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Whittle Introductory Gold Tutorial

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Page 1: Whittle Introductory Gold Tutorial
Page 2: Whittle Introductory Gold Tutorial

Copyright © 2015 Dassault Systèmes GEOVIA Inc.

All rights reserved. Dassault Systèmes GEOVIA Inc. publishes this documentation for the sole use ofGEOVIA product licensees.

Without written permission, you may not sell, reproduce, store in a retrieval system, or transmitany part of this documentation. For such permission, or to obtain extra copies please contact yourlocal GEOVIA office, or visit www.3ds.com/GEOVIA.

This software and documentation is proprietary to Dassault Systèmes GEOVIA Inc. and, exceptwhere expressly provided otherwise, does not form part of any contract. Changes may bemade inproducts or services at any timewithout notice.

While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this manual, neither the authors norGEOVIA assumes responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither will be held liable for any damagescaused or alleged to be caused from the use of the information contained herein.

Dassault Systèmes GEOVIA Inc. offers complete 3D software tools that let you create, simulate,publish, and manage your data.

GEOVIA, the GEOVIA logo, combinations thereof, and GEMS, Surpac, Minex, MineSched, Whittle,PCBC, InSite, and Hub are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Dassault Systèmes or itssubsidiaries in the US and/or other countries.

Product

GEOVIAWhittle™ Version 4.6

Last modified: Saturday, January 17, 2015

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Table of Contents

Introduction - Gold tutorial 4

Requirements 4

Importing 5

Create a Project 5

Import a Model 6

Validate the imported model 12

Set pit slopes for the optimisation 16

Enter the mining costs 20

Method 1. Using range function alone 20

Method 2. Using line of best fit within a range function 21

Entering the equations into theMining tab 22

Enter the processing paths 25

Enter the price 26

Run the optimisation 27

Check MCAFs on the Output tab 28

Enter the costs and limits 30

Perform sensitivity analysis 32

Determine the final pit 36

Create practical pushbacks 39

Congratulations 43

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Introduction - Gold tutorial

Introduction - Gold tutorialThis tutorial introduces various parts ofWhittle through a worked example. For more information onany part of this tutorial:

l see the relevant information in theWhittle Helpl view demonstration datasets and read notes in the description tab for each nodel contact your local GEOVIA office for information about modules or training options

In this tutorial, you will work with a validated block model from a general mine planning package(GMP) such as Surpac, GEMS, or another GMP. The block model in this tutorial is in the format .modand has a corresponding .par file.

RequirementsThe data files are in <your projects folder>\tutorialsGold. For a default Whittle installation, the filesare the default location C:\Users\Public\GEOVIA\GEOVIAWhittle\<version>\projects\tutorialsGold for the following operating systems: Windows 7 orWindows 8.

l the block model training.modl the parameters file training.parl the block model validation report training_rpt.txt

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Importing

Importing

Create a Project

1. To start Whittle:l double-click the desktop icon, orl choose Start > All Programs > GEOVIA > Whittle <ver>\Whittle <ver>.

Whittle starts and the Project Selection form appears.

2. Click Create a new project, and then click OK.TheNewProject form appears.

3. In theNewProject form:a. In the Project Name field, type a name for the project.

The Project Save File field is updated to use the Project Name and the .fxpextension.

b. If you do not want to use the Project Name for the saved project file, type adifferent name in the Project Save File field.

c. In the Project Directory, choose the folder in which you want to save the pro-ject.The Project Working directory is updated to use the same root folder as theProject Directory.

d. If you do not want to use the Project Directory as the root location of theworking directory of the project, choose a different location for the ProjectWorking directory.

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Importing

e. Click OK.

The project node is added to theNavigation Tree.

Import a Model

1. Right-click theGold_Tutorial node and select Add > Import Block Model.The Select form appears.

2. Select themodel that you want to import.For this tutorial, the .mod and .par files are in <your projects folder>\tutorialsGold.

3. Click Select.

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Importing

The Import Wizard appears with the options and file locations filled using the locationand file type of themodel file you selected.

Notes:

l Whittle uses two block model import wizards. This tutorial uses a Whittlemodel, so the classic Import Wizard appears. If themodel was a Surpac,Datamine, or Vulcan model, the Import Block ModelWizard would appear.

l If the parameters file is in a different folder to themodel file, you can changethe location of the Parameters File to Import.

