of heading, ft 0.0

7. Angle of holes to face, rad 1.57

8. Number of drill holes per row 4.00

9. Number of rows blasted per blast 3.00

3
10. Hole spacing on each row, ft .
C
11. Burden, ft o
s
t
Percent powder that is ANFO o
f
Weight of explosive, lb per cu ft b
i
t
Burden factor, k ,
$

Mine Design p
e
r
1. Number of drills drilling per face b
i
t
2. Number of drillers working per face

4
3. Number of driller helpers working per face .
J
a
4. Average number of headings c
k
l
5. Percent of foreman’s time allocated to each face e
g
d
6. Number of powder loaders r
i
l
7. Actual, or measured drilling rate over an 8-hr shift, ipm l
c
Cost Variables o
s
t
1. Labor rate—driller, incl. fringe, $ per hr c
o
m
2. Labor rate—driller’s helper, incl. fringe, $ per hr p
l
e
t
 e, $
1.75
5. Jumbo cost complete, $
2.00
6. Drifter drill cost, $
0.95
7. Foreman’s wage rate, incl. fringe, $ per hr
61.25
8. Labor rate—blaster, incl. fringe, $ per hr
0.0
9. ANFO cost, $ per lb

10. Cost of primers and caps per hole, $ 1.00

1.00

0.0

1.00

0.0

1.00

12.00

10.50

10.50

7.50

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

10.50

0.00

1.25
 UNDERGROUND MINING METHODS HANDBOOK
630

Output Variables

Penetration Rate Outputs

1. Theoretical bit penetration, ipm 0.0

. “Rule of thumb” check of theoretical bit penetration, ipm 0.0

. Penetration rate further modified for the effect of bit diameter 0.0

. Dummy variables (for “rule of thumb” checks of theoretical

bit penetration) 0.0 .

Drilling time per blast round, in hrs. 1.30 .
Average penetration rate (overall drilling rate), in ipm 12.00 .
Apparent specific energy, in lb per cu in. 0.0

Drilling Cost Outputs

1. Drilling labor cost per blast, in $ 13.65

. “Direct” drilling labor cost per foot drilled, in $ per ft 0.17

. Drilling labor per shift per face, in $ per ft 13.65

. “Direct” labor cost per foot of advance $ per ft 2.28

. “Direct” labor cost per ton broken, $ per ton 0.67

Related Drilling cost outputs

0.03
1. Bit cost per foot drilled, in $ per ft

2. “Direct” drilling power (i.e., compressed air) cost per foot

drilled, $ per ft 0.02

3.
Steel (wear) cost per foot drilled, $ per ft 0.06

4. “Direct” drill (or jumbo) write-off cost per foot drilled, $ per ft 0.0
“Direct” drill maintenance cost per foot drilled, $ per ft 0.04
“Direct” drilling supervision per foot drilled, $ per ft s 0.0
5. a

6.
1.
R
Blasting Results and Costs es
ul
 tant powder factor, in lb of explosive per tons actually broken 2.
Resultant per cubic yard powder factor, in lb of explosive per
2.44
cu yd of material broken

3. Blasting labor (i.e., powdering the holes) cost per blast 3.56

(including loading, priming, and wiring time), in $ per blast

7.35
4. Explosives cost per blast (includes ANFO, dynamite, primers,

caps, and line), in $ per blast 21.59

. Blasting supervision cost per blast, in $ per blast 0.0
yd X
. Blasting equipment (i.e., pneumatic loaders, etc.) write off 0.764
554 9 =
m ; lb X
cost per blast, $ per blast 0.453
592 4 =
kg; st X
. Blasting labor (i.e., powdering) cost per minute, in $ per min 0.907
184 7 = t.

. Number of blasters leading (i.e., powdering) the face

. Powdering time, in min

Conversion Factors used in model

1. Total footage drilled per blast, in feet

2. Tonnage broken per blast, tons

3. Designed volume of rock to be broken per blast, cu ft (i.e.,

before % pull)

4. Actual (loose) volume of rock pulled (i.e., actually broken)

per blast, in cu yd per blast)

5. Footage drilled per shift per face, in ft per shift per heading

6. Machine (drill or jumbo) cost, in $

7. (Average) footage drilled per hour of machine in use in fph

8. Corrected (or perpendicular) depth of round

9. Actual (or resultant) depth of drift advance per blast, in ft per blast

* Metric equivalents: in. X 25.4 = mm; ft X 0.3048 — m; cu ft X 0.028 316 8 = m ; cu

 0.0

0.17 rir,rt

1.00

42.00
-J tMn

78.00

20.
!7l K w IQ

273.00

13.

78.00

0.

60.00

6.50

5.08
Ui
00 -
J