Technologies

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Technologies

• MineMAX Planner Pit Optimization
• MineMAX Scheduler Strategic Schedule
  Optimization with Blending, Stockpiling and
  Complex Mineral Process Modelling
• MineMAX iGantt Activity-based Gantt Chart
  Production Scheduling

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MineMAX Planner

• Pit Optimization

Planner brings together the technologies of
optimization and 3-D interactive visualization to
provide a mining engineer with a user-friendly,
fast tool for determining optimal pits and
performing strategic analysis
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iGantt 3D Production Scheduling
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Strategic Scheduling

• Determining how to most effectively utilise
  mineral resource assets
• Modelling and optimization of complicated
  downstream mineral processing routes. Not just
  mine scheduling!

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MineMAX Scheduler Overview

• Automated optimizing tool incorporating a
  mixed-integer linear programming model of mining
  and mineral processing
• Designed in response to industry requirements
• Uses state-of-the-art optimization technology
• Strategic Level of Use
• Rapidly generates schedules for a wide range of
  economic and production scenarios

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Scheduler Benefits

• Rapidly calculate practical schedules focussed on
  optimising Net Present Value
• Consider a larger number of strategic and
  financial scenarios
• Address cut-off grade issues in context of
  scheduling

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Scheduler Features

• Optimise NPV
• Satisfy Blending Requirements
• Model Series and Parallel Material Flow
• Alternative Process Routes
• Alternative Products with own prices
• Address Intermediate Stockpiling
• Consider Multiple Pits / Mines
• 3D Visualisation of Schedule Development

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Scheduler Uses

• Nickel Laterites (Anaconda, Bulong, Ravensthorpe,
  Inco, Falconbridge, Ramu, Cerro Matosa)
• Iron Ore (Rio Tinto, Iscor, BHP, Portman)
• Gold (Golden Pride, Boddington, RedBack)
• Industrial Minerals (WMC, Rio Tinto)
• Australian Consulting Firms (RSG, Golders,
  Snowden, SRK, IMC, Hatch)

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Modeling Levels 1

• Business Strategic
• When do new projects start?
• What is capacity of new projects?
• When should existing operations increase capacity
  and by how much?

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Modeling Levels 2

• Business Operational
• Determine optimal product mix from reserves given
  alternative final products with their own prices
  and quality constraints
• Scheduling of multiple deposits

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Modelling Concepts

• Products
• Model ore, intermediate and final products
• Can view as processes with capacity constraints
• Can be static or decision related (e.g.
  Alternative process routes)
• Hold attributes
• Attributes
• Model grades, ore types and variable costs
• Control weighted average of attributes (blending)

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Scheduler Inputs

• Block Model Data
• Physicals (tonnage, grade, ore type)
• Process Logic (which blocks can report to which
  processes)
• Geometry (for 3-D visualisation of pit faces)
• Costs (if you have variable mining and/or
  processing costs)

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Main View
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Fixed and Alternative Processes
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Define Decisions Points
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Decisions for Alternative Processes
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Production Constraints
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Grade Constraints
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Pit Constraints
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Precedences / Sequences

• Un-Staged
• Use slope and mining directions within benches
• Staged
• Mine bench-by-bench
• Lead / Lag constraints across stages
• Parcel information retained on bench (esp. useful
  with stockpiling)

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Precedence View 1
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Precedence View 2
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Stockpiling Concepts

• Define stockpiles in terms of grade ranges
• Scheduler determines what gets stockpiled and
  what gets processed
• Can address cut-off grade issues in full context
  of strategic scheduling with stockpiles

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Stockpiles
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Modelling Financials

• Define final product prices
• Define either
• constant mining / processing costs or
• variable costs through attributes
• Scheduler computes a value / tonne figure for
  each block to be used for optimisation

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Financial Model

• Revenue Items
• Cost Items
• Mining
• Stockpile
• Processing

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Optimization Technology

• Financial Data and constraints formulated into
  mixed integer programming model
• MIP solved by ILOG CPLEX Optimization Engine
  (Branch and Cut Algorithm)

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Optimization Options

• Strategy
• Criteria
• Time Period Range
• Constraints Toggle

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Viewing Results

• Charts for Material Movement
• Tonnes
• Grades
• Stockpile Activity
• Visualisation for Pit Development
• 3D for pit outline at any time period
• Output to General Mining Package

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Grades
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Pit Movements
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3D Visualization
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Financial Report
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Conclusion

• Mine schedule optimization is directly related to
  the bottom line (profit NPV)
• There are many possible schedules, each with its
  own net present value
• Need powerful easy-to-use tools for mine schedule
  optimization (no spreadsheets)
• MineMAX Scheduler is the leader in power and
  ease-of use