4. Click Next.5. Continue clicking Nextwithout entering any values until you come to the Processes page

(not the Process Description page).6. In the Processes page, click Add, to add a process.

A row is added to the Process table.

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Importing

7. Click the row you just added, and rename it toMILL.Note: Renaming the row to MILL is important for a later stage of this tutorial.

You will add more information later, after you have validated themodel.

Because no further changes are needed, you could click Finish on the Processes page andcreate the project. However, in this tutorial, continue clicking through the pages of theImport Wizard to identify the features of the wizard and their functions.

8. Continue clicking Next to display more pages of the wizard until theNext button is nolonger available.The next few pages of the Import Wizard show summary information for the gradeelement and allow editing of element names. Do not enter any information in thesepages.

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Importing

9. Click Finish.The block model is loaded, and theDefine Element Type Codes page appears.

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Importing

10. Click Next to display theDefine model dimensions page.In this page you can edit the block model information, including dimensions, frameworkextents, origin, and azimuth. For this tutorial, you do not need to enter any informationin this page.

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Importing

11. Click Finish.

You have now imported themodel into Whittle. Whittle displays several analysis nodes that guideyou through themine-planning process.

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Validate the importedmodel

Validate the imported model1. To rename the block model node, click the Block Model node, click theDescription tab,

and in theDescription field, type 10 x 20 x 10.The new name is the dimensions for themodel. Renaming the block model node helpsyou identify the block model.In theNotes box, there are notes that specify the location of the original .mod and .parfiles. If necessary, add more notes in this box.

2. To save your changes, click Accept.Because you changed theDescription field, the name of the node in theNavigation Treealso changes.

3. Click theDimensions tab, and review the block size and model origin.4. Click the Report tab, and compare the all the totals in Whittle against the validation

report from the GMP.An example of a validation report from Surpac is in the same folder as the training.modfile. The file name is training_rpt.txt. Compare the total tonnes of rock of each rock type(fresh, transitional, and oxide), and the total number of gold grams, that is 'Total Element'for each rock type.

Tip: Tonnes of rock = tonnes of waste + tonnes of ore.

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Validate the importedmodel

5. Scroll down the report, and examine the 'Summary by bench by rock type' section to seehow the tonnes are distributed on each bench.

6. Next use the 3D Viewer as a visual check.a. In theNavigation Tree, click the Block Model node.

b. From the toolbar, click Start Three-D Viewer .

c. In the Select data to display form, leave all the options selected, and click OK.

Tip: By clicking the Block Model node in the project tree, you bring theblock model into the 3D Viewer. Later, you will visualise different things byclicking different nodes in the project tree.

d. In the 3D Viewer, in the Pit display section, select the Show Topographycheck box.

e. On the Axis tab, select the Show XZ Plane check box.f. To rotate the view, click and drag themouse.g. To zoom the view, hold the wheel of themouse and move themouse away

from you to zoom out or toward you to zoom in.h. To change the background of the 3D Viewer to white, in the lower left of the

window, click Invert.Note: To help you save ink when you print this tutorial, many screen

captures in this document have an inverted view.

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Validate the importedmodel

Your view appears similar to the following. You will explore the 3D Viewerlater. For now, it is enough to check themodel visually.

You have now validated your model by comparing tonnes and by doing a visual check.

Note: Whittle uses I, J, and K axes. The IJK value of each block is the relative position ofthat block from the origin of themodel framework. For example, a block with an IJK valueof 88, 38, 17 is 88 blocks from the origin in the X direction (the I axis), 38 blocks in the Ydirection (J axis), and 17 blocks in the Z direction (K axis). The real world equivalent of theIJK position depends on the coordinates of the origin of the block model and the userblock size.

7. Close the 3D Viewer.One final thing to do on the Block Model node is to set the units of the project to grams.You need to set the units because the unit ofmeasure for the gold element is grams.

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Validate the importedmodel

8. Click the Formats tab, and in the Element data table, in theUnits cell, choose gram.

9. To save your changes, click Accept.

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Set pit slopes for the optimisation

Set pit slopes for the optimisation1. In theNavigation Tree, click theNew Slope Set node.2. Click theDescription tab, and in theDescription field, type the description Slope Case 1 -

60 degrees below level 16.3. To define the slopes, click the Slope Type tab, under Define slopes by, select Rectangular

slope regions.

