Calculate a Blend

Security Note: You need the Allow blending template maintenance security right in the Blending domain security rights group for this activity.

Activity Steps

  1. Open the Blending screen.

    The configuration, Source Stockpiles and Specifications that match the template display. If the template includes a stock location as a source, the individual stockpiles at that location display as source stockpiles for the blend.

  2. Update the Base Blend Date if required.
  3. To change the target tonnes, number of periods, column visibility or other configuration, click the Settings (cog) icon in the top-right corner.

    The Blend Configuration screen displays. See Set up a Blend Template for descriptions of these settings.

  4. For each source in the Source Stockpiles table:
    1. Select whether to Include the source in blend calculations.

      Notes:

      • If you filter data in the Source Stockpiles table, the sources that display after filtering are the only sources that can be included in the blend. That is, for any sources that are filtered out, Include is effectively unchecked. For more information about filtering functionality, see Sort, Filter and Group Data in Tables.
      • You can also choose to exclude a source for one or more blend periods if required: Select one or multiple cells in the blend period columns, right-click the selected cell(s) and select Exclude Selection from the menu. To select multiple cells, click the first required cell, hold down Shift, then click the last cell in the sequence; or hold down Ctrl while clicking non-consecutive cells.
      • Tooltips display when hovering over different types of cells to convey additional information including validation issues and stockpile balance details for specific blend dates.

    2. Edit the Desirability of using the source if required. Enter an integer value between 1 (least desirable) to 10 (most desirable).

      Note: If creating the blend for a specific stockpile, that stockpile should always have a desirability of 10 in the blend because its contents will be part of the blend result.

    3. Enter the Production Per Period if required. Not applicable to mine sources.
    4. Edit the Balance if required.
    5. Enter a Minimum Reclaim if required. If the source is included in a blend, at least this amount will be included in each blend period.
    6. Update the analyte values if required. Values in black are within the target specifications. Value in red are outside of the target specifications. Edited cells are highlighted with a green background colour.
    7. For each blend period column, enter a quantity for forced usage if required. If entered, exactly this quantity from this source must be included in blends.

      Note: MineMarket highlights these cells:

      • Grey and disabled—The source is not open on that blend date.
      • Green—A quantity has been entered for forced usage on that blend date.
      • Forward striped red—The source is manually excluded for that blend date, or there was an error with the blend calculation for that date.
      • Backward striped orange—The blend is out of date; for example, because an analyte value has been edited after calculating a blend.
  5. To refresh the source stockpiles, right-click in the Source Stockpiles table and select one of the following options from the menu as required:
    • Refresh List Of Sources—Updates the stockpiles of any location or stockpile category.
    • Refresh Source Tonnes And Quality—Gets the best-known quantity and quality at the Base Blend Date for all sources, and resets any overrides entered in Available or for the analyte qualities.
  6. Update the Target Tonnes for individual blend periods if required.
  7. Update the Specifications as required.
    1. For how to change the set of specifications, see Set up a Blend Template.
    2. For each analyte in the specifications:
      1. Select whether to Include the analyte in blend calculations.

        Note: To select multiple analytes, click the first required analyte, hold down Shift, then click the last analyte in the sequence; or hold down Ctrl while clicking non-consecutive analytes. There are then right-click context menu options on this column to Invert Selection, Include Selection or Exclude Selection.

      2. Update the Target, Minimum and Maximum if required.

        Note: There is a right-click context menu option to Revert Targets and Limits to the values in the blend template. This option reverts the Target, Minimum and Maximum values for all analytes.

  8. Click Blend.

    When the calculation is complete, the suggested blends display; or if a blend is not possible with the current criteria, an error message displays, and the affected blend date is highlighted red.

    The Source Stockpiles and Specifications tables can be exported to Excel, copied to the clipboard or printed. Only the used sources and specifications are exported to Excel. Excel exports are saved in your default Documents folder.

    You can cancel the blend during calculation if required.

  9. To clear the blend results, click Clear Results.

    This button allows you to change the configuration and reblend, without needing to start again from a template.

  10. To save the blend criteria as a blend template:
    1. Right-click in the Source Stockpiles table and select Save As Template from the menu.

      The Blend Template and Blend Configuration screen display. The template is stored in the Unassigned Blend Templates category.

    2. Edit the Blend Template name.
    3. Close the Blend Configuration screen and Blend Template.