Sublevel Stope Optimazer

2.
Stope Optimizer
Prepared by:
Dr Mehmet Cigla
February 2018
MineSight UG Training 2-1

COPYRIGHT
This document was created by Dr Mehmet Cigla
Updated by Dr Mehmet Cigla
The moral right of the author has been asserted.

Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Hexagon Mining for providing a full university license and for their
support in education at Western Australia School of Mines.

Table of Contents
Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ 2-5
Table of Contents ............................................................................................................... 2-7
Chapter 2 – Stope Optimizer .............................................................................................. 2-9
2.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 2-9
2.2 Creating a Stope Optimizer Object .......................................................................... 2-11
2.3 Model Items ........................................................................................................... 2-19
Item Selection ........................................................................................................... 2-19
Filter Fields ............................................................................................................... 2-21
2.4 Stope Shape Setup .................................................................................................. 2-23
Framework Limits ..................................................................................................... 2-23
Sections/Levels ......................................................................................................... 2-26
Layout ....................................................................................................................... 2-29
Geometry.................................................................................................................. 2-32
Stope Wall ................................................................................................................ 2-37
Shape Settings .......................................................................................................... 2-46
2.5 Optimization Setup ................................................................................................. 2-52
Cutoff Parameters ..................................................................................................... 2-52
General Parameters .................................................................................................. 2-56
2.6 Results .................................................................................................................... 2-61
Post Processing ......................................................................................................... 2-61
Output Settings ......................................................................................................... 2-69
2.7 Importing Stope Solids ............................................................................................ 2-71
Step 1 – Importing .................................................................................................... 2-71
Step 2 – Object and Element Properties .................................................................... 2-78
Step 3: Element Attribute.......................................................................................... 2-81
2. 8 Reserve Calculations .............................................................................................. 2-84

Chapter 2 – Stope Optimizer
2.1 Introduction
Using constraints and design parameters, Stope Optimizer provides the optimal stope shape
design to maximize the value of an orebody. The outputs, such as, stope wireframes, coded
block model, and reports are suitable for use in strategic and tactical planning.
The user/reader are strongly encourage to read the following technical papers to gain more
information on the application of floating stope algorithm.
C. Alford “Optimization in underground mine design”, 25th APCOM AusIMM, 1995.
I. Cawrse, “Multiple Pass Floating Stope Process”, Strategic Mine Planning Conference, Perth WA, 26-28 March,
2001
C. Alford, “Optimization in underground mine design” PhD Thesis, Department of Mathematics and Statistics,
the University of Melbourne, 2006.
C. Alford, M. Brazil, and D. Lee, “Optimization in Underground Mining”, Handbook of Operations Research In
Natural Resources, pp 561-575, 2006
C. Alfrod and B. Hall, “Stope Optimisation Tools for Selection of Optimum Cut-off Grade in Underground Mine
Design” Project Evaluation conference, Melbourne, 21-22 April 2009

2.2 Creating a Stope Optimizer Object
A. Highlight folder 05-STOPE OPTIMIZER and click right. Select New  Stope Optimizer.
B. Accept the default name and click OK to continue.
C. Stope Optimizer will appear…It will be in-active as seen.

D. Select PCF, model file. Optimization method, dip and width parameters. Once entered,
click Apply to continue.

The Optimization Method orientation to use depends on the orientation of the orebody
within the block model.
The Slice Optimization Method can be applied in stope-shape framework orientations,

vertically for (XZ or YZ), horizontally for (XY or YX) and transverse.
The first letter identifies the U axis, the second the V axis and the remaining axis is known as
the transverse or W axis (of X, Y or Z). Many parameters are defined for the U and V
directions.
Vertical Slice (XZ) – Stope dimensions in X and Z directions are defined by the engineer. The
tool will optimize the stope dimension alon Y-axis.
Vertical Slice (YZ) - Stope dimensions in Y and Z directions are defined by the engineer. The
tool will optimize the stope dimension alon X-axis.

Horizontal Slice (XZ) - Stope dimensions in X and Y directions are defined by the engineer.
The tool will optimize the stope dimension alon Z-axis.
Horizontal Slice (YX) - Stope dimensions in X and Y directions are defined by the engineer.
The tool will optimize the stope dimension alon Z-axis.