Tip: Rock types are commonly used to specify slope angles. Alternatively, you cancreate an attribute in the block model and fill it with integers that specify different zonesbased on any data.

Next, in the Profiles tab, you will create two new slope profiles in addition to the defaultslope profile.

4. Click the Profiles tab.5. To create the following two profiles with the specified slope angles, in the Slope Profiles

section, click Add Profile for each profile you add:l Profile 1 - Slope 45 degrees.l Profile 2 - Slope 60 degrees.

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Set pit slopes for the optimisation

Next, you will split themodel into two ‘slope regions’, and assign each of the two profilesto a different slope region.

6. To add a second slop region, in the Slope Regions section, click Add.7. Split the regions using the Z value of themodel. Change the values so that the following

regions are defined, and then in the Slope Profile column assign the slope profile.Region Min X Max X Min Y Max Y Min Z Max Z Slope Profile

1 1 90 1 40 16 35 Profile 1 (45.0)2 1 90 1 40 1 15 Profile 2 (60.0)

8. To save your work, click Accept.Now you have entered all of the relevant information, the next step is to generate theslope file to use in the optimisation. To generate the slope file, you must 'run' the analysis

by clicking Run To .

9. To run the analysis from the top of theNavigation Tree down to a specific slope set node,

click the Slope Set node you want, and then click Run To .

The running icon is displayed beside the node that Whittle is processing, and aprogress bar is displayed in the lower left of the window.

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Set pit slopes for the optimisation

10. To check the slope errors, click the Report tab of the Slope Set node.

Tip: Slopes are created between blocks in the block model and, therefore, cannotexactly define the entered slope angle. However, the difference is usually small.

You have defined two different regions for applying the slopes. The profiles for the tworegions appear in theMessages tab.

11. To review the two profiles for those regions, click theMessages tab.

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Set pit slopes for the optimisation

These slope errors are acceptable.

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Enter themining costs Method 1. Using range function alone

Enter the mining costsBefore entering the cost information, you must build up themining-cost model. In this tutorial, youhave the following information:

l basemining cost $1.50/tonnel mining cost increases 5c for each 10-metre bench below 230RL

There are a number of ways to represent this data. In this tutorial, you will use the range function toenter an equation that describes themining cost adjustment factor (MCAF). The range function is astandard function, with the format R(IZ,MCAF,level,MCAF,level), which describes themining costadjustment factor (MCAF) between two levels.

Two methods you will explore in this tutorial are as follows.

Method 1. Using range function alone

1. Start Excel, and create a table with the following columns: l RL crestl RL toel IZ (block index in Z direction ofmodel)l Mining Costl MCAF (MCAF =Mining Cost/Mining Cost for mining at reference block).

2. In the RL crest column, in cell A2, type 300 and then for cells A3 to A36, decrease the valuefor each cell by 10.

Tip: For each column, after you type the values for thefirst two cells, select both cells and then drag the fill handle tofill in the remaining cells with the appropriate values. Thisfeature is called Auto Fill Option and is useful for quicklyfilling in a data series. See the Microsoft Help for moreinformation.

3. In the RL toe column, in cell B2, type 290, and then for cells B3 to B36 decrease the valuefor each cell by 10.

4. In the IZ column, in cell C2, type 35, and then for cells C3 to C36 decrease the value foreach cell by 1.

5. In theMining Cost column, for cells D2 -D8, type 1.5. For cells D9 to D36, increase thevalue for each cell by 0.05.

6. In theMCAF column, for cells E2-E8, type 1. For cells E9-E36, type the formula=-0.0333*C<row>+1.9667, where <row> is the row number. For example, for cell E9 the for-mula is =-0.0333*C9+1.9667.

The table will look like the following example.

Note: To save space, the table is shown as two side-by-side tables. In Excel, you would create asingle table.

