Mine planning involves making decisions at different stages of a mining operation that meets stakeholders' goals given operational and regulatory constraints. Suboptimal decision-making often leads to unsustainable resource exploitation. Therefore, it is important to minimize risk and evaluate all feasible alternatives in decision-making to achieve an efficient mine plan. The first part of this course introduces students to the process of identifying, quantifying, and managing the economic risk inherent in mining as part of the decision-making process (using Monte Carlo simulation). Second, discrete event simulation (in Arena®) is used to select \"the best option,\" such as the optimal number of haulage equipment, given operational risks to meet stakeholders' goals.
A senior-level course in open pit mine design and planning, incorporating the principles from prior mining and engineering courses. Functions of a mine engineer include the mine development process, resource and reserve analysis, economic pit limit determination, pit and phase design, production planning, cash flow analyses and social and environmental considerations. Laboratory design problems and work are associated with typical mine design and planning functions by using the MinePlan software.
The University of Arizona Mining 4.E program is designed to provide a comprehensive introduction to mining for professionals with no background in mining.
Mining 360, a nine-unit certificate program jointly sponsored by Caterpillar and the UA Department of Mining and Geological Engineering.