1. What is engineering design? Explain.

The process of creating a design that is an original representation, that is, a prototype, for a proposed
object or system. It is a process of converting an idea or market need into the detailed information from
which a product or technical system can be produced.
Engineering design is the process of devising a system, component, or process to meet desired needs. It is
a decision-making process, in which the basic sciences, mathematics, and engineering sciences are
applied to optimally convert resources to meet a stated objective.
2. Discuss the importance of each fundamental element of the design process.

Fundamental elements of the design process is the establishment of objectives and criteria, synthesis,
analysis, construction, testing, and evaluation.

A program objective is a specific, well defined and measurable condition that must be attained in
order to accomplish a stated pal. Evaluation criteria are the actual instruments used to measure
progress toward objectives.
Synthesis allows us to test and validate hypotheses, understand key processes, and better future
design. When a design succeeds in synthesis, it can make distinct, often epoch-making progress,
leading the design to higher levels of understanding of the project being planned.
Analysis structures findings from research or other means of data collection, acquiring
meaningful insights from the dataset and ruling out human bias through proper statistical
treatment.
Construction is a process of identifying activities and resources required to make the design a
physical reality. Hence, construction is the implementation of a design envisioned by engineers.
Testing is plays an importance role, which helps to improve the quality, reliability & performance
of the project with all check what all functions parts of the projects is supposed.

In evaluation, objectives are ensured to be met, problems were identified so it can be erected, provides
information to aid further development and evaluation serves as guide for future plans.
3. Give the definition of the following:
a. Ore - The naturally occurring material from which a mineral or minerals of economic value can be extracted
profitably or to satisfy social or political objectives

b. Exploration - The search for coal, mineral, or ore by (1) geological surveys; (2) geophysical prospecting (may be
ground, aerial, or both); (3) boreholes and trial pits; or (4) surface or underground headings, drifts, or tunnels.
Exploration aims at locating the presence of economic deposits and establishing their nature, shape, and grade, and
the investigation may be divided into (1) preliminary and (2) final.

c. Development - The preparation of a mining property or area so that an orebody can be analyzed and its tonnage
and quality estimated. Development is an intermediate stage between exploration and mining.

d. Production the stage when it is engaged in the exploitation of a mineral deposit

4. What is the planning phase? What are the things needed for the planning phase of a mining
project? Explain the importance of these things in the planning phase.

During the planning phase, which in practice may overlap with the completion of feasibility studies, all
aspects of the mine are planned in detail. This includes planning related to mining and ore separation
processes, as well as site infrastructure needs, schedules for construction and commissioning of facilities,
and all planning associated with environmental aspects of operations.

Resources
o A resource is a source or supply from which benefit is produced. Typically resources are
materials, energy, services, staff, knowledge, or other assets that are transformed to
produce benefit and in the process may be consumed or made unavailable.
Commodity price
o It denotes the cost of one of the most significant inputs for the entire economy
Costs
o Understanding how costs behave, whether costs are relevant to specific decisions, and
how costs are affected by income taxes allows managers to determine the impact of
changing costs and other factors on a variety of decisions.
Cash flow
o Cash flow is a key indicator of financial health. Cash flow also gives your business
greater flexibility in responding to emerging dilemmas or making critical decisions.
Project detail level
o It is the core of any and every project. The detailed project plan serves as a point of
reference for the project manager to monitor progress, the project team for managing
their day-to-day activities and other stakeholders for understanding whats going on as
well as whats to come.

5. What is an excavation cost? List down the parameters needed when acquiring the excavation
costs. Explain the importance of its parameter in the cost.

1. What is an excavation cost? List down the parameters needed when acquiring the excavation
costs. Differentiate it from mining costs.

The expenditure or the amount to be paid for the process of removing soil and/or rock materials from one
location and transporting them to another (drilling, blasting and loading). It includes digging, blasting,
and breaking, loading, and hauling, either at the surface or underground.
The total excavation cost is then the sum of the drilling, blasting, and loading cost terms.

Equipment
Ground condition
Drilling cost
Explosive cost
Mining method

6. What is a feasibility study? List down the contents of the parameters to be undertaken in a
Feasibility Study.

A feasibility study is an evaluation of a mineral reserve to determine whether it can be mined effectively
and profitably or not. It includes the detailed study of reserve estimation, mining methods evaluation,
processing technique analysis, capital and operating cost determination and the process effect on
environment.
The feasibility study can be considered into two stages: prefeasibility studies and detailed feasibility. Both
stages are similar in term of content. The difference exist in the accuracy and time required to perform the
studies.

7. What is ore resource? Give the definition of the different categories of ore resource

A 'Mineral Resource' is a concentration or occurrence of material of intrinsic economic interest in or

on the earth's crust in such form, quality and quantity that there are reasonable prospects for
eventual economic extraction. Mineral Resources are further sub-divided, in order of increasing
geological confidence, into inferred, Indicated and measured Categories.
Inferred Mineral Resource is that part of a mineral resource for which tonnage, grade and mineral
content can be estimated with a low level of confidence. It is inferred from geological evidence and
assumed but not verified geological/or grade continuity. It is based on information gathered through
appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes
which may be of limited or uncertain quality and reliability.
Indicated resources are simply economic mineral occurrences that have been sampled (from
locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits and drillholes) to a point where an estimate has been
made, at a reasonable level of confidence, of their contained metal, grade, tonnage, shape,
densities, physical characteristics.[2]
Measured resources are indicated resources that have undergone enough further sampling that a
'competent person' (defined by the norms of the relevant mining code; usually a geologist) has
declared them to be an acceptable estimate, at a high degree of confidence, of the grade, tonnage,
shape, densities, physical characteristics and mineral content of the mineral occurrence.

