Mining design system for exploitation of Fat’ha formation(M. Miocene)‎ in Makhul anticline, Iraq

Abstract EN

This study deals with the emphasis on the economic value of Makhul Anticline rocks in Mid-Region of Iraq, and it includes a mining design system suitable and profitable to exploit these raw materials.

Here, the recommendation is to use and apply the open pit bench mining to extract the rock beds because of thin overburden, and the waste materials which cannot be dumped inside the excavation site.

The rock beds which are outcropped dipping on both sides of the anticline flanks have irregular topography.

Development of the mine is usually quite simple.

Enough overburden should be removed to expose sufficient rock beds for production and construction of new access roads.

This kind of mine operation is worked on one side of flank sequentially downwards in series of steps or benches whose height is usually determined by the machines selected and which are recommended in this study with the height of bench in range of (4 – 5) m, the sidewall angle in range of almost (18 – 20)° from the vertical and the bench or haul road width in range of (8 – 10)m.

Access to the bottom of the mine should be cut- across the benches down to the next step.

The equipments recommended in this kind of exploitation are Front - End Loader, diesel powered, rubber – tiered shovel for loading broken rocks in Lorries, and Jack Hammer Poclaine machine for Digging and breaking rocks.

The mining operation become more profitable and economic when the whole rock beds of different types are extracted all together for multifarious uses, and the use of the facilities available around the area, such as the paved main roads, railway crossing the area, main power line, Tigris river, cheap labors and different types of machinery are ready for use.