Open Pit Mine Scheduling Workflows

FAQ

Single Open-Pit Mine Scheduling Workflows

Resource model(s)

Multiple alternative workflows
- Multiple resource models supported for each

Final object (solid) in each workflow becomes task in schedule
Dependencies between tasks to support each workflow
- Slope angles, bench solids, or simple 1:1 step

Multiple Alternative Open-Pit Workflows

#	Open-Pit Workflow Option	Summary
1	Resource model -> Mining Blocks (#1 Direct Block Scheduling)	Outer shell of block model delineates optimisation region Cut outer shell of block model into 3D grid of mining blocks Calculate attributes for mining blocks by aggregating blocks and parts thereof from block model Effectively reblocking with custom fields and aggregation rules Block aggregation reduces size of optimisation problem Use grid indexes to determine task (mining block) dependencies Optimiser extracts mining blocks to limit of outer shell to satisfy objective, subject to slope angle dependencies and production constraints Derives optimum pit and schedule simultaneously for each period
2	#2 Pit Optimisation -> Mining Blocks	Run pit optimisation Cut selected pit shell into 3D grid of mining blocks Calculate attributes from block model Use grid indexes to determine task (mining block) dependencies * Equivalent to #1: Direct Block Scheduling using pit shell instead of outer shell of block model
3	#3 Pit Optimisation -> Nested Pits -> Mining Blocks	Run pit optimisation Cut selected incremental pit shells into 3D grid of mining blocks split by shell boundaries. Calculate attributes from block model. Use grid indexes to determine task (mining block) dependencies. * Similar to #2: Pit Optimisation -> Mining Blocks using multiple stage shells instead of only final pit shell
4	#4 Pit Optimisation -> Nested Pits -> Bench Solids (Manual process) Pit Optimisation -> Bench Solids (Integrated into Schedule Definition)	Run pit optimisation. Create bench solids from intersection of each nested pit increment with each bench. Apply optional minimum mining width. Calculate attributes from block model. Use extraction numbers and bench heights to determine task (bench solid) dependencies.
5	#5 Pit Optimisation -> Nested Pits -> Pit Designs -> Incremental Solids -> Mining Blocks	Run pit optimisation. Create pit designs for selected nested pit shells. Create incremental solids for pit designs. Cut incremental solids into 3D grid of mining blocks split by pit design boundaries. Calculate attributes from block model. Use grid indexes to determine task (mining block) dependencies.
6	#6 Direct Block Scheduling -> EOP Surfaces -> Pit Designs -> Incremental Solids -> Mining Blocks	Run #1: Direct Block Schedule. Create cumulative solids for selected end-of-period (EOP) pit shells. Create pit designs for EOP cumulative solids. Create incremental solids for pit designs. Cut incremental solids into 3D grid of mining blocks split by pit design boundaries. Calculate attributes from block model. Use grid indexes to determine task (mining block) dependencies.

Summary of Alternative OP Workflows (1)

FROM …
Pit Optimisation	Direct Block Scheduling
Pit Optimisation	Resource Model Outer Shell
	(Direct Block Schedule)
	End-of-Period Surfaces
Pit Shells (Stage Solids)
Pit Designs
Incremental (Stage Solids) with Extraction Numbers

Summary of Alternative OP Workflows (2)

WITH …
Mining Blocks	Bench Solids
Create Mining Blocks (with optional splits at stage shell boundaries)	Create Bench Solids (with optional minimum mining width)
Attribute Solids from Resource Model (aggregates blocks and parts thereof as required)
Dependencies for Mining Blocks	Dependencies for Bench Solids
Optimisation
Animation
Reports and Charts