Tailings management in sustainable mining: A production scheduling optimization framework

• Tailings management is crucial for environmental protection and mine safety. • A scheduling optimization model integrating tailings backfill is proposed. • The model can reduce the tailings mass delivered to the tailings dams. • The model promotes sustainable mining practices. The mining industry supplies crucial materials for industrial production, but the large amounts of tailings generated hinder sustainable development. The disposal strategies for mine tailings are closely tied to mine production operations. However, traditional scheduling optimization overlook the environmental impact of tailings. This paper introduces a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) framework that incorporates this environmental factor. Different disposal methods for tailings are considered, with tailings backfill showing the most significant fluctuations in consumption, and disposal in tailings dams(TD) posing the greatest environmental hazards. The model constraints account for the complex processes involved in ore extraction and tailings disposal. The optimization objectives are to minimize the variance in tailings consumption for backfill(TCB) and the daily ore grade variance, which can stabilize tailings consumption and reduce excessive accumulation at TD. The proposed model was validated through practical applications, simulations, sensitivity analyses, and economic benefit assessments. Results indicate that, without affecting normal stoping activities, the amount of tailings discharged to TD was reduced by 42.8% per month. Although the mine incurred an additional monthly cost of approximately 50k, this resulted in significant environmental and potential social benefits. The model balances economic and environmental objectives, promoting sustainable and green mining practices with broad applicability.