Transverse (XZ) - Stope dimensions in X and Z directions are defined by the engineer. The tool
will optimize the stope dimension alon Y-axis.
Transverse (XZ) - Stope dimensions in Y and Z directions are defined by the engineer. The tool
will optimize the stope dimension alon X-axis.

Dip and Width parameter convention - This is the apparent or true thickness.
The True specification method is to allow stope width and dip angles to be specified in a plane
perpendicular to the stope strike, and independent of the Framework rotation, and Stope
Orientation Plane.

E. Then the panels on the left will be active…
F. Save the template as shown…name it run01. You can have several templates with different
settings.

G. You may exit Stope Optimizer by clicking X as shown…
H. Double clicking on the object in the Data Manager, it will open Stoper Optimizer.

2.3 Model Items
Item Selection
A. In Item Selection tab…set up reporting fields, model coding and additional reporting fields.
B. Save your settings…

Reporting Fields
Optimization field - Choose the model item to be used to determine value of the
blocks that will be used create stopes shapes. The default value is used if the item is
undefined.
Density Field - Select the model item to be used for tonnage calculations. The density
item will be multiplied by the volume of the stope to calculate the tonnage. If your
model is in Tonnage Factor form we recommend using the Model Manager to add a
new item to your block manage and the Model Calculation tool to populate the new
item with (1/ tonnage factor item). The default value is used if the density item is left
undefined.
Model Coding
Stope Items to Write:
Stope Number - Select the model item to store the stope number value.
Stope Value - This model item that the stope optimization value will be stored into.
Coding Subcell Count:
Coding to model calculates partials and volume computations based on the subcell count to
determine majority if there are multiple stopes intersecting the same block. This option
allows you to specify the number of subcells each model block is divided for this particular
Model. The subcell count values default to the 10x10 for non subblocked models, and default
to 4 times the subblock count in the x and y direction if it is subblocked. If the model is sub-
blocked, the subcell count must be a multiple of the number of sub-blocks in a given direction.
Write Options:
Automatically Write All Stopes - If this option is checked on, after the results are generated,
values for one or both of these items will be automatically stored into the selected model. If
this option is not checked, you can have Stope Optimizer store the results back into the model
through the Stope View option and select the stops you want to store, if you don't want to
store all values.
Reset model item before coding - If this option is checked ON, the values of the listed items
will be set to undefined before stopes are coded to the model.
Additional Reporting Fields
These are model items you wish to report for the generated reports. The default value is used
if the item is undefined. The caption is the label to be used in the report

Filter Fields
A. We will include all the blocks in the analysis, therefore, no need for any filtering.

Exclude
Use Exclusion - This option is used to limit the created stopes by a code to the fraction
specified.
Item - Block Model item

Default Value - Value used if the value is undefined.
Code - The value to be excluded
Fraction - Values between 0 and 1. This value represents the maximum amount of volume
that can include the specified code. i.e. a fraction of .1 means that the generated stope can
only have 10% of the volume be represented by this code value
Use Material by Distance - Created stopes must be a minimum specified distance

away from a block that has an item that is the specified code.

Code - The value to be excluded
Distance - Generated stopes need to be a minimum distance away from a block with the
specified value
Fraction - Values between 0 and 1.
Include Material
Use Include Material - This option is used to limit the created stopes by a code to the
fraction specified.

Code - The value to be included
Fraction - Values between 0 and 1. This value represents the minimum amount of volume
that can include the specified code. For example, a fraction of .1 means that the generated
stope has to have at least 10% of the volume be represented by this code value.
Zone Fields
Prevent Mixing Item - This option is used to limit the created stopes by preventing
created stopes from mixing listed items.

Do not Mix - Here you select the code values to not mix in generated stopes.

