Author 1:
Name & Surname: Akishev A. V.
Company: Yakutniproalmaz Institute (Mirny, Russia)
Work Position: Head of Department
Scientific Degree: Candidate of Engineering Sciences
Contacts: e-mail: AkishevAV@alrosa.ru
Author 2:
Name & Surname: Kolganov V. F.
Company: Yakutniproalmaz Institute (Mirny, Russia)
Work Position: Head of Laboratory
Scientific Degree: Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences
Author 3:
Name & Surname: Zyryanov I. V.
Company: Yakutniproalmaz Institute (Mirny, Russia)
Work Position: Deputy Director for Science
Scientific Degree: Doctor of Engineering Sciences
The article analyzes primary diamond deposits and their reserves from the viewpoint of economic efficiency and geology. A new principle has been developed for classifying the ALROSA diamond-bearing kimberlite deposits based on the analytical criterion expressed as the minimum mined rock amount per 1 USD of commercial output in 1 t of ore and an additional criterion expressed as the minimum efficiency of 1 USD of commercial output. Based on the offered criteria, all kimberlite deposits are divided into three groups:
- Group I—marketable diamond deposits (MDD)—over 80 USD in 1 t of ore, conventional efficiency factor is from 0.37 to 0.798 USD per 1 t of mined rock;
- Group II—medium marketable diamond deposits (MMDD)—from 40 to 80 USD in 1 t of ore, conventional efficiency factor is from 0.37 to 0.2 USD;
- Group III—poor marketable diamond deposits (PMDD)—under 40 USD in 1 t of ore; conventional efficiency factor is below 0.2 USD.
For open-pit diamond mines in Western Yakutia, the limit figure for minimum mined rock amount per 1 USD of commercial output per 1 t of ore is 0.15 t. The offered criteria allow the early allocation of a deposit in one of the listed above groups (MDD, MMDD, PMDD) for defining the strategy of mining and the level of georesource potential:
• MDD group—all-inclusive integrated development and use of the georesource potential of the deposit with the open-pit and underground mining technology;
• MMDD group—maximum possible development of the georesource potential (up to 70 %) by means of deep and ultra deep open-pit mining with undercutting;
• PMDD group—development of economically efficient part a deposit, with special schemes of accessing and prime accumulation of diamonds on pit walls, or using new modes of transport.
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