Determination of soil overburden on Panirendawa iron ore deposit for selection of appropriate mining method/s

Abstract

Panirendawa iron deposit consists of four isolated deposits namely A, B, C and D. The deposit D has potentially high magnetite concentration according to previous data. The main objective of the study is to carry out an electrical resistivity survey to determine the overburden thickness of the deposit D using the SAS 1000 Terrameter. Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) was carried out at ten different locations around the deposit D. A single line parallel to strike was surveyed with six points of equal depth to the bed rock and the other two lines (west to east) were parallel to the dip as depth increases. The observed data were interpreted using the IX1D Interpex software in to ID and 2D formats to identify the underground layers/stratification with reference to the apparent resistivity values. The survey was preceded with mean depth about 6.5m of surface layer having about lOOOQm apparent resistivity overlying on a water baring surface with a mean thickness about 35m having about lOQm apparent resistivity; also about 41m below, the bed rock stood with an apparent resistivity about 44500m. According to present study, the most possible mining method would be underground mining.