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Enter themining costs Method 2. Using line of best fit within a range function

RL crest RL toe IZ Mining Cost MCAF RL crest RL toe IZ Mining Cost MCAF300 290 35 1.5 1 120 110 17 2.1 1.40290 280 34 1.5 1 110 100 16 2.15 1.43280 270 33 1.5 1 100 90 15 2.2 1.47270 260 32 1.5 1 90 80 14 2.25 1.5260 250 31 1.5 1 80 70 13 2.3 1.53250 240 30 1.5 1 70 60 12 2.35 1.57240 230 29 1.5 1 60 50 11 2.4 1.6230 220 28 1.55 1.03 50 40 10 2.45 1.63220 210 27 1.6 1.07 40 30 9 2.5 1.67210 200 26 1.65 1.10 30 20 8 2.55 1.7200 190 25 1.7 1.13 20 10 7 2.6 1.73190 180 24 1.75 1.17 10 0 6 2.65 1.77180 170 23 1.8 1.20 0 -10 5 2.7 1.8170 160 22 1.85 1.23 -10 -20 4 2.75 1.83160 150 21 1.9 1.27 -20 -30 3 2.8 1.87150 140 20 1.95 1.30 -30 -40 2 2.8 1.9140 130 19 2.0 1.33 -40 -50 1 2.9 1.93130 120 18 2.05 1.37

What you want to represent is described as follows:

At the bottom of the model (level 1), use an MCAF of 1.93, at level 2 use 1.9, at level 3 use 1.87, andthen continue on until at level 27 use 1.07. At level 28 use 1.03, and then at level 29 and above, use avalue of 1 (up to the top of the model).

As an equation, you build the range function using the format:

R(IZ,MCAF,level,MCAF,level, MCAF,level ………,level, MCAF,levelMCAF,level), for example:

R(IZ,1.93,2,1.90,3,1.87,4.............,27,1.07,28,1.03,29,1)

It is easy to build up this formula in Excel using the concatenate function.

For more examples using the Range function, see the Expression Button topic in the Help.

Method 2. Using line of best fit within a range function

1. Start Excel, and create the table shown in method 1.2. In the IZ column, select cells C9-C36, and in theMCAF column, select cells E9-E36.3. Click the Insert tab, and in the Charts group, click Scatter, and then click Scatter with

Straight Lines and Markers.4. Click theDesign tab, and in the Chart Layouts group, click Layout 1, and update the chart

name.5. To show the line and themarkers, in the Layout tab, in the Analysis group, click Trend-

line, and then click Linear Trendline.6. To change the legend:

a. Click theDesign tab, and in theData group, click Select Data.b. Select the legend entry, click Edit, and type the series name.

7. To hide the axis names, click the Layout tab, and in the Labels group, click Axis Titles, andselect None for both the primary horizontal and vertical axe.

8. To add the equation to the graph, click the Layout tab, and in the Insert group, click TextBox, and then type the equation in the text box.

In other words, the line is MCAF = -0.0333 *IZ + 1.9667, and the scatter chart appears as follows.

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Enter themining costs Entering the equations into theMining tab

You can then use the range function and nest the line of best fit within the range function.

What you want to represent is described as follows:

Up to the 230RL (level 29), use the equation MCAF = -0.0333 *IZ + 1.9667. For level 29 and thereafter,use a value of 1 (up to the top of the model).

As an equation, you express this concept as:R(IZ,-0.0333*IZ+1.9667,29,1)

Entering the equations into the Mining tab

1. Rename theNew Pit Shells node to Base Case.2. On theMining tab, in Reference Mining Cost, type 1.5.3. Under Block Mining Cost Adjustment Factors, select Calculate, and then click the func-

tion button .

The Expression Builder opens.

You can use the Expression Builder to build expressions using standard functions,variables, and special functions.

4. In the Expression Builder, type or copy the preferred expression, for example R(IZ,-0.0333*IZ+1.97,29,1), and then click Check Expression.

Note: If you select the Range function from the Functions list, the entry uses RAinstead of just R in the expression. Both expressions are correct. For more information,see the Special functions section in the Expressions topic in the Help.

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Enter themining costs Entering the equations into theMining tab

5. If there are no errors, click Ok to return to theMining tab.

Your formula appears in the Block Mining Cost Adjustment Factors section of theMining tab.

Or

6. If the Rock-TypeMining CAFs are not set to 1, set each of them to 1.

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Enter themining costs Entering the equations into theMining tab

7. In the Rock Type Detail table, leaveMining Recovery Fraction andMining Dilution Frac-tion blank. Whittle then uses the global recovery and dilution fractions (which are eachset to 1.0).

