Mine planning 5

States Geological Survey (USGS) classiication scheme. The 'undiscovered resource' clas
siication is used by public planning agencies and is not appropriate for use in commercial
ventures.
3. Reserve. A reserve can be subdivided into two categories:
(a) Probable reserve;
(b) Proven reserve.
The term 'reserve' is recommended over the terms 'ore reserve,' 'minable reserve' or
'recoverable reserve.'
The terms 'measured reserve' and 'indicated reserve,' generally equivalent to 'proven
reserve' and 'probable reserve,' respectively, are not part of this classiication scheme and
should not be used. The terms 'measured,' 'indicated' and 'inferred' qualify resources and
reflect only differences in geological conidence. The terms 'proven' and 'probable' qualify
reserves and reflect a high level of economic conidence as well as differences in geological
conidence.
The terms 'possible reserve' and 'inferred reserve' are not pat of this classiication
scheme. Material described by these terms lacks the requisite degree of assurance to be
reported as a reserve.
The term 'ore' should be used only for material that meets the requirements to be a reserve.
It is recommended that proven and probable reserves be reported separately. Where the
term reserve is used without the modiiers proven or probable, it is considered to be the total of
proven and probable reserves.

1.2

MINE DEVELOPMENT PHASES

The mineral supply process is shown diagrammatically in Figure

1.2. As can be seen
a positive change in the market place creates a new or increased demand for a mineral
product.
oy g%%. is\~ix
In response o the demand, inancial resources are applied in an exploration phase result ing
in the discovery and deineatipn of deposits. Through increases in price and/or advances in
technology, previously located deposits may become interesting. These deposits must then be
thoroughly evaluated regarding their economic attractiveness. This evaluation pro cess will be
termed the 'planning phase' of a project (Lee, 1984). The conclusion of this
phase will be the preparation of a feasibility report. Based upon this, the decision will be
made as o whether or not o proceed. If the decision is 'go', then the development of the mine
and concentrating facilities is undertaken. This is called the implementation, invest ment, or
design and construction phase. Finally there is the production or operational phase during which
the mineral is mined and processed. The result is a product to be sold in the marketplace. The
entrance of the mining engineer into this process begins at the planning phase and continues
through the production phase. Figure 1.3 is a time line showing the relationship of the
different phases and their stages.
The implementation phase consists of two stages (Lee, 1984). The design and construction
stage includes the design, procurement and construction activities. Since it is the period of
major cash low for the project, economies generally result by keeping the time frame to a
realistic minimum. The second stage is commissioning. This is the trial operation of the
individual components to integrate them into an operating system and ensure their readiness