Optimization of blending operation for Aswan phosphate mines using linear programming
Mahrous A.M. Ali1, H.S. Wasly1, W.R. Abdellah2, Hyongdoo Jang3
1Al-Azhar University, Qena, Egypt
2Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
3Curtin University, Perth, Australia
Min. miner. depos. 2018, 12(4):1-8
https://doi.org/10.15407/mining12.04.001
Full text (PDF)
ABSTRACT
Purpose. The economic value of phosphate is reduced when randomly blending raw phosphate produced from different mines. Therefore, the blending process of different raw phosphate ores to produce economic percentage of P2O5 is essential to maximize the profit of a mine.
Methods. This paper presents an application of Linear programming (LP) method to determine the optimum quantities of phosphate ore needed per each mine for blending process. Three phosphate operations, located in Aswan pro-vince south of Egypt, have been chosen for this study namely B1, B2 and C.
Findings. The results of LP methods reveal that the phosphate ore of 24% of P2O5 will be produced by blending 16.8% of phosphate ore from operation B1, 9.42% of phosphate ore from operation B2 and 73.78% of phosphate ore from operation C. Whilst the phosphate ore of 22% P2O5 will only be obtained by blending 66.43% of phosphate ore from operation B1 and 33.57% from mine B2.
Originality. Using the linear programming by applying solver function in mine operations.
Practical implications. Applied linear programming in mining as regard mining operations to obtain the optimum solution in mining sites.
Keywords: linear programming, blending operation, profit optimization, phosphate ore deposit
REFERENCES
Adilson, C., Marcos, A.P., Wilson, T., & Valdir, C. (2013). Final open pit design for Monte Raso phosphate mine. International Journal of Modern Engineering Research, 3780-3785.
Aitsebaomo, F.O., Ngerebara, O.D., Teme, S.C., & Ngah, S.A. (2015). Geotechnical application for the design and estimation of Amata-Lekwesi, Nigeria open pit. Civil and Environmental Research, 7(4), 1-8.
Ali, M.A.M. (2007). Design and planning of some building materials quarries for different purposes in Sohag and Quena Governorates. PhD. Assiut, Egypt: Assiut University.
Ali, M.A.M., & Sik, Y.H. (2012). Transportation problem: a special case for linear programing problems in mining engineering. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology, 22(3), 371-377.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmst.2012.04.015
Ashayeri, J., van Eijs, A.G.M., & Nederstigt, P. (1994). Blen-ding modelling in a process manufacturing: a case study. European Journal of Operational Research, 72(3), 460-468.
https://doi.org/10.1016/0377-2217(94)90416-2
Dabous, A. (1980). Mineralogy, geochemistry and radioactivity of some Egyptian phosphorite deposits. Tallahassee, United States: Florida State University.
David, M. (1977). Geostatistical ore reserve estimation. New York, United States: Elsevier.
El-Arabi, A.E.-G.M., & Khalifa, I.H. (2002). Application of multivariate statistical analyses in the interpretation of geochemical behaviour of uranium in phosphatic rocks in the Red Sea, Nile Valley and Western Desert, Egypt. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 61(2), 169-190.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0265-931x(01)00124-2
El-Beblawi, M., Mohamed, A.Y., El-Sageer, H., & Mahrous, A.M. (2007). Comparison between some methods used in solving transportation problems. In The 10th International Mining, Petroleum and Metallurgical Engineering Conference March (pp. 290-300). Suez, Egypt: Suez University.
Gholamnejad, J., & Kasmaee, S. (2012). Optimum blending of iron ore from Choghart stockpiles by using goal programming. Journal of Central South University, 19(4), 1081-1085.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-012-1112-4
Hustrulid, W., & Kuchta, M. (1995). Open pit mine planning and design. London: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group.
Hustrulid, W., Kuchta, M., & Martin, R. (2006). Open pit mine planning and design. London: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group.
Issa, S.A.M., Mostafa, A.M.A., & Lotfy, A.E.-S.M. (2014). Radiological impacts of natural radioactivity in phosphate rocks from El-Sibaiya and Red Sea coast mines, Egypt. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 303(1), 53-61.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-014-3312-x
Issawi, B. (1968). Contribution to the structure and phosphate deposits of Quseir area. Cairo, United Arab Republic: General Egyptian organization for geological research and mining, geological survey.
Issawi, B. (1979). Advancing Egyptian geology: efforts and achievements of the Egyptian Geological Survey. Episodes, (3), 25-28.
McClellan, G.H. (1980). Mineralogy of carbonate fluorapatites. Journal of the Geological Society, 137(6), 675-681.
https://doi.org/10.1144/gsjgs.137.6.0675
Paul Loomba, N. (1964). Linear programming an introductory analysis. New Delhi, India: McGraw-Hill, 161-239.
Said, R. (1962). The geology of Egypt. New York, United States: Elsevier.
Saul, I.G. (1957). Linear programming-methods and applications. New York, United States: Mcgraw Hill Book Company.
Shih, J.-S., & Frey, H.C. (1995). Coal blending optimization under uncertainty. European Journal of Operational Research, 83(3), 452-465.
https://doi.org/10.1016/0377-2217(94)00243-6
Song, C., Hu, K., & Li, P. (2012). Modeling and scheduling optimization for bulk ore blending process. Journal of Iron and Steel Research, International, 19(9), 20-28.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s1006-706x(13)60004-7
Stowasser, W.F. (1983). Phosphate rock. Washington, United States: Bureau of mines, United States department of the interior.
The Egyptian mineral resources authority. (2015). Cairo, Egypt: EMRA.
Ulusay, R. (2014). The ISRM suggested methods for rock characterization testing and monitoring. Luxembourg, Luxembourg: Springer.
Yassien, M.A., & Elameer, Z.A.M. (2014). Profit maximization for Sibaiya east open-pit phosphate mines by using spreadsheet software packages. Al-Azhar University Engineering Journal, 9(4), 1-10.
