Course Description
Open pit mining is the dominant method for extracting large, near-surface ore bodies and is responsible for the majority of the world's metal production. This course provides a comprehensive understanding of open pit mine design and operations, from pit optimisation through to production and equipment.
Participants learn the principles of open pit design — pit slope and geometry, pit optimisation, and mine planning — along with the practical operations of drilling, blasting, loading, hauling, and equipment selection. The course equips mining engineers and technical professionals to understand and contribute to the design and operation of open pit mines.
What you will achieve
By the end of this training course, participants will be able to:
- Explain the principles of open pit mining
- Understand pit slope design and geometry
- Apply pit optimisation concepts (ultimate pit, phases)
- Develop open pit mine plans and schedules
- Understand drilling and blasting in open pits
- Understand loading, hauling, and equipment selection
- Apply haul road design and layout
- Understand grade control and production management
How the course is delivered
The course combines open pit design theory with practical planning and operations examples. Participants work through pit design, scheduling, and operations exercises using realistic mine scenarios and commonly used mine design concepts.
The programme balances design and optimisation with the practical realities of open pit production.
Designed for
This training course is ideal for:
- Mining engineers and technical professionals
- Mine planning and production engineers
- Geologists moving into mining operations
- Operations personnel in open pit mines
- Anyone involved in surface mining
Daily programme
- Principles of open pit mining
- The open pit mining cycle
- Pit geometry and terminology
- Ore reserves and open pit design
- Pit slope design
- Pit optimisation and ultimate pit
- Phase and pushback design
- Waste dump design
- Open pit mine planning
- Production scheduling
- Materials scheduling and sequencing
- Computer-aided mine design
- Drilling and blasting in open pits
- Loading and hauling
- Equipment selection and matching
- Haul road design
- Grade control
- Production management
- Dilution and ore loss
- Workshop and review
Certification & accreditation
BII Certificate of Completion
BII Certificate of Completion Upon successful completion, participants receive a BII Development Institute Certificate of Completion with a unique reference code that is independently verifiable. Our certificates are recognised internationally and reflect successful completion of your chosen programme.
