Knowledge Base

Getting Started

Articles

Quick Check

System requirements

The only mandatory requirement for using MiningMath is a 64-bits system, due to its use of Direct Block Scheduling technology. Other minimum requirements are listed further:

Windows 10
64-bits system (mandatory)
110 MB of space (installation) + additional space for your projects' files.
Processor: processors above 2.4 GHz are recommended to improve your experience.
Memory: at least 4 GB of RAM is required. 8 GB of RAM or higher is recommended to improve your experience.
OpenGL 3.2 or above. Discover yours by downloading and running the procedure available at here

Recommended Hardware

Memory should be a higher priority when choosing the machine in which MiningMath will be run on. In addition, a list of priority upgrades to improve performance with large scale datasets is given below.

Higher Ram
Higher Ram frequency
Higher processing clock

Notice that MiningMath does not use multiple processing threads for a single scenario. To take full advantage of a multi-thread processor, consider running different instances of MiningMath with different scenarios.

Put It to Run!

Installing, Activating and Running

Installing and activating MiningMath is quick and straightforward. All you need to do is follow the setup wizard and have an internet connection to activate your license.

Video 1: MiningMath installation process.

Figure 1: MiningMath installation process from left to right.

Figure 2: MiningMath installation process from left to right.

Figure 3: MiningMath installation process from left to right.

Figure 4: MiningMath installation process from left to right.

Figure 5: MiningMath installation process from left to right.

Figure 6: MiningMath installation process from left to right.

Activating Your License

To activate your license, you will need to:

Open MiningMath (it will open automatically after the installation, but you can open it manually afterwards).
On the left menu, click License.
Select the field "I have an activation code" and paste the License Code provided by MiningMath.
Click "Activate license".

NOTE:

MiningMath’s licensing method demands an internet connection.

Optimizing Scenarios

Play with the predefined scenarios

MiningMath allows you to learn with each scenario by providing standard parameters which simulate some common constraints that a mining company may face. Standard scenarios are listed and described below so you can identify the main changes made within the “Overview” tab.

The ultimate goal of this practice is to prepare you to build Decision Trees, which allow you to organize scenarios in order to understand how variables influence one another and, consequently, how these variables determine the final NPV.

Market Conditions Decision Tree

1) BaseCase

The Base Case consists of the initial scenario, with a uniform production capacity and without sum, average or surface mining limits.

2) BaseCase-RampUp

While the base case considers a uniform production capacity, the BaseCase-RampUp scenario offers the possibility to vary the levels of production within the different timespans. We have an initial production capacity of 10Mton on the first 2 periods; 20 Mton on periods 3 and 4; and 30 Mton from period 5 until the end of the mine’s lifetime, with a total movement constraint of 30, 60, and 80 Mton, considering the increase of production within the time-frames mentioned.

3) PriceUp and PriceDown

Scenarios “PriceUp” and “PriceDown” differ in relation to the basic scenario in the economic value used for the calculation of the P1 process, where there is an increase and a decrease of 10% at the copper selling price, respectively. In the destination tab, “P1 Cu +10” and “P1 Cu -10” were the values used for the process.

4) PriceUp-RampUp and PriceDown-RampUp

These scenarios consider a 10% copper selling price increase and decrease, and a ramp-up of the production capacity at the same time, as mentioned before.

5) PriceUp-RampUp-Protection300 and PriceUp-RampUp-Protection400

This scenario considers a 10% copper selling price increase and a ramp-up of the products at the same time, as mentioned in the previous scenario. In addition, a restrict mining surface (this constraint is used to prohibit access to this area in a specific timeframe) was included up to the fourth period, since it may represent some legal constraints on a project.

Other Decision Trees

Below you can see a description of some scenarios of other Decision Trees.

1) MW150 (Geometries Decision Trees)

The MW150 scenario considers different geometries from the base case at the geometric constraints. In this scenario, 150 meters was used as mining width (the horizontal distance between the walls of two surfaces that belonged to consecutive periods), and a vertical rate advance of 180 meters.

2) AvgCu (Average Decision Tree)

In the AvgCu scenario, blending constraints were added in the average tab to consider allowed at the process plant 0.5% as a minimum and 0.7% as a maximum average copper grade. The optimization will have to fulfill the P1 process capacity and, as an additional challenge, it has to meet this new set of parameters related to the Cu average content within the ore.

3) Proc13000h and Proc13000h-33Mt

(Process throughput Decision Tree)

Scenario Proc13000h considers 13.000 hours of processing equipment used as the maximum limit. This constraint was inserted at the sum tab and it controls variables such as rock type feeding, energy consumption, and any parameter controlled by its sum. Scenario Proc13000h-33Mt considers an increase of 10% in the production, inserted at the production tab beyond the parameters mentioned previously.

4) Yearly-TriannualProduction

(Short-Long Term Integration Decision Tree)

This considers a yearly production for period range 1-4 and triannual planning for range 5-end. This way is possible to integrate both short and long-term planning in a single run, facilitating the analysis and strategic definitions.

Any kind of timeframe can be used according to your needs.

Tutorials

Articles

Must-Read Articles

In order to take the maximum of MiningMath’s Optimization we recommend this flow through our Knowledge Base. It will guide you step-by-step in order to integrate multiple business’ areas and to improve your strategic analysis through risk assessments unconstrained by step-wise processes.

Set up and first run

Quick Check: Here you’ll have all the necessary instructions to install, activate and run MiningMath.
How to run a scenario: Once everything is ready, it’s time to run your first scenario with MiningMath so you can familiarize with our technology!

Find new results

Playing with pre-defined scenarios: Each change in a scenario opens a new world of possibilities, therefore, it’s time to understand a little more about and see it in practice, playing with pre-defined scenarios.
Decision Trees: Decision Trees provide you a detailed broad view of your project, allowing you to plan your mining sequence by analyzing every possibility in light of constraints applied to each scenario, which options are more viable and profitable to the global project, as well as how these factors impact the final NPV.

Understand the technology in depth

Current best practices: Here we go through the modern technology usually employed by other mining packages. It is important to understand these in order to comprehend MiningMath differentials.
MiningMath uniqueness: Now that you’ve practiced the basics of MiningMath, and understand how other mining packages work, it’s time to get deep into the theory behind the MiningMath technology.
Interface Overview: It’s time understand our interface overview with detailed information about every screen and constraints available in MiningMath. Home page, Model tab, Scenario tab, and Viewer for a better understanding of the possibilities.

Using and validating your data

Formatting the Block Model: Learn how to format your block model data and use it in MiningMath.
Importing the block model: Go through the importation process and to proper configure your data.
Economic Values: MiningMath does not require pre-defined destinations ruled by an arbitrary cut-off grade. Instead, the software uses an Economic Value for each possible destination and for each block. After your data is formatted and imported into MiningMath, you may build your Economic Value for each possible destination.
Data Validation: Once your data is set, it’s time to validate it by running MiningMath with a bigger production capacity than the expected reserves. Thus, you will get and analyze results faster.
Constraints Validation: Continuing the validation, start to add the first constraints related to your project so that you can understand its maximum potential.

Improve your results

Integrated Workflow: Each project has its own characteristics and MiningMath allows you to choose which workflow fits best in your demand and to decide which one should be used.
Super Best Case: In the search for the upside potential for the NPV of a given project, this setup explores the whole solution space without any other constraints but processing capacities, in a global multi-period optimization fully focused on maximizing the project’s discounted cash flow.
Optimized Pushbacks: Identify timeframe intervals in your project, so that you can work with group periods before getting into a detailed insight. This strategy allows you to run the scenarios faster without losing flexibility or adding dilution on the optimization, which happens when you reblock.
Optimized Schedules: Consider your real production and explore scenarios to the most value in terms of NPV.
Short-term Planning: Now that you built the knowledge about your project based on the previous steps, it is time to start the integration between long and short-term planning in MiningMath. You may also optimize the short-term along with the long-term using different timeframes.

Export your results

Exporting Data: After running your scenarios, you can export all data. Results are automatically exported to CSV files to integrate with your preferred mining package.

In-Depth MiningMath

This tutorial provides a detailed guidance to the pages in the knowledge base for new MiningMath users. A shorter tutorial can be found here with a set of must read articles. In this tutorial, a larger number of pages is contextualized and recommended for those with no previous experience using MiningMath but who wish to gain a more advanced knowledge.

Software requirements

Quick check: Verify if your computer has all the minimum/recommended requirements for running the software.
Put it to run: Here you’ll have all the necessary instructions to install, activate and run MiningMath.

Set up the block model

The next step after installation is to understand the home page interface and import your project data. The following pages go over these in detail.

Home page: MiningMath automatically starts on this page. It depicts your decision trees, recent projects and model information.
Import your block model: import your csv data, name your project, set fields and validation.
Modify the block model: this window aims to help you to modify your block model accordingly with what is required for your project and also allows you to “Export” the block model to the CSV format to be used with any other software.
Calculator: calculate and create new fields by manipulating your project inside MiningMath.

Handling unformatted data

If you don’t have a block model ready to be imported you might want to create a new one. The following pages can guide you through this process.

Define the scenario and run

Once you have started your block model defined, there are several options to set up your project’s parameters before running a scenario.

Scenario tab: set densities, economic parameters, slope angles, stockpiles, add/remove processes and dumps, production inputs, geometric inputs and so on.
Save as: save the scenario's configuration once it has been configured.
Run: the Run tab is the last step before running your project’s optimization. Change the scenario name, set a time limit, and set up results files.

Results

After running your scenario it is important to analyze and understand the given results.

Output files and 3D viewer: by default, MiningMath generates an Excel report summarizing the main results of the optimization. It also creates outputs of mining sequence, topography, and pit surfaces in csv format so that you can easily import them into other mining packages. The 3D viewer enables a view of your model from different angles.
Export model: export your model as a csv file. This can be used in new scenarios or imported in other mining packages.

Extensive set-up

MiningMath offers a lot of customization. You might use pre-defined scenarios to learn with standard parameters. Otherwise, the following pages of the knowledge base detail several important parameters that might need to be fine tuned in your project.

Advanced content

Complex projects might need advanced configurations or advanced knowledge in certain topics. The following pages cover some subjects considered advanced in our knowledge base.

Theory

In order to understand the theory behind MiningMath’s algorithm, a set of pages is provided to describe mathematical formulations, pseudo-code, and any rationale to justify the software design.

Workflows

ManingMath acknowledges and supports different workflows. This knowledge base provides a set of articles aimed at showing how MiningMath can be integrated into other workflows or have its results used by different mining packages.

Translations

MiningMath supports and encourages the translation of its knowledge base to multiple languages. If you would like to translate our knowledge base and have your profile advertised please contact us.

Portuguese

Base de Conhecimento (PT-BR)

Tradução de Silvia de Castro Martins.

Rrevisão de Douglas Mazzinghy.

Traduzido em 26/11/2020 com MiningMath até versão v2.1.11.

File Type	Link
pdf	Baixe aqui
docx	Baixe aqui

Essential Topics

Articles

How to Run a Scenario

Video 1: Downloading MiningMath.

Reach out to our knowledge base home page if you wish for a quick introduction to MiningMath technology prior to a hands-on approach.

On MiningMath’s interface, you will find the Marvin block model and its scenarios (Figure 1). It is possible to preview the scenario and its parameters before opening it (Figure 2).

Choose and open Base Case, click the “Overview” tab (Figure 3) to check the parameters, and then click on “Run” to run the optimization (Figure 4).

After that, a short report with the results will be generated. To view it, check all the boxes on the “Load Options” window and click on “Load” (Figure 5).

Finally, whenever you feel ready to run your own scenarios, start by formatting your data here.

Figure 3: Check the project's overview tab

Results of the Optimization

By default, MiningMath generates an Excel report summarizing the main results of the optimization. It also creates outputs of mining sequence, topography, and pit surfaces in .csv format so that you can easily import them into other mining packages.

Viewer

The 3D viewer enables a view of your model from different angles. The block colors are defined accordingly with each property displayed, varying from blue to red (smallest to largest), due to destinations, periods, or any other parameter. Therefore, it’s possible to filter the blocks by the period in which they were mined or processed, for instance. In addition, it also allows you to compare multiple scenarios by loading different cases and using the left bar to change from one to another.

Output Files

After optimizing your block model and running your scenario(s), MiningMath generates standard output files with detailed reports. The main files have a universal format (.csv), which allows you to easily import them onto other mining packages to start your mine design and further steps of your projects.

To open the project folder, click on the scenario’s name with the right button of your mouse and choose “Show in the Explorer“. The optimization’s main output files are:

Scenarioname.xlsx: Short report with the main results.
MinedBlocks.csv: Detailed report which presents all the blocks that have been mined.
Surface.csv: Grid of points generated through the pit each period.

Scenarioname.xlsx

Provides you with a short report with the main results of the optimization: several charts and sheets in which you can analyze the production on each period, the stockpiles by periods, the average grade of processes and dump, NPV per period, the cumulative NPV (Net Present Value), etc.

MinedBlocks.csv

This file offers a detailed report on all the mined blocks and their specificities: information on the mining sequence based on each block extracted, along with mined and processed periods, destinations, economic value, and all information used for the optimization. This file also allows you to identify blocks that were stocked and the algorithm decision-making process.

Surface.csv

The surface scenario brings a grid of points generated through the pit of each period: each surface is named according to its mining periods and contains information about the topographic coordinates at that time. These files can be imported into the viewer separately, so that you can verify and validate your data before starting the optimization process. Note: The surfaces are exported/imported from/at MiningMath in Coordinates.

