system was developed to facilitate the accumulation
and availability of production statistics for mine units.

The mine planning sequence is based on a master
grade-block file for the fibre zone, independent of
economic cut-off grade and mining limits. This is
accomplished by manually establishing a fibre/no-fibre
contact (3.0% C.C.R.G. used to give numerical base)
on a series of bench plans covering the entire fibre
zone. To provide continuity, all ore-containing benches
are set at 30-ft (9.1-m) heights. The fibre-bearing
zone within the 3.0% C.C.R.G. contour is manually
subdivided into nominal 100-ft (30.5-m) by 100-ft
(30.5-m) blocks, terminated by the 3.0% C.C.R.G.
contour where applicable, and based on drilling inter-
sections. In areas lacking drilling intersections, larger
blocks are used or dummy blocks are set up at the
geologist’s discretion.

Using the computer Modeler program, the following
entries are made for each block on a given bench:

1. Block number

2. Block area

8. High-grade fibre area

4. C.C.R.G.

5. Average fibre length

6. C.C.R.G. length distribution
6.1.—%+¥% in.
6.2. — % 6/16 in.
6.3. — % 5/16 in.
6.4. — % 4/16 in.
6.5. — % 3/16 in.
6.6. — % 2/16 in.
6.7.—% 1/16 in.

Following the above entries, opportunity is provided
for averaging the grade and distribution data for the
current block with the corresponding blocks on the
benches immediately above and below, which effect-
ively cuts high and low values. Completion of this
exercise creates a master model file for the fibre-
bearing zone, which is the foundation of the mine
planning system.

After development or re-definition of ultimate pit
limits, the Modeler program is again employed to build
a sub-model of the ultimate pit, with the addition of
total bench area to the block areas in order to deter-
mine the total volume (ore plus waste) within the
ultimate pit to a 3.0% C.C.R.G. cut-off. With develop-
ment of phase designs, identical exercises are carried
out for each phase. Note that the master model is
independent of topography, whereas the ultimate pit
and phase sub-models are revised annually to include
current topography. The objective of creating sub-
models to the 3.0% C.C.R.G. (fibre/no-fibre) cut-off
is to allow evaluation at any specified cut-off grade
greater than 3.0% C.C.R.G. To obtain print-outs of
reserves at various cut-off grades, the Reserve pro-
gram is used in conjunction with the sub-models.
Provision is also included in the Reserve program to
vary mining and milling recoveries.

Once phase models have been created and reserves
have been calculated, various mine scheduling trials
are run using the Planner program in conjunction
with the master model file. The scheduling trials are
based on developing a time-dependent pit composite by
sequentially mining out successive bench plans. Com-
puter entries through the Planner program consist of:
1. Total bench area
2. Block number
8. Block area
4, Block high-grade fibre area

With the above entries, the Planner program ex-
tracts grade and distribution data from the master
model file for storage and accumulation. The Planner

program, like the Reserve program, includes provision
for varying cut-off grade, mining recovery and mill-
ing recovery. The Planner program has an additional
sequence which estimates mill product distribution
and tonnages in any increment or plan. This sequence
is the result of comparing C.C.R.G. length distribu-
tion in areas mined out with mill production during
the same period. The results are a forced fit due to
the small data base and the exercise is part of an on-
going data accumulation and evaluation program.
Due to the preliminary nature of the study, product
distributions for periods shorter than one year are
suspect until proved otherwise. An Increment Adder
program is used to combine individual plans into
larger time periods. Monthly plans can be combined
to form quarterly or annual increments, annual plans
can be combined into five-year increments and five-
year plans can he combined to produce a life-of-mine
schedule.

Paralleling the computer-assisted planning system,
a computer-based production statistics system was
developed to upgrade and streamline the manual
tabulation of cumulative daily mine production and
equipment usage data. The system provides:

1. A base for evaluation and improvement of mine
operating costs.

2. A productivity base or index for production units.
3. An index of daily, month-to-date and year-to-date
mine production.

4. Equipment performance data used to modify mining
plans and schedules.

5. Identification of problem areas during production
short-falls.

Input for the system consists of daily entries of
equipment number, bench, operating hours per ac-
count, ore and waste load count feet drilled, and main-
tenance hours for each production unit (drills, shovels,
loaders, trucks, dozers and graders). Daily entries
are made on a shift basis from operators’ time cards,
mine shift reports and equipment availability reports.
Output, through ‘several different programs and em-
ploying historical truck factors, consists of the fol-
lowing.

1. Daily Production: Short summary of daily and
month-to-date production, with variance from budget.
2. Production Summary: Ore and waste removed from
each bench on a daily, month-to-date and year-to-date
basis.
8. Daily Shift Summary: On a bench basis, shows foot-
age drilled, ore and waste removal, truck/shovel con-
figurations and equipment operating hours. The sum-
mary is used to evaluate individual shift performance
and to locate problem areas.
4. Equipment Summary: For each primary produc-
tion unit, the summary shows operating hours, main-
tenance hours, standby hours, yards moved or feet
drilled, yards or feet per operating hour, mechanical
availability, use of availability and effective utiliza-
tion. All the above are summarized on a daily, month-
to-date and year-to-date basis.

A year-to-date 1977 equipment summary is included
as Table 1.

For reference and clarification, the following should
be noted:
1. Hours are based on an 8-nour shift, a 24-hour day and
a 354-day year (3865 days less 11 statutory holidays).
2. Maintenance hours include both scheduled and un-
scheduled repairs and servicing.
38. Standby hours are obtained by difference (8 hours less
operating hours less maintenance hours).
4. Bey (bank cu. yds) includes ore in yards.
5. Mechanical availability is defined as (operating hours