Mining Blocks Generation
This feature provides tools to create mining block solids ready to be used by Maptek scheduling software.
Overview
The Mining Blocks Generation feature provides Vulcan tools to create mining blocks solids ready to use by Maptek scheduling software.
The Mining Blocks Generation can work in a range of project configurations - from a single pushback to multiple pits and mining stages, enabling the user to be fully in control of the scale of their project planning.
The data produced during the process is automatically assigned various design and triangulation attributes, to ensure the process at any step is audited and customisable. Users can adjust and repeat individual steps or groups of workflow actions at any time.
The design data in the forms of created polygons is saved into the user design database in layers, and the triangulation data is saved into a hierarchy of folders defined by the user.
The number of prerequisites for the Mining Blocks Generation is minimal – the user needs to provide a topography and basic pit or dump design surfaces. The topography and footwall surfaces are optional in case pit solids are used.
The functionality is separated in two phases – setup and block creation.
At the setup phase the user creates a specification, which describes the input data – triangulations and polygons, as well as the configuration and location of boundaries and benches, and the location and hierarchy of the output triangulation files and design layers.
The specification is saved into a familiar Vulcan text file.
At the end of the setup phase all mining stage triangulations and bench solids will be created. All trim, ramp and production zone polygons will be also created.
The block creation phase begins builds on the specification created during setup, adding user requirements into the same specification file.
Mining blocks can be created as required in any one or all of the mining zones – trim, ramp and production. The blocks parameters like volume, tonnage, distance, area, dimensions, direction of mining, are fully customisable for each zone type and bench.
Block outline polygons are created for all benches, considering all targets and saved into the user design database layers. The block polygons creation is very flexible, providing for a range of requirements for each bench, enabling the user to decide which block polygons will be created automatically and which will be selected from existing block polygons. The mix of automatic and manually designed polygons ensures the user can review and adjust the polygons before the block solids creation.
The naming of block polygons and triangulations is customisable as well. The Mining Blocks Generation user interface provides tools to select from basic parameters such as pit, stage, bench, block identifier, block type – ramp, trim or production, design layer, design object name, and to add their own text anywhere in the block name.
After the block polygons are ready, the block creation proceeds automatically or at user request to create the final mining blocks triangulation solids.
The results are saved in block triangulation folders for each pit and stage, located in the file hierarchy described during the setup phase.
The Mining Blocks Generation also provides a quick link to Vulcan’s Advanced Reserves, generating the familiar reserves report files. A block model file needs to be selected before invoking Advanced Reserves.
At the end of the Mining Blocks Creation a reconciliation report can be created and saved into a file. The report includes all stage, bench and block triangulations volumes.