Video 1: Outputs and files hirearchy.

Play with Predefined Scenarios

MiningMath allows you to learn with each scenario by providing standard parameters which simulate some common constraints a mining company may face. Standard scenarios are listed and described below so you can identify the main changes made within the “Overview” tab.

Dataset

The examples in this page come preinstalled with every version of MiningMath. If you have deleted this project by any chance, please download the zip file below, extract the files and choose the “Open Project” option in MiningMath.

Marvin_Strategy_Optimization.zip (demo project)

BaseCase

The Base Case consists of the initial scenario, with a uniform production capacity, and without sum, average, or surface mining limits.

BaseCase-RampUp

While the base case considers a uniform production capacity, the BaseCase-RampUp scenario offers the possibility to vary the levels of production within the various timespans. We have an initial production capacity of 10Mton on the first 2 periods; 20 Mton on periods 3 and 4; and 30 Mton from period 5 until the end of the mine’s lifetime, with a total movement constraint of 30, 60, and 80 Mton, considering the increase of production within the time-frames mentioned.

PriceUp and PriceDown

PriceUp-RampUp and PriceDown-RampUp

These scenarios consider a 10% copper selling price increase and decrease, and a ramp-up of the production capacity at the same time, as mentioned before.

PriceUp-RampUp-Protection300 and PriceUp-RampUp-Protection400

Below you can see a description of some scenarios of other Decision Trees.

MW150

AvgCu

AvgCu-Stock5Mt

Here, the same blending constraints of the previous scenario (AvgCu) were added, in addition to a stockpile limit of 5Mton for process 1, on the destination tab. This feature allows you to control the stock limit of your whole process, which increases the optimization flexibility to feed the plant, while respecting the blending constraints that were already implemented.

Proc13000h and Proc13000h-33Mt

The Calculator

This feature allows the user to manipulate their project inside MiningMath, enabling adjustments and new field creation. Figure 1 shows a general view of the calculator. On the left side we have the block parameters and on the right the calculator itself, where the calculation can be done.

To manipulate the calculator just insert a name for the new field, select the type of field (to know more about field types, access this link), and build your expression. In case of a more complex expression, just mark the field “Logical Test” to enable conditional features. To manipulate the calculator just insert a name for the new field, select the type of field (to know more about field types, access this link), and build your expression. In case of a more complex expression, just mark the field “Logical Test” to enable conditional features.

+ : Addition
- : Subtraction
* : Multiplication
/ : Division

% : Modulus
** : Exponential
// : Floor division

Practical approach

To facilitate the understanding, let’s work on some examples. You can see below a generic math expression (left), and its equivalent written on MiningMath’s calculator (right)

$(x^2)\times(\frac{y}{2}-1)$ ↔ x**2*((y/2)-1)

Adding a field without logical expression

Using an example of the Marvin’s Economic Value calculation, we are going to add a Block Tonnes field, as the figure 2:

Adding a field with a logical expression

One more time using Marvin’s block model, let’s suppose we want a maximum slope angle of 45 degrees.

First, we name our Field, in this case, will be “SlopeMax45d”, select the field type as “Slope” and check the Logical Test box. Then a double click on the Slope field select it and already put it on the Expression. The next step is to select the operator, as we want a maximum of 45 degrees, we choose the operator “>” and insert the value 45 in the text box. If the value is true, that is, if this value is bigger than 45 it will now have the value of 45 assigned to it. If the value is false, i.e., lower than 45, then it will keep its value. Figure 3 shows this calculation:

During the expression construction, green or red lines will underline it, highlighting the correct parts and the ones that need adjustments to become correct. When it is all set, just click on “Add field” and this new field will be available for use on the project on its correct field type assignments. In case the user needs to delete a field, just go to the parameters option, select and delete it.

NPV Calculation

MiningMath's internal math for NPV Calculation

The following video explains more about the NPV calculation made by MiningMath’s algorithm. The understand of these steps might be useful for users working on projects with variable mining costs, which are not yet smoothly implemented on the UI.

Video 1: NPV calculation.

Discount rate per period

The discount rate (%/year) is provided by the user in MiningMath’s interface, as depicted in the figure below.

Discounted cash flow for annual time frames

In a usual scenario period ranges are defined by annual time frames, as depicted in Fig-2.

In this case, the annual discount rate multiplier (annual_multiplier) to return the discounted cash flow is performed as follows:

$\text{annual_multiplier}(t) = $ $\frac{1}{(1 + \text{input discount rate})^t}$

The table below exemplifies one case for 10 periods.

Period	Process 1	Dump 1	NPV (Discounted) M$	Annual multiplier	Undiscounted NPV M$
1	P1	Waste	1.2	0.909	1.320
2	P1 +5%	Waste	137.9	0.826	166.859
3	P1 +5%	Waste	132.5	0.751	176.358
4	P1 +5%	Waste	105.4	0.683	154.316
5	P1 -5%	Waste	89	0.621	143.335
6	P1 -5%	Waste	92	0.564	162.984
7	P1 -5%	Waste	91.3	0.513	177.918
8	P1 -10%	Waste	52.3	0.467	112.110
9	P1 -10%	Waste	54.3	0.424	128.037
10	P1 -10%	Waste	12.1	0.386	31.384

Table 1: Example of annual multiplying factors and undiscounted cash-flows for a 10% discount rate per year. Process 1 exemplifies the use of different economic values per period.

In details, Table 1 lists:

the NPV (discounted) resulting from a 10 yearly period with a 10% discount rate per year.
the annual discount rate (annual_multiplier) for each period; and
the undiscounted NPV as the result of the discounted NPV divided by the annual_multiplier.

Discounted cash flow for custom time frames

MiningMath allows the creation of scenarios in which period ranges are defined with custom time frames (months, trienniums, decades, etc.), as depicted in Figure 3.

In this case, the discount rate is still provided in years on the interface. However, the discount rate per period follows a different set of calculations.

In the example on Figure 3, the first range is composed of 12 periods of one month each. To calculate their discount rate, a timeframe factor for each period t is defined first. This is basically the value associated with each timeframe, as depicted in Figure 3, or a custom value given by the user. Another required information is the year in which t occurs. For instance, the 2nd month occurs in year 1, while the 13th month occurs in year 2.

$ TF(t)= \begin{cases} 1,& \text{if}\, t\, \text{is in years}\\ \frac{1}{12},& \text{if}\, t\, \text{is in months}\\ 3,& \text{if}\, t\, \text{is in trienniums}\\ etc.& \end{cases} $

$ \text{year_of}(t) = \text{year in which}\, t\, \text{occurs} $

The discount rate of periods in which timeframes correspond to less than one year (low_multiplier) is, then, given by the formula:

$ \text{low_multiplier}(t) = \text{annual_multiplier}(\text{year_of}(t)^x) $

$ \text{where}\, x = \sum_{i=1}^{t}TF(i) $

Table 2 shows an example of 12 periods of one month each, with:

timeframe factor;
cumulative timeframe factors;
corresponding annual_multiplier for each period;
the low_multiplier of each period; and finally,
the undiscounted cash flow (discounted cashflow divided by the low_multiplier)

Period	Type	Process 1	Dump 1	NPV (Discounted) M$	Time frame	Years rounded	Cumulative factor	annual multiplier	low multiplier	Undiscounted NPV M$
1	Month	P1	Waste	10.8	0.0833	1	0	0.90909	0.99209	10.88612
2	Month	P1	Waste	13.6	0.0833	1	0.08333	0.90909	0.98424	13.81776
3	Month	P1	Waste	11.4	0.0833	1	0.16666	0.90909	0.97645	11.67490
4	Month	P1 +5%	Waste	12.9	0.833	1	0.25	0.90909	0.96873	13.31641
5	Month	P1 +5%	Waste	11.2	0.0833	1	0.33333	0.90909	0.96107	11.65373
6	Month	P1 +5%	Waste	13	0.0833	1	0.41666	0.90909	0.95346	13.63452
7	Month	P1 -5%	Waste	11.2	0.0833	1	0.5	0.90909	0.94592	11.84033
8	Month	P1 -5%	Waste	14.4	0.0833	1	0.58333	0.90909	0.93844	15.34467
9	Month	P1 -5%	Waste	11.8	0.0833	1	0.66666	0.90909	0.93101	12.67437
10	Month	P1 -10%	Waste	14.7	0.0833	1	0.75	0.90909	0.92365	15.91517
11	Month	P1 -10%	Waste	13.6	0.0833	1	0.83333	0.90909	0.91634	14.84165
12	Month	P1 -10%	Waste	12	0.0833	1	0.91666	0.90909	0.90909	13.20000

Table 2: Example of discount rates calculated per month and undiscounted cash flows with a 10% discount rate per year. Process 1 exemplifies the use of different economic values per period.

Timeframes greater than a year

In the example on Figure 3, the last period ranges are composed of 3 trienniums. To calculate the discount rate of a triennium, the annual_multiplier of each year contained in it is computed and then averaged. Hence, the discount rate of periods in which timeframes are greater than one year (great_mutiplier) is given by the formula:

$ \text{great_multiplier}(t) = $ $\frac{\sum_{y=\underline{t}}^{\overline{t}}\text{annual_multiplier}(y)}{\overline{t} – \underline{t} + 1} $

$ \text{where}\, \underline{t}\, \text{is the first year in period}\, t\, \text{and}\, \overline{t}\, \text{is the last year in period}\, t $

Table 3 shows the example of 3 trienniums occuring after 14 periods (12 months and 2 years). The annual_multiplierof each year contained in each triennium is listed. The average of these factors return the great_multiplier of each triennium, which, in turn, divides the discounted cash flow to calculate the undiscounted one.

Period	Type	Process 1	Dump 1	NPV (Discounted) M$	Time frame	great multiplier	Undiscounted NPV M$	Year rounded	annual multiplier
15	Triennium	P1	Waste	378.4	3	0.62280	607.57584	4	0.68301
								5	0.62092
								6	0.56447
16	Triennium	P1 -5%	Waste	120.8	3	0.46792	258.16321	7	0.51318
								8	0.46650
								9	0.42409
17	Triennium	P1 -10%	Waste	4.2	3	0.35155	11.94688	10	0.38554
								11	0.35049
								12	0.31863

Table 3: Example of undiscounted cash flows and discount rates calculated per triennium with annual discount rate of 10%. Process 1 exemplifies the use of different economic values per period.

Evaluate Project Potential

Certain constraints related to your project can be defined so that you can understand its maximum potential. The surface generated in this case could also be used as a restrict mining in the last period to reduce the complexity of your block model and the runtime of MiningMath, since it includes a set of constraints inputted.

Example

Set up a scenario with 1,000 Mt in the processing plants, which corresponds to a lot more mass than expected in the whole life of the mine.
Add the Minimum Bottom Width (100m). This constraint will allow you to have a suitable work-front for your equipment.
Restrict Mining surface, if you have this constraint in your project.
Grade constraint until 0.7%.
Timeframe: Years (1), since it would all be processed in 1 period.

Note: Sum constraints can restrict the total amount of handling material (ore + waste) of the mine. Therefore, do not use them in the validation.

Using results

Now that Constraints Validation step is done, you are able to use this final surface as a guide for future optimizations. This approach reduces the runtime and the complexity of the algorithm because when you take it into account, the blocks below this final optimized surface won’t be considered and the heuristics inside the interface would be facilitated. Notice that we did not make any change in the discount rate, thus, this first NPV does not represent the reality. If you need an accurate result in this step, make sure to adjust it.

It’s important to remember that when we restrict the mining into this surface, the number of periods generated in future runs could be reduced because the average parameters of each one will have to meet the constraints of the overall package. Therefore, to achieve the same parameters in a lower timeframe, some blocks may be discarded due to the mining sequence and the optimization of destinations inside the whole mass.

Having this idea in mind, you should already have enough information to decide and structure the next step of the optimization. Based on the amount mined in the last item and in the processing capacity, define a good timeframe to identify the mining sequence. In this case, we had 231 Mt as the ore total mass to split in almost 23 years, since the processing capacity is 10Mt.

To improve efficiency in the optimization, before working on a yearly basis, we made the decision to consider the first 5 years. It is reasonable to generate a 10-year surface to consider the optimization inside this limit due to observations made before. Remember that each assumption here can be done accordingly with your project’s demands and that MiningMath can work with any timeframe to meet your needs.

FAQ

What is MiningMath?

It is a software application that uses innovative technology for direct block scheduling. The MiningMath aims to maximize the Net Present Value (NPV) of a project deciding, based on an imported block model, which blocks will be mined, when and what the destination of each block is.

It is possible to define multiple processing plants, stockpiles and waste dumps, respecting their capacities. It is also possible to set physical limits or force mining in certain regions by importing surfaces.

As the software has a flexible algorithm, it will be possible to include other restriction types in the future, such as blending for example.

Read more.

OK, but why should I use MiningMath?

MiningMath allows running a complete schedule directly from the resource block model, with no need to define a final pit, nested pits, pushbacks, cut-off grade optimization and stockpiles as would be required as part of a traditional full scheduling exercise. MiningMath will find a mining schedule that aims to maximize the NPV of the project, combining all the steps mentioned and optimizing all the periods simultaneously. Therefore, an experienced professional can test multiple scenarios by modifying parameters and advance other stages of his work, while MiningMath performs the entire optimization.

Read more.

Is the generated solution operational, or only a mathematical result?

Each mining plan generated by the optimization respects important geometrical parameters, such as a minimum pit bottom width, a mining width and vertical rates of advance, which can be configured specifically for your project. Furthermore, MiningMath technology generates surfaces without geotechnical errors. The generated plans are close to the operational reality of the mine, which implies smaller variations in the parameters when ramps are designed.