2.4 Stope Shape Setup
Framework Limits
A. Set up Framework Limits tab as shown below…


Stope Shape Framework Limits
Stope Orientation Plane - Specify the Stope Orientation plane based on the Slice
Optimization Method selected on the Block Model Setup dialog; either XZ or YZ for
a vertical slice method, XY or YX for a horizontal slice method, or "section_XZ" (or
"section_XZ") for a transverse slicing method. The correct framework orientation to
apply is dictated by the orientation of the orebody within the block model. Slice
Optimization Method can be applied in all four stope-shape framework orientations,
vertically for (XZ or YZ) and horizontally for (XY or YX).
At the same time, the stope levels (V-axis) may be regularly spaced (fixed), irregularly
spaced (variable) or irregularly spaced with variable gradient. The faces of the stope-
shapes produced are sectional outlines defined by four points.
For orebodies with vertical orientation this will be two on the floor and two on the back.
For orebodies with horizontal orientation this will be two on each of the stope end
faces. The points lay in the stope-shape UV-axis plane and the projection of the face
is either a rectangle or a trapezoid where the opposite sides are parallel.
Show Limits in Viewer - Use this toggle to turn ON/OFF visualization in the MS3D
viewer. As you change the framework limits and/or rotation, the viewer will update
when another option gains focus.
Unrotated/Rotated - This specifies if the stope framework is rotated or not.
Volume Specification
Project X, Y, Z - This is the framework rotation point. The axis order and angles used
for rotation are specified in the Rotated axis 1-3 and Angle 1-3. The stope framework
can use a different origin and rotation than the model to allow you to better fit the
orebody.
Extents - This is the boundary of the stope framework in each given axis. These
numbers are in reference to the direction of the framework similar to model
coordinates.
Offset - The framework can be offset from its origin. These numbers are in reference
to the direction of the framework similar to model coordinates.
Model Evaluation Plane - The plane in which cells are split (model evaluation plane) would
normally match the stope orientation plane. In cases where the model and/or framework are
rotated and the rotation angles are different, then another model plane might be selected.

Sections/Levels
A. Set up Sections/Levels tab as shown…
The stope sections (U-axis) may be regularly spaced (fixed) or irregularly spaced
(variable). Sections represent the width of the stope in the U-axis direction.
Levels represent the width of the stope in the V-axis direction. However, based on the
block model orientation, this is actually the stope height in Z-axis.

B. In this exercise, the variable level intervals will be defined based on the following figure.
Stope height of 40m and crown pillar thickness of 10m will be applied.

Fixed - The division across the framework extents in the given axis is equally dived by the fixed
amount.
Variable - The division across the framework extents in the given axis is dived how you want
it. You can have gaps within the variable limits where no stope shapes will be created, but
the values need to be within the framework limits and in sequential order.
Autofill - This allows you a base line population of the variable grid with a fixed
increment. The "Autofill" dialog will be displayed, from which to enter the Start Coordinate
and Increment, followed by clicking on OK to populate the intervals, as shown below.
C. Save your settings…

Layout
A. Set up Layout tab as shown…for simplicity, there will no sub-shape optimization.

Full Shapes - A full stope shape is defined as one that covers one full interval in the U-axis and
V-axis (i.e., one section-spacing and one level spacing for the vertical orientation frameworks,
or one strike-interval and one contour-interval for horizontal orientation frameworks).
Sub-shapes - A regular or irregular sub-interval of the full-shape
Optimize sub-shapes - If you do not use sub-shape optimization, then each shape in the list
is run in turn, and any lense that can form stopes from that shape will do so at the first
opportunity. In the optimize case it is looking for the best overall solution with a subset of
the shapes.
Horizontal/Vertical Number - Specify a divisor to be applied to the Full Shape (e.g. 2 will allow
for sub-shapes half the width of the full shape).
Edge/Back Forward/ Up Down - Horizontal/Vertical - A number of automatic configurations

of sub-shapes can be supplied where the interval dimension is given on the U or the V-axis.
The largest sub-shape is chosen first. These automatic methods have the goal of identifying
how stope sub-shapes might be used to find a sub-shape contiguous with an adjacent full
shape (or sub-shape). The following examples use a U divisor of 4.
Automatic Sub-Stope Edge Sequences (U divisor set to four):
Variable sub-shape control - The following set of values would create 3 sub-stopes with a full-
stope height of 20m but with varying strike lengths of 10m, 15m, and 25m based on a full-
stope dimension of 50m strike by 20m height. This is achieved by using fractional proportions
of 0.2, 0.3 and 0.5 for the U-axis.
Sub-Stope Fractional Proportion Example:

Geometry
A. Control Geometry tab…for simplicity, there is no geometry control.