8. To accept the changes on theMining tab, click Accept.TheData Synchronization form appears.

9. Click Yes. By clicking Yes, you confirm that you would like to copy themining informationdown the project tree to the economic analysis node.Because you want to analyse the pit shells using the same criteria that was used to createthem, you will always click Yes to this question in this tutorial.

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Enter the processing paths Entering the equations into theMining tab

Enter the processing pathsOn the Processing tab, you will specify the processing cost and mining recovery factor for theMILLprocess for each of the three rock types. The following image shows the information to enter.

The processing paths use the rock types in themodel file. The paths are assigned to the processMILLthat you specified in the import wizard.

1. Click the Processing tab.2. For each row:

a. Click Add.b. In theMethod box, typeMILL.c. Select the Rock Type.d. Enter the Processing Cost.e. In the Processing details for each element section, edit the Recovery cell.f. To add the row and return to themain Processing tab, click OK.

3. To save the project, click Accept.

Tip: To put the processing paths in a logical order, under the Processing Pathssection, click Up or Down.

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Enter the price Entering the equations into theMining tab

Enter the price1. On the Selling tab, type the Price at which you expect to sell the gold. In this case,

$800/oz or $25.72/gram.Note: At the time this example was created, the gold price was approximately

$25/gram. At this price, the power ofWhittle to optimise the pit design is clearlydemonstrated. The current gold price is likely to be higher, which changes the result.Regardless of gold price, the principles of how to useWhittle remain the same, but itbecomes effective to model mine designs for lower grade deposits.

You can enter the price in either ounces or grams. However, make sure that:

a. The units are correct for the entered price andb. You have set the element units as grams on the Formats tab of the Block

Model node.

This selling price does not include royalties. If royalties are payable, reduce the sellingprice or add a selling cost.

Note: Selling prices are scaled by the revenue factor. Selling costs are not.

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Run the optimisation Entering the equations into theMining tab

Run the optimisation1. On theOptimization tab, under theOutput section, click Default.

You will produce approximately 50 nested pit shells at varying prices depending on therevenue factors specified here. The revenue factors scale the entered selling price toproduce different pits that are optimal for different prices.

2. Click Accept.

3. To run the optimisation, click Run To .

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CheckMCAFson theOutput tab Entering the equations into theMining tab

Check MCAFs on the Output tabBefore analysing the results, you will check that theMCAFs were applied correctly, and then examinethe output pit shells visually.

1. Click the Base Case node, and click Start Three-D Viewer .2. In the Select data to display form, accept all the default settings and click OK.

To validate theMCAFs visually, do the following:

1. Under Snap to View, click XZ.2. Click the Axis tab.3. Select Show Data, and then selectMCAF.4. Select Show XZ Plane.5. Click the Info tab.6. Click Show to open theData Informationwindow, and then move it to the upper right of

the viewer.

As you move themouse pointer over the blocks in the 3D Viewer, the informationappears in theData Information form and the Info tab.

7. Check that theMCAFs have been applied correctly.8. To examine the pit shells visually:

a. To the right of the Pit Display section, select the Show Pit check box.b. In the pit number box, click the up and down arrows to examine to each pit

shell.

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CheckMCAFson theOutput tab Entering the equations into theMining tab

Alternatively, you can use the up and down arrows on your keyboard to exam-ine each pit shell.

You can also view the gold grades in an XY plane while viewing the pit shells.

9. Change the options as shown in the following image, and use the left mouse button torotate the view.

Tip: To change your view of the image: l Left click to orbitl Right-click to panl Hold the wheel and move themouse backward or forward to zoom in or

out.

Note: The edge of the pit is at the edge of themodel, which is acceptable in thistutorial. In reality, you would either extend themodel in the GMP or use the reblockingfunctionality in Whittle to do the extension. For more information, see the topic onAdvanced Reblocking in the Help, or contact your local GEOVIA office for training options.

10. Close the 3D Viewer.11. To review the range of pits created, click the Base Case node, and click theOutput tab.

The next step is to determine the final pit and create some pushbacks for the deposit. Before goingto that stage, you will quickly examine the sensitivities of the deposit.

