Optimization principle of combined surface and underground mining and its applications

The pit limit optimization is discussed, which is one of the most important problems in the combined mining method, on the basis of the economic model of ore-blocks. A new principle of the limit optimization is put forward through analyzing the limitations of moving cone method under such conditions. With a view to recovering as much mineral resource as possible and making the maximum profit from the whole deposit, the new principle is to maximize the sum of gain from both open-pit and underground mining. The mathematical models along the horizontal and vertical directions and modules for software package (DM&MCAD) have been developed and tested in Tonglushan Copper Mine. It has been proved to be rather effective in the mining practice.