Justification of the optimal haulage distance for overburden transport to an in-pit (near-slope) dump considering pit slope stability

Determining the optimal haulage distance for transporting overburden to an in-pit (near-slope) dump in deep open pits, while accounting for pit slope stability, is an important task in deep mining. Reducing haulage distance by placing a dump on the non-working pit wall lowers operating costs, fuel consumption, and truck cycle time. However, locating the dump too close to the pit crest increases additional loading on the near-slope rock mass, changes its stress–strain state, and reduces the slope factor of safety. The optimal distance is therefore defined as a compromise between minimum unit transportation costs and compliance with regulatory stability requirements. The analysis considers the geometric parameters of the pit wall and the dump, dumped-rock density, dump height and stacking configuration, and rock-mass strength properties, including cohesion, internal friction angle, and unit weight. Verification was carried out by numerical modelling in the Rocscience software suite using limit equilibrium and finite element methods. The results make it possible to determine the minimum allowable dump setback distance and to justify an in-pit dumping scheme that satisfies both safety and economic efficiency requirements for feasibility studies and operational mine planning.

Umarov F. Ya., Karimov Sh. V., Tuychiboev E. I., Norov D. Sh. Justification of the optimal haulage distance for overburden transport to an in-pit (near-slope) dump considering pit slope stability. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2026;(11-1):22-37. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2026_111_0_22.

F.Ya. Umarov¹, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, Director, Scopus Author ID: 55827283800, e-mail: farkhodbek.umarov@yandex.ru,
Sh.V. Karimov¹, PhD, Associate Professor, Head of the Sector for Research, Innovation, and Training of Academic and Pedagogical Personnel, e-mail: karimov20-13@mail.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-8618-3703,
E.I. Tuychiboev¹, Basic Doctoral Student, e-mail: tei050599@gmail.com, ORCID ID: 0009-0008-6089-7231,
D.Sh. Norov, Lecturer, Navoi Innovation University, 210100, Navoi, Republic of Uzbekistan, e-mail: norovd72@gmail.com,
¹ Branch of the National University of Science and Technology «MISIS» in Almalyk, Almalyk, Republic of Uzbekistan.

Sh.V. Karimov, e-mail: karimov20-13@mail.ru.

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