Digitalization, QA/QC, and Data Analytics as Optimization Tools in Drilling and Blasting.

Author: Ariana Carrazana Di Lucia

June 2022

To achieve a successful Mine to Mill program, it is necessary to optimize drilling and blasting (D&B) activities that will impact crushing and grinding. To do this, three elements need to be combined: a proper digitalization strategy, implementation of Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC), and an advanced data analytics methodology. The goal is to identify variables that govern the business and measure their impact on the mineral recovery process in the Processing Plant.

The absence or poor execution of these elements leads to the failure of any Business Intelligence platform implementation.

In this study, the digitalization strategy focuses particularly on D&B KPIs, which form the basis for optimization, cost savings, increased productivity, and safety in mining operations. This task is carried out through hardware and software specially designed for fieldwork.

QA/QC techniques in data collection ensure the proper implementation of blasting designs, allowing the identification of deficiencies that affect the final result and quantify the accuracy of execution as a key and priority point for any improvement project in mining operations, with cross-cutting implications and a strong impact on the value chain, if they are traced and aligned with continuous improvement strategies over the mine lifecycle.

Through data analytics, employing Big Data tools, Machine Learning, Predictive Models, and Artificial Intelligence, the identification and prioritization of productive patterns are achieved, as well as understanding of process trends.

As a result of all the above, the correct implementation of decision-making platforms and customized automated reporting for the various hierarchical levels of a mining company is possible.

Videoconference held on April 5th along with our partners at the CIIT LATAM 2022 Congress held in Peru.