Mine Flow Optimizer An overview of MFO

Mine Flow Optimizer (MFO)

Available in: Studio NPV Scheduler, Studio RM Scheduler

 

What is MFO?

Mine Flow Optimizer (MFO) represents a set of tools that aim to maximize NPV by adjusting annual mining rates, which is equivalent to cutoff grade optimization, simultaneously allocating material to their optimum destinations.

1. Find optimum pit limits and a block-by-block extraction sequence for given geological and economic parameters using one of the following methods:

• Lerchs-Grossmann search to locate the economic limits to open pit and generate an NPV optimizing extraction sequence.

• Resource-based search to find the optimum blended pit and a blended extraction sequence.

2. Convert the extraction sequence resulting from pit optimization into practical pushbacks, and a pushback-based extraction sequence by applying user-defined criteria like Minimum pushback size and Minimum access width.

3. Schedule the pushbacks, or any other pit sequence, to meet user-defined mining, haulage, processing and blending targets. A haulage simulation model can be defined with multiple ore and waste destinations which permits a one-step optimization of the life of a mine haulage plan. The optimal schedule is defined as another extraction sequence.

4. Reevaluate the schedule with Material Allocation Optimizer that accounts for time varying economic parameters, stockpiles and multiple blended products.

5. Reevaluate the schedule with Mine Flow Optimizer which adds cutoff grade optimization functionality to MAO.  

6. Geological Risk Enabled NPV Scheduler+MFO imports the conditional simulation data to generate Risk Rated Pits and probability distributions of profits and NPV for any extraction sequence.

MFO Inputs

• A block model defining geological and geochemical properties of the mineral deposit.

• Economic parameters such as metal prices, mining and processing costs, metal recoveries, etc.

• Optionally, an externally designed sequence of pushbacks to be scheduled.

MFO Outputs

• Pit topographies (surfaces) viewable and exportable as 3D objects, contours and block model fields. In addition to Lerchs-Grossmann ultimate pit and phases, pushbacks and the scheduler annual pits, using Mine Flow Optimizer can generate any configuration of intermediate pits from all extraction sequences it produces.

• Customizable spreadsheet reports and charts including pit specific reports, bench reserves and grade curves.

• Viewable and exportable block models with cost/revenue information and pit definitions.

	Related Topics
	Studio NPVS Products Material Allocation Optimizer Life of Mine Planning