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Title: Development of underground-mine cost-estimating equations. [Dependence of initial capital cost, deferred capital cost and annual operating cost on region, annual mine output and seam depth]

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6753059· OSTI ID:6753059

Table 3.3 summarizes the initial capital, deferred capital, and operating costs (in millions of 1980 dollars) for the four regionally-based underground model mines. The initial capital is divided into two components, fixed and variable. The fixed component is just the investment cost for surface facilities, which is assumed to be independent of mine size. The rest of the initial capital cost is associated with production (primarily face-related) and is assumed to vary linearly with mine size (i.e., annual output). There exists a concern that deferred capital costs will change due to entry mode. However, the installations concerned primarily with this point are depreciated off over the mine life and are not targeted for replacement. Therefore, deferred capital costs will not change significantly with entry mode changes or seam depth. In conclusion, it is our feeling that, within the resources of this project, development of cost adjustment factors relating productivity to various supply regions and seam heights is not practical. Assuming that productivity and, therefore, cost is independent of seam height will introduce errors into the system; however, their extent should be minimized by the incorporation of multiple model mines into the RAMC. Lastly, the relationship presented in this memorandum for depth of cover should be used in the RAMC.

Research Organization:
McLean Research Center, Inc., VA (USA); Synergic Resources Corp., Bala-Cynwyd, PA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC01-79EI10577
OSTI ID:
6753059
Report Number(s):
DOE/EIA-0331; ON: DE83002438
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Portions of document are illegible
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English