Stage & Process Precedence

Source file: process-flow-stage-precedence.htm

The Stage & Process Precedence subtab allows you to check the number and order of stages specified for your setup. To enter it, go to the Process Setup tab and select Stage & Process Precedence from the drop-down list.

The order or precedence in which stages should be mined has a large influence on the results obtained by Strategy. While Strategy is free to explore mining sequences outside this order, there is an assumption that a higher net present value (NPV) will most likely be found when this order is followed. The Stage & Process Precedence subtab allows you to reorder the stage priorities. This can be useful in the following situations:

  • The stages in the model are not named or numbered in the decreasing value order, and you want to inform Strategy what the correct order is.

  • When you want to force Strategy to mine stages in a different order.

  • If due to practical mining reasons a stage with lower value should have preference over a stage with higher value; for example due to the waste stripping, pit access, or in-pit dumping room.

The Stage & Process Precedence subtab also allows you to define the priority among the processes in your setup. When you select the Force Process Ranking checkbox, the list with processes applied in the setup will become active. To specify the priority of these processes, change their order by dragging them on the list. The order of priority that you define will be respected by Evolution during cut-off values' generation, which will result in assigning a higher cut-off to the processes that are higher in the list. For more information on cut-off grade, see Fixed Cut-Offs.