8. What is ore reserve? Give the definition of the different categories of ore reserve

An ore reserve is an economical minable part of a mineral resource where appropriate assessments and
studies have been carried out to show that the deposit can be mined at a profit after consideration of all
factors impacting a mining operation.
Proven. If deterministic methods are used, the term reasonable certainty is intended to express a high
degree of confidence that the quantities will be recovered. If probabilistic methods are used, there should
be at least a 90% probability that the quantities actually recovered will equal or exceed the estimate.
Probable reserves are those unproved reserves which analysis of geological and engineering data
suggests are more likely than not to be recoverable. In this context, when probabilistic methods are used,
there should be at least a 50% probability that the quantities actually recovered will equal or exceed the
sum of estimated proved plus probable reserves.
Possible reserves are those unproved reserves which analysis of geological and engineering data
suggests are less likely to be recoverable than probable reserves. In this context, when probabilistic
methods are used, there should be at least a 10% probability that the quantities actually recovered will
equal or exceed the sum of estimated proved plus probable plus possible reserves

9. What is mining method classification system? Explain and give examples

The purpose of a classification system for mining methods is to provide an initial guideline for the
preliminary selection of a suitable method or methods. Its significance is great as this choice impinges on
all future mine design decisions and, in turn, on safety, economy, and the environment.

10. What is stripping ratio? How does stripping ratio affect the decision on the mining method to be
used? Explain
The stripping ratio refers to the amount of waste rock vs. ore (as opposed to mineralization) or, more
precisely, how much worthless rock you have to move to get at the ore you plan to mine. If over the
life of an open-pit mine you have to move three tons of barren dirt or rock to extract one ton of ore
you run through your plant, your stripping ratio is 3:1.
Obviously, the higher the stripping ratio, the more expensive the mining, and the less profit there is in
doing it. At some point, it costs so much to get at the pay dirt, it doesnt actually pay at all, and you
leave it right where you found it in the ground. Conversely, the more valuable your ore, the more dirt
you can pay to shove out of the way. Generally, the ratio will be higher in the first bench of an open
pit mine (because of the overburden) but should improve with depth. The trick is to keep the cost of
removing the waste below the value of the ore
One thing to note is that the stripping ratio affects mining costs (haulage and blasting, if necessary),
not processing costs. Haulage costs can vary a great deal, even over the same distance, if, for
example, one deposit is uphill from the processing facility and the other is downhill.

11. What is long term and short term plan in mining? What is the basis of that particular plan?
Explain the principle behind that concept.

Long term mine plan (LTP) or strategic plan

Strategic planning centres around the key aspects of mining strategy, namely:

Assessment of mineral reserves and their order of development, including major items such as roads,
storage, key water management structures. ;

Analysis of extraction products, markets and technologies;

Production targets, and

Resources required to achieve those targets: investments, internal resources, subcontracting

The LTP reviews the various desirable stages of company development over the coming 5 to 10 years. The main
purpose of the LTP is to provide General Management with a coherent and realistic overall development goal.

Short term mine plan (STP)

The SPT, dealing with forecasts for the coming 12 to 24 months of production, represents the implementation of
the operating plan and must focus on:

company mining operations, as laid down by the MTP action plan,

monetary consequences of these action plans ,

and investment and financing operations, always featured in the operating plan
As far as production is concerned, a high level of accuracy is ensured by regular monthly updates including
preparation of a pit extraction plan by mine bench or level and also including secondary tracks (ramps) and
development of disposal areas per level
On the financial front, monthly budget updates and ongoing budget tracking (budget management) ensure cost
control.
In conclusion, planning can be defined as series of initiatives (action plans) designed to achieve goals in relation to
corporate environment. Planning must ensure long term viability while maintaining performance standards meeting
stakeholder expectations:

internal: management, shareholders, social partners;

external: financial bodies, industrial partners (joint ventures)

12. What is specific gravity? How does it affect the volume of the ore resource computation? Explain
The specific gravity is the ratio between the density of an object, and a reference substance. It
does not affect the volume of the ore resource.
13. What is mine call factor? Explain and illustrate an example
The ratio, expressed as a percentage, of the total quantity of recovered and unrecovered mineral product after
processing with the amount estimated in the ore based on sampling.

14. What is swell factor? Explain and illustrate an example

The ratio of the weight or volume of loose excavation material to the weight or volume of the
same material in place.

15. What is cycle time in open pit mining? Explain and illustrate an example
The period required to complete one cycle of an operation

16. What is grade control? Explain and illustrate an example

Term which describe the many measure required to maximize mining recovery of the valuable
mineral whilst minimizing dilution

17. What is ore blending? What is the purpose of ore blending? Give and illustrate an example.

Method whereby a mine, or a group of mines, served by a common mill, sends ores of
slightly varied character for treatment and separate bins or stockpiles are provided. From
these, regulated percentages of ores are drawn and blended to provide a steady and
predictable feed to the mineral dressing plant.