Back to Sections

Type:ALLMCQNATMSQ

Mineral Economics(12)Mine Planning(14)Systems Engineering(18)

Mineral Economics

12 Questions

GATE→2026→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Mineral Economics

Q1

MCQ[1 Mark]

As per the UNFC mineral resources classification system, the highest category of resource is indicated by

(A)

111

(B)

122

(C)

333

(D)

334

Explanation

GATE→2026→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Mineral Economics

Q2

NAT[2 Marks]

A shovel costing $P = 20$ crores has a salvage value $S = 2$ crores with a useful life $n = 10$ years. The annual depreciation is evaluated using declining balance method. The depreciated cost of the shovel, in crores, in its $2^{\text{nd}}$ year is

Explanation

GATE→2025→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Mineral Economics

Q3

MCQ[1 Mark]

The metal that belongs to Rare Earth Element category is

(A)

Cerium

(B)

Lithium

(C)

Titanium

(D)

Cobalt

Explanation

GATE→2025→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Mineral Economics

Q4

NAT[2 Marks]

The information of a mining project for a life of three years is given below: ... If straight line depreciation with zero salvage value is applicable, the NPV, in Crore Rupees, is (rounded off to 2 decimal places)

Explanation

GATE→2024→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Mineral Economics

Q5

MCQ[1 Mark]

The ore that is NOT used for commercial extraction of metal is

(A)

Wolframite.

(B)

Dolomite.

(C)

Cassiterite.

(D)

Uraninite.

Explanation

GATE→2024→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Mineral Economics

Q6

MCQ[1 Mark]

The function of District Mineral Foundation established by state governments in India, is to

(A)

look after safety aspects of mining operations.

(B)

approve mining plan.

(C)

act as an environmental regulatory body.

(D)

monitor welfare of mining affected people.

Explanation

GATE→2024→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Mineral Economics

Q7

NAT[2 Marks]

The real rate of return from a mining project is 14%. If the inflation rate over the entire life of the mine is 5.5%, then the nominal rate of return in %, is

Explanation

GATE→2023→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Mineral Economics

Q8

NAT[1 Mark]

The average ore grade of a copper deposit is 0.9%. The recovery of the metal after processing, smelting and refining is 85%. If the selling price of refined copper is Rs $640/kg$, the sale value in Rs. from mining one tonne of ore is [rounded off to 1 decimal place]

Explanation

GATE→2023→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Mineral Economics

Q9

NAT[2 Marks]

A mining company makes an initial investment of Rs 200 crore on a project. The following data are available: Production life: 3 years; Year wise production after gestation period (Mtonne): 1.0, 2.0, and 1.0; Stripping ratio: $1.5\text{ m}^{3}/\text{tonne}$; Selling price of ore: Rs. 2000 per tonne; Ore mining cost: Rs. 500 per tonne; Waste mining cost: Rs. 500 per $\text{m}^{3}$; Discount rate: 10%. By ignoring any other cash-flows, if the NPV of the project becomes Rs. 5.367 crore, the gestation period of the project, in years, is [rounded off to the nearest integer]

Explanation

GATE→2022→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Mineral Economics

Q10

MCQ[1 Mark]

A mining company produces iron ore and sells to another company. Royalty to be paid is on the basis of

(A)

quantity of ore produced

(B)

quantity of ore sold

(C)

difference between the quantities of ore produced and sold

(D)

net profit

Explanation

GATE→2022→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Mineral Economics

Q11

NAT[1 Mark]

The cost of a screw compressor with an estimated life of 15 years is ₹21,00,000. If the depreciation of the compressor charged, using 'sum-of-the-years-digits' method, at the end of $4^{\text{th}}$ year is ₹2,00,000, the salvage value, in ₹ is

Explanation

GATE→2022→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Mineral Economics

Q12

NAT[2 Marks]

