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An Open Pit Design Model PDF
An Open Pit Design Model PDF
SYNOPSIS
The model described is a design and economic planning tool for analyzing surface mineral dep osHs. Mineralization,
topography, costs and significant goologic feature.'! are input to the model. The results are:
(i) final pit li mits yielding the maximum 10la1 profil,
(ii) ann\lal cut-off gl'ades and plan t siring yie lding the maximum present value, and
(ill) annual maps of the pit and annual production statistics for the mine, concentrator and smelter.
Additionally. summaries are printed of the block mining sequence and cash flow. A special feature is an option
to include dump-leaching operations. Stockpiling of material can also be simulated by the model. The mod el is
boilt around theories of dynamic cul-off grades and a pit design algt)rithm. The dyrnunic cut-oJT grades maximize
prtseDI value byexaroinatiODorall economic and physical coDslmims ror the optimum combination. The pil desi~
aiaoritl\m ~ a set of rules formulated to find the maximum value from a 5pecia1srilph. The gJ'8.ph is differenl from
arRphs of analr.tical geometry, being made up of points and arrows connecting some of the points. These graph
elements deSCribe the relations)]ip between any point in the deposil and the material which must be mined to set
31 that point. The model \\-"RB designed to bring together the interdependent theoriGII of economics, pit design and
production scheduling.
INTROD UCTION
described through the blocks. The distribution of mineralization is defined by estimating the grade of, nnd tonnage in,
each bloek. The GROPE model acts lIpon the blocks as a
data set, thus it i~ sensitive to spatial changes which no
averaging techniques can duplicate.
The blocks are also usod to describe geological or physical
features with no mass and only presence. The topography.
a fault or a property boundary are examples of features that
are simulated by GROPE. Pointers a re given to blocks to
indicate the presence of various features. For eJ(ample, in the
case of topography, a zero pointer is given to the blocks
represeot;og air space betweeo the surface of the deposit and
the datum level of the grid. A pointer value from 0.01 10 t OO
is assigned. to the subsurface blocks. A pointer value of
1.00 is given to blocks not intercepted by the surface. Pointer
values of less than unity are given in proportion to the rockfilled volume of blocks that are intercepted by the surface.
The pointers and mineralization data are easily stored in a
computer and are instantly accessible. GROPE is provided
with the capability to branch to computations appropriate
to different physical conditions with those spatial data sots.
DESCRIPTION OF T HE MODEL
The block concept
Tho_deposit is _divide.d jnto bloc.Ks by COllstruclins a threedimensional grid. A block representation of a surface deposit
is illustrated in Fig. 1. Only the grid lines that outline the
surface and boundaries of the deposit are shown.
0- DATUM lEVEL
:s L
R T (1
Cr,1
+ d) t '
Unknown
Cut-off grades
Mining sequence
Pit volume and shape
Mine life
Plant capacities (if not
assumed)
The ullknowns cannot be defined entirely in terms of the
given data. The cut-off grades are not known and are
influenced by the mining sequence. The mining sequence is not
known and is influenced by all the other unknowns. Similarly,
pit volume and shape, mine life and plant capacities are
interdependent with each other, the other unknowns and the
given data.
Given
Mineralization
Costs
Prices
Plant capacities (if assumed)
\
f~OD
/
""~
UT LINE
EPOSIT
\:
_J..<
A
S;rOPOFSECTION
P'"' P'VERTICAL
PLAN VIEW
I
~
~EAST
~
DEPTH
U1.y.SO
VERTEX
MAXIMUM 21 SLOPE IN
EAST-WEST DIRECTION
157
q
R
C
NO
IS. "R?
NO
' "- C
0
S
11+--------
eN D
NO
NO
IS Cq
ALREADY IN
PIT?
YES
>-0-'-"'<
ISC q IN
)
REMOVAL CLOSURE
FOR Cr?
,NO,,-<
IS S " O?
LEGEND
The search of the graph for ore blocks continues and the
next one is C 8' The routinc then branches into the steps for
identifying the removal closure of Cs. Tins closure includes
blocks Cl' C 2 Cs, and. of course, Cg, and its total value is
S = -2. The Cg removal closure is not part of the maximum
closure since it has a negative value. Block C lO is the next to
be tested for a positive removal closure. The closure is blocks
Cs, C 4 , Cs and C lO and has a total positive value of S = +2.
Therefore. this removal closure becomes the second to be
included in the pit.
