Parcel Reporting

Source file: epoch-setups-flowchart-parcel-settings.htm

Creating parcels allows you to categorise the mined material by tonnage, volume and swell factor. The Parcel Reporting subtab is used to define two types of data: categories and parcels. To enter it, go to the Process Setup tab and select Parcel Reporting from the drop-down list.

In Epoch and Origin Solids setups, the word parcel is used to describe material components in a model. A common setup would include an ore parcel and a waste parcel. Categories are attributes that every parcel has in the setup.

All parcels created in a setup must have data for three compulsory categories: Tonnage, Volume and Swell Factor. Swell factor is a value included to take into account the volumetric expansion of solids when they are removed from the ground. Its percentage is indicated in decimal fractions, where a value of 1 correlates to no swelling. For example, a swell factor of 1.2 would represent a 20% increase in volume during mining.

Unlike in Origin Solids setups, the tonnage and volume for each parcel do not need to be equal to the total tonnage and volume set in the Configuration subtab. Optional categories include Accumulation, Grade, RejectionFactor, Recovery and CostPerWeight.

Note:  You can rename the compulsory categories so that the Auto-Fill can better match your attribute naming conventions. To do so, double-click on the cell in the Name row of the corresponding category and enter a new name. Click enter to apply the changed name.

Adding a category or parcel

Follow these steps to add a category to the table:

  1. Click next to the Categories label in the Parcel Settings ribbon. A column with a new category will be added to the table.

  2. Double-click the cell in the Name row to set the name of your new category.

  3. Using the drop-down menus in each row, select the appropriate attributes for the added category.

Tip:  To add multiple categories at once, select next to the icon and enter the number of categories you wish to add.

Accumulation A total quantity or value that is summed in a parcel, such as contained metal tonnes or net cash flow.
Grade

Concentration or unit rates, such as grams per tonne, tonnes per cubic metre, or dollars per tonne. If the Grade category is assigned to a parcel, then it can be used as a numerator in the blending process. In the Process Setup > Configuration subtab, if the Enable Blend Target checkbox is selected, a parcel with a category of grade can also be used as the denominator. See Blending Configuration for more information.

When you set this category, make sure you specify the Grade Weight Category by selecting from Tonnage and Volume.

RejectionFactor

A value between 0 and 1 that defines how each parcel is split when processed at a screening station. See Screening Stations for more information.

Note:   This category is relevant for Solids only.
Recovery

Weighted average that is calculated for the recovered material when it is delivered to the mill. This variable is used to calculate the net present value (NPV). For more information, see Net Present Value.

When you set this category, be sure to specify the Grade Weight Category by selecting from Tonnage and Volume.

Note:  This category is relevant for Solids only.
CostPerWeight

The weighted average of the cost per mass or volume of the material processed at the mill. When you set this category, be sure to specify the Grade Weight Category by selecting from Tonnage and Volume.

This variable is used to calculate the NPV. See Net Present Value for more information.

Note:   This category is relevant for Solids only.

Follow these steps to add a parcel to the table:

  1. Click next to the Parcels label in the parcel settings ribbon.

  2. Click on the cell named New Parcel to set the name of your new parcel.

  3. Using the drop-down menus, specify parcel variables for the total_mass, Volume and SwellFactor category, and, optionally, for any other category that you have added.

Tip:  To add multiple parcels at once, select next to the icon and enter the number of parcels you wish to add.

Note:  Some parcels might not need to track the values of certain categories. Consequently, instead of creating distinct attributes for each of them, you can use the Default Value drop-down to apply the same attribute to all cells that are left blank in the table.

Deleting a category or parcel

To delete a category or a parcel from the table, proceed as follows:

  • To delete a category, select the category column in the Parcel Reporting table and click to the right of Categories in the ribbon.

  • To delete a parcel, select the parcel in the Parcel Reporting table and click to the right of Parcels in the ribbon.

Importing parcel categories

You can import a Vulcan reserve specification file (.res) to fill parcel categories.

To import a RES file, follow these steps:

  1. Select Import in the Parcel Reporting ribbon. The file explorer will open.

  2. Select the RES file you wish to import and click Open.

Note:  Importing a RES file only creates parcels defined in the Product Codes section of the RES file. Other methods of splitting up advanced reserves such as by bench, or by classification variable are not considered.

Note:  If your RES file contains categories, but no parcel definitions, then only categories will be imported to the table. Similarly, if the RES file contains parcel definitions but no categories, then only the parcels will be imported.

Auto-filling parcel categories

You can use the Auto-Fill feature to let Evolution automatically fill in the Parcel Reporting table cells. Evolution fills the cells by searching for attributes in your project which match the cell's row and column headings.

For example, to fill the cell defined by parcel hg and category Volume, Evolution searches for hg_volume. The project attribute that matches the search, within a tolerance, will be selected to fill the cell. In this case, Evolution found hg_total_volume.

To use this option, click Auto-Fill in the Parcel Reporting ribbon.