RESPEC PROJECT

Ash Grove Cement is a major North American cement manufacturing company with an eastern and western division that includes 11 integrated cement plants. RESPEC has provided technical support to all of Ash Grove’s operations, including at the Durkee Plant and Ogden Point Quarry.

For the Durkee Plant in Oregon, RESPEC evaluated the existing drillhole data to create a preliminary block model and conceptual ultimate pit. This initial model indicated the low geologic confidence in the resources caused by the lack of drilling at depth, delineation of the cap rock, and identification of the geologic structure at depth. After the acquisition of new drilling and assay data, the Surpac model was updated, resulting in an increase of both the measured resource and proven reserves. RESPEC also provided detailed mine planning and sequencing to achieve the cement kiln raw mix target.

For the Ogden Point Quarry, which provides limestone to the Mississauga Plant, RESPEC prepared a Surpac block model with a specific focus on defining the quality of the lower benches. The delineation of the quality allowed the design of the mine plan to blend the upper higher quality benches to achieve the target raw mix grade.