The next ore block is Cl l. Its removal closure has blocks
Ch C 2 C 1 CB' C g and Cn' The removal closure does not
include blocks Ca and C. because they are already part of the
pit, The value of the removal closure is negative, S - -4,
and so is not in the maximum closure.
158
V -
FIG. 68
CUT-OFF GRADE
FIG. Bb
FIG. 6c
CONCENTRATOR
--..t..
vl~-71-_
~
Gm
(OPTIMUM)
~=c~~~~~-----3~.
CUT-OFF GRADE
MINE
FIG.6d
___ ~O~ENTRATOR
,::. .........:- - _
-7
..R,.:zINERY
G mr
OPTIMUM)
CUTOFF GRADE
Fig. 6. Clwnr~ in present ralue 'IS, Cllt-ojJ grade,
(i)
(ii)
(Hi)
(iv)
Cv)
The GROPE model introduces a number of new developments into pit planning. These will be discussed in some
detail.
PIT DESIGN
Interdependent variables
INCREMENT, ACCORDING
TO SCHEDULING RULES
,
IS, >R
'"
IS,lNTHEPIT?
ISrORH
TAG r AS BEING
IN VEAR
>~""..<MINED
ACCUMULATE
ORE PRODUCTION
IN YEAR
'---- - _.
Fig. 7. General flow diagram
160
"
ACCUMULATED
c ...._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _J'""'.<~ ORE PRODUCTION
,....
EQUAL TO TARGET
FOR VEAR?
0/ production scheduling.
SPATIAL SIMULATION
GROPE by rccording their presence in special threedimensional data sets. TIle model consults these data sets to
branch the routines 10 computations appropriate to the
changing environment. Some examples of spatial dala sets are:
mineralization, topography, property lines, metallurgical
peoall.ies and costs that arc a fUJlCtion of location. In this
way, G ROPE is made sensitive to spatial changes and the
dangers of generalizing the attributes of a deposit by averaging
are minimized.
GROPE therefore brings together a number of new pit
planning ideas wit h some earlier contributions 10 the field
a nd some innovations in the use of computers.
Grope programs
f'ROORAM FUNCTIONS
,",ra", 'h" wm
OPERATIONAL FEATURES
~id
block.
PROGRAM FUNC110NS
Program accuracy
'A'
lU(tI TOilS
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,
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,
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YEARL.Y
IOSIZU .
26101 60.
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Fig.
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OPERATING
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SUMMARY
I~ CO "(
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O.
NET SALE !!
TOMS
"
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1'
__
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Hl02~o
2140320.
If'i Z44,
1 6,,11 190.
SWELTER
eu TUMI
STOCKPILING
64902~.
18'200,
LEACK
0 . 00
' . 00
0 .00
..00
OP
TQ~'
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0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
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LE-A-CliTNG
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PRODUCT S
1117 ]60.
25 6.U'O!5 .
31 02650 .
636150.
. ,,
MINING
STRrpPIIHI
Y(A~
" ;.
12 75 2 .
1~~29t'
SUMMARY
FEED
" "
G~ AO[
PRODUCT
""UR
1291 3.
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(8)
MILL
Co
6)6(125.
UUQ .n ,
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1117200.
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2639000,
1960 .
TOHS
1820000,
O.
TOTAu
ln~s
t 219.
2U nGOO .
SME l.TlNG
M I LLIN G
I.IE A CHIN G
fUA
S UM MARY
PROCESS ING
~HU)l .
, , ,. . )t .
CHII fLOW
l l9 lttJ.
261 86 )& ,
ocr
AT
JU'I65,
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1 9& 0061,
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TABLE I
CUMl'lITAnONAL SIlQUI!NC1!
, - ------ --:---:::-:Input
-- - - - - _ .
0..10.
Spatial M!l\QreJ.
Di . tribullon
EO()JIomlC o..ta:
Phy.!c~l
&ruclu,'c,
C<:>st.e "Pr!c""
Cc~t
D"t..,
'j'opovaphy "
GeoI<>gIc F M turel
P""o!bla Nut
C ~po.e!t!08
h.,...
AnnWll i'l'OdllCtlon
CmD" utMlolII
Pi! PrGdutuclli
Si~lIlon
ca,,,
N"t
V1llu..
DllrtrlbuU""
CorntOJI&IIOC1$
OUtput
Optimum
pt"", Cap:>cilieo
lUeS.
Progrom accuracy
1. D.
RE F ERENCES
H ",RThlAN,
ERICKSON,
163
164