Mining
From the most remote corners of the Earth comes the fuel that makes modern life possible.
MLG Mining Services – Technical Overview
Our expertise supports both open-pit and underground mining operations, guided by robust geotechnical, hydrogeological, and economic assessments. Through advanced modeling, mine planning, and state-of-the-art equipment selection, we deliver customized, cost-effective solutions that meet international standards, including NI 43-101 and JORC compliance.
MLG’s multidisciplinary approach ensures precise resource classification, optimized production sequencing, and strategic capital and operating cost estimates—enabling mining projects to move confidently from exploration to full-scale production.
Mining design
The mining design services offered encompass the complete engineering and strategic development necessary to transition from resource estimation to the construction and operation of either open-pit or underground mining operations. This includes comparative evaluations of different mining methods to determine the optimal extraction strategy based on geological, technical, economic, and environmental parameters. Our team of mining engineers and geologists provides a comprehensive approach, ensuring that the chosen method (open-pit or underground) maximizes ore recovery while minimizing dilution, environmental impact, and overall operational costs. We employ advanced 3D geological modeling tools and block modeling techniques to define the orebody with precision and develop a robust mine plan aligned with project feasibility and life-of-mine objectives.
Production layout
Production layout services are designed to optimize ore extraction and material movement efficiency throughout the entire mine life cycle. For open-pit operations, this includes the development of detailed pit shell designs, cut-off grade strategies, waste dump layouts, haul road geometries, and phased pit expansions. Bench heights, slope angles, working widths, and berm configurations are determined based on geotechnical inputs to ensure slope stability and equipment maneuverability. In underground operations, we design access ramps, haulage levels, stope layouts, draw points, ventilation raises, and backfill strategies that support safe, sustainable, and high-recovery mining. Our layouts also include mine sequencing, stope design optimization, infrastructure integration, and dynamic LOM (Life-of-Mine) scheduling those accounts for operational constraints and orebody variability.
Geotechnics
Geotechnical investigations form the backbone of all design and operational decisions in mining projects. Our geotechnical services include the planning and execution of comprehensive drilling programs to characterize subsurface conditions—acquiring critical data on rock mass strength, shear strength, cohesion, fracture spacing, seismic properties, and hydro-mechanical behavior. The collected data undergo thorough analysis for slope stability assessment, underground opening design, and waste dump foundation studies. We apply rock mass classification systems such as RMR and Q-System, conduct kinematic and limit equilibrium slope stability analysis, and determine safe bench configurations and pit wall geometries. For underground mines, ground support design includes bolt patterns, shotcrete application, mesh installation, and yielding support systems tailored to the excavation type and ground conditions.
Hydrogeology
Our hydrogeological services are essential for managing groundwater flow and ensuring operational safety. We analyze existing hydrological data and implement field programs to determine aquifer characteristics, permeability, water table levels, recharge zones, and potential water inflow into the mine. Piezometer installation, packer tests, and hydro chemical sampling are used to inform groundwater modeling. This information supports the design of dewatering systems, including perimeter wells, in-pit sumps, underground drainage galleries, and pumping stations. We also evaluate the interaction between mining activities and the surrounding hydrogeological regime, ensuring compliance with environmental standards and water management best practices. In both open-pit and underground mines, hydrogeology is critical for slope stability, excavation safety, and long-term water management strategies.
Mining planning
Mining planning services are developed to optimize the economic value of the resource while ensuring operational feasibility. Our experts generate robust mine schedules—monthly, quarterly, and annually—detailing production targets, waste movement, equipment allocation, and development timelines. In open-pit mining, we perform pit optimization using software tools like Whittle to maximize Net Present Value (NPV) under varying commodity price scenarios and constraints. We develop waste stripping sequences, ore blending strategies, and tailings deposition plans. For underground operations, mining methods such as sublevel stopping, cut-and-fill, or long hole retreat are evaluated based on orebody geometry and geotechnical conditions. Dilution and ore recovery rates are defined for each method, and ventilation, backfill, and ground control schedules are integrated into the master plan. Our simulations ensure that bottlenecks are identified early and that production continuity is maintained.
Infrastructure and costs
Infrastructure design and cost estimation are critical components for successful project development and financial planning. We provide detailed engineering for all supporting facilities including fuel storage areas, maintenance workshops (for both light and heavy vehicles), explosives magazines, offices, refueling stations, truck wash bays, and communication systems. Power supply, water treatment, waste management systems, and surface drainage infrastructure are also included. Our costing services cover both CAPEX and OPEX, with itemized breakdowns of mobile fleet (haul trucks, shovels, drills, auxiliary equipment), fixed installations, labor requirements, maintenance, and consumables. We produce life-of-mine expenditure forecasts, equipment replacement schedules, and cost sensitivity analyses to support financial modeling and investment decisions. Equipment selection is based on productivity modeling, cycle time calculations, and fleet requirement estimations tailored to site-specific conditions and production targets.