Ore Development Control
Control strings can be used to constrain the stopes in the W and U axes. It is typically
applied as a secondary run refinement to remove impractical stopes such as strike
outliers and/or impractical stopes in the transverse extents, such as the W-axis
direction (e.g., where the mineralization is erratic for parallel lodes which results in
stopes jumping across from one lode to the other or randomly bridging the parallel
lodes).
Ore Dev Control-String Example:

Structure Surface Control
This is a structural or lithological surface that exerts a geotechnical influence on the

stope geometry. Typically this will control overbreak. If the stope is within a nominated
distance from the geotechnical control, the stope will break to the surface, here
referred to as a structure surface. This is implemented by testing whether the stope
corner is within a nominated distance from the surface in the transverse direction, and
if so, snapping to that surface. The stope width can in that case exceed the maximum
stope width. In the Vertical case (XZ and YZ) it defines overbreak on the walls, and for
Horizontal (XY and YX) it defines overbreak on the roof/floor.
The structure function is applicable to both full-stopes and sub-stopes.
The structure function results in the stope-shape either snapping-to the structure
surface (e.g. include “waste” that would "normally" fall into the stope-void due to the
presence of the structure) or standing-off from the structure surface (e.g. leaving a
skin of "ore" against the structure for dilution control i.e. ore loss). The Stope Optimizer
assesses both options in generating the seed-shape, and applies the same rules to
the annealed shape. If the snapping-to shape is sub-economic, then the Stope
Optimizer will still consider the "standing-off" option. This will depend upon the relative
position of mineralized material and the structure surface.
Where a stope-shape wall corner falls within a nominated minimum distance of the
structure wireframe, the stope projects the stope-shape to that structure surface. If
one or more corners are within the minimum distance, the remaining corners are
tested against the maximum distance.
The stope wall is snapped-to the structure position if it falls within the set criteria (minimum
- target, maximum - range). This can result in a dip angle that is flatter or steeper than set in
the stope geometry parameters. Where snapping to the structure wireframe causes angle
tests to fail, these stopes would not be output unless the "output_subeconomic_stopes"
parameter is set. Stopes that do not meet the stope geometry settings are reported as a
failed stope (i.e. with RESULT=0).

Structure Function Example:

Expand vs Snap To Example:

Stope Wall
A. Set up Stope Wall tab as shown…

Strike Angle
Strike Angle defines the strike angle range of either the edge (top or bottom) of either
wall of the stope shape (near/far wall or hangingwall/footwall wall) relative to the
framework's strike axis (i.e. the U-axis). The range can be independently defined as
positive and/or negative relative to the stope shape framework strike axis.
Maximum change defines the allowable stope shape 'twist' relative to the top and
bottom wall edges.
The Strike angle conventions are the same for the various Slice frameworks (i.e., XZ, YZ, XY,
or YX). Strike is measured positive clockwise from the primary strike-axis (U-axis positive
direction) of the selected stope-framework orientation/plane (i.e., 0° = looking along the
strike-axis in the positive coordinate direction, +90° = looking clockwise at right-angles from
the positive strike-axis plane, -90° = looking anti-clockwise at right-angles from the positive
strike-axis plane). The strike angle range is -90° to +90°.
Strike Convention - Vertical XZ (Plan View):

Strike Convention - Vertical YZ (Plan View):
Strike Convention - Rotated Vertical XZ:

Dip Angles:
Stope walls are referred to as the near or far, and hangingwall or footwall sides. There are
two wall-angle range cases as follows:
• Equal - using the same angle range for both walls (e.g. 45° to 90°).
• Different - using independent angle ranges for each wall. For example, this allows
setting a minimum rill dip for the footwall side (e.g. 45° to 90°) and allowing a flatter
minimum dip for the hangingwall side (e.g., 30° to 90°) – a typical requirement for flat-
dipping orebodies.
The Dip angle for XZ|YZ frameworks is measured as 0° from the left-hand-side horizontal axis
as you look along the primary strike-axis (U-axis) and increases anticlockwise to +90° vertically
down and +180° for the right-hand-side horizontal axis. The dip angle range is 0° to 180°.
The dip angle for XY and YX frameworks is measured positive downwards from the horizontal
(and negative upwards) on both the primary axes (the first axis in XY or YX orientation i.e. U-
axis) and the secondary axes (the second axis in XY or YX orientation i.e., V-axis) and are
termed the "strike dip" angle, and the "transverse dip" angle respectively.
The dip angle range is -90° (upwards) to +90° (downward).
Dip Convention - Vertical XZ:

Dip Convention - Vertical YZ:
Dip Convention - Transverse Section XZ:

