Polygon-Based Resource Increments for Pit Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surface mine planning tools struggle to accurately represent complex geology and model variable pit wall slopes, leading to crude pit wall positioning and increased computational complexity due to the use of large blocks, which results in modeling dilution and failure to identify valuable resources effectively.
Innovation Solution
The system uses polygon-based resource increments that conform to geological models, allowing for the division of deposits into minable chunks that honor geology and slope constraints, reducing computational complexity and improving pit design accuracy by sorting and grouping resource increments based on value, thereby defining a maximum valued pit without block model restrictions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If block size is reduced to accurately represent complex geology and model variable pit wall slopes, then manufacturing precision and measurement precision improve, but device complexity and computational complexity increase exponentially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the deposit into polygonal resource increments that conform to geological boundaries and slope constraints, rather than using a uniform block grid. This segmentation allows accurate representation of complex geology and variable slopes while processing only the necessary polygons, reducing computational complexity compared to fine-block models.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by using polygonal shapes that adapt to local geological features and slope requirements. Each polygon is specifically shaped to honor local geology and mining constraints, rather than forcing a uniform block structure throughout the entire deposit model.
2Measurement precision
If block size is reduced to avoid modeling dilution and separate valuable resource from waste, then measurement precision improves, but productivity decreases due to increased number of blocks to process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the deposit into polygons defined by geological boundaries and slope constraints, creating resource increments that naturally separate valuable material from waste. This approach achieves accurate resource separation without the exponential increase in block count, maintaining processing productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a three-dimensional block grid to a two-dimensional polygonal representation on the deposit surface. This dimensionality change allows accurate resource-waste separation while reducing the number of elements to process, as polygons can represent complex three-dimensional geometry through their two-dimensional boundaries.
3Productivity
If large blocks are used in conventional optimizers, then computational complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision and reliability of resource statements deteriorate due to modeling dilution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the deposit into polygons that follow geological boundaries and slope constraints, creating resource increments that accurately represent minable units. This segmentation provides reliable resource statements by ensuring each polygon represents a geologically and geotechnically coherent unit, without requiring excessively fine block sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter from block size to polygon geometry. Instead of varying block size to achieve accuracy, the system uses polygons with vertices defined by geological features and slope constraints. This parameter change maintains computational efficiency while improving reliability of resource modeling.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for pit design that that operates directly on a geological model without creating a three dimensional block model thereby minimizing modeling dilution. A resource in a deposit may be divided into a set of base resource units that closely conform to the resource geometry and value distribution and that can be mined by the equipment assumed to perform the excavation. A resource increment (RI) is defined by a base resource unit and any resource and waste over the base resource unit which is assumed to be excavated in conformance with slope stability and safe practices forming an approximation of a truncated inverted cone. A systematic sorting and grouping process of the RIs iterates down a list of RIs and identifies RIs and/or RI groups that add value to the pit while excluding RIs and/or RI groups that do not add value. The sorting and grouping process operates on the recognition that, for RIs analyzed later in the RI list, the cost of intersections of waste overlaying the RIs base resource unit is carried by RIs analyzed earlier in the list. The sorting and grouping process allows intersecting RIs to be evaluated, grouped into RI groups, and either included or not included in the pit so that a maximum valued pit is defined. One aspect of the novel sorting and grouping process is the identification and grouping of interdependent RIs and RI groups. Another novel aspect of this pit design system is the application of over lapping RI bases with size defined large enough to represent the minimal accessible mining space for the equipment proposed. Larger sized bases should lead to reduction in the complexity of intersecting RIs and computational time. The end result is a model of the pit including a list of RIs and/or RI groups to include in the pit and resource and/or reserve statements.