24-MMP-A5 Surface Mining Methods and Design
Worked solutions to 9 past sittings (2013–2018), 121 questions. Pick a sitting, or start from a topic below.
Topics across the sittings
Topics that come up in more than one sitting, taken from the headings of our worked solutions. A topic counts once per sitting.
- Block Models (4 sittings): May 2016 Q1 · December 2014 Q4 · May 2014 Q6 · May 2013 Q3
- Lerchs–Grossmann (4 sittings): December 2016 Q6 · May 2016 Q3 · December 2014 Q10 · May 2013 Q9
- Moving Cone (4 sittings): December 2016 Q6 · May 2015 Q5 · December 2014 Q10 · May 2013 Q9
- Availability (3 sittings): May 2015 Q1 · December 2014 Q1 · May 2014 Q1
- Dragline Side-Casting Geometry (3 sittings): May 2015 Q9 · December 2014 Q12 · May 2013 Q8
- Pit Dewatering (3 sittings): December 2017 Q10 · December 2016 Q10 · May 2013 Q1
- Utilization (3 sittings): May 2015 Q1 · December 2014 Q1 · May 2014 Q1
- Cost Indices (2 sittings): December 2014 Q3 · May 2014 Q3
- Deep wells (2 sittings): December 2016 Q10 · December 2014 Q11
- Dispatch (2 sittings): May 2016 Q9 · May 2013 Q11
- Mine Cost-Index Terminology (2 sittings): December 2014 Q7 · May 2013 Q7
- Open-Pit Optimization (2 sittings): December 2014 Q10 · May 2013 Q9
- Pareto's Law (2 sittings): May 2016 Q8 · May 2014 Q8
- Pit-Inclusion Rules (2 sittings): December 2014 Q4 · May 2014 Q6
- Reclamation (2 sittings): December 2016 Q4 · May 2013 Q6
Questions by sitting
December 2018
- Question 1
- Question 2
- Question 3
- Question 4
- Question 5
- Question 6
- Question 7
- Question 8
- Question 9
- Question 10
- Question 11
- Question 12
- Question 13
- Question 14
- Question 15: 3.6
- Question 16
- Question 17
- Question 18
- Question 19
- Question 20
- Question 21
- Question 22
- Question 23
- Question 24
- Question 25
- Question 26
- Question 27
December 2017
- Question 1
- Question 2
- Question 3
- Question 4
- Question 5
- Question 6
- Question 7: Bucket Wheel Excavators
- Question 8: Design Criteria for Surface Mines (Lerchs–Grossmann)
- Question 9: Slope Design
- Question 10: Pit Dewatering
- Question 11: Mine Design and Scheduling
December 2016
- Question 1: Blast-hole sampling and grade control
- Question 2: Dragline mining terms
- Question 3: Cost indexes
- Question 4: Reclamation, sustainability and environment
- Question 5: Water hammer in mine dewatering
- Question 6: Moving cone vs. Lerchs–Grossmann
- Question 7: Dragline coal-mining geometry
- Question 8: Pareto cost analysis and capital-cost power laws
- Question 9: Mine closure liability and reclamation financing
- Question 10: Pit dewatering — tandem pumps and deep wells
- Question 11: Pit-limit optimization by Lerchs–Grossmann
May 2016
- Question 1: Block Models — Definition, Long-Range vs. Short-Range, Surface Topography
- Question 2: Special Record (IJK) Addressing of a 3-D Block Model
- Question 3: The Floating-Cone Principle and Lerchs–Grossmann
- Question 4: Floating-Cone Excavation on a 2-D Block Section (Grid A)
- Question 5: Floating-Cone Excavation on a 2-D Block Section (Grid B)
- Question 6: Range Diagrams for Surface Mining Equipment Selection
- Question 7: Three Oil Sands Mining Configurations — BWE, Dragline, Truck/Shovel
- Question 8: Pareto's Law, Cost Indexing, and Equipment Capital-Cost Estimation
