Geology, Geological Engineering - Ore Dilution Control Increases Earnings at White Pine

Results of the application of geo1ogic knowledge to grade control have been remarkable. Grade reduction from dilution has been diminished from greater than 9% at the time of the program's beginning to about 2% at present. This has resulted in an increase of about 1.8 lb of copper per ton of ore mined and has made a substantial contribution to earnings at White Pine during the past two years. Even more improvement is expected in the future. The White Pine orebody, situated in the southwestern portion of the Keweenaw peninsula of upper Michigan, is a gently dipping stratiform or bedded deposit. Copper distribution is stratigraphi-cally controlled with higher values being confined to specific beds in the ore column. Room-and-pillar mining is practiced. Mining technique and geologic characteristics present a special array of problems in controlling the grade of ore. A routine program of grade control was started in the White Pine mine in August 1961. The program is based upon development and application of geologic knowledge to assist mine operating personnel to increase the grade of ore, primarily by accurate stratigraphic control and selection of areas for development on the basis of grade distribution trends. Geologists work closely with mine supervisors to offer the necessary geologic guidance. STRATIGRAPHIC POSITION OF COPPER The important rock series in the White Pine area is comprised of three formations of late Precambrian age. In descending order they are the Freda sandstone, Nonesuch shale, and Copper Harbor conglomerate. The Nonesuch shale is about 600 ft thick. Economic copper concentration occurs only in the lowermost 20 to 25 ft of the formation; however, within a restricted area along the southwest side of the mine the uppermost 1 to 7 ft of the Copper Harbor conglomerate (lower sandstone) contain sufficient quantities of copper to be included in the ore column. The ore consists primarily of chalcocite with subordinate native copper disseminated in shales, siltstones, and sandstones. MINE BOUNDARIES AND STRUCTURE The mine area is bounded on the west by the sub-outcrop of basal Nonesuch at bed rock surface and on the southwest by the White Pine fault (Fig. 1). The south and southeast limit of the orebody is reasonably well delineated by thinning or pinch-out of favorable host beds. Northern, northeastern, and eastern limits have not been established. The White Pine fault is actually a wide zone of shearing which strikes approximately N 40° W. It is downthrown on the southwest side and dips steeply to the northeast. Maximum vertical displacement is about 1500 ft.