Mining study checklist: A guide to consistent high-quality work

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Mine planning is a mining consultant’s bread and butter and is at the core of any mining study. ¹It involves optimising the exploitation of mineral reserves for maximum added value aligned with the strategic goals and objectives of the business. A mining study can be delivered on various levels depending on the accuracy of the inputs and the level of confidence of both the stakeholders and the person/s responsible for the study. It can be delivered on a conceptual, scoping (“order of magnitude”), preliminary feasibility, or detailed feasibility level and involves all other discipline areas such as metallurgy, geology, hydrology, environmental, social, and legal, among others.

Whether you are a mining engineer working in the mine planning/studies team, or a mining consultant carrying out a mining study, this checklist will assist in ensuring that the deliverables are produced at a high standard by putting checks in place at each step along the process. The checks involve prompts about whether a certain procedure has been carried out or not. Non-compliance to any procedure must be provided with a justification or must be followed up with the manager or client.

As with all the stakeholders, knowing that this checklist had been implemented in a mining study provides more confidence in the results and ensures that they are not only supported by practical experience but also align with relevant industry standards, with the exception of reporting and listing rules.

The following shows the common steps when doing a mining study and the checks that must be done at each step.

I. Data Review

The mining study often starts with a review of the data available. Depending on the level of study, the following data should be available. At the concept and scoping level, any data that is not available can be assumed or benchmarked from comparable projects.

Data	Required for the Level of Study: ( or X)
Data	Concept	Scoping	Pre-Feasibility	Detailed Feasibility
1. Geology
Resource Block Model
Mineral Resource Estimate
2. Mining
Ore Reserve Report	X	X	X
Mining Contract	X	X	X
Spatial Constraints (tenement, heritage areas)	X
Operating Costs	X
Capital Costs	X
3. Geotechnical Data	X
4. Hydrogeology Data	X	X
5. Hydrology Data	X	X
6. Metallurgy/Processing	X
7. Environmental Data	X	X
8. Legal	X	X
9. Manning Proposal	X
10. Site Infrastructure	X	X
11. Haulage/Shipping Plan	X
12. Market Studies	X

II. Block Model Validation

The Mining Engineer receives and validates the resource model for its suitability to the work being carried out.

Checks	Remarks ( or X)
Block Model Handover Form Provided?
Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) Report Available?
MRE table verified and reproduced?
Topography and Contact Surface Checks Performed?
Other Visual Checks Performed?
Checked By:
Date:
Reviewed By:
Date:

The Block Model handover form must show the dimensions and spatial extents of the block model and must clearly describe the attributes in the model. In the absence of the handover form, a discussion between the mining engineer and the client must be carried out and documented.

III. Peer Review

It is crucial to conduct a peer review at each step of the mining study process to ensure that another technical expert has proofread and validated the work. This practice avoids any mistake being carried over all the way to the final deliverable, which can cause a major setback to the project timeline and budget. Peer reviews must be documented and signed off.

IV. Basis of the Design (BoD)

All information received from the client that would be relevant to the mining study must be documented within a basis-of-the-design (BoD) document usually in the form of a spreadsheet. This BoD must be signed off by both the mining engineer and the client. Any amendment to the input parameters must also be documented and a version control must be implemented.

Checks	Remarks ( or X)
Has a BoD been developed?
Does the BoD encompass Optimisation, Design, and Scheduling Inputs?
Is the BoD in its final version? Specify the version.
Does the BoD take into consideration PAF/NAF and other potentially hazardous waste?
Signed off by the Client?
Checked By:
Date:
Reviewed By:
Date:

Depending on the level of study, the BoD must include any relevant input such as economic parameters (commodity price, royalties, Foreign Exchange or ‘FOREX’, premiums, penalties, etc.), Operating Expenditure or “OPEX”, Capital Expenditure or “CAPEX”, mining parameters (mining rate, production rate, geotechnical slopes, spatial constraints, ore loss, and dilution assessments), metallurgy and processing parameters, deleterious elements assessments, environmental assessments, infrastructure, transport and supply requirements, social governance requirements, government permitting and legal requirements, and all other additional considerations not mentioned.