- Question 9: Truck–Shovel Cycle Time, Match Factor and Dispatch
- Question 10: Mine Closure Planning and Reclamation Financial Security
- Question 11: Pit Slope Geotechnics — Characterization, Design, Monitoring and Remediation
May 2015
- Question 1: Availability and Utilization
- Question 2: Discount Rate and Pit Scheduling
- Question 3: Water Hammer in Mine Dewatering
- Question 4: Conventional Dragline Operating Methods
- Question 5: Moving Cone and the Lerchs–Grossmann Algorithm
- Question 6: Pareto's Law in Mine Cost Management
- Question 7: Open-Pit Ore and Waste Scheduling (NW-Corner Method)
- Question 8: In-Pit Tandem Pump Dewatering; Deep-Well Alternative
- Question 9: Dragline Side-Casting Geometry and Capability Check
- Question 10: Block-Model Economics and Pit-Limit Optimization
- Question 11: Mine Cost Centres, Cost/Inflation Indexes, and Parametric Capital Cost
December 2014
- Question 1: Availability and Utilization
- Question 2: Shovel Production, Over-Trucking, and Spotting
- Question 3: Cost Indices
- Question 4: Block Models and Pit-Inclusion Rules
- Question 5: Hydraulic Mining and Wall-Slope Monitoring
- Question 6: Dragline Casting Methods
- Question 7: Mine Cost-Index Terminology
- Question 8: Truck-Haulage Efficiency Technologies
- Question 9: Truck-Shovel Dispatch – Closed Out vs. Dispatched
- Question 10: Open-Pit Optimization – Moving Cone and Lerchs–Grossmann
- Question 11: In-Pit Dewatering – Tandem Pumps and Deep Wells
- Question 12: Dragline Side-Casting Geometry
- Question 13: Open-Pit Capital Cost Estimation – Mular & Poulin Method
May 2014
- Question 1: Availability and Utilization
- Question 2: Conventional Dragline Mining — Casting Methods
- Question 3: Cost Indices
- Question 4: Short-Term vs. Long-Term Mine Planning
- Question 5: Truck Spotting and Drive Types
- Question 6: Block Models and Pit-Inclusion Rules
- Question 7: Dragline Range Diagram — Simple Side Casting
- Question 8: Pareto's Law and Capital Cost Indexes
- Question 9: Open-Pit Annual Production Schedule
- Question 10: Truck-Shovel System Productivity
- Question 11: Block Economics and Ultimate Pit Optimization (Moving Cone vs. Lerchs–Grossmann)
December 2013
- Question 1: 1 (6 marks, compulsory)
- Question 2: 2 (5 marks, compulsory)
- Question 3: 3 (5 marks, compulsory)
- Question 4: 4 (6 marks, compulsory)
- Question 5: 5 (14 marks, compulsory)
- Question 6: 6 (6 marks, compulsory)
- Question 7: 7 (6 marks, compulsory)
- Question 8: 15 marks, optional
- Question 9: 15 marks, optional
- Question 10: 15 marks, optional
- Question 11: 15 marks, optional
- Question 12: 15 marks, optional
- Question 13: 15 marks, optional
May 2013
- Question 1: Pit Dewatering
- Question 2: Dragline Advanced Bench Configurations
- Question 3: Block Models and Cash-Flow Conversion
- Question 4: Rock Mass Classification and Slope Stability
- Question 5: Truck Dispatch Fundamentals
- Question 6: Reclamation and Sustainability
- Question 7: Mine Cost-Index Terminology
- Question 8: Dragline Side-Casting Geometry
- Question 9: Open-Pit Optimization – Moving Cone and Lerchs–Grossmann
- Question 10: Pit-Wall Slope Monitoring
- Question 11: Truck-Shovel Match Factor and Dispatch
- Question 12: Mine Closure, Reclamation and Bond Financing
- Question 13: Capital-Cost Estimation – O’Hara Method