Evaluation of Modern Haulage Systems Impacts on Mining Options

In deep mines with combined mining potential, optimization hauling systems as the technological phase with the largest share in the total operation costs are essential from the aspect of achieving the profitability of the mining project. In this study, using a hybrid semi-quantitative approach, the impacts of haulage systems in large-scale and deep open-pit mines with combined mining potential were evaluated on mining options. According to the results of evaluating the use of the haulage system in the Sungun copper mine, the most appropriate haulage system was selected in-pit crushing and conveying system, truck-shovel, battery trolley, and trolley assist, respectively. Also, the use of the modern haulage system in the Sungun copper mine had a direct impact on the following mining options, respectively, with the intensity of -11.03, 32.94, 11.73, 17.06, and 15.07. (a) independent underground mining, (b) independentopen-pit mining, (c) simultaneous mining, (d) sequential mining, and (e) combinations of simultaneous and sequential. The obtained results indicate that the use of a modern and suitable haulage system for the mine leads to the desire to continue mining with the open-pit method, which leads to an increase in OTD.