Diagnosis about iron ore mine haul roads in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero: Itabira Complex case

Abstract

Although mine haul roads only provide support for mining activities, their role can be quite significant in any effort to optimize transportation with trucks in open pit mining. In 2009, an inventory about the design, construction and maintenance conditions of these structures in mines in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero was undertaken through a partnership between a large mining company and UFOP. Although the conditions of the roads could be considered broadly satisfactory, several points with potential for improvement were observed. This partnership was recently resumed on enlarged bases for an upgrade, but with a quantitative approach and in a representative mine. The report of this mine haul road diagnosis with a feedback on how we can do more and better for mine haul roads are presented in this work.