Blending and Advanced Constraints

A Global Mass Target Objective Function allows a single target to be controlled by Bounds or either Maximized or Minimized, in order to find an improved solution when blending. In addition, Throughput and Recovery settings are available as options for Normal Destinations. The latter are used when blending to alter the processing speed (throughput) and grade produced (recovery) for ‘Normal’ destination types within Studio OP, such as Plants, Crushers and Leach Pads.

To define a Global Mass Target's Maximize Objective Function and associated Throughput/Recovery Settings:

The general procedure for doing this is as follows.

  1. In the Define Process Flows screen, define a new process flow e.g. 'FULL' and add the relevant process activities in their correct order (say, drilling, blasting then loading).

  2. In the Destinations screen, select a Normal destination type, click Edit.

  3. In the Destination: <Destination Name> screen, General tab, Processing Capacity group,

  4. Set the capacity to e.g. Meet Exactly 750 Tonnes per 1 Hour(s).

  5. In the Throughput/Recovery tab, tick the Throughput Settings check box.

  6. In the By Column dropdown, select a 'tonnes per hour' data column e.g. [TPH].

  7. Check that the Rate is by default set to 'Tonnes per 1 Hour(s)'.

  8. Tick the Recovery Settings check box.

  9. In an Element row e.g. AU, select the corresponding mineral processing recovery data column e.g. [AUREC], click OK.

  10. Back in the n the Destinations screen, click OK.

  11. In the Constraints Targets screen, add a new Global Mass Target  e.g. 'Plant AU' and define the associated Target Details and Target Bounds parameters.

  12. Back in the Global Mass Targets group, select the new global mass target variable, set it's Obj. Function value to [Maximize].

Related topics and activities