Mining method selection by using an integrated model

The problem of mining method selection is one of the most important decisions that should be made by mining managers and engineers. Selecting a proper underground mining method to accomplish extraction from a mineral deposit is very significant in terms of the economics, safety and the productivity of mining operations. The aim objective of this paper is to develop an integrated model to selection the best mining method by using effective criteria and at the same time, taking subjective judgments of decision makers into account. Proposed model is based on fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP)methodology and technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). FAHP is appliedtodetermine the weights of the evaluation criteria for mining method selection that these weights are inserted to the TOPSIS technique to rank the alternatives and select the most appropriate alternative. The proposed method is applied for AngouranMine in Iran and finally the optimum mining methods forthis mine are ranked. The study was followed by the sensitivity analysis of the results.

Mining method selection, MCDM, FAHP, TOPSIS