In practice, how can I use MininngMath to scheduling optimization?

A block model, in CSV format, including indexes or coordinates and economic values of the blocks is first imported followed by entering the primary parameters of the model and production restrictions via interface. Upon completion of these steps, MiningMath is ready to perform the optimization.

The resulting surfaces will respect the user-defined parameters and a report will be generated with graphics containing the most important indicators.

To demonstrate the usage and power of the software, you can access our demo video here.

Does MiningMath suit my project? What are the limitations of the current version?

The current version of MiningMath suits any open pit mining project that can be modeled with blocks of regular dimensions. If your project has multiple types of rock per block, there are ways to adapt the inputs to handle these cases. MiningMath is 100% based on 64-bit technology and has an efficient algorithm, capable of handling tens of millions of blocks without requiring supercomputers or cloud computing.

To date, MiningMath has focused on developing the best algorithms; future versions will introduce more facilities for the user, including the development of plug-ins to mining softwares on the market.

I have a sub-blocked model. How could MiningMath be used in this case?

If the model can be exported by dividing all blocks into sub-blocks, then we have a regular database formed only by sub-blocks and MiningMath can run it. We perform regular tests successfully using models with tens of millions of blocks. For future versions, we are planning significant efficiency improvements.

Does MiningMath have the Lerchs-Grossman (LG) algorithm implemented?

No. LG is a brilliant algorithm for its time, but none of the new software need to implement it anymore. The technological advances have proven that new methods overcome some barriers that the LG faces. These days, any software that has the same mathematical model of LG implemented will rather implement an algorithm based on maximum flow rate (Max Flow) which can be run tens or hundreds of times faster than the LG. However, both LG and Max Flow have no flexibility to include other important restrictions such as a minimum pit bottom width or blending.

MiningMath uses highly recommended technology currently in practice and inside research centers, being what is the most advanced, tested and available when talking about optimization. It was implemented using modern techniques based on mixed integer programming and heuristics. Its mathematical model is more realistic, for considering operational aspects and uses surfaces to return solutions that does not have any geotechnical errors. What in practice is mined are surfaces and not blocks. This type of technology has the flexibility to include other real restrictions, such as blending.

Read more.

Interface Overview

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Home Page

MiningMath automatically starts on the Home Page, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Interface example. Click to expand.

The following are three main information windows:

The Recent Projects window allows you to select a project and have an overview of the saved scenarios that will appear right away at the Decision Tree tab. It allows the user to quickly navigate through recent projects and scenarios without opening them from their original folders. Clicking with the right button on the project name, the user will have 4 options:
1) New scenario: "Scenario config" window will open allowing you to decide in which decision tree to place the new scenario, its name, and a description for it. Afterward, is going to be directed to set it up in the scenario tab.
2) Show in explorer: This option takes to the directory containing the folder with the project.
3) Remove from list: Excludes the referred project from the Recent Projects list.

4) Delete project: Deletes the project and the scenarios from it.
The Decision Trees feature enables you to create new tabs and ways to organize the mining planning strategies by exchanging scenarios between them, if necessary. It allows access to all paths involved in the project, providing a broad view and enhancing the decision-making process. It shows decision trees’ scenarios with key information about them, such as name and description to easily identify its characteristics, NPV on M$, runtime, and a direct link to the sheet containing all the results of the scenarios, which are available after the scenario’s execution. It’s possible to:
1) Add new trees by clicking on “+”
2) Rename a tree by double-clicking its name
3) Clicking with the right button, the user may add a new scenario, rename or delete this tree.
Getting into more details, some hidden options are available to the user when clicking with the right button on the scenario’s name: open, view model, rename, show in explorer, delete, and the possibility to transfer it between decision trees. The scenario description can be easily edited with a double click.
To open any scenario, click on one Recent Project first, and then choose the one you want to work with at the Decision Trees tab by double-clicking with the right button of your mouse, and choosing the option "Open", or just selecting “Open” at the right bottom of this feature. The “View” button leads to the MiningMath’s Viewer.
The Model table discloses the main information regarding your block model and its parameters, so that you can easily review it at any time using the "Edit" button shortcut, which will lead you to the "Calculator" functionality.

Model Tab

This window aims to help you to modify your block model accordingly with what is required for your project and also allows you to “Export” the block model to the CSV format to be used with any other software.

This tab starts at the “Parameters” option, showing your previous set up at the importation, similar to Figure 2, and all the existing fields. It also allows you to remove any parameter at any time.

The “Function” option discloses the “Validate your block parameters” table, so that you can choose a single block within your model to verify its values. It also enables MiningMath’s internal Calculator to make adjustments and changes to your dataset with the addition of new fields.

Scenario Tab

General Parameters

MiningMath automatically switches to the Scenario Tab in the General option once a scenario is opened, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 2: General tab and economic parameters

The General tab presents all the general inputs regarding densities (Figure 1), economic parameters (Figure 2), slope angles (Figure 3) and stockpiles (Figure 4), which are detailed next.

Densities

Densities, as shown in Figure 1, are used along with block size to calculate tonnages. The user has two options to define them:

"Field" shows the column(s) that has/have been assigned to the density during the importation. This option is intended to allow varying densities by block.
"Default value" is applicable to any block without density information, whether a density column is imported or not. It is also used when you choose the field as .

Economic Parameters

The Discount Rate is a field of Economic parameters, as seen in Figure 2. It is usually considered in an annual base, is responsible to define the impact of mining ore/waste over time, which influences the algorithm decision-making process.

While working with different time frames, the discount rate serves just a rough NPV approximation, and it doesn’t affect so much the quality of the solution, given that the best materials would be allocated first. Thus, by multiplying or splitting it by the number of periods, you might get reasonable results.

Slope Angles

Slope angles are one of the most important parameters when considering constraints hierarchy. The user, as seen in Figure 3, has two options here:

Field shows the column(s) that has/have been assigned to the slope during the importation. This option is intended to allow different slope angles by block.
Default value is used to any block without slope information, even if a column was assigned. It is also used when you choose the field as <none> .

Stockpiling

The stockpiling feature can be used by activating the checkbox. When this option is enabled, shown in Figure 4, the user can define:

Fixed mining cost (cost/t) refers to the average mining cost used for the economic function. This value is used to decompose the economic value while considering stockpiles.
Rehandling cost (cost/t) represents the cost to reclaim blocks from the stockpile to the process.

To illustrate the other tabs inside the Scenario tab, the parameters used in the Marvin case will be employed as summarized below:

Parameter	Subparameter	Value
Densities	Field	Density
Densities	Default value	2.75
Slope angles	Field	Slope
Slope angles	Default value	45 degrees
Stockpiling	Fixed mining cost	0.9$/t
Stockpiling	Rehandling cost	0.2$/t
Discount rate	-	10%

Table 1: Parameters used in the Marvin cases.

Destinations: Process, Dump and Stockpile

On the Destinations tab (Figure 5), you will define destinations to where the blocks can be sent. Each target must be mapped with their respective field containing the economic values. MiningMath requires at least one destination for the process and one destination for the dump. For each destination, you have an economic value and recoveries by elements.

Process & Dump

To add destinations, in the bottom corner of the window, click on:

Add Process
Add Dump

Each scenario must contain at least one process and one dump among the destinations imported. The destination of each block will be reported by assigning them with the numbers 1 or 2 (see the numbers beside the Name column), which depends on the order of addition.

Recovery

For each processing stream, the user must inform a process recovery, varying from 0 to 1, to any element/mineral whose column has been imported as a grade.

This value on the interface serves only for the purpose of generating reports, as it has been considered during the economic calculation. Use the following values for the processing stream:

Cu: 0.88
Au: 0.60

Stockpile

You can also define a tonnage limit for the stockpile if activated in the General tab (see Figure 4).

MiningMath considers the tonnage inputted as a cumulative upper limit that will be considered all over the life of mine.

In this example, a limit has not been defined, which implies an capacity to stock. Read more about stockpiles.

Economic Value

In the column of Economic value, you must assign each destination to its corresponding economic function. Therefore, use:

Destination 1 - Process 1 - Economic Value Process
Destination 2 - Dump 1 - Economic Value Waste

Figure 6 zooms in the destination fields, showing how they should look like for this example.

Production Inputs

After completing the previous fields, move to the Production tab (Figure 7). You can define limits (in tonnes) for each destination and the total amount of material moved per period and also add different timeframe ranges in the optimization. For this example, use the values as shown in Figure 7.

TimeFrame: Years (1)
Process 1: 30,000,000 t
Dump 1: 50,000,000 t
Total: 80,000,000 t

Geometric Inputs

On the Geometric tab (Figure 8), you can define parameters intending to find mathematical solutions that already consider basic requirements to be operationally feasible. Figure 8 highlights Operational Fields, which could differ for each period range and timeframe, such as minimum widths and vertical rate. Optional Fields are also allowed. These allow the definition of: 1) areas to be forced and/or restricted; and 2) periods to which surfaces are applied. In this example the values defined for all periods are:

Minimum width: Mining 100m, Bottom: 100 m
Vertical rate of advance: Maximum 150 m

In the Geometric tab you can also force mining and restrict mining using surfaces based on coordinates and defined as a 3D-grid of points in the CSV format. Surfaces are the most important constraints within MiningMath’s hierarchy, allowing you to impose one’s understanding and take control of prior results and operational aspects.

Using surfaces, you are able to play with geotechnical aspects, force certain regions to allocate waste material, restrict areas to protect the environment, and/or guide operational aspects by importing a designed pit.

Due to the complexity of this subject, surfaces will be treated in a specific section of our documentation.

Average

On the Average tab, you are able to define a minimum and/or maximum average grades for any element/mineral imported as grade (Figure 9 area 1).

Blending constraints can also be defined by period ranges (Figure 9 area 2) and/or destination (Figure 9 area 3).

It’s worth mentioning that this minimum limit does not represent cut-off values. Since it is based on average parameters, the algorithm can use lower values to respect this parameter and increase the NPV with higher ones. If you wish to input a cut-off, a good way to do it is by filtering these blocks and assigning the the mass as a sum field, as mentioned here.

Sum

On the Sum tab, you are able to consider any summed parameter as a minimum and/or maximum limits for any data imported as other (Figure 10 area 1).

Other constraints can also be defined by period ranges (Figure 10 area 2) and/or destination (Figure 10 area 3).

This feature is available only at the full versions of MiningMath. Read more.

Overview

Click on Overview (Figure 11) for a single page summary of all parameters related to the direct block scheduling, as illustrated in the figure below.

The Save as option (Figure 12) can be used to redefine the name, description for an edited scenario, and its decision tree.

You can also decide which files MiningMath will produce as outputs by using the execution options (Figure 13) before clicking on “Run” your scenario.

Viewer

After running your scenario, the Mined Blocks file will disclose its results on the 3D viewer, enabling the view of your model from different angles. By selecting “Period Mined”, you are able to view the mining sequence period by period. By selecting a surface, it is possible to identify the topography changes of each period and also modify its opacity, facilitating the visualization.

MiningMath also allows you to import surfaces already created if you place them in the same folder as the other ones, so that you can validate their geometry if necessary.

Click on “Load Scenario” to import multiple scenarios and compare them, in order to extract the best results accordingly with your project constraints.

Last check before running

The Overview tab aims to let the user to give a last check on each parameter inputted. Every information available in this screen, as shown in Figure 1, is also present on the previous screens:

Note the user can even go straight to the overview tab to save time.

Save As

Options to save a scenario

By clicking over Save As button, a window will pop-up, as shown in Figure 1. Then, the user will be able to set:

A scenario name
A scenario description

These fields intends to better identify a scenario among several ones by just taking a look at the Projects List.

Run

Running the optimization

The Run tab is the last step before running your project’s optimization. The Figure 1 below shows its interface and in sequence we will discuss each part.

Editing scenario name

At this part is possible to check the saving parameters, such as the Decision Tree where the scenario will be inserted, scenario’s name and description.

Export to CSV

Allows choosing to export the surfaces to a CSV file and/or the block model, with other options such as: all blocks mined; only mined blocks, coordinates and indices.

Time limit

It is possible to indicate a time limit in hours before running a scenario in the “Run” tab as depicted in Fig. 1. The time limit is defined in hours due to the usual complexity of mining projects and by the fact that MiningMath will always try to deliver a reasonable solution. To know more how this is done read the article here.

Reports visualization

The lower part of the screen allows you to view the results, in CSV, if the scenario has already been run, inside the software, facilitating strategic decisions.

Run button

After everything is checked, just Run the scenario.

Progress bar

With the progress bar you can monitor the execution of the scenario and the estimated time it will take to be completely executed, as shown in Figure 2.

Handling Data

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Formatting the Block Model

Block Model Basic requirements

MiningMath requires the following formatting specifications:

Regularized block model: This means all blocks must be the same size.
Air blocks must be removed prior to importation. This is the way MiningMath recognizes the topography.
Coordinates of each block in the 3 dimensions.
Header Names should not have special characters or have them exceed 13. Use this recommendation for folders and files also.
The data format should be a CSV file (Comma Separated Value), which might be compatible with most mining packages.

Good practices

Configure Microsoft Windows number formatting to use dot as the decimal separator.
Use the metric system.
Set multiple fields that will consider different economic values, material types, contaminant limits, and any other variable you wish to analyze or control.

Understanding Field Types

Field Types are the fields MiningMath can understand. Each column imported should be assigned to the proper field type so that the software treats each variable accordingly with its meaning.

