Assessing Optimal Open-Pit Orientation Strategies in the Development Phase of Copper Mining: Environmentally Sustainable Approach

Abstract

The article aims to select the optimal orientation for open-pit mining at the Aynak copper deposit in the central zone of Afghanistan. The one used is the one that studied integrates geological and environmental datasets derived from over 100 samples analyzed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the former Soviet Geological Survey, and the Afghanistan Ministry of Mining and Petroleum. The software used for analysis is QGIS, and AutoCAD is used. This research aims to determine the optimal orientation and design configuration for open-pit extraction during the Aynak project's developmental stage. The result demonstrated that the deposit percentage varies from 0.5 to 2.3 percent. Total ore tonnage is 368 Mt, average grade is 1.7 percent, and metal tonnage is 6 Mt. As a result, the best orientation method is from side to center (from the western side to the eastern side).