Abstract

The growing industrial minerals demand, in the perspective of a sustainable development of mining activities, implies a strong orientation to underground operations in the near future. In complex geological areas, for the definition of a reliable 3D ore body model a methodological approach, aimed to improve geological and geotechnical model reliability allows a confident mineral deposit evaluation and a reliable mine design, or, in other terms, costs reduction, safety increase and mining project sustainability. The described method finds its maximum application in complex geological and structural contexts, such as the Valmadonna-Pedemonte "Marmorino" quarry.

Introduction

Industrial minerals are part of everyday life but even if we take our industrial minerals for granted, there is increasing pressure against extraction, largely on environmental grounds. According to Manning (1995) [22], an industrial mineral can be simply defined as a geological material (mainly rock or mineral) obtained by mining and which represents a non-metallic, non-fuel, raw material of commercial value.

The present study concerns a calcium carbonate deposit whose rare chemical properties allow classifying it as "strategic ore". Despite a growing industrial minerals demand several factors can negatively affect the investments for exploration and resources/reserves evaluation, namely: i) small volumes extraction; ii) environmental, landscape and visual impact of open pit mining; iii) important stripping ratios; iv) intrinsic monetary value of the commodity; vi) costs for mineral processing and to transport to market.

In this framework, especially in complex geological areas, the geological and geotechnical modelling become a key tool to define a reliable 3D ore body model and mine design, as a synthesis of a multidisciplinary approach by skilled geologists and mining engineers. In addition, the increasing trend to develop new operations by underground mining requires more accuracy in defining the geotechnical model for the rock mass interested by the opening of underground cavities like adits, ramps, declines, shafts and production drifts.

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