Mandatory Field Types and their meanings

Coordinates X, Y, and Z refer to your geo-referenced information. The same applies to Index X, Index Y, and Index Z, which requires a column for each one of the 3D axes.
Average refers to any variable that could be controlled by means of minimums and maximums considering its average: grades, haulage distance, and other variables.
Economic Value refers to the columns with the economic value, which represent the available destinations. It is possible to import multiple economic values at once, and they may be used simultaneously (ex.: multiple processing streams) or calculated in the internal calculator mentioned on the next page.

Optional Field Types and their meanings

Density refers to the block's density. This field is used to calculate the block's tonnage.
Slope refers to slopes varying block-by-block, which gives the flexibility to define slopes by lithotype and sectors.
Recovery refers to recoveries varying block-by-block.
Sum refers to any variable that could be controlled by means of minimums and maximums considering its sum.
Other refers to information that you with to have in the exported outputs.
Skip refers to any variable that should be ignored. This field type might help improving the runtime since these variables will not be considered and exported along with the optimization outputs.

Field names shortcut

Shortcuts can be used for automatic recognition in the importation process. These are listed in the table below.

Field name	Shortcuts
Coordinates	`X` \| `Y` \| `Z`
Average	`@` \| `grade`
Density	`%` \| `dens` \| `sg`
Economic value	`$` \| `dest` \| `val`
Recovery	`*` \| `recov`
Slope	`/` \| `slope`
Sum	`+`
Skip	`!`

Mandatory requirements

Considering the specifications mentioned before, the formatted data set should have the following information for each block:

Coordinates or Indexes.
Grades (at least one element assigned as Average).
Economic values (at least 1 process and 1 waste).

The following video gives an introduction on how to setup your block model.

Video 1: Block Model setup.

Attention to software conversions

The model’s origin must be placed at the bottom portion, starting to count from the minimum coordinates at X, Y, and Z.

Figure 1 highlights a block model origin at the corner of the first block and the coordinates on its centroid.

Each software uses its own conventions for data format, naming and numbering systems, etc. These differences should be observed to prevent conflicts when transiting data from multiple software, each one for one specificity.

What you must know:

MiningMath uses coordinates (X,Y,Z) for which Z, which represents the elevation, starts upwards (Figure 3a).
Other mining software may use indexes with IZ starting downwards (Figure 3b). MineSight is an example that uses this notation.

There is no right or wrong convention, but there is a correct procedure for each software.

To invert coordinates use the following formula to convert:
$new(Z) = max(Z) + 1 – current(Z)$

Air Blocks

MiningMath recognizes that all imported blocks of your model are underground. This means it is necessary to remove all the air blocks prior to importation. Unless your topography is totally flat, which is unlikely, the image below shows an example of your model should be displayed.

The non-removal of air blocks may lead to unsatisfactory results and long processing times, since it would be considering blocks that do not exist in reality.

More Details on Air Blocks

The following video shows how to do remove air blocks using filters on MS Excel. These tips are also applicable to any mining software of your choice.

Video 1: Removing air blocks using filters on MS Excel.

Importing the Block Model

Block Model File

To import the block model, select the option New Project on the left panel of MiningMath (Figure 1).

Afterwards, the file name input field is shown in red, indicating a mandatory field. (Figure 2) Browse for and select the CSV formatted file. Press Next to advance.

Project Naming

In the next window, shown in Figure 3, the Model Name must be entered.

Optionally, the destination folder (Model Folder) can be changed as well as the Scenario Name, and a Scenario Description can be added.

Decimal separator

MiningMath does not recognize CSV’s using semicolon (;) as a decimal separator. To change it on Windows, go to:

'Control Panel' > 'Clock, Language, and Region' > 'Region' > 'Change date, time, or number formats' > 'Additional Settings'

Next, change the List Separator to the comma sign (,). Press OK and OK. Finally, you will need to change the separator on the CSV. On Excel, you will need to open it, convert text to columns, and then save it again.

Imported Fields & Validation

Upon clicking Next, the following window will provide a statistical summary of information for the block model that will be imported (Figure 4).

Check the parameters carefully.

Geo-reference system, Origin, Dimension and Rotation

Upon clicking Next, the CSV file will be imported into MiningMath, and show data related to the block model geo-reference system, that can be coordinates or index. The next steps are to place the rotation degrees (Azimuth rotation), origin accordingly with your mining package, and the block dimension as illustrated in Figure 5. The number of blocks is automatically calculated after the origin and dimensions are provided.

The origin of this project was x=3,475, y=6,480, and z=285, and the block dimensions were 30 meters in each coordinate.

Rotated models

MiningMath supports the use of block models that have been rotated using an Azimuth rotation (Figure 5). The amount of rotation degrees can be passed as depicted in Figure 6. After importing, you can see the rotated model in the Viewer tab (Figure 7).

Field Type Assignment

When Next is selected, the following form will appear (Figure 8), showing correlations between the imported CSV file header and the available field types in MiningMath.

You must associate each imported column to one of the options located just above the table, for instance: block coordinates X, Y, and Z to Coord. X, Y, and Z field types. For more details on how you can correlate each column, access this link. You can also keep the original data from your previous Mining Package, by using this approach.

If you do not already have an Economic Value function, when importing your block model, you will be directed to the Scenario tab. Then, click on the Function tab to calculate your Economic Value function in the internal calculator as explained here.

Notes

MiningMath has mandatory variables (columns) to be assigned to the proper Field Type:
1) Indexes (IX, IY, IZ) or coordinates (X, Y, Z).
2) Average
3) Economic Values (at least two)
Validating data screen might be overlooked, but it is very important to validate one's data based on minimums and maximums. Read more.
Each column imported should be assigned to the proper field type in order for MiningMath to treat each variable accordingly. Read more.
Typically, MiningMath recognizes some columns automatically when their headers are similar to the Field Type name. Otherwise, the MiningMath will automatically assign them to the Field Type sum.
To enable the Next button, the user needs to assign each one of the mandatory variables to their respective Field Type. Figure 9 shows, in green, a Field Type correctly assigned for the column IY. In red, the grade columns are assigned to the Field Type Other instead of Average. Consequently, the Next button is disabled.

Grade, Dimension and Origin

After clicking Next, it will demand grade units. As you can see in Figure 10, the copper grade has been defined as a percentage (%), while gold grade was defined as PPM, which stands for parts per million and, in turn, is equivalent to g/ton.

View Your Model and Surfaces

After filling in the required fields, the options View Model and Scenarios will be enabled. Before setting up your first scenario you can view it by clicking in the Viewer and Load scenario. Select all the tooltip options and click in load. This option also allows you to view surfaces created, just place them in the scenario folder before loading and do the first validation.

Warning message

A warning message can appear as no scenario was run before. Just press ok, check your block model and proceed to set up your project.

Evaluate your model

After importing your model, you can view it in the Viewer tab as depicted in Fig. 11-14. This should help you answer questions such as:

Where are the high grades distributed?
Does the process economic values, above zero, match with the regions identified in the last question?
How are waste economic values distributed? Are maximum and minimum values reasonable when you compare them with the process?

Global cut-off grade overview

The concept of cut-off grade has been conceived to delineate what is ore and waste, considering the life of mine. Usually, manual assumptions are made to pre-define what must be considered ore or not, while using the LG or Pseudoflow methodologies. These approaches do not consider the value of the money through time in the decision-making process, which could generate a whole different mining sequence due to the choices of what and when it should be mined. Another challenge, that is faced when planning projects which involve multiple destinations, blending constraints, restrict mining areas, and all the complexities present in a real global optimization. MiningMath allows for such Global Optimization and you can still combine it with your current strategies!

MiningMath has no pre-defined assumptions in order to identify the cut-off limit, which is based on a math optimization considering a discounted cash flow while respecting production capacity, blending constraints, vertical advances, widths, and any other assumption. Another key aspect in this regard is that MiningMath is not constrained by fixed pits, pushbacks, or phases. Instead, the mining sequence is an optimized output, which is a consequence of each set of parameters used, allowing more flexibility to find completely new solutions. The advantages of these differences are even more evident for more complex cases with multiple destinations, or complex constraints that could be neglected, hiding opportunities.

As the algorithm here has no manual destinations appointments, it always sends the less valuable blocks to the dump, considering the set of constraints imposed, what means that MiningMath tries to comply with all the constraints inserted, by respecting this priority order, to define an optimized cut-off that can meet all of the requirements and increase the NPV as a consequence of a global optimization. Meanwhile, blocks that have positive values when processed can also be discarded to increase NPV based on the minimum economic value (economic value cut-off) going to the plant at that a specific period. Scenarios without stockpiling policy could have even higher positive values going to the waste since they do not have any other destination. Considering these examples, MiningMath can deliver quite different results from what you were expecting from your previous assumptions. However, you can also get closer, as much as you wish, to any solution by using the approaches suggested below.

Forcing a cut-off grade

Forcing a cut-off grade on MiningMath will likely make you lose part of the advantages it can offer. However, for many reasons, mining professionals might still be willing to use either to compare different approaches, to understand the practical effects of using it, or not, etc. The approaches mentioned could also be used to forbid any material type on the plant, and the use of the item 2.1. could even reduce the complexity of the algorithm, since it could use fewer constraints to deal with it.

Using Economic Values

You can create multiple columns of economic values, each one for a cut-off you want to test. Then, force MiningMath to use this limit by defining very negative values for the destination you want to avoid, as it is shown in Figure 1, for a cut-off of 0.5. The math is:

Economic Value Process = If [Ore_Grade] > [0.5], then [f(Economic Value)], else [-999,999,999.00]

Figure 1: Block model setup to incorporate cut-off grades when defining economic values.

Using Average tab

Grades in MiningMath are controlled as a minimum and/or maximum average calculation, which means that these limits do not represent cut-off values since the algorithm can use lower values to blend higher ones. Thus, to use this approach, just set a very negative value on the grades below the cut-off so that these blocks would reduce substantially the average when processed. It can also work to constraint a contaminant maximum limit by adding a high grade on it, as it can be viewed in Figure 2. Once again, the math is:

Ore_Grade1 = If [Ore_Grade] < [0.5], then [-999,999,999.00], else [Ore_Grade]

Figure 2: Block model setup to incorporate cut-off grades using average.

Using Sum tab

Another option is by using the sum tab to control material types. Therefore, it would be required to create a field to calculate only waste blocks mass and set the constraint of the maximum limit of it in the plant as zero, as it is seen in Figure 3. It is worth mentioning that this approach could increase the complexity of the optimization due to the priority order within the algorithm.

Tonnage_Waste = If [Ore_Grade] < [0.5], then [Volume*density], else [0]

Figure 3: Block model setup to incorporate cut-off grades using sum.

Understanding results

The mined blocks file, as seen in Figure 4, is the main output to trace the blocks from each destination, to understand the results, and to find the best way to enhance your reporting based on any detail that you wish to disclose. There are many useful tips to identify, and understand the results generated, some of them, are listed below:

Filter results where the period mined is equal to the period processed. Check process economic values of those blocks, which were processed, identify the lower one (which means the cut-off value at the plant), and compare it with higher processing economic value of those who went to the dump.
Calculate the average grade of any material in period mined equal to the period processed filter. Check if the blocks, which are going to dump, would have exceeded any limit in the plant, if so, even having good economic values, they would not comprise the constraints in place.

To sum up, there are a lot of validations that can be done to understand why the algorithm is taking such decisions. It is also worth mentioning that any constraint can influence the results, even geometric ones, which could change the sequence and change the destination of the block at any period.

Economic Values

MiningMath does not require pre-defined destinations ruled by an arbitrary cut-off grade. Instead, the software uses an Economic Value for each possible destination and for each block. The average grade that delineates whether blocks are classified as ore or waste will be a dynamic consequence of the optimization process.

Destinations required

MiningMath requires two mandatory destinations at least:

Therefore, each block must be associated with:

1 Economic value for the processing plant
1 Economic value for the waste dump

1 Processing stream
1 Waste dump

Notes:

Even blocks of waste might have processing costs in the economic values of the plant. Therefore, non-profitable blocks would have higher costs when sent to process instead of waste.
If you have any material that should be forbidden in the plant, you can use economic values to reduce the complexity and runtime, as mentioned here.

Calculation

Each field related to Economic Value (Process/Waste) must report the value of each block as a function of its destination (Process or Waste in this example), grades, recovery, mining cost, haul costs, treatment costs, blasting costs, selling price, etc. The user is not required to pre-set the destination, as the software will determine the best option during the optimization.

To calculate the Economic Values you can use MiningMaths’s internal calculator, available at the “Function” option inside the “Model” tab. To illustrate the calculation of economic values, an example is shown below. The calculation parameters are listed in Table 1.

Description	Cu (%)	Au (PPM)
Recovery	0.88	0.6
Selling price (Cu: $/t, Au: $/gram)	2000	12
Selling cost (Cu: $/t, Au: $/gram)	720	0.2
Processing cost ($/t)	4
Mining cost ($/t)	0.9
Discount rate (%)	10
Dimensions of the blocks in X, Y, Z (m)	30, 30, 30

Table 1: Parameters for calculating the economic values.

