Patent AU-2006235195-B2 (AU)
Title: Mining optimisation
Inventor: STONE PETER MITCHELL
IPC: E21C41/28
Filed: 2006-03-29
Granted: 2012-08-02
Abstract: (12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (19) World Intellectual Property Organization International Bureau (43) International Publication Date (10) International Publication Number 19 October 2006 (19.10.2006) PCT W O 2006/108213 Al (51) International Patent Classification: [AU/AU]; 1/20 Bendigo Street, Cheltenham, Victoria 3192 E21C 41/00 (2006.01) E21C 41/16 (2006.01) (AU). STONE, Peter, Mitchell [AU/AU]; 168 Brighton E21C 41/26 (2006.01) E21C 41/28 (2006.01) Road, Ripponlea, Victoria 3186 (AU). E21C 41/30 (2006.01) (74) Agent: GRIFFITH HACK; 509 St Kilda Road, Mel (21) International Application Number: bourne, Victoria 3004 (AU). PCT/AU2006/000420 (81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every (22) International Filing Date: 29 March 2006 (29.03.2006) kind of national protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BW, BY, BZ, CA, CH, CN, (25) Filing Language: English CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, FI, (26) Publication Language: English GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, IHU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, (30) Priority Data: KG, KM, KN, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, 2005901788 11 April 2005 (11.04.2005) AU LY, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MZ, NA, NG, NI, 2005906941 9 December 2005 (09.12.2005) AU NO, NZ, OM, PG, PH, PL, PT, RO, RU, SC, SD, SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, SY, TJ, TM, TN, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, (71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): BHP BIL- UZ, VC, VN, YU, ZA, ZM, ZW. LITON INNOVATION PTY LTD [AU/AU]; BHP Billi- (84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every ton Centre, 180 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH, (AU). GM, KE, LS, MW, MZ, NA, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZM, (72) Inventors; and ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), (75) Inventors/Applicants (for US only): MENABDE, Merab European (AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, [Continued on next page] (54) Title: MINING OPTIMISATION Start (57) Abstract: A method, system and computer t=1 program for modelling an optimal mine plan is disclosed. The life of mine is divided into a plu initialize Dynamic 1 rality of increasing lengths of time (Figures 2 and erpo monew 3) and performing optimisation steps, with each step being performed once for a predetermined time period for the remaining life of mine. Ma Capacity Overflow to Waste Dump terial may be stockpiled or may be sent direct 12 to product or to waste without any stockpiling. Dmi A decision (block 10 in Figure 1) is made as to Pit 1---- -Pit P Stockpile which material is sent to product in each time ln First Year of period for the remaining life of mine. In each HomogeOnisy predetermined time period, material with a grade 14 Optimization Step 10 greater than a marginal grade that is not sent to (From time t to LaM) Urp to (opprox) 8 Periods produce is sent to stockpile and all material less of Increasing Length From InPiMtealOy From In-Pit Optimal Extraction and in First Year of Sequence than a marginal grade is sent to waste (14). In the Wse Material Only Processing w h ere /up Grade <Marginal Optimally select the Grade < Economic and > Marginal remaining life of mine, after the predetermined material frm each pit period, it is required that all material not sent to stockpile in each period produce be sent to waste and determining an ini it should be sent tial movement of material to and from the stock pile and to and from the mine to product over the Combined Economic Grade from Pits and Dynamic Stockpile life of mine in increasing lengths of time. t=t+1 1 Move forward one 1=LOM? year Finished: Aggregate LOM Optimal First Year of Each Optimization Step W O 20 06/10 82 13 A l 11111|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 111 |||||||||||||||||||| 1111111||||||||||| FR, GB, GR, IUJ, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, LV, MC, NL, PL, PT, For two-letter codes and other abbreviations, refer to the "Guid RO, SE, SI, SK, TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, ance Notes on Codes andAbbreviations" appearing at the begin GN, GQ, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG). ning of each regular issue of the PCT Gazette. Published: - with international search report