Selecting Proper Mining Method Using Fuzzy AHP Approach (Case study: Qaleh-Zari Copper Mine of Iran)

Mining method selection is the most important issue through mine planning and design. Therefore, it needs to be chosen appropriately. In this respect, it is crucial to consider the basic parameters such as geological and geotech nical properties of ore deposit, its surrounded strata, economic and technical parameter s, and geographical factors; hence, selection of mining method is a multi-criteria deci sion making problem. A multi-criteria decision making method is used to rank appropriate mining methods based on a set of criteria; nevertheless, this approach has broader a pplicability. This paper presents a new approach in the selection of an underground mining method based on Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (Fuzzy AHP) approach for Qaleh-Zari Copper mine of Iran. This method is used to assess the effective criteria and then ranking of the methods through AHP by decision makers. The broad issue includes three possible mining methods and twelve criteria to evaluate them. The suggested met hod applied to the mine and the most appropriate mining method has been ranked and selected as Shrinkage mining method.