Development of Fuzzy-AHP and WPM based MCDM Model for Mining Method Selection

The study aims to select the proper mining method for underground metal mines using the Fuzzy-Analytical Hierarchical Process (FAHP) and Weighted Product Method (WPM). The study considered various deposit characteristics such as dip of the orebody, orebody thickness, shape of the orebody, depth of the orebody from the surface, and grade distribution. Based on these characteristics block caving, sublevel stoping, sublevel caving, room and pillar, shrinkage stoping, cut and fill stoping methods are evaluated. FAHP method calculates the weights for each deposit characteristic and WPM calculates the scores of mining methods for the given mine body characteristic. FAHP and WPM models are applied to a uranium mine in India. The appropriate extraction method for the considered mine is found as cut and fill stoping. The same method is also used at the mining location.