Pit Optimisation Overview/Revision

The Right Partner, the Right Solution

 What is required ?
• Block Model • Physical Constraints
– Tonnes – Pit Slopes
– Capacities
– Grade (metal)
– Rock Types • Costs
– [CAF (Cost Adjustment – Mining
Factors)] – Processing
• Prepared in GMP – Selling
– Density
• Prices
– Topography

The Right Partner, the Right Solution

 A Simple Optimisation
• Start with a Block Model

• Export Block Model from GMP

• Set up a New project in Four-X
– [ Prepare Pit Slope, Costs & Prices ]
• Import Model into Four-X (Block Model Node)
– Check Model Validity
• Pit slopes (Slope Sets Node)
– Check slope errors
• Define Costs (Pit Shell Node)
– Mining (MCAF for variable costs by depth)
– Processing
– Selling
– Prices

The Right Partner, the Right Solution

 A Simple Optimisation
• Find Revenue Factor=1 Pit (Pit Shells Node)
• Prepare Size versus Value Graph (Under Scenario
Node)
– Which is optimum pit?
• Look at Simple Life of Mine Scheduling (Under Scenario
Node)
– Prepare pit by pit graph
– Choose pushbacks
– Make schedule graph
– (using constant lag)
• Refine choice of Ultimate Pit

• Export Results file from Whittle Four-X (Pit Shells Node)

• Import Results into GMP

The Right Partner, the Right Solution

• Schedule Advanced Analysis
– Best Case (inner shell out)
– Worst Case (top down)
– Specified (using pushbacks)

• Detailed Cash flow

– DCF (Discounted Cash Flow Analysis)
– NPV (Net Present Value =  Discounted Cash flows)
– Adjustment for Time Costs
– Variables changing with Time
– IRR (Internal Rate of Return)

• Sensitivity
– Spider Diagram
– Advanced sensitivities
– (Custom Graphs & Advanced Analysis)

The Right Partner, the Right Solution

 Advanced Optimizations
• Cut-off Optimization
– Stockpiles

• Milawa
– Best NPV mode
– Balanced mode

• Blend Optimization
– Bulk Mineral
– Extractive Process

The Right Partner, the Right Solution

• Reblocking Tools
Other Tools
– Parcels
– Combining & Splitting Blocks
– Calculating MCAFs & PCAFS
(Cost Adjustment Factors for each block)

• Minimum Mining Width

• Block Value Calculation

– For Checking

• Variables
– Expression
– Changing by time

The Right Partner, the Right Solution

 Files Used – In Optimization
Model .mod Results .res
Parameter .par Parameter .par

Structural Arcs .str

pit slopes Pit List .pil

MSQ .msq
Mining
Sequence File

The Right Partner, the Right Solution

 Files Used – In Analysis
Model .mod Results .res
Parameter .par Parameter .par

Tables Graphs Reports

The Right Partner, the Right Solution