Block Tonnes

Block Tonnes = BlockVolume * BlockDensity
Block Tonnes = 30*30*30*[Density]

Tonnes Cu

Tonnes Cu = Block Tonnes x (Grade Cu/100)
Tonnes Cu = [BlockTonnes]*([CU]/100)

Mass Au

Mass Au = Block Tonnes x Grade Au
Mass Au = [BlockTonnes]*[AU]

Economic Value Process

Economic Value Process =
[Tonnes Cu x Recovery Cu x (Selling Price Cu – Selling Cost Cu)] +
[Mass Au x Recovery Au x (Selling Price Au – Selling Cost Au)] –
[Block Tonnes x (Processing Cost + Mining Cost)]
Economic Value Process = ([TonnesCu]* 0.88 * (2000–720)) + ([MassAu] * 0.60 * (12 – 0.6)) – ([BlockTonnes] * (4.00 + 0.90))

Economic Value Waste

Economic Value Waste = –Block Tonnes x Mining Cost
Economic Value Waste = –[BlockTonnes] * 0.9

The example block in Figures 4-6 would generate -299,880$ if it is sent to the process, and –55,080.1$ if discarded as waste. Therefore, this block might go to waste, since it would result in less prejudice than when it is processed. MiningMath defines the best destination regarding the set of constraints throughout the time, thus this decision a lot more complex than the example above in most cases.

Data Validation

Running an optimization for complex projects with several constraints may demand hours only to validate if the formatting has been done properly. Therefore, we present here an efficient workflow to structure your project. It is important to mention that you can run each topic of this content individually at any time you find suitable, but, we strongly recommend you to take it step by step to understand the main idea of the process

The next pages use the example below within Marvin Deposit and aim to exemplify the following set of constraints:

Constraint	Value
Processing capacity	10 Mt per year
Total movement	40 Mt per year
Sum of processing hours	4,000 per year (detailed estimate of the plant throughput)
Vertical rate of advance:	150m per year
Copper grade	Limited until 0.7%
Minimum Mining Width	50m
Minimum Bottom Width	100m
Restrict Mining Surface	`Surface-RM-offset-400m.csv` Due to a processing plant in the area
Fixed Mining (Stockpiling)	0.9$/t
Rehandling cost (Stockpiling)	0.2$/t

Table 1: Set of constraints example.

Validate it First

In order to validate your data and cut its runtime, we strongly recommend running MiningMath Full with a bigger production capacity than the expected reserves. Thus, you will get and analyze results faster. This execution also generates the topography surface so that you can create a force or restrict mining areas.

Example:

The expected life of mine vs production rate: 35-year project producing 10 Mt per year.
Expected reserve: 350 Mt.
Set up a scenario with 1,000 Mt in the processing plants per period without stockpiles and any other constraint.
Timeframe: Years (1), since it would all be processed in 1 period.

Did the scenario run properly?
Are most of the positive economic values from the process inside this surface?
Is the mining happening in reseanable areas?
Is there a reasonable number of periods of life of mine?

Constraints Validation

Add Constraints to your Project

Continuing the validation, start to add the first constraints related to your project so that you can understand its maximum potential. The surface generated in this case could also be used as a restrict mining in the last period to reduce the complexity of your block model and the runtime of MiningMath, since it includes a set of constraints inputted.

Example:

Set up a scenario with 1,000 Mt in the processing plants, which corresponds to a lot more mass than expected in the whole life of the mine.
Add the Minimum Bottom Width (100m). This constraint will allow you to have a suitable work-front for your equipment.
Restrict Mining surface, if you have this constraint in your project.
Grade constraint until 0.7%.
Timeframe: Years (1), since it would all be processed in 1 period.

Note: Sum constraints can restrict the total amount of handling material (ore + waste) of the mine. Therefore, do not use them in the validation.

Let's make everything clear

Exporting Data

Exporting the Model

Select the button Export Model on MiningMath’s Model tab, as shown below.

Clicking on Export, a new page will appear, allowing you to select the folder where the block model exported would be saved with its name.

Just click on “Next” for your model to be exported to the folder selected.

Public Datasets

Freely disclosed datasets

MiningMath allows you to learn, practice, and demonstrate, by showing any scenario previously ran the concepts of Strategy Optimization using the full capabilities of using only Marvin Deposit. This version is freely available to mining professionals, researchers, and students who want to develop their abilities considering this standard block model.

MARVIN DEPOSIT

Source: MineLib.
Download the original one.
Download the predefined one in MiningMath.

DB Information

Below are listed the default parameters for Marvin according to the adaptions made in our formatted model.

Parameter	Value
Block size	23000 m³ (X = 30m, Y=30m, Z=30m)
AU - Selling Price	12 $/g
AU - Selling Cost	0.2 $/g
AU - Recovery	0.60
CU - Selling Price	2000 $/ton
CU - Selling Cost	720 $/ton
CU - Recovery	0.88
Mining Cost	0.9 $/ton
Processing Cost	4.0 $/ton
Discount Rate	10% per year
Default Density	2.75 t/m³
Default Slope Angles	45 degrees

Economic Values

Process Function = BlockSize * Density * [GradeCU/100 * RecoveryCu * (SellingPriceCU – SellingCostCU) + GradeAU * RecoveryCu * (SellingPriceAU – SellingCostAU) - (ProcessingCost + MiningCost)]
Waste Function = BlockSize * Density * MiningCost

McLAUGHLIN DEPOSIT

Source: MineLib.
Download.

DB Information

Below are listed the default parameters for the McLaughlin deposit according to the adoptions made in our formatted model.

Parameter	Value
Block size	X = 7.62m (25ft), Y = 7.62m (25ft), Z = 6.096m (15ft)
AU - Selling Price	900 $/oz
AU - Recovery	0.90
Mining Cost	1.32 $/ton
Processing Cost	12 $/ton
Discount Rate	15% per year
Default Density	3.0 t/m³
Default Slope Angle	45 degrees

Economic Values

Process Function = BlockSize * Density * [GradeAU * RecoveryCu * (SellingPriceAU) - (ProcessingCost + MiningCost)]
Waste Function = BlockSize * Density * MiningCost

Output files

Execution options

The Execution Options or Run Options allow the user to define:

Files to be exported.
The visual results to be automatically shown on the viewer after each run.

Figure 1 highlights in (A) where the user can trigger this pop-up window and in (B) the options available, among which the user can:

Export/not export to CSV files:
- The resulting surfaces
- The resulting model in two ways: all blocks or only mined blocks, with/without coordinates and/or index information.
Set which results to be shown on the viewer:
- Surfaces
- Model

Outputs from MiningMath

MiningMath automatically produces:

Formatted reports (XLSX files).
Tables (CSV) whose data feeds the reports.
Updated block model (MinedBlocks or AllBlocks).
Surfaces as a grid of points (CSV)

How those files are organized?

MiningMath organizes files, as listed below:

SSMOD and SSPRJ are important to report any issues you face.

- Model Folder
- MiningMath Model file (.SSMOD).
- MiningMath Project file (.SSPRJ).
- Scenario folder
  - Output Block Model
    - MinedBlocks.CSV contains information about the mined blocks.
    - AllBlocks.CSV, when requested, contains information about all blocks.
  - Scenario file (.SSSCN) is a XML file read by the interface. Use it for a quick check on parameters used.
  - Report file (.XLSX) summarizes some quantifiable results, including charts such as productions, average grades, and NPV.
  - MiningMath also generates independent report files (.CSV) present in the report file (XLSX) as a backup:
    - Production Process.
    - Production Dump.
    - Production Total.
    - Grade Process.
    - Grade Dump.
    - Metal Process.
    - NPV.
    - Cumulative NPV.
  - Surface files (Surface-##.CSV) formatted as a grid of points.
List Item

SSMOD and SSPRJ are important to report any issues you face.

Block Model Output (MinedBlocks.csv x AllBlocks.csv)

After each optimization, MiningMath exports the block model in one of two formats:

MinedBlocks.csv: The file presents only the blocks that have been mined from each scenario. Mined Blocks are exported by default, as it is a lighter file.
AllBlocks.csv: The All Blocks file presents all the blocks, whether mined or not, from each scenario, so it is basically the original Block Model along with resultant information from the optimization.

The resultant model includes all columns imported (except the skipped ones) besides the following information:

Mined Block shows whether (1) or not (0) a block have been mined.
Period Mined shows in which period a block have been mined (-99 for blocks that have not been mined).
Period Processed shows in which period a block have been processed (-99 for blocks that have not been processed).
Destination informs the destination of each block — according to the order the user has added processing stream(s) and waste dump(s).

How to interchange them?

Figure 2 shows where the user can interchange of these options.

Click on the highlighted Execution button (A) to open the Run Options (B).
Select All blocks in model or Only mined blocks, as you need.
Hit OK, then Run.

By default, MiningMath exports the MinedBlocks file as a block model output

Results

MiningMath will generate a report directly on Microsoft Excel, as shown in the following image, and the optimized pit (blocks and surface) in the viewer in case the user chooses this option (right figure above). The automatic preview shows only the mined blocks, colored according to each mining period defined by the scheduler.

Reports

The results presented in the Excel spreadsheet show, in the Charts tab, the graphs relative to the reported results calculated in the Report tab. The processed mass results, discarded mass, stock development, Au/Cu percentage in the process, Au/Cu percentage in the dump, metal contained in the process, net present value and cumulative net present value are arranged individually in the Production Process 1, Production Dump 1, Stock Process 1, AU/CU – Grade Process 1, AU/CU – Grade Dump 1, AU/CU – Metal Process 1, NPV and Cumulative NPV tabs, respectively.

Visual Results

By default, MiningMath exports only the Mined Blocks file showing them by period on the viewer, as in the following illustration. The user can change any exporting options on Run Options menu.

Mined Blocks

If the user chooses to export the model, MiningMath will automatically save the list of the scheduled blocks (MinedBlocks.csv) or all blocks (AllBlocks.csv) in the block model folder, as shown in the figure below, which can be imported into other mining software packages.

The files MinedBlocks.csv and AllBlocks.csv may contain indices and/or block coordinates, and all the imported data/parameters along with the following information:

Mined Block shows whether (1) or not (0) a block have been mined.
Period Mined shows in which period a block have been mined (-99 for blocks that have not been mined).
Period Processed shows in which period a block have been processed (-99 for blocks that have not been processed).
Destination informs the destination of each block — according to the order the user has added processing stream(s) and waste dump(s).

Video 1: Outputs and files’ hiearchy.

Workflow

Articles

Decision Trees

Comparing Scenarios

Decision Trees provide you with a detailed broad view of your project, allowing you to plan your mining sequence by analyzing every possibility in light of constraints applied to each scenario, which options are more viable and profitable to the global project, as well as how these factors impact the final NPV. Consider, for instance, the plant production per year as a variable factor. Using Decision Trees (Figure 1), you will be able to analyze how each constraint, e.g. the ore price, affects that year’s production and benefits or not the global project.

By running all the scenarios individually, just like what you did on Practice First, you will be able to identify how each change, within a set of constraints, impacts the NPV results and the mining sequence generated (Figure 2 and 3), which provides you a broader view of your project and enables you to decide which route you should take to generate value to your company.

Increase in the value of copper

Analyzing first the scenario in which there is a change in the economic value of the P1 process (“scn-PriceUp”), values such as NPV would naturally be different. In this case, analyzing the NPV and the total movement (Figure 3), it’s possible to understand that a different mining sequence was generated, which increased the mine’s lifetime by one period. This market change has also increased cumulative NPV (Figure 4) values based on its direct relation with the copper selling price. The charts below were made with the help of MiningMath’s results in simple spreadsheet software.

Adding an average grade limit

Now we can analyze the scenario in which a restriction in the average grade at P1 process was added, using a minimum and a maximum limit of copper (“scn41-AvgCu”). The blocks that would be processed would have to meet established targets, allowing a better selectivity of what should be processed or not. The ones which have higher or lower grades than required could be blended with others to generate an average grade that respects the constraints and improves the NPV.

Notice that there was a higher total production (Figure 5) in each period, caused by the increase of the stripping (ore/waste) ratio to meet the 30 Mtons of ore production at P1 Process and the average grade targets settled at the “scn41-AvgCu” scenario. A better stock pilling use is expected, in order to use all the blending capabilities and decision-making intelligence of the algorithm to decide which blocks could be mixed to fulfill the plant capacity. In addition, the cumulative NPV (Figure 6) shows that by inserting average grade constraints we consequently reduce the algorithm flexibility and lose some money to keep the operational stability frequently required at a processing plant.

In general, the main goal of MiningMath, considering the set of constraints provided, is to maximize the cumulative NPV in the shortest mine lifetime possible, which would reduce the project depreciation by interest rates. The charts below were made based on MiningMath results with the support of spreadsheet software.

Building Decision Trees

You have been introduced to some of MiningMath’s functionalities. Now let’s take a closer look at how decision trees are built.

Mine project evaluation largely relies on technology from the 1960’s, in which a step-wise process is usually necessary along with time-consuming activities, like pit-design, in order to create only one single scenario. Evaluating projects through this approach could take from weeks to months of multidisciplinary work just to produce a couple of scenarios. This process is often guided by some arbitrary decisions that may constrain the mathematical solution space, confining solutions to engineering expertise and judgment.

A global optimization scheduling can speed up the process of generating multiple scenarios for project overview prior to detailed work. MiningMath integrates the business’ areas and allows managers to improve their decision-making process by structuring their strategic analysis through multiple decision trees with a broader and optimized view of their projects, comprising constraints from different areas of the company.

The following video shows a few possibilities recognized only when seeing the available paths to create value. The video is oriented to technical daily usage but also covers interesting subjects for the managerial perspective. For the last case, skip straight to minute 15:23.

Video 1: Video detailing the building of decision-trees.

Apply to your projects

Now that you have played with the sample data, it is time for a hands on approach and apply this optimized strategy to your own projects!

