Prediction of rotary drilling penetration rate in iron ore oxides using rock engineering system

Prediction of the drilling penetration rate is one of the important parameters in mining operations. This parameter has a direct impact on the mine planning and cost of mining operations. Generally, effective parameters on the penetration rate is divided into two classes: rock mass properties and specifications of the machine. The chemical components of intact rock have a direct effect in determining rock mechanical properties. Theses parameters usually have not been investigated in any research on the rock drillability. In this study, physical and mechanical properties of iron ore were studied based on the amount of magnetite percent. According to the results of the tests, the effective parameters on the penetration rate of the rotary drilling machines were divided into three classes: specifications of the machines, rock mass properties and chemical component of intact rock. Then, the rock drillability was studied using rock engineering systems. The results showed that feed, rotation, rock mass index and iron oxide percent have important effect on penetration rate. Then a quadratic equation with 0.896 determination coefficient has been obtained. Also, the results showed that chemical components can be described as new parameters in rotary drill penetration rate.