Blessing Taiwo - Department of Mining Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria
Oluwaseun Famobuwa - Department of Mining Engineering, West Virginia University, USA
Melodi Mata - Mineral Economics Lab, Department of Mining Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria
Mohammed Sazid - Mining Engineering Department, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Yewuhalashet Fissha - Department of Geosciences, Geotechnology and Materials Engineering for Resources, Graduate School of International Resource Sciences, Akita University, Japan
Victor Jebutu - University of Bolton, England
Adams Akinlabi - Department of Mining Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria
Olaoluwa Ogunyemi - Mineral Economics Lab, Department of Mining Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria
Ozigi Abubakar - Mines Department, Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese, Nigeria

The purpose of this research work is to create empirical models for assessing the profitability of granite aggregate production in Akure, Ondo State, aggregate quarries. In addition, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model for granite profitability was developed. A structured survey questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. The data extracted from the case study mine for this study includes granite marketing operations, royalty, production costs, and mine production information. In this study, the efficacy of granite fragmentation was assessed using the WipFrag software. The relationship between particle size distribution, blast design, blast efficiency, and uniformity index were analyzed using the WipFrag result. The optimum blast design was also identified and recommended for mine production. The result revealed that large burden distances result in bigger X۵۰, X۸۰, and Xmax fragmentation sizes. A burden distance of ۲ m and a ۲ m spacing were identified as the optimum burden and spacing. The finding revealed that blast mean size and ۸۰% passing mesh size have a positive correlation. The result from this study indicated that the uniformity index has a positive correlation with blast efficiency and a negative correlation with maximum blast fragmentation size. The prediction accuracy of the developed models was evaluated using the coefficient of determination (R۲), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean square error (MSE). The error analysis revealed that the ANN model is suitable for predicting quarry-generated profit.

blast efficiency, uniformity index, blast fragmentation, granite, mineral economic