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Enter the costs and limits Entering the equations into theMining tab

Enter the costs and limitsThe next step is to enter financial information, such as costs and limits, into theNew OperationalScenario node.

1. Click theNew Operational Scenario node.Notice that theMining, Processing , and Selling tabs are identical to those tabs on thePit Shells node.

2. Click the Time Costs tab, and enter the following:l In Initial Capital Cost, type 50000000.

The initial capital cost for project is $50million.l In Discount Rate per period (%) type 8.

3. Click the Limits tab, and in theMining Limit (tonne), type 10000000.Themining limit is 10,000,000 (tpa).

4. Under Processing Method Limits, in themilling limit in the Limit (tonne) cell, type1000000.Themilling is 1,000,000 (tpa).

5. Under Element Limits, in the Units cell, choose gram.The units for the project is grams.

Even though you are not using the element limit in this scenario, you must change theunits .

6. Under the Throughput Factors section, set the Factor cells for each row to 1. The zerosare caused from the .par file, which has been exported from a GMP package.The throughput factor affects the relative speed of processing. A throughput factorhigher than 1, for example 1.2, indicates that themill processes the rock faster because itis easier to crush. A throughput factor lower than 1 indicates that it takes longer for themill to process it.

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Enter the costs and limits Entering the equations into theMining tab

7. Click Accept.

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Perform sensitivity analysis Entering the equations into theMining tab

Perform sensitivity analysisNote: To perform automatic sensitivity analysis, you must have the Advanced Analysis module.

You will examine the sensitivities of the deposit, using the revenue factor 1 pit shell – Pit number 41 –to get a broad understanding of sensitivities. Later, you can examine sensitivities of specificschedules after you have created them.

1. Right-click theNew Operational Scenario node, and choose Add > Spider Graph.2. Click theNew Spider Graph node, and then click theDefinition tab.3. In the Values to vary section, click Add to open the Data Selector.

You use theData Selector to select the variables you want to see in your graph. In thiscase, your spider graph. The easiest way to select a variable is to use the Search box.

4. In the Search box, typeMining cap, and click Search.5. In the search results, ensureMining capacity (ROCKLIMIT) is selected, and then click Add

to selection list.

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Perform sensitivity analysis Entering the equations into theMining tab

6. Click OK.You have just specified that the spider graph will plot Mining capacity.

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Perform sensitivity analysis Entering the equations into theMining tab

7. Add the other variables shown in the following list.

8. In the Values to display in output section, and click Add/Edit.9. In the Search box, typeDiscounted open pit value, and click Search.10. Select theDiscounted open pit value, and click OK.11. In the Spread Sheet Code Details form, select Specified Case, and click OK.

12. Click Accept.

13. To run the analysis, click the Spider Graph node, and then click Run To .14. To examine the graph, click theGraph tab.

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Perform sensitivity analysis Entering the equations into theMining tab

You can see that for this project, the RF 1 pit is most sensitive to the following:

1. Price of gold.2. Mining recovery.3. Metallurgical recovery for FRESHmaterial.

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Determine the final pit Entering the equations into theMining tab

Determine the final pitFollow this process to determine the final pit and the set of NPV practical pushbacks.

1. Run pit by pit graph to determine likely pushbacks.2. Run pit by pit graph again to determine final pit.3. Run NPV Practical Pushbacks to determinemineable pushbacks.

1. Under theNew Operational Scenario node, click the Pit by Pit Graph node.2. Run the Pit by Pit Graph node.

You do not have to change anything. This graph runs an NPV analysis for each pit shellusing benchmark schedules – worst case and best case.

Tip: Best and worst case are benchmark schedules and are not designed to be used asrealistic mine schedules.

l Best case schedule is ‘onion skin’ type scheduling where each successive pitshell is mined out beforemoving to the next.

l Worst case scheduling means that mining begins at the top bench of eachpit shell and progresses down.

These two benchmark schedules give an upper and lower bound to the NPV for each pitshell. For more information on best, worst, and specified case schedules, see the AnalysisSchedule Tab topic in the Help.

3. Analyse the output of the pit by pit graph.

The x axis shows the pit shell number. The graph shows 51 possible pit shells, where pit 1is the smallest.