MiningMath already allows you to structure your Decision Trees layout at its home page, which facilitates and guides the decision-making and mining planning processes.

Take advantage of the possibility to add (+), rename, or delete Decision Trees (Figure 7), by clicking with the right button at their names and/or exchange scenarios (Figure 8) between trees to build different mining planning strategies. The icon is a shortcut, so you can easily open your scenario’s full report.

Compare everything in a single look and identify how each change impacts your results to build your own analysis by using presentations based on MiningMath charts as shown in Figure 1.

MiningMath Integration

MiningMath doesn’t necessarily compete against mine scheduling optimization packages. The only concept we and all research centers worldwide recommend mining companies to overcome is the one related to Pit Optimization, due to the set of problems you have to face when dealing with such technology.

Therefore, even our simplest module, MM-LITE, has more features to generate nested pits with better control so that you could design better pushbacks and define a mine schedule using your preferred tool. The reason why this software can deliver such results is the Direct Block Scheduling methodology based on Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model and proprietary heuristics. Check other technical details and related research here.

MiningMath also allows you to generate optimized pushbacks, which could facilitate your design process and guide your mine schedule while using other software packages. Notice that our tool is an optimizer that simply breaks the whole deposit (your block model) into smaller pieces, aiming for maximum Net Present Value, but respecting as many constraints as you wish:

A usual application of our technology is basically on strategy optimization for building decision trees. Once we run dozens/hundreds of scenarios of the yearly schedule optimization and fine-tune their parameters/constraints, our users take some of the resulting surfaces of MiningMath and use them to design some pushbacks so that they could integrate with other packages, such as MSSO, COMET, etc. This procedure could be accelerated/simplified by working with packages of years and finding shapes closer to pushbacks you’re used to.

The outputs of our software will serve basically as optimized pushbacks, searching for maximum NPV and controlling whatever variable you consider necessary. Once we manage to import MiningMath surfaces into the other package, they will serve as guidance and they should assist the other package in finding higher NPVs. Most of these packages also allow us to predefine the blocks’ destination, if we wish to use MiningMath optimized cutoff policy. Finally, the package should have “only” the duty to do the bench scheduling, according to your short-term operational/tactical needs.

Even if you decide, for any internal reason, that you have to use LG/Pseudoflow to define final pit limits, there is no problem at all. MiningMath is the only tool available in the market capable of performing complete strategic analysis by building decision trees unconstrained by predefined pushbacks. Please, check this short example (in Spanish) with dozens of scenarios just for the decision on CAPEX regarding processing capacities. Check also the second half of this video for a broader view on how to use the same concept to take strategic decisions on many other aspects related to mine projects or ongoing operations. I assure your managers will get much more interested in your reports once you start adding this sort of strategic analysis. Notice you could perform this sort of analysis either free of constraints or respecting any pre-existing (designed) ultimate pit or pushbacks.

Going one step beyond, we also have clients improving their adherence and reconciliation between long and short-term mine plans by using MiningMath as a complementary tool. Notice that, by using MiningMath in strategic mine planning, you could add more constraints from real-life operations, even if you decide just to check your current long-term plans. Also, notice you could place some surface limits, such as the designed surface of the next five years plan for example, and give some controlled freedom to short-term planners to rerun their mine plans, including more operational details, as long as they don’t change anything from period 6 on and they don’t affect the NPV negatively. Whenever they find an issue or an opportunity, short and long term teams have a way to collaborate and generate new joint configurations that account for all the strategic and tactical needs of the project simultaneously. All the remaining details, such as the designs, could be adjusted using the current mining packages available.

If you wish to skip such steps and go straight to your final designed plans, we can guide you through this process, which includes a loop of running MiningMath and designing surfaces, until reaching a reasonable and operational sequence. This is a much more innovative procedure, which tends to achieve higher NPVs.

Integrated Workflow

Choose Your Own Way

Each project has its own characteristics and MiningMath allows you to choose which workflow fits best in your demand and decide which one should be used. By using DBS methodology, you can run more than one scenario simultaneously to have an idea of the deposit potential, so that the optimizer goes to the best possible NPV. A stepwise process could start at the first line of the figure below, in which the executions could take longer, as it explores the whole block model solution space. Meantime, you can open another instance and begin your exploratory analysis by running and refining pushbacks. Having this broader view in mind, you are already able to begin the schedules and use surfaces when you want to reduce the complexity and the run time of each step.

The Best Case generates an NPV upper bound, which can be used as a reference for comparison against the best case obtained by other software packages. There is also the option of producing Optimized Pushbacks with controlled ore production and operational designs to guide your mine sequencing. Another way is to run a year by year or any timeframe extraction Schedules, using all the constraints to get a detailed long-term view of the entire project, and identify the main challenges that should be overcome. Choose one option below and start your project:

Choice's Trade-Off

If we choose to run yearly periods first, the challenge for the optimizer is bigger, given the multiperiod and non-linear geometrical aspects,. It means more heuristics to enhance efficiency and a higher risk of not being the very best solution for the LOM, but we have higher chances that results will be achieved in shorter time frames. More manipulations are needed for this operation.

If we choose to group periods accordingly, apart from being more efficient, it still has a long-term discounted view. Shapes could be manipulated more easily, but there is no guarantee that shorter timeframes will be properly achieved.

Given the flexibility of MiningMath, the procedure could vary depending on the characteristics and challenges of each deposit.

Super Best Case

Super Best Case: Get The NPV Upper Bound

In the search for the upside potential for the NPV of a given project, this setup explores the whole solution space without any other constraints but processing capacities, in a global multi-period optimization fully focused on maximizing the project’s discounted cashflow.

As MiningMath optimizes all periods simultaneously, without the need for revenue factors, it has the potential to find higher NPVs than traditional procedures based on LG/Pseudoflow nested pits, which do not account for processing capacities (gap problems), cutoff policy optimization and discount rate. Traditionally, these, and many other, real-life aspects are only accounted for later, through a stepwise process, limiting the potentials of the project.

This setup serves as a reference to challenge the Best Case obtained by other means, including more recent academic/commercial DBS technologies available. The block periods and destinations optimized by MiningMath could be imported back into your preferred mining package, for comparison, pushback design or scheduling purposes. This is all available for free!

Example:

Processing capacity: 10 Mt per year.
Stockpiling parameters on.
Timeframe: Years (1).

Advanced experience and refinements

It is important to mention that if you have multiple destinations, extra processing, or dump routes, it could be added for proper cutoff optimization. Besides that, the surfaces obtained here could be used in further steps or imported back into any mining package for pushback design and scheduling.

A refinement of the best case could be done by adding more constraints, preferably one at the time to evaluate each impact in “reserves”, potential conflicts between them, and so on. You can try to follow the suggestions below for this improvement:

All blending constraints
All restrict mining aspects due to forbidden areas
Extra processing or dump routes for proper cutoff optimization
Sum variables (with caution), just in case some aspect must be controlled for the whole LOM at once.
In case more efficiency is needed, the resulting surface obtained in the Constraints Validation step could be used as restrict mining for the runs here.

These scenarios might take longer and the main recommendation is to use powerful machine to run it, in parallel, while other optimizations are performed.

Optimized Pushbacks

Work Through Different Timeframes

Identify timeframe intervals in your project, so that you can work with group periods before getting into a detailed insight. This strategy allows you to run the scenarios faster without losing flexibility or adding dilution for the optimization, which happens when we reblock.

The idea is to make each optimized period represent biennial, triennial, or decennial plans. MiningMath allows you to do it easily by simply adjusting some constraints to fit with the timeframe selected, as shown in the example below. Try to run with and without dump/total productions to check potential bottlenecks and impacts on waste profiles, which could be useful for fleet management exercises. Also, test with wider mining widths than required, as this is a complex non-linear constraint and you might find better shapes without losing value. Notice that in this example, the processing was not fully achieved, and this kind of approach helps us to understand which constraints are interfering the most in the results.

MiningMath algorithm simultaneously considers all constraints inputted, making a global optimization to generate your pushback in a single step giving the maximum potential.

Example

Dataset: Preinstalled Marvin deposit. It can also be downloaded here.

Parameters	Value
Timeframe	Custom factor 5
Processing capacity	50 Mt in 5 years
Total movement	200 Mt in 5 years
Vertical rate of advance	750m in 5 years
Maximum of processing hours	25,000 processing hours in 5 years
Minimum Mining and Bottom Width	Minimum Mining (50M) and Bottom (100M) width
Force and Restrict Mining Surface	If you have it in your project
Stockpiling parameters	On
Grade copper	Until 0.7%

Table 1: Set of constraints example.

Note: Waste control and vertical rate of advance are not recommended if you are just looking for pushback shapes.

More details

Adding constraints slowly facilitates the process of learning about the deposit, its opportunities, and potential challenges. In case some constraints are not being well-achieved, it is an alert for rethinking some of them, as well as for the risk of not achieving them in the shorter-term ranges.

In case more efficiency is needed, the resulting surface obtained on the Constraints Validation or in Best Case refinements could be used as Restrict Mining in the last interval, which might reduce the complexity and the runtime. In addition, if you already have operations in a certain area that should be depleted following a given design within the first timeframe, add a Force Mining surface for interval 1-1.

The 4 first variables of this example are directly related to the interval in which we are working. The 2 constraints inputted at the production tab are related to the maximum material handling allowed: the third one is about the processing equipment capacity, and the vertical rate of advance is related to the depth that could be achieved adjusted to this interval. The minimum mining width was added because we are already generating designed surfaces that could be used later as guidance of detailed schedules, thus, it should respect the parameter due to the equipment sizing. Parameters such as average, minimum bottom and restrict mining surface, don’t suffer any change in the time frames.

It’s important to remember that the packages of time here don’t necessarily have to correspond to identical sets of years. You could propose intervals with different constraints until reaching reasonable/achievable shapes for the design of ramps, for example. If you wish to produce more operational results, easier to design, and closer to real-life operations, try to play with wider mining/bottom widths rates. Those changes will not necessarily reduce the NPV of your project.

Considering this approach the discount rate serves just a rough NPV approximation and it doesn’t affect much the quality of the solution, given that the best materials following the required constraints will be allocated to the first packages anyway.

Remember all the constraints

Optimized Schedules

Consider your real production

In the early years of the project you will find many concerns and the most value in terms of NPV. Knowing that, we decide to consider a 10-year surface to optimize the first 5 years. By a logical assumption, as the surface used corresponds to a decade, it will contain the interval from the 1st to 5th period and represents a lot more mass. However, this simple input can restrict the space where the algorithm has to find a solution, which could reduce the run-time and help it to deliver better results respecting the set of constraints given.

Example:

Parameters	Value
Timeframe	Years (1)
Processing capacity	10 Mt per year
Total movement	40 Mt per year
Vertical rate of advance	150m per year
Maximum of processing hours	4,500 processing hours per year
Minimum Mining	50m
Bottom width	100m
Restrict Mining Surface	Surface002 from Exploratory Analysis
Stockpiling parameters	On
Grade copper	Until 0.7%

Integrate the short and long-term

MiningMath allows the integration between long and short-term. By running the Best Case, surfaces to guide the optimization were generated and they could be used as a guide based on the NPV upper bound. The Exploratory Analysis provides insights on what could be the challenges of our project and also operational designs that could be used in further steps. At last, we obtained a detailed Schedule by using, or not, a surface, which could be the final pit or any intermediary one, as a guide.

Considering this workflow, now you may have enough information on a reasonable long-term view to enhance the adherence/reconciliation of your plans. You could choose a surface and use it as force and restrict mining to refine everything inside it. Remember that Force Mining is responsible for making the mining achieve at least the surface inserted, which means that all the material inside its limits should be extracted, respecting the slope angles, while Restrict Mining aims to prohibit the area below the surface inserted to be mined until the period in which it has been applied.

Thus, MiningMath will reach this exact surface in the time-frame required and enable you to test different geometries, blending constraints, and any other variable that could be required in the short-term planning without interfering in the long-term overview. Additional helpful features in these refinements are the concepts of mining fronts and the design optimization, based on surfaces modification, that could be done respecting all the parameters and generating results accordingly with your needs.

Example

Parameters	Value
Timeframe	Custom factor (0.5)
Processing capacity	5 Mt per semester
Total movement	20 Mt per semester
Vertical rate of advance	60m per semester
Minimum Mining	120m
Bottom width	100m
Force and Restrict Mining Surface	Surface005 from Schedule Optimization
Stockpiling parameters	On
Play with steeper slope angles in the short term?	Yes

Table 1: Set of constraints example (1).

Figure 2: Production constraints as listed in Table 1.

Figure 3: Geometric constraints as listed in Table 1.

Figure 4: Average constraints as listed in Table 1.

Figure 5: Sum constraints as listed in Table 1.

Results examples

Figure 6: Resulting schedule from example in Table 1.

Figure 7: Resulting production from example in Table 1.

Figure 8: Resulting stock process tonnage from example in Table 1.

Further details

The example above used fewer constraints, geometries were changed and the average grade was let free. It is very helpful to define the early years based on a semester timeframe, which can assist you to manage stocks and any other variables in the firsts 3 years, for instance. Note that the period ranges on MiningMath are based on the timeframe selected, therefore, you should adjust your variables accordingly with this value.

