Traditional pit design methods miss value by separating geometry and economics. Alexey Tsoy’s research proved that MiningMath’s Single-step Mine Optimization integrates all constraints in one model, delivering up to 50% higher NPV in open-pit mine planning.

This report summarizes an academic study that applied advanced mine planning methodologies to the La Cocota deposit, a large copper porphyry in northern Chile. The research quantitatively and rigorously compared traditional planning techniques with the more recent Direct Block Scheduling (DBS) approach, a concept equivalent to MiningMath’s Single-step Mine Optimization. The thesis is here presented as a structured report for technical teams and managers, emphasizing economic gains, methodological consistency, and the practical applicability of the solution.

Mine planning is more than just defining pit shells and sequences. It involves navigating a range of variables—geology, economics, processing capacity, and operational limitations. MiningMath solves key inefficiencies in conventional mine planning. At the heart of its solution is a custom Branch & Cut algorithm, designed to optimize directly from the block model in a single step.

Mine planning is more than just defining pit shells and sequences. It involves navigating a range of variables—geology, economics, processing capacity, and operational limitations. MiningMath solves key inefficiencies in conventional mine planning. At the heart of its solution is a custom Branch & Cut algorithm, designed to optimize directly from the block model in a single step.

MiningMath solves destination optimization through a global, single-step optimization approach that integrates destination decisions with long-term scheduling. Instead of analyzing each block or period in isolation, it evaluates all possible destinations, such as processing, stockpiles, or waste, across the entire mine life. It considers operational constraints, processing capacities, and financial objectives simultaneously to maximize NPV. This approach ensures that routing decisions are consistent with the overall mine strategy, delivering more robust and profitable outcomes than traditional local or manual methods.

The cut-off grade is the concentration of a mineral or metal required to classify materials as either ore or waste. Materials with a concentration above the cut-off are classified as ore, while anything below is classified as waste.