The net present values (NPV) of two mining project proposals A and B are as given. $NPV_{A}=-0.01i^{2}-0.02i+4.44$, $NPV_{B}=-0.03i^{2}-0.01i+6.55$ where, $i$ is discount rate. The required rate of return for which both the proposals have equal possibility of acceptance and rejection, is

Explanation

Mine Planning

14 Questions

GATE→2026→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Mine Planning

Q13

NAT[2 Marks]

The borehole data for resource estimation for an iron ore deposit are shown. The average grade of the deposit, in %, is

Explanation

GATE→2026→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Mine Planning

Q14

NAT[2 Marks]

An economic block model along with extraction sequence is shown. If the discount rate is 10%, the net present value (NPV), in lakhs, is

Explanation

GATE→2026→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Mine Planning

Q15

NAT[2 Marks]

A bord and pillar panel has 24 developed pillars of size $40\text{ m} \times 40$ m (centre to centre) under extraction. Gallery width = 4 m, extraction height = 3 m, extraction ratio during depillaring = 80%, specific gravity of coal = 1.4, incubation period = 6 months, average working days per month = 25. In order to extract the panel within the incubation period, the minimum rate of production, in tonne per day, is

Explanation

GATE→2025→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Mine Planning

Q16

NAT[1 Mark]

The relevant information on metal extraction from a copper mine are given below: Selling price of copper (Rs./kg) = 900, Mining cost (Rs./tonne of ore) = 500, Processing cost (Rs./tonne of ore) = 2000, Overall recovery of copper metal (%) = 70. Ignoring all other costs, the breakeven cutoff grade of copper, in %, is

Explanation

GATE→2025→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Mine Planning

Q17

NAT[2 Marks]

Data from a borehole log with collar elevation at 590 mRL are given below. Composite grade is calculated using cores of 5 m above and below the reference bench at 580 mRL. The composite grade, in %, is (rounded off to 1 decimal place)

Explanation

GATE→2024→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Mine Planning

Q18

MCQ[1 Mark]

Match the semi-variogram model equation with its property.

(A)

A

(B)

B

(C)

C

(D)

D

Explanation

GATE→2024→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Mine Planning

Q19

MCQ[1 Mark]

The percentage Fe and corresponding net value for an iron ore mine is given below. Assuming net value versus grade curve to be a straight line, and mining cost of waste is INR $1000/m^{3}$ the correct representation of stripping ratio, SR $(m^{3}/tonne)$ versus Fe (%) grade curve is

(A)

SR = -3.250 + 0.125 \times Fe

(B)

SR = 3.250 + 0.125 \times Fe

(C)

SR = 3250 + 125 \times Fe

(D)

SR = -3250 + 125 \times Fe

Explanation

GATE→2024→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Mine Planning

Q20

MCQ[2 Marks]

Data from two production faces of an open pit iron ore mine are given. Ores from two different faces are blended and supplied with Fe grade not less than 60%. Based on demand, combined production limited to max 2500 tonne/day. Selling price INR 4500/tonne. Optimal production from two faces in tonne/day for maximizing profit are

(A)

1000.0 and 1500.0

(B)

1333.3 and 1166.7

(C)

1600.0 and 900.0

(D)

500.0 and 2000.0

Explanation

GATE→2024→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Mine Planning

Q21

NAT[2 Marks]

In an open pit mine, the mineral inventory, prices, costs and capacities are given... The mine is operating at 5 million tonne in a year. Considering mining capacity being the only constraint, Lane's algorithm (based on profit maximization) is used for determining mill cut-off grade. The total amount of copper produced in million tonne, in the life of the pit, is

Explanation

GATE→2022→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Mine Planning

Q22

MCQ[1 Mark]

A deposit has the grade attribute $X \in [0,30]$ with a density function $f(x)$. For a cut-off grade $x_c$, the proportion of the ore in the deposit is given by

(A)

\int_{0}^{30}f(x)dx - \int_{0}^{x_{c}}f(x)dx

(B)

\frac{1}{2}\int_{0}^{30}f(x)dx - \int_{0}^{x_{c}}f(x)dx

(C)

