Scheduling Setup: External Sources

To access this screen:

  • Display the Optimization task bar and select Optimization >> Scheduler >> Maroma >> Settings >> External Sources.

Define external source supply for the Maroma scheduler.

Material can be added to a schedule from external sources (for example, an underground mine). This screen lets you configure the fixed or variable settings for those material sources.

Variable Supply Costs

External source parameters are, by default, the same for the life of mine.

They can also be period-range-sensitive, thus, changing over time; for example, you can determine that your maximum supply rate is different in the first few years of your schedule to the years that follow. Similarly, you can adjust purchasing cost and the recovery cost adjustment ratio, or the adjustment for any other product cost.

Formulae

Processing costs can be defined explicitly and by formulae. A formula is useful where a value depends on another scheduling variable, such as grade or downstream costs.

Specifying a formula is achieved by clicking into the appropriate table cell, and clicking Set Formula (this is only available for formula-supported cells). Formulae are defined using the Define Formula screen.

See How to Use Formulae.

Create and Configure an External Source

To create a new external source:

  1. Expand the Manage External Sources list.

    Existing stockpiles display in a table.

  2. Click into the first cell of the final (empty) table row.

  3. Enter the name of your new external source. It cannot be the same as an existing one.

  4. Click "+"

    The new external source is added to the bottom of the table.

  5. Use the up and down arrows to set the external sourceprecedence. Sources at the top of the list are (if possible) considered before those lower down.

  6. Click away from the external source list.

    The list disappears and the main External Sources table includes a new column representing the added source.

To define external source settings (static across life of mine):

  1. In the External Sources Settings table, for the external source column, review the available settings:

    • Variable Supply—If variable supply parameters are defined for the stockpile, this displays Yes, otherwise No. See "Variable Supply Parameters", above.

    • Max Supply—Upper limit on the provision of material from the external source within the mining rate period (either kilotonnes per day or million tonnes per annum).

    • Purchase Cost ($)—The additional cost per rock mass unit associated with the purchase and handling of external material.

    • Recovery Adjustment—A multiplier adjustment of product recovery.

    • Materials-Set the tonnage and grades of all elements arriving from the external source.

    • Processing Destinations—Each processing destination can have independent stockpiling parameters. Enable the processing destination for a stockpile by checking it.

      Once a processing destination is checked, destination stockpile settings are:

      • Processing Cost ($)—The cost attributed for the processing destination, per rock mass unit. This is set as an explicit numeric value or as a formula (see "Formula", above).

      • Material Recovery Costs—For each defined product, what is the associated recovery cost as a value or formula.

        Note: Click Delete Formula to clear an existing formula from a table cell.

  2. Save your scheduler settings.

To define variable external source parameters by time period range:

  1. Add an external source if required (see above).

  2. Click Set.

    The Variable External Source Parameters screen displays.

  3. Select the external source to modify. See above for instructions on creating a new external source.

  4. Click into the End Period cell of the final row of the variable parameters table.

  5. Expand the period list and pick the final (inclusive) period to which the variable settings apply.

  6. Enter the Max Supply permitted from the external source for the time period range.

    Note: The rock mass unit is set on the Mining Rates screen.

    Note: Entering 0 (zero) for Max Supply indicates that no material from the external source occurred within the time period range.

  7. Enter the Recovery Adjustment factor and Purchase Cost ($) for material received during the period range.

  8. Enter the grades or cost adjustment factors for other variables of your project, for the appropriate period(s).

  9. Click outside the popup window.

    The Variable Supply cell for the chosen external source reads Yes.

  10. Save your schedule settings.

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