2.6.1 Diagnostic Framework and Improvement Evolution Based on the experience during the mineral extraction at the Sofía D orebody, one of the primary challenges during the sequential recovery of secondary stopes was reducing overbreak in the surrounding cemented hydraulic backfill from an initial 18% to 10%. Analysis identified drill hole deviations as a key contributing factor adversely affecting blasting performance and fragmentation uniformity. To address this issue, a comprehensive diagnostic process was implemented using a multi-dimensional assessment framework visualized as a radar chart (Figure 4). The radar chart facilitated a baseline “Current” evaluation of actual performance, direct comparison against a “Base Target” representing optimal operational goals, and assessment relative to a “Risk Threshold” defining the minimum acceptable levels to prevent geomechanical instability or excessive cost overruns. Figure 6. Multi-Dimensional Assessment of Drilling Quality in SLS Production Rings. Initial diagnosis (pre-improvement) identified critical deficiencies in drill hole deviation (scored 4/10), drilling tools (4/10), drill string condition (5/10), and operator performance (4.5/10), with several indicators falling near the Risk Threshold. These findings prompted the implementation of targeted corrective measures, including optimized drill ring patterns, real-time deviation monitoring, and vibration studies to calibrate explosive charges. Improvement was tracked over a six-month period, with post-intervention radar chart assessments showing progressive convergence toward the “Base Target.” For example, the deviation score improved from 4/10 to 8/10, operator performance from 4.5/10 to 7/10, and drilling tools from 4/10 to 9/10. 2.6.2 Drill hole deviation control Implementation of a comprehensive drilling quality control framework at Minera Colquisiri yielded measurable improvements. Initial diagnostics revealed average drill hole deviations of 8–12% across key metrics, resulting in overbreak rates of 18% and recovery efficiencies of 85–90%. Post-intervention, deviations were reduced to 3–5%, overbreak dropped to 10%, and recovery rates exceeded 98% in targeted secondary stopes.
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