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Determine the final pit Entering the equations into theMining tab

You can see the upper and lower NPV expectations, and the different pit shells at whichthey occur. From this graph, you will choose a number of likely pushbacks so that youcan plot a specified schedule and base a final pit decision on somemore realisticpushbacks.

To get a more accurate NPV, you will choose a set of pushbacks to work with. The firstpushback is from the first section of the graph (pits 1-5), the second pushback is from thenext section (pits 6 – 29), and then a third pushback is from the next tonnage jump (pits30-35).

For this tutorial, use themiddle of each section, 3, 18, 32, and then use these pushbacksto determine a likely final pit.

4. Right-click the Pit by Pit Graph node, and click Copy Node, and then right-click, and clickPaste.Or use the keyboard shortcuts, CTRL-C, and CTRL-V, or the toolbar icons.

5. Click the Schedule tab.6. Under the Specified Case Scheduling Algorithm section, in the Fixed Lead box type 7.

This as an approximation to the final mining schedule.7. Under the Specified Case Pushback Definitions section, click Add.8. In the Add Pushback form, in the Pit Number(s) box type the three pushbacks, using

commas or spaces to separate the numbers, and click OK.

9. Click Accept to accept the changes.10. Run the Pit by Pit Graph node.11. Examine the pit by pit graph.

Pay attention to the green line, which represents the 'specified case' schedule you havedefined, pushbacks 3, 18, 32with a fixed lead of 7 benches between pushbacks.

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Determine the final pit Entering the equations into theMining tab

Note: When you use the fixed lead option, you specify a number of benches that aremined in the initial pushback before the first bench of the following pushback is mined.

From this graph, you can see that pit shells 35 – 41 each deliver a similar NPVwith thethree pushbacks.

Themiddle shell, pit shell 38, is a good choice for the final pit.

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Create practical pushbacks Entering the equations into theMining tab

Create practical pushbacksNote: You need the NPV Practical Push Backs module for this set of steps. If you do not have this

module, continue using pit shells 3, 18, 32, and 38.

You nowwant to ensure that you have a practical, but high value, set of pushbacks selected for thefinal pit, pit #38. You will use the NPV Practical Push Backs module to generate pit shells that satisfyconstraints ofmining width, but also target maximum NPV.

1. Click theNew Schedule Graph node, click theDescription tab, and in theDescriptionbox, typeNPV Practical Pushbacks.

2. Click the Schedule tab, and enter the following:l Under Final Pit, select User specified pit and in the box type 38.l Under Specified Case Scheduling Algorithm, select Fixed Lead and in the

box type 7.l Under Specified Pushback Definition, select Auto, and in Number Push-

backs type 4. The number of pushbacks represents3 pushbacks + final pit.

3. Click theMining Width tab, and enter the following:l InMining width, type 40.l Select Override default template, and in the boxes type the information as

shown in the image to allow 4 x 2 block template with a tolerance of 1.

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Create practical pushbacks Entering the equations into theMining tab

4. Click theNVP Practical Pushbacks node, and then click Run To .Note: It might take several minutes for the system to finish processing the pushbacks.

5. Examine the results.l TheOutput tab shows the schedule output information for each period.l TheGraph tab shows the same information graphically as follows:

The x axis shows the period in which the waste and ore aremined. In thisproject one period is one year.

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Create practical pushbacks Entering the equations into theMining tab

l The Summary tab shows the key indicators for the schedule including expec-ted NPV and internal rate of return (IRR).

Now, you can use the 3D Viewer to examine the shape of the pushbacks.

6. Click theNPV Practical Pushbacks node, and then click Start Three-D Viewer .

7. Click Revised pit shells to visualise the pit shells.

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Create practical pushbacks Entering the equations into theMining tab

Pushbacks 2 and 3 are small. You might combine them at design time, leaving three practicalpushbacks.

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Congratulations Entering the equations into theMining tab

CongratulationsYou have completed the Introduction Gold tutorial. This tutorial demonstrates some of the basicfeatures ofWhittle, and is not designed to replace an introductory training course given by aqualified GEOVIA consultant. There aremany more advanced analyses, scheduling and specialisedmodules available to develop a robust mine plan for your operation, and specialised techniques thathelp you work efficiently and effectively.

For more information, contact your local GEOVIA office to discuss product modules or trainingoptions.

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