Dimension-Stone Quarrying Optimization through Integrated Modelling between Joint Sets and Cutting Grid: a Case Study at Tan Long Dimension Stone Quarry in Southcentral Coastal Province of Binh Dinh

Dimension-stone quarrying optimization is significantly important to increase the recovery ratio of dimension stone and to reduce the cutting cost. Due to fracture-existed rock mass, in the mining operation block size and mining direction influences to the recovery ratio and the cutting cost. Therefore, the paper suggests the quarrying optimization for dimension stone to obtain the highest recovery ratio and the lowest cutting cost, based on optimizing block size and mining direction to get a cutting grid of dimension stone. Through developing an integrated modelling between joint set modelling and cutting grid modelling, intact blocks and fractured blocks were generated. From this, block statistics were conducted to get the maximum recovery ratio of dimension stone and the minimum cutting rate between the cutting area and the recovered block volume, which helps to choose an optimizing block size and mining direction. The research was carried out at Tan Long dimension stone quarry where a block size (0.9m x 0.6m x 1.35m) and a mining direction paralleling to joint set 1 will ensure the highest recovery ratio of 13.87% and the lowest cutting rate of 25 m2/m3.