Optimization of Underground Development Advance – A Pragmatic Approach to a Multivariate Problem

Abstract

This study presents a holistic, pragmatic approach to drill and blast optimisation, utilising a hierarchy of considerations for optimised blast design and demonstrates its effectiveness through its successful application in highly laminated geology at an underground gold mine in Western Australia. The implementation of the optimised design was able to deliver an average cut length 0.3m greater than the operational average while also reducing the standard deviation by 25%, and simultaneously resulted in a cost reduction in consumables of approximately 15% per metre advance.