Design Strategy

The Design Strategy panel is where the user specifies which method to use for designing the pit
surfaces. Floating Cone, Lerchs-Grossman and Pseudoflow are the three design options to choose
from. Additional options are available for both choices.

A. Select Design Choice:

BASE. This option computes a single pit or, if volumes are specified by block limits, for a
series of pits. The block limits can be specified on the BASE panel for a series of pits.

AutoP. This option creates a series of pits that approximates a series of pushbacks in a
particular direction.

MultP. This option is used to design a series of pits with relatively constant pushback width
to simulate mining phases.

MultV. This option is similar to the MultP option but there is no

limit on the depth per pushback and an artificial cutoff is not
applied. The factor is simply multiplied by the value per block
for all positive blocks. The value for negative blocks is
unchanged.

MultZ. This option creates a series of pits with the bottom

elevation decreasing. An artificial cutoff is not applied.
While both the LG and FC methods can be used with these
options, the FC is recommended.

Bottoms. Uses an existing pit design in the MSEP GSF to find

multiple bottoms and mine each bottom area in order of economic
value to determine the best sequence. This option is primarily
useful if there are multiple pit bottoms where the pits do not
merge. The option can be used on pits that do merge but caution
needs to be used in the interpretation.

Resource. When using the Resource design choice, specify which pits
the resources are to be calculated for. The resources will be calculated
within the pit for each destination. Resources are calculated for all
pits within the min and max series. A sum file is also output which can
be graphed.

B. Pit Design Options.

There are three methods to choose from for designing a pit, Floating Cone (FC) and Lerchs-
Grossman (LG) and Pseudoflow (PF).
 Floating Cone (FC). The FC is flexible and easy. The theory behind the method is
that from the top down and from the inside out blocks that are economic are made
the base of cones that are evaluated. If the value of the cone is positive, the cone is
mined by subtracting the cone from the current surface. The process is repeated
until all the economic cones have been mined. The FC method does not guarantee
an optimal result. The main case where the FC is not optimal is when there are
multiple bottoms and some material is shared between. The FC method only
computes the value based upon one of the bottoms. It is mostly used to design the
mining sequences.

Lerchs-Grossman (LG). The LG method guarantees an optimal result. The method

requires a larger amount of computing which can be reduced by re-blocking; which
means combining the blocks into larger blocks used for the pit design. Since the
result is optimal, the LG method is usually used to define the final pit limit.

Pseudoflow (PF)[1]. This is an optimized faster implementation of the LG method

which also guarantees the optimal result in a smaller time. This method however
can not be used with soft surface restrictions option.

[1] Pseudoflow algorithm incorporated herein with permission are Copyright (c) 2001-2009.
Created by Bala Chandran and Dorit S. Hochbaum, Department of Industrial Engineering
and Operations Research, University of California, Berkeley., The Regents of
the University of California (REGENTS). All Rights Reserved.

LG/Pseudoflow Reblocking Parameters. The number of blocks to re-block a model can be

specified for an LG or a PF run. Re-blocking can affect slope angles if not applied correctly.
The important lesson in re-blocking is to not significantly change the relative geometry of
the model block size.

Pseudoflow Slope Parameters. Pseudoflow can project slopes till a certain bench or project
it all the way to TOPO. Smaller bench projections lead to faster computations but a more
approximate result.

Use of 0 (default and suggested) will let the pit slopes to be projected till
Topo. This is the most conservative option.

Regular LG always projects pit slopes all the way to the Topo.

Floating Cone:

Base Cone Radius: You can set the radius of the cone base to force larger
pit bottoms. Radius is in feet or meters according to the measurement
system you are using.
 (The following five options can be applied only to BASE, AutoP, MultP,
and MultV FC designs.)

Limit Stripping Ratio of Cones Selected To: Use this option to limit the
cones selected to ones with a stripping ratio smaller than the amount you
specify.

Limit Cones to Those With a Value per Ton Greater Than: Use this option
to limit the cones selected to ones with a value per ton greater than the
amount you specify. The value per cone is based upon the sum of the value
of the positive blocks within the cone divided by the tons per block based
upon the default SG or TF.

Stop Mining When Cumulative Ore K-Tons Exceed: Stop the mining process
when the cumulative ore tons exceeds the value of K-Tons you specify,
based upon default SG or TF.

Stop Mining When Cumulative Total K-Tons Exceed: Stop the mining process
when the cumulative total tons exceeds the value of K-Tons you specify,
based upon default SG or TF.

Stop Mining When Cumulative Total K-Profit Exceeds: Stop the mining
process when the cumulative total profit exceeds the value of K-Profit
you specify, based upon default SG or TF.

Pit Base Geometry Object. Select an MSR file with a 2D polygon that will form the
base of the pit to be designed. The pit will be restricted by the elevation of the designed
polygon. It is useful for multiple bottom pits where the polygon can be used for making a
single bottom and restricing it or for making pushbacks.