When we use Force+Restrict, we are telling the optimizer to break this volume into pieces and that it must mine this volume entirely, even if it is waste, so that the long-term view is respected. This way, you keep regarding the whole deposit while deciding what to do in the first periods. The approach here is quite different than a set of Revenue Factors for a series of LG/Pseudoflow runs, followed by adjustments to find pushbacks without math optimization criteria. It is worth mentioning that this kind of suggestion must be only applied at the beginning or at the end of the life of mine, since Force+Restrict Mining surfaces used in intermediate periods could interfere directly with the results.

Using timeframes

Another strategy is to optimize the short-term along with the long-term using different timeframes. In this approach, the integration between the short and long term visions is made in the same optimization process, facilitating the analysis and strategic definitions.

It is possible to consider:

shorter time horizons (weeks, months, quarters...) for the initial periods of the operation;
annual plans as far as needed, for a precise definition of discounted cash flow;
less detail for longer time horizons. They need to be considered in the overall view of the mine, up to exhaustion, but they consume optimization processing time that can be more focused on the early years of operation.

Thus, there is value maximization at the strategic level, and feasibility at the tactical level simultaneously. In addition, there’s minimizing compliance and reconciliation problems, as well as improving communication between teams, by working in an integrated system.

On this strategy, each period range will represent the time interval chosen in the timeframe, and discount rate will be adjusted in alignment with the time interval choice. Other constraints such as production and vertical rate of advance (VRA) must be adjusted to match each interval on the period ranges.

In order to clarify this strategy, Table 2 and Figure 9 present a possible list of constraints for an example using timeframes:

Parameters	Period range 1-6	Period range 7-12	Period range 13-end
Timeframe	1/12 of a year (each period representing a month)	1 year.	10 years.
Processing capacity	2.5 Mt per semester.	30 Mt per year.	300 Mt per 10 years.
Vertical rate of advance	30m (minimum block size, at this case) per month.	150m per year.	1500m per 10 years.
Minimum Mining	120m	120m	120m
Bottom Width	100m	100m	100m
Stockpiling parameters	On	Off	Off
Different/steeper slope angles in the short term	Yes	No	No

Table 2: Set of constraints for a timeframe example.

Multi-mine

Multiple pits and Mining Regions

Multi-mine projects often have hidden opportunities to maximize value. Accordingly with the natural level of complexity, it is pretty commom to make a few simplifications that might reduce value, producing sub-optimal solutions from the mathematical perspective, while using the traditional LG/Pseudoflow methodology.

MiningMath has global optimization algorithm which can overcome such challenges, when working with integrated multi-mine projects to find solutions that regards all the pits been mined or mixed at the same time, instead of an individual pit optimization within a multi-mine project, which provides a totally different overview. To handle with such projects, the block model must contain all the mining regions which should be considered to the simultaneous optimization, thus, if you have the pits mapped in different datasets, it is important to follow the steps suggested below:

Work with a single block model or single pit first, run the initial tests and understand this region before handling the block model modification.
Try to eliminate meaningless blocks, which would not affect the solution and could increase complexity.
Join a second model/pit* and understand the manipulation process to work with multi-mine projects.
- Play with surfaces, if you wish to refine the results, filter regions to not mine, and any other guide. Since the surface files on MiningMath has always the same order, a good way to work with it could be using an excel file, available here, which is pretty useful to such modifications.
- Play with Mining Fronts, if you want to control the material which is extracted from each region.
Add the other regions and start use everything that you wish.

*This joint block model file should fullfill the same requirments of a single one, as mentioned at the formating data page.

The current version of MiningMath consider the same Vertical Rate, Bottom Width and Mining Width for the entire block model. However, in a multiple pit overview, each one could have different geometric parameters that influence the levels of selectivity. Regarding these scenarios, the main recommendation is to set the parameter from one pit, fix solutions of this one, since force+restrict mining has the highest level of priority, and start the optimization of the others which would already consider the mass that would be extracted from the first pit fixed.

An efficient workflow is to run the first scenario without geometric parameters, which should be the validating or the Best Case, for scheduling optimization. Then set up a scenario with geometric parameters from the most selective mine which means, the smallest widths and biggest vertical rate (VR), which would be the least constrained scenario considering geometric aspects. Therefore, each surface generated by this approach will be used to fix solutions for Mine 1.

For instance, you could take the surface 1 generated and decrease the elevation in the other areas to regard the mass from the period one of mine 1 and what could be mined in the second pit. By having these results you can refine either surfaces or mining fronts to get the best results and do a sensitivity analysis of geometric parameters for multi-projects still preserving the global optimization.

Sustainable analysis

Socio-environmental qualitative/quantitative integrated performance analysis

Technology has been developed to incorporate social and environmental factors in the mining project optimization, assessing these impacts whilst maximizing its net present value (NPV). The method can quantify socio-environmental aspects, such as dust, noise, avoidance of springs/caves/tribes, carbon emissions, water consumption, and any parameter that could be controlled by its average or sum. These environmental and social aspects can be assessed following internationally recognized standards (ISO 14044).

Minviro in partnership with MiningMath has developed an approach to integrate such quantitative assessment into strategic mining optimization. This enables socio-environmental impacts to be constrained in the mining optimization, and the economic cost of reducing them to be calculated as a consequence. The way to do it is by inserting these variables linked with each block of your model, following these instructions. Considering this methodology, published here, significant reductions in the global warming impact could be achieved with a small economic cost. For example, using an environmental constraint it was possible to reduce 8.1% of ‎CO₂ emission whilst achieving 95.9% of the net present value compared to the baseline, as you can see in the image bellow.

Several scenarios for mine development, processing setup, energy/water consumption, CAPEX (content in Spanish), OPEX etc. can be evaluated . It is also possible to include geometric constraints in order to restrict a mining area due to legal and site-specific issues that affecs the local population, using this feature. Spatially and temporally explicit socio-environmental risks can be included in mining optimization, providing an opportunity to assess alternative project options or explore a socio-environmental cost benefit analysis. For each aspect considered, decision makers are able to propose a range of possible scenarios and assess the economic cost of constraining these to different levels.

The decision-making board, which previously had access to one or a few scenarios, now has a cloud of possibilities optimized and integrated with the technical and economic aspects of the project, reducing risks and adding sustainable value. The mathematical intelligence behind it is based on modern and well-accepted Data Science and Optimization concepts academically proven. The methodology has been tested in real mining projects with gains in NPV ranging between 15% and 20% on average, where socio-environmental aspects haven’t been added yet.

Uncertainties at the Beginning

Uncertainty Analysis

One of the many possibilities offered by MiningMath’s approach is to have multiple overview scenarios to evaluate different project assumptions, before doing a more detailed work. It does not demand an arbitrary/automated trial-and-error cutoff definition, nor a fixed input in form of pushbacks that will guide further optimization steps within the boundaries of a simplified problem. A subtle but substantial implication is the possibility of seeing a totally different mine development throughout the mine life cycle for each project assumption change. This allows mine managers to have a clearer view of the decision-tree and the possibilities on their hands, to improve economic, technical, and socio-environmental performances.

Considering this context, mine managers can judge greenfield projects to know whether or not they should prioritize a geotechnical study. This could be done by running multiple scenarios, considering the expected variability for slope angles for a given deposit. For example, in a given deposit, benchmarks from similar deposits indicate the overall slope angles might vary between 35-45 degrees. Before reaching the conclusion using an in-depth geotechnical study, multiple scenarios can be used to estimate the economic impact of each possible assumption for the overall slope angle. The conclusion might, then indicate a low economic impact, that could postpone the need for a detailed study.

The same idea applies to any parameter, which ultimately represents a project assumption.

MiningMath conducted an illustrative example with 2000 simulations varying multiple parameters independently. The results produced the chart from Figure 1, showing the probability (Y-axis) and the Project’s Value (X-axis). In this case, a detailed geotechnical study might be postponed, as the Project’s Value varies between 700 to 1100 MU$, in function of the OSA.

General Content

Articles

Destinations

Destination Policy of MiningMath

MiningMath aims to maximize the NPV of a mining project, and as such, it uses a discount rate in all calculations, it also considers the value of money through time. The software decides which blocks will be mined, when, and to which destination they must be sent. The mathematical model bases its decision on the economic values of each possible route. It means that MiningMath aims to identify, in a global view, which is the best destination to increase the NPV, respecting, simultaneously, all the constraints and using the priority order listed here.

Adding Destinations

Figure 1 shows, on the right bottom corner of the screen, the buttons responsible for add/remove destinations.

The panel Type shows the type of each destination added. The user must add at least:

One (1) processing stream;
One (1) waste dump

The numbers at the left of the screen are identifiers for each route at the mined blocks output file.

Renaming

Especially when using multiple destinations, the user should consider using more meaningful names for each route. Figure 2 highlights the panel Name, where the user can rename each one.

Process Recovery

Figure 3 shows the recovery panel, which is intended to input recoveries used during economic value calculation. The difference is that now it is for reporting purposes, which means it is not being considered twice.

Economic Value

Figure 4 highlights the Economic Value panel. Here, the user can assign each economic function to the proper destination.

Stockpile limits

As shown in Figure 5, stockpile limits are available only for processing streams, if activated in the General tab. These limits are valid for the life of mine.

Read more about stockpiles.

Recovery

Mineral Processing

One of the most important and basic concepts in mineral processing is metallurgical efficiency. Two terms are used to describe this efficiency: recovery and grade.

Recovery

The recovery or percent recovery refers to the ratio of the valuable material (metal or mineral) contained in the concentrate with reference to the amount of the same material in the processing plant feed.

How and where?

The main place where the user input the recovery information is when defining the Economic Values.

However, as this information is implicit in the economic functions, the user need to input this value on the interface for purposes of generating reports.

On the Destination tab (light green), the user can define recoveries for each element in the panel (dark green) from Figure 1.

Varying Recoveries

Why?

A detailed mine planning is likely to require an iterative process to update a block model with new information.

Considering the usage of specific tools for measurements, analysis, and reporting, mine planners might be interested in using the thorough information acquired on recoveries along the way.

How?

When editing the data set, the user can add as many columns as needed, defining recoveries for each block. Figure 2 shows how it would look like.

Figure 3 shows a dropdown menu where the user can choose which recovery to use:

RecoveryA
RecoveryB
Constant recovery

NOTE the user does not need to use all the recovery fields imported for each run. This means recovery fields might be created for further scenarios, being used separately. The same concept is valid for columns with slopes and economic values.

Step-by-step

The following video presents how to use a different recovery for each block.

Video 1: Varying recoveries for each block.

Stockpiles

How MiningMath deals with Stockpiles

Stockpiles are a post-processing unit of the algorithm. Therefore, after the optimization, which generates mining surfaces, the algorithm does its analysis among the discarded blocks. MiningMath checks if the block’s values (Revenue – Fixed Mining Cost – Rehandling Cost) is higher than the cost of discarding it, with the respective discount rates applied at the period of extraction and period of processing. Therefore, the stocks are considered as an optimization of the blocks that initially went to the dump.

When choosing the destination, the same logic of maximizing the project value is used and MiningMath will define which discarded blocks will be reclaimed, complementing production shortfalls over time, Figure 1 shows the process.

Stockpiles setup

To enable the stockpiles on the interface the first step is on the General tab (Figure 2) where two inputs are required:

Fixed Mining Cost: value used to decompose the economic value while considering stockpiles;
Rehandling Cost: represents the cost to reclaim blocks from the stockpile to the process.

After that, on the Destinations tab, you can define stockpile limits (Figure3) for each processing plant added, remembering that this limit is based on the life of mine, not in a period timeframe.

Figure 3: Stockpile limit — Figure 2: General tab

Figure 2: General tab — Figure 3: Stockpile limit

More Information

Defining a Fixed Mining Cost is required because MiningMath does have an interface to enter these parameters when calculating the economic values. It is only used to decompose the block value so that the algorithm can make proper calculations to adjust values considering that part of its costs will occur when mined, while others may be charged when processed.

The Rehandling Cost is the cost to reclaim a block from a stockpile. Therefore, it is the way to break the Economic Values into parts and apply the discount rate at the time a block is processed.

Disclaimer: stockpiles and total tonnage
Since stockpiles are a post-processing unit of the algorithm, total tonnage restrictions might be violated when the stockpiles are processed. Total tonnages restrictions are only considered during the processing unit of the algorithm.

Stocked blocks

Tracing Stocked Blocks

There are two common ways that mining software packages deal with stockpiles:

Reclaiming blocks according to an average grade for the entire stockpile.
Reclaiming blocks selectively in any required sequence such as FIFO (first in, first out), LIFO (last in, first out), etc.

Both options are approximations and have their advantages and disadvantages.

Currently, SimSched reclaims blocks selectively from stockpiles according to the highest Economic Values. Read more about Reclamation Policy.

How to trace blocks?

The user can analyze SimSched’s output in the files MinedBlocks or AllBlocks and report the periods in which a block has been mined and when it has been processed.

Video 1: How to trace stocked blocks.

Artificial stockpiles

Artificial Stockpiles is an advanced operation to incorporate external sources of material to your model and use them as an input on your scheduling.

Related common needs

This artifice may be required for cases when the user needs to include into the optimization, any of the following cases:

Pre-existing stockpile from ongoing operations.
Underground material to be blended with open-pit material.
Ore bought from third-part companies to fulfill production shortfalls.

How to incorporate artificial stockpiles

Two main ways to do it:

Modelling the stockpile with its actual geometry.
Creating a simplified artificial stockpile.

Modelled Stockpile

Modelling an existing stockpile with its actual geometry is the best alternative to include it to the scheduling for cases where you need an operational control over:

The stockpile and its adjacent areas.
The stock reclamation.