V. Preparation of Mine Planning Block Model

Checks	Remarks ( or X)
What format has the block model been provided in? Is this readable in the mining software package that you will use?
Have you converted the resource model?
If yes, is the converted resource model within 1% in terms of volumes, tonnes, grades, and contained metals/elements within the MRE?
Does the mine planning model honour the original rock types, resource classification (INF/IND/MEA), and other material classifications?
Was a mass balance, grade, and metal check done between the resource model and the mining model?
Do the block dimensions support the smallest mining unit (SMU) based on the planned fleet size?
Were dilution and ore loss accounted for properly in the mining model?
Was the model coded with attributes including but not limited to geological information, density, and geotechnical data?
If not, is the model set up so that the information above can be directly input into the optimisation, design, and scheduling software?
Have the spatial constraints been accounted for?
Checked By:
Date:
Reviewed By:
Date:

VI. Optimisation

The optimisation process, whether in an open pit or underground scenario, is the most important step in mine planning because it drives the design and schedule. Modifications still need to be made in the design for practicality, but the more accurate the optimisation inputs are, the better the outcome of the mine plan will be.

Checks	Remarks ( or X)
Do the inputs align with the BoD?
Have you done tonnes, grades, and metals reconciliation between the mining model and the optimisation?
If the spatial constraints have not been accounted for in the mining model, have they been accounted for in the optimisation software?
Have we accounted for minimum mining widths in the optimisation?
Were visual checks on the results done?
Do the results align with spatial constraints and geotechnical recommendations?
Checked By:
Date:
Reviewed By:
Date:

VII. Mine Design

Checks	Remarks ( or X)
Do the inputs align with the BoD?
Are the tonnes, grades, and metals within the allowable difference between the design and the optimisation, based on the level of study being carried out?
Are the designs practically executable?
Were there risks identified with the design and if so, has the client been notified?
Do the designs align with spatial constraints and geotechnical recommendations?
Has the design been reviewed by the client?
Checked By:
Date:
Reviewed By:
Date:

VIII. Production Schedule

Usually, the main driver of the schedule is the processing plant capacity or feed requirement. However, there are more factors to consider than the plant feed. The following checks help address the other objectives of a mine schedule.

Checks	Remarks ( or X)
Do the inputs align with the BoD?
Does the schedule adhere to the mineral resource and ore reserve categorisation based on the level of study being conducted?
Were there any blending criteria considered in the schedule? Do they support the production targets?
Is there enough space to accommodate the stockpiles and has the stockpile strategy been discussed with the client?
Does the schedule adhere to environmental waste storage considerations?
If applicable, does the schedule adhere to any PAF/NAF management requirements?
Were there risks identified with the schedule and if so, has the client been notified?
Has the schedule been reviewed by the client?
Checked By:
Date:
Reviewed By:
Date:

Ultimately, the quality of the work that will be delivered depends on the level of expertise and experience of the person or team carrying out the study. However, having a structured process and checklist in place adds a Quality Assurance – Quality Check (QA/QC) layer and provides more confidence in the results of the mining study.

Disclaimer: Adherence to reporting standards and listing rules is not covered in this guideline.

Atlantech: Experienced, high-quality mine planning consultants

At Atlantech, we understand that mining success is built on careful planning, informed decision-making, and proactive leadership.

Let us help you navigate the complexities of mining operations to ensure your projects run smoothly and profitably.

We provide excellence and innovative mining engineering and environmental support solutions, backed by a highly experienced team of engineers and support staff.

Contact Atlantech today to discover how we can support your mining operations with expertise you can rely on. Alternatively, drop us a line at info@atlantech.com.au.

References

¹https://ronaldocrdossantos.wordpress.com/2016/07/09/mine-planning-overview-and-key-concepts