A RISK BASED APPROACH TO SELECT THE PRE-MATURE CLOSURE FACTORS OF AN OPEN-PIT MINE

Mine closure, followed by the process of mine reclamation, is the 4th and last phase of mine planning after phases of planning, implementation and production. After a mine’s deposit was excavated, that mine should be closed. However, there are some reasons for closing the mines pre-maturely. The reasons for pre-mature mine closure may include economic, geological, geotechnical, regulatory, community and other socio-political pressures. Hence, selection of premature mine closure is a multidisciplinary issue that needs to be noticed appropriately. The objective of this research work is to choose the major mine closure factors through using a risk assessment approach (Closure risk model) as a powerful management tool for evaluation of mine closure risk factor. With this respect, a case study was carried out at Choghart open pit iron mine. The results of application of this model to the mine demonstrated that the mine has a low closure risk with closure probability of nearly 30%, however, environmental (risk value of 452) and community (risk value of 127) factors were found to be as a major pre-mature closure causes. Therefore, these issues need to be paid special attention by managers.