Block Caving: What should I know?

Speaker: Jo-Anne Dudley

Abstract: Block caving is an underground bulk mining method being increasingly used to mine lower grade orebodies globally. For those in processing of ores from these mines, there are important characteristics of the ore flow to understand. The ability to predict these characteristics: including grade, deleterious elements, hardness of the ore, depends on how the 3D orebody is converted into an ore stream. This presentation will give an overview of the mining method, why it’s employed and where, and the characteristics those in the mining industry should understand.

Bio: Jo-Anne is a mining engineer with comprehensive underground mining experience in both operations and technical domains. She has worked in a broad range of underground mining environments from small decline development and stoping mines in Australia to block cave mining in Africa, Australia, Mongolia and USA. Jo-Anne has managed mining studies evaluating production rate, grade, mine design and other trade offs, culminating in Order of Magnitude, Pre-feasibility and Feasibility studies. Jo-Anne has published a number of technical papers relating to underground operations in which she worked and her papers are included in Monograph 30 and SME Mining Methods.   FAusIMM (CP), Grad.Dip (Technology Management), Member of AICD.