Stockpile Configuration

• Stockpile Configuration
• • Weighted-average-grade (WAG) Stockpiles
  • First-in-first-out (FIFO) Stockpiles
  • Last-in-first-out (LIFO) Stockpiles
  • 3D Stockpiles
  • Waste Stockpiles

A stockpile is a stored quantity of mined material, such as ore, which is kept before being processed, sold, or otherwise used. Stockpiles can vary in size and are managed strategically for operational efficiency, economic optimisation, and to accommodate fluctuations in demand or mining rate. They can be tracked and modelled to enhance inventory control and decision-making. In MineMarket, a stockpile is the lowest level physical entity for which tonnage and quality information is stored throughout the supply chain. Stockpiles can be used as both sources and destinations of material transactions.

A stockpile category is a sub-category that can be used to categorise stockpiles at a later stage (for example, for inactive stockpiles).

Stockpiles can be created below any business area location (mine location, stock location, stockpile category, waste location, rail siding, barge terminal or port location), but typically under stock locations and stockpile categories.

Stockpile quality and quantity calculations depend upon the type of stockpile used.

Weighted-average-grade (WAG) Stockpiles

Weighted-average-grade (WAG) stockpiles are an inventory management system where the grade (that is, the quality) of the stockpile is determined by calculating the weighted average of the grades of the individual batches of materials added. This strategy provides an accurate representation of the stockpile's overall quality, while being more efficient than storing data about each batch. In MineMarket, WAG stockpiles can be configured to consider the grade of only stacked material, or the grade of both stacked and reclaimed material.

First-in-first-out (FIFO) Stockpiles

First-in-first-out (FIFO) stockpiles are stockpiles in which the first materials mined and added to the stockpile (First-In) are the first to be removed and processed (First-Out). This strategy may be useful in managing materials that can degrade over time. As material is stacked onto and reclaimed from a FIFO stockpile, MineMarket creates 'layers' to track quality and tonnage data specific to that material.

Last-in-first-out (LIFO) Stockpiles

Last-in-first-out (LIFO) stockpiles are stockpiles in which the last materials mined and added to the stockpile (Last-In) are the first to be removed and processed (First-Out). This strategy may be useful the most recently mined materials have priority for processing, such as when ore quality varies over time. As material is stacked onto and reclaimed from a LIFO stockpile, MineMarket creates 'layers' to track quality and tonnage data specific to that material.

3D Stockpiles

A 3D stockpile is a digital representation of a physical stockpile of mined materials, such as coal or ore. The representation is created using three-dimensional (3D) modelling and visualisation techniques, which help in calculating and monitoring the volume, mass and grade distribution of the stockpile, adjusted after each stacking or reclaiming transaction. This data enables mine managers to optimise material extraction, logistics, and quality control.

Waste Stockpiles

Waste stockpiles are used for the tracking and storage of waste materials; that is, outputs from the pit, mine or product processing that have little or no commercial value.

Important: Most stockpiles should be created as weighted average grade (WAG), unless they accurately fit the other model types. FIFO, LIFO and 3D stockpiles store data for every layer or batch. If not carefully managed, using FIFO, LIFO or 3D stockpiles may create system performance issues.

Note: The stockpile type cannot be changed after the stockpile has been created. For example, if a stockpile was created as WAG, but then the decision is made that it would be better as LIFO, a new LIFO stockpile must be created. If the original WAG stockpile is no longer needed, the material on the WAG stockpile can be transferred to the LIFO stockpile, and the WAG stockpile closed.