Optimal site selection for heap leaching structures by the analytic hierarchy process (case study: taft heap leaching structure, Iran)

In hydrometallurgical projects, the heap location greatly affects construction costs and environmental hazards. Heap leach pad site selection depends on different technical parameters (topographical, borrow sources, hydrological, hydro-geological, etc.) and other financial and environmental factors. In many situations, there are some proposed sites with different parameters, and it is necessary that the optimum heap leach pad site be selected with the help of multi-criteria decision making methods such as ELECTRE, TOPSIS, and AHP. In this paper, we have first studied the heap leach pad site selection criteria (technical, financial, and environmental) and their effects on the selection of the location of the heap leaching structures. Then, using the AHP method, the decision making problem was hierarchically structured at three levels. For analysis, use was made of the "Expert Choice" software. To check the practicality of the method, an appropriate site for the construction of the leaching heap was selected at the Taft area, Yazd province, Iran. Finally, sensitivity analysis exploring the overall priority of alternatives to changes in the relative synthesis value of each criterion was carried out for the main technical, economic, and environmental criteria.