\frac{1}{2}\int_{0}^{30}f(x)dx + \int_{0}^{x_{c}}f(x)dx

(D)

\int_{0}^{x_{c}}f(x)dx

Explanation

GATE→2022→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Mine Planning

Q23

MCQ[1 Mark]

Identify the WRONG statement: Break-even stripping ratio

(A)

takes into account the maximum pit slope that is safe

(B)

helps in determining the volume of the overburden

(C)

presents the maximum possible mine size that is economical

(D)

takes into account the life of the mine

Explanation

GATE→2022→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Mine Planning

Q24

MCQ[2 Marks]

Match the semi-variogram shape with the model name and the property

(A)

P->III->E, Q->II->F, R->IV->E, S->I->G

(B)

P->II->F, Q->I->G, R->III->E, S->IV->E

(C)

P->IV->G, Q->III->F, R->II->E, S->I->E

(D)

P->II->E, Q->I->E, R->III->F, S->IV->G

Explanation

GATE→2022→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Mine Planning

Q25

NAT[2 Marks]

A coal seam of uniform thickness 12 m is dipping at an angle $30^{\circ}$ as shown in the figure. The ultimate pit is demarcated based on allowable instantaneous stripping ratio of $10\text{ m}^{3}/\text{tonne}$ and safe slope angle of $45^{\circ}$. The density of coal is $1.41\text{ tonne}/\text{m}^{3}$. The length, L in m is

Explanation

GATE→2022→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Mine Planning

Q26

NAT[2 Marks]

A mine has a reserve of 150 million tonne (Mt) and is designed for a maximum production capacity of 5 Mt per year. In the first year the production is 2 Mt and it increases by 20% each year. The reserve in Mt that remains at the end of 15 years is

Explanation

Systems Engineering

18 Questions

GATE→2026→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Systems Engineering

Q27

NAT[1 Mark]

The expected time ($P$ days) and standard deviation ($Q$ days) of the different activities (A to F) in a project are indicated in the network diagram as $(P, Q)$. The standard deviation of the project completion time, in days, is

Explanation

GATE→2026→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Systems Engineering

Q28

MCQ[2 Marks]

A shovel needs to be selected from four models of different capacities, S1 to S4, for loading of dumpers. The operational data for the shovel-dumper combination are provided. Mean arrival rate = 5 per hour, dumper waiting cost = 200 per hour. Shovel type with minimum total cost is

(A)

S1

(B)

S2

(C)

S3

(D)

S4

Explanation

GATE→2026→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Systems Engineering

Q29

NAT[2 Marks]

A mine workshop needs to assign 4 jobs to 4 service engineers. The cost for performing a job by an individual service engineer is given. If service engineer S1 cannot perform J3, and S3 cannot perform J4, the optimal cost for completion of jobs is

Explanation

GATE→2025→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Systems Engineering

Q30

NAT[1 Mark]

In a shovel dumper combination, the loading time of a dumper is 3 minutes. The shovel serves 8 dumpers. If the cycle time of a dumper including its loading time is 22 minutes, the waiting time of a dumper, in minute, is

Explanation

GATE→2025→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Systems Engineering

Q31

MCQ[2 Marks]

Following information are given for three mines of a company receiving explosives from three suppliers... Considering the initial basic feasible solution of this transportation problem, using North-West corner method, the transportation cost of explosives supplied to the company, in Rs., is

(A)

293500

(B)

312500

(C)

385000

(D)

412000

Explanation

GATE→2024→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Systems Engineering

Q32

MCQ[1 Mark]

In an M/M/1 system, the inter-arrival time of dumpers to a shovel follows exponential distribution with a mean arrival rate of 9 dumpers per hour. The service rate of the shovel follows exponential distribution with a mean service rate of 12 dumpers per hour. The probability that exactly one dumper is available to the shovel is

(A)

1/16

(B)

3/16

(C)

3/4

(D)

1/4

Explanation

GATE→2024→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Systems Engineering

Q33

MCQ[2 Marks]

