Investigations into technical aspects of the Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex of Iran, with emphasis on the blasting operations

Ayat, Mohammad Ghasem; Sarghaini, Jafar; Mozaffari, Ali

Investigations into technical aspects of the Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex of Iran, with emphasis on the blasting operations

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

Mohammad Ghasem Ayat

Jafar Sarghaini

Ali Mozaffari

Ministry of Industries and Mines, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Sarcheshmeh Copper Mine is the largest copper producer in the country, and one of the major producers in the world market. The mine covers an area of 2300 xl612m, and is located in 160 km of Kerman, a southern province in Iran.
About 80.000 tons of mineralized rocks are produced everyday by blasting operations, out of which 40,000 tons are copper sulfide. The rocks are transferred to a concentrator where the useful minerals are recovered and concentrated.
This paper presents not only a thorough technical investigation of the present situation of the Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex, but also the results obtained from blasting operations in the mine, calculated with many different methods: Major problems related to the blasting operations are identified, and various approaches to solving them suggested. It is believed that applying the blasting recommendations made in this paper could cause significant improvements in the production level of this mine.

Keywords

Copper

blasting operation

Sarcheshmeh mine

Iran

Subjects