Base – Ultimate Pit

BASE Pits. Multiple pits can be designed by specifying multiple areas within the same 3D block
model. For each pit the volume to be examined can be specified by defining the rows, columns
and levels. The Resulting pit is stored in the MSEP GSF, a number from 1-50 is required if the pits
in MSEP GSF do not exceed 50 (PIT50).

Otherwise, a number from 1-200 can be used. Also, an existing pit can optionally limit the pit
being designed.

Multiple passes can be specified for Floating Cone design. Each subsequent pass may pick up data.
Vary Price by Value Factor. This option allows the user to make multiple pits by varying the
revenue factor of a block. The program starts with the minimum factor and increases it based on
the factor increment until it reaches the maximum factor.

For example, using a minimum factor of 0.2, a maximum factor of 1.0 and increment of 0.2 would
make 5 pits for revenue factors of 0.2,0.4,0.6,0.8 and 1.0. The pits are saved in increasing order
with the first pit saved to the value selected in the 'Result' pit selector. Thus, if the 'Result' pit is
40, then the incremental pits are saved in 40,41,42,43 and 44.

Base – Ultimate Pit

The MultP option is used to design a series of pits that approximate a series

of pushbacks. This is accomplished by factoring the Design Variable in

conjunction with a pushback width and a minimum number of blocks per pushback.

For example a value factor of 0.2 would only use the blocks with a value in

the top 20% for the first pass. If not enough blocks are found, the value

factor is increased until the minimum number is exceeded, forming a pit shell.

MultP Settings. Enter pit 'From' and pit 'To' to establish the beginning and

ending pit numbers for the calculations. MultP stores the resulting pits in

the MSEP GSF. An appropriate number of pits can be determined by estimating

the total tons expected in the pit and dividing by the tons per block and

number of pushbacks desired.

Maximum Number of Pits. MultP displays the maximum number of pits to be created.

This number is calculated from the values you enter in the From and To fields.

Area of Interest. This is the area within which MultP tries to create the pits.

Define this area by entering the range of Columns, Rows, and Levels you want
configured.

Mining Parameters:

Waste mining cost ($/ton). This is a representative mining cost. This is

used as the mining cost for all ore material classified as waste during

pushback generation. For example if top 20% is considered as ore, the rest

80% value is deemed waste with a waste mining cost of the input value.

Ore Density (or TF). This is the default density for ore material.

Waste Density (or TF). This is the density used for waste material as well as

ore material classified as waste during MultP pushback generation.

Minimum Value Factor. Specify a minimum factor to be applied to the Design

Variable that will produce a pit shell. The value should be between 0 and 1

(0% or 100%).

Maximum Value Factor. The maximum value factor to be applied to the Design

Variable that will produce a pit shell. This value should be 1 or perhaps

slightly larger if more pits than the base case are desired.

Limiting Pit Number. This is the pit which acts as the ultimate boundary for

pushback generation.

Advanced Options:

Follow the Limiting Pit. Check this option if you want the phase to always
 create pushbacks in the direction of the bottom of the limiting pit.

Limit Ore Blocks to Vertical Outcrop of Previous Pit. Check this option to

allow the program to limit blocks in the new pit to the vertical projection

of the previous pit.

Do Not Increase Pushback Size. Checking this box prevents the program from

creating a new pit that has a pushback which exceeds the Select Pushback

Width/Depth settings. Otherwise the program may exceed these settings to

find a solution.

Select Pushback Depth. You can specify pushback depth in benches or meters.

Pushback depth is used to provide a maximum depth below the previous pushback

for each successive pushback.

Benches: Enter the maximum number of benches below the previous pushback

for each successive pushback.

Meters: Enter the maximum number of meters below the previous pushback

for each successive pushback.

Select Pushback Size. You can set the minimum size of a pushback, either in

blocks or in K-Tons.

Minimum Blocks: Enter the minimum number of blocks per pushback.

Minimum K-Tons: Enter the minimum number of K-tons per pushback.

Scheduling Parameters. Additional options below give a preliminary schedule

for the series of pits made from this pushback design method.

Discount Rate: Enter the annual/ periodic discount rate.

Ore K-Tons per Period: Enter approximate ore tonnage requirements per year.

Total K-Tons per Period: Enter approximate total (all ore + waste) tonnage

constraints per year. This is usually the maximum mining capacity.

Starter Pit Options:

Starter Pit Radius (m): Enter the minimum radius for the starter pit,

allowing adequate space for equipment operations.

Minimum Blocks for Starter Pit: Enter the minimum number of blocks

required in a starter pit.

Starter Pit Columns: Define the range of columns within which MultP

tries to create a starter pit.

Starter Pit Rows: Define the range of rows within which MultP tries to

create a starter pit.

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