A project network with the sequence of five activities is shown. The crashing costs of activities are given. If the project is crashed by one week, the increase in project cost, in lakh INR, is

(A)

2.0

(B)

2.5

(C)

3.0

(D)

4.0

Explanation

GATE→2024→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Systems Engineering

Q34

NAT[1 Mark]

A typical 24-hour activity of a mobile crusher plant is shown. The utilization, in %, of the plant, is

Explanation

GATE→2024→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Systems Engineering

Q35

NAT[2 Marks]

A transportation system for carrying ore from stock pile to railway siding through an ore bin is shown. The time between failure of each conveyor belt follows an exponential distribution with mean time between failure of 700 hours. The system is considered to be a 'success' if ore transports from stock pile to siding by any combination of belts. The reliability of the system for 350 hours of continuous successful operation, is

Explanation

GATE→2023→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Systems Engineering

Q36

MCQ[1 Mark]

A linear programming problem is given as: Maximize $Z=4x_{1}+2x_{2}$ Subject to: $2x_{1}-2x_{2}\le20$, $4x_{1}\le80$, $x_{1}\ge0$, $x_{2}\ge0$. The problem has

(A)

Unbounded solution.

(B)

Infeasible solution.

(C)

Multiple optimal solutions.

(D)

Unique optimal solution.

Explanation

GATE→2023→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Systems Engineering

Q37

MCQ[1 Mark]

In project scheduling techniques, the CORRECT statement is

(A)

Both CPM and PERT are deterministic.

(B)

Both CPM and PERT are probabilistic.

(C)

CPM is deterministic and PERT is probabilistic.

(D)

CPM is probabilistic and PERT is deterministic.

Explanation

GATE→2023→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Systems Engineering

Q38

NAT[2 Marks]

The reliability function of a pump is given as $R(t)=exp[-(\frac{t}{1000})^{0.5}]$ where t stands for time in years. If the pump comes with a six-month warranty, the number of years for the pump to attain a reliability of 0.9 is [rounded off to 2 decimal places]

Explanation

GATE→2023→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Systems Engineering

Q39

NAT[2 Marks]

A coal company has three mines which transport coal to four washeries. The daily production from each mine, the demand at each washery and unit transportation cost from each mine to each washery are given in table... The cost of initial basic feasible solution using Vogel's approximation method is [rounded off to 1 decimal place]

Explanation

GATE→2023→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Systems Engineering

Q40

NAT[2 Marks]

A workshop has four tasks and equal number of machines to perform the tasks. Each of the machines can perform only one of the four tasks. The estimated cost at each of the machines to complete each task is given in table... The total cost of optimal assignment is [rounded off to 1 decimal place]

Explanation

GATE→2022→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Systems Engineering

Q41

NAT[1 Mark]

A safety device consists of two independent critical components $X_{1}$ and $X_{2}$. The failure of any one or both of these components can cause an accident. The failure probabilities of components $X_{1}$ and $X_{2}$ are 0.2 and 0.1, respectively. The probability of occurrence of an accident is

Explanation

GATE→2022→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Systems Engineering

Q42

MCQ[2 Marks]

A coal mining company examines the option of buying two types of dumpers with the following details... In order to minimize the operating cost, the optimum fleet of dumpers of Type-1 and Type-2, respectively are

(A)

20, 15

(B)

0, 30

(C)

0, 31

(D)

40, 0

Explanation

GATE→2022→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Systems Engineering

Q43

NAT[2 Marks]

In a surface mine bench, overburden is removed by the shovel-dumper combination. For the dumper: Time at loading station = 3.0 min, unloading station = 1.0 min, distance = 4.5 km, loaded speed = 12 km/hr, empty speed = 18 km/hr. Minimum number of dumpers required to avoid idle time of the shovel, is

Explanation

GATE→2022→Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering→Systems Engineering

Q44

NAT[2 Marks]

Information on Activity-Time duration of a project is provided below... The expected project duration in weeks, is

Explanation