Integrating geometallurgical best practices in CIM definition standards guidelines

Abstract

Key geometallurgical responses and proxy variables need to be incorporated into the mineral resources and mining reserves estimation, to improve the performance of mining projects. The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards on mineral resources and reserves establishes guidance on the definitions of mineral resources, mineral reserves, and mining project studies. In this research we show a case study that incorporates a geometallurgical study in the mining project to demonstrate the impact of accounting for these variables, and we suggest good practices that could be added to the CIM Estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves document about geometallurgy. Key studies such as integrating the geometallurgical attributes to sampling and modelling, the importance of mineralogical data interpretation, definition of geometallurgical units and the identification of geochemical proxies in the geometallurgical modelling are highlighted. Based on these results, we suggest critical elements to estimate (based in geology characterization), use of non-linear or multivariate estimation methods and the importance of relationship between geometallurgy and mine planning must be incorporated in the mineral resources and mineral reserves assessment.