For this process, use a modelling software to perform the following steps:

Use the previous topography for the base of the stockpile.
Use the current topography for the top of the stockpile.
Create blocks in-between these surfaces. These blocks will have the same size of the block model.
Assign an average quality (grade) and density to each block created.
Calculate the economic values for these stocked blocks.
Import the model back to SimSched to further scheduling.

Simplified Stockpile

For a quicker process, the user can create as many blocks as needed using a spreadsheet application.

This is an alternative useful for cases where you need:

A quicker process and evaluation.
Less operational control.

Rows vs Columns

You can model artificial stockpiles as rows or as columns.

Rows

To control a sequence, it may require surface constraints.
A 1-line row will be affected by minimum widths used for the scenario.
Thin rows may cause problems to be mined completely.
Easier setup. Rows don't need geotechnical adjustments.
Multiple rows will give more flexibility and reduce conflicts with the operational constraints from the open-pit scheduling.
If you opt for multiple stockpiles, create them with a 2-cell distance to avoid overlapping interference.

Columns

Easier sequence. The precedence is defined by the vertical geometry.
A 1-line column will be affected by minimum widths used for the scenario.
Long columns may affect how deep the scheduling can go in a single period.
Columns require a very vertical slope angle set to them and to the adjacent cells.
Multiple columns will give more flexibility and reduce conflicts with the operational constraints from the open-pit scheduling.
If you opt for multiple stockpiles, create them with a 2-cell distance to avoid overlapping interference.

Step-by-step (rows)

Create rows of blocks above the topography (Figure 1).
Assign an average quality (grade) and density to each block created.
Calculate the economic values for these new blocks.
Import the model back to SimSched to further schedules.

Requirements and observations

Consider checking the following requirements and observations.

Notes on modelling:

The blocks created must have the same size of the ones from original model.
Consider increasing densities for the blocks created to represent more material with a few blocks. The trade-off is a reduced selectivity.
The more blocks you have, the more selective is the algorithm.

Notes on operational needs:

The blocks created will be subject to the operational constraints, such as widths and vertical advance, from your scenarios. This means you need to consider these parameters to define:
- The stockpile base width.
- The stockpile height.

Notes on the placement within the model

The artificial stockpile should be placed in a peripheral area of your model to not affect the open-pit schedule.

Avoid borders to prevent any geotechnical issue, which will impede mining the artificial stockpile completely.

More information about vertical stockpiles

The following video shows more information on artificial stockpiles.

Video 1: Artificial Stockpiles.

Additional control over sources

Use Other Constraints to have additional control over different sources of material, whether they come from the original model or from a modeled stockpile.

Figure 2 shows an example on how to setup your model to track and material from different sources and control them by inputting minimum and maximum limits.

Reclaim Policy

Stock Reclaim Policy: Principles and Decisions

Stockpiles are handled as a post-processing unit of the optimization algorithm (read more). Also, another important point is to understand what guides MiningMath’s algorithm decisions for stocked and reclaimed blocks. MiningMath’s reclaim policy is based on the economic values. This goal is aligned with the objective of maximizing the NPV. This means, blocks with higher value will be reclaimed first, regardless of the period in which the block has been mined and stocked.

How could we further control stockpiles and make it suitable to different sorts of controls?

Reclaim Policies vs Selectivity

Different mining packages may adopt different conventions for Stock Reclaim Policies, overall, based on the main goal for each application or module. Some of the possibilities may include:

FIFO: First In, First Out.
FILO: First In, Last Out.
Reclaiming an average grade for the entire stockpile.
Reclaiming the highest-value blocks first (MiningMath uses this method).

Each one of these possibilities is an approximation of reality, with its pros and cons. FIFO and FILO are quite logic but represent a level of selectivity that is not practical. The angle of repose and the positioning of each block are likely the most intuitive examples of lower selectivity in practice.

An average grade for the entire stockpile is naturally an approximation, considering the amount of material that should be blended to make it close to the reality.

Reclaiming the high-value blocks first is also a selectivity level that is not possible in reality. On the other hand, it is quite aligned with the mathematical goal of maximizing the project’s NPV for strategic evaluation.

After all, notice that none of these approaches are fully operational. Here, the decision is still based on the professional in charge of strategy optimization, one’s preferences, experience, and skills to add further ways of control.

Preserving Value and Guiding the Reclaim Policy

This section aims to bring a few ideas on how the user might guide the algorithm in order to follow one’s preferred reclaim strategy.

Baseline Knowledge

For this article, the user should have prior knowledge in the following concepts.

Manipulating the Economic Values to pre-define destinations.
Creating multiple economic assumptions to handle fake destinations.
Handling different output files (Mined Blocks and All Blocks).

Baseline Scenario

The general idea is to set up and run a baseline scenario to find what is optimal for the long-term value. The solution obtained in this step will guide further executions.

Output Format

The first step is to switch the output format to export the entire block model along with the optimization output information, which is represented by the AllBlocks.csv. This is a basic step for any iteration that requires re-optimizing a previous solution. By default, MiningMath exports only the MinedBlocks.csv.

Results will present a guide o which blocks should be mined, when, and which ones were mined, immediately processed, stocked then processed, or discarded.

Iterating over multiple scenarios

The idea here is to use previous outputs to create new columns of economic values, assuming the use of fake destinations, i.e. creating multiple processing streams that does not coexist and, in fact, represent the same single plant. These fake destinations, along with a pre-definition of the destination through economic values is what allows the user to impose whatever sort of control is preferred.

Along with that, and based on the previous results, the user must manipulate new economic values pre-defining the final destination for each block.

Hands-on Approach

Steps here comprise:

Define a criteria for stocked blocks (Period Mined different from Period Processed) that should be reclaimed early or later. This criteria must be based on the previous results from the AllBlocks.csv file (Figure 1), and on the columns Mined Block, Period Mined, Period Processed, and Destination.
Pre-define destinations, based on the criteria adopted, by manipulating economic values. Use very negative values to prevent a block from going to a given destination, as shown in Figure 2.
Set up your scenario considering the pre-defined destinations will not coexist, as illustrated in Figure 3. Notice that:
- Process 1 and its stockpile will be used from Period 1 to Period 5.
- Process 2 and its stockpile will be used from Period 6 to Period 10.
- Process 3 and its stockpile will be used from Period 11 to .
Optimize the new scenario to have a better approximation for the final NPV, considering the strategy of your preference.

FIFO Approach (Example)

For the FIFO approach, a block stocked during the second period on the first run, should be sent to the stockpile of Process 1 to be reclaimed first. Hence, this block must have a very negative value for all other destinations.

Figure 1: Information extract from the AllBlocks.csv file showing the key information to pre-define new destinations.

Figure 2: Economic Values manipulated to pre-define destinations.

Figure 3: Setting up multiple fake destinations on the interface. Each processing plant does not coexist with one another.

Variable Mining Costs

MiningMath was conceived with some simplifications for current version, such as the Fixed Mining Costs.

The software considers a fixed mining cost, which is applied beforehand in the economic formulation. This value is inputted in the user interface to make the software able to recognize this variable and fragment the previously calculated economic values in order to apply proper discounts to each block, whether (1) processed, (2) discarded, or (3) stocked and processed — here, mining costs are applied earlier than the processing costs and revenue.

However, mining costs might be defined with some variability for purposes of higher detail.

This article shares some ideas to consider Variable Mining Costs, where some goals are based on different:

Haul costs, in function of block's depth and/or the destination site.
Blasting costs, in function of the rock type.
Loading costs, in function of a selective mine
Supplies and materials, labor costs, among others.

How to estimate a Fixed Mining Cost

Prior to the model import, create a column of mining costs by block — including whatever costs are applicable: blasting, haul, loading, etc.
Calculate the Average Mining Cost of all of the blocks.
During the model import, assign the Mining Costscolumn to the field type Other; SimSched will export this column along with its output.
Use the Average Mining Cost as the Fixed Mining Cost for the stockpiles.
Run MiningMath.
(OPTIONAL, for more accurate approximation) Analyze the MinedBlocks file (or AllBlocks) and calculate the Average Mining Cost just for the stockpiled blocks (Check out, Tracing Stocked Blocks)
(OPTIONAL) Run SimSched again, now using the new Average Mining Cost (from Step 6) as the Fixed Mining Cost for the stockpiles.

Mining Costs in the stockpile context

For mined blocks in the stockpiles context, the possibilities for the material flow are:

Mine-to-process
Mine-to-waste
Mine-to-stock
Stock-to-process

The mining costs for flows (1) mine-to-process and (2) mine-to-waste are already embedded in the economic formulation.

The costs for flow (4) stock-to-process consider an additional cost, represented in the user interface by the re-handling cost.

SimSched assumes the costs for (2) mine-to-waste and (3) mine-to-stock are the same, which might not be always the case due to, for example, different distances at the mine site surface (different haul costs).

How to consider different costs for discarded and stocked blocks

Option 1: Manual NPV Calculation

For which the steps are:

Open the MinedBlocks.csv.
Edit the stocked blocks' value to add new costs.
Calculate the NPV manually.

Option 2: Iterative Process

For the first execution 1, set up SimSched to export the AllBlocks.csv and run.
Use the output model (AllBlocks) to update the economic value for stocked blocks. Then, save as a new model.
For the execution 2, re-import this model with fixed surfaces for all periods. As in the Figure 1.

Observation

This process does not guarantee solution will not change, i.e. the stocked blocks might change, which might require further iterations for a better approximation.

As stockpiles are treated as a post-processing unit in our algorithm, not being part of the optimization, Option 1 is more suitable for a more assertive NPV calculation.

DEVELOPMENT NOTES

The following features are already in our pipeline:

Optimized Stockpiles: future versions will consider Stockpiles as destinations when optimizing the NPV.
Varying mining costs: future versions will have a field such Density, Slope and Recoveries, which varies by block.

We have a partner working on a calculator and post-processing analysis tools to be integrated with MiningMath in the future. For more details, contact our support.

Production Constraints

Introduction

The Production tab allows the user to set period ranges and its corresponding production limits. This functionality allows the user to consider options such as pre-stripping, production ramp-up, prices changing over time, among others. It is worth mentioning that the discount rate on MiningMath is already applied in the first period. At the training presentation on this page, you can check the NPV formulas used.

Period Ranges

Figure 1 presents a panel where the user can define period ranges.

The Period Ranges feature allows the user to vary correspondent variables over time (see the last section of this page) such as:

Production limits
Limiting surfaces
Blending constraints
Other constraints

The user is able to edit only the field To. Subsequent periods will have their From field adjusted automatically.

Timeframes

Figure 2 highlights the timeframe panel, where the user can choose different values for their projects. The values are used to deliver more accurate sequencing and have their values attached to a yearly basis calculation. It is possible to select a predefined value or to input a customized one.

In this example, we used a timeframe of 1 year, meaning that each generated period on this sequencing represents one year.

Production Limits

Figure 3 highlights the Production panel where the user can define limits for any destination added.

In this example, we have the following limits:

Process 1: 30,000,000 t
Dump 1:
Total: 60,000,000 t

These limits are being considered from Period 1 up to the end of the life of mine.

Add/Remove Intervals

Figure 4 highlights buttons to add and/or remove intervals, which are shown in rows in Figure 4.

Multiple Periods

Figure 5 presents an example where multiple periods were added.

A user has defined two period ranges as follows:

From 1 to 4
From 5 to <end>

For the first range, the user clicked on the field To (A) and set a value of 4. Automatically, the field From (B) of the second range, changed to 5.

The user can repeat this process to fragment the life of mine, and change parameters over time, as much as required. In this example, production limits increased 100% for Process 1 and 50% increase in Total from Period 5

Notes

The example from Figure 2 shows that the

MiningMath

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Getting Started

Articles

Quick Check

System requirements

Recommended Hardware

Put It to Run!

Installing, Activating and Running

Activating Your License

Optimizing Scenarios

Play with the predefined scenarios

Market Conditions Decision Tree

1) BaseCase

2) BaseCase-RampUp

3) PriceUp and PriceDown

4) PriceUp-RampUp and PriceDown-RampUp

5) PriceUp-RampUp-Protection300 and PriceUp-RampUp-Protection400

Other Decision Trees

1) MW150 (Geometries Decision Trees)

2) AvgCu (Average Decision Tree)

3) Proc13000h and Proc13000h-33Mt

(Process throughput Decision Tree)

4) Yearly-TriannualProduction

(Short-Long Term Integration Decision Tree)

Tutorials

Articles

Must-Read Articles

Set up and first run

Find new results

Understand the technology in depth

Using and validating your data

Improve your results

Export your results

In-Depth MiningMath

Software requirements

Set up the block model

Handling unformatted data

Define the scenario and run

Results

Extensive set-up

Advanced content

Theory

Workflows

Translations

Portuguese

Base de Conhecimento (PT-BR)

Essential Topics

Articles

How to Run a Scenario

Results of the Optimization

Viewer

Output Files

Scenarioname.xlsx

MinedBlocks.csv

Surface.csv

Play with Predefined Scenarios

Dataset

BaseCase

BaseCase-RampUp

PriceUp and PriceDown

PriceUp-RampUp and PriceDown-RampUp

PriceUp-RampUp-Protection300 and PriceUp-RampUp-Protection400

MW150

AvgCu

AvgCu-Stock5Mt

Proc13000h and Proc13000h-33Mt

The Calculator

Practical approach

Adding a field without logical expression

Adding a field with a logical expression

NPV Calculation

Timeframes greater than a year​

Evaluate Project Potential

Example

Using results

FAQ

What is MiningMath?

OK, but why should I use MiningMath?

Timeframes greater than a year