A mine extraction simulation software for short-term production planning of open pit mines

摘要

The paper describes and evaluates results of an open pit mine production planning software that has been programmed for short-term planning of open pit mines. Input data for the program consists of optimal pit block model information including volume and quality of ore and waste in each block as well as the number of pushback that the block is designated. The program writes a 0-1 integer linear mathematical model for candidated blocks with using an interactive procedure. After solving this model, the program suggests the optimum blocks for extraction. This process is repeated until the extracted material reaches the planned amount of ore and waste for that period of time (usually 3 months). The objective function in ore blocks exploitation is production of a blend with minimum deviation from planned mean grade and in waste blocks is exposition as much as possible amount of higher-grade ores. Results from a case study done by means of this program for short-term planning of a copper mine in Iran for its four development years and first five operating years are discussed.