Dip Convention - Transverse Section YZ:
Dip Conventions - Horizontal YX:

Dip Conventions - Horizontal XY:
Dip Convention - Vertical Rotated XZ:

Geometric case
It is possible for the hangingwall and footwall to tip over and back again over the vertical
extent of an orebody. This behavior is typical of "banana-shaped" lodes (viewed as a vertical
transverse section). The geometric-dip orientation defines whether it is the hangingwall or
the footwall.
The stope wall-angles, dilution intervals and structure orientation are variable using the
geometric hangingwall and geometric footwall dip orientation definitions in the geometric
case.
If this option is not used, it is considered a geological case. In the Geological case, the overall
hangingwall and footwall sides are fixed over the vertical extent of the orebody. The stope
wall angles, dilution interval and structure orientation are constant "geological hangingwall"
side and constant "geological footwall" side using Geological case definitions. The Geological
definitions are near for the lower coordinate and far for the higher coordinate, along the W-
axis relative to the stope shape framework origin in the local coordinate system.
Geological and Geometric Wall Definitions - Vertical Frameworks:

Geological and Geometric Wall Definitions - Horizontal Frameworks:

Shape Settings
A. Set up Shape Settings tab as shown…

Stope Seed Orientation
Default strike/dip - These values are used if not using a control surface or the area isn't
covered by the stope control surface.
Stope control surface - If the ore lenses have different orientations across the orebody, then
no single default dip and strike would be satisfactory for generating slices for seed generation.
From Model - This allows you to specify a model item to represent Strike and Dip for the Stope
Seed Orientation.
Impact of Control Surface:
Control surfaces are best as open surfaces, since a closed surface will have triangles that close
the shape but do not reflect the stope wall orientation. A closed surface might be the
geological wireframe but you have to be careful, especially if there are sharp twists and
bumps that do not reflect a good overall wall angle for stope design. Stope Optimizer does
do some smoothing to try and avoid this problem but it may not be enough. If the control
surface does not extend right along the extent of the orebody then the default values for dip
and strike will be used beyond the control surface.
Multiple surfaces are good for different orientations, and the dip angle is interpolated
between surfaces, but otherwise uses the outer surface dip for stopes beyond the outer
surface.

Shapes Control (apparent)
Shape Slice Interval - Although the shape slice interval definition is not specifically a stope-
shape geometry parameter, its selection has implications regarding the accuracy of the stope-
shapes and processing speed.
The slice interval should ideally be an integer divisor of:
• the minimum mining width,

• half the pillar width between transverse stopes
• the dilution widths for near/far or hangingwall/footwall surfaces
The shape slice generation process gets proportionately slower as the number of slice
intervals increases. Therefore, careful selection of shape slice interval, minimum stope width,
minimum pillar width between stopes and dilution skin intervals is required to keep the
processing time reasonable.
Shape Slice Width - The minimum mining width parameter is defined as distance in the
horizontal plane on the framework section along the W-axis (and consequently measures the
apparent width). If the orebody dip is moderate or the strike deviates from the framework
axis, then it would be appropriate to make a correction to the width specified to better
approximate the intended true width. As an example, if the minimum stope width in the true-
width dip-direction was intended to be 10m and the orebody was dipping at 45°, then setting
the minimum stope width to 14.1m (horizontal distance) would approximate the intended
minimum stope width. See "Minimum Mining Width" image below. Note that the true width
is a function of both strike and dip orientation in three dimensions for the general case.
If the stope wall angle ranges are the same for both the hangingwall and footwall, or roof and
floor, then the minimum stope width is checked at the stope corners.
If the stope wall angle ranges are different, then the minimum stope width is checked at the
wall centre, because the optimal seed-shape is measured at the wall centre, and the annealing
shape must be measured in the same manner to ensure that a feasible annealing shape is
available at the start of annealing.

Minimum Mining Width:
The maximum mining width parameter is defined as distance in the horizontal plane on the
framework section along the W-axis (and consequently measures the apparent width).
An example use for the maximum stope width is to restrict the transverse dimension for
geotechnical purposes (e.g. not to exceed the stable hydraulic radius for the crown face or
the strike-face walls).
There is also the option in post-processing to split the stope width into smaller intervals
without pillars (link post processing split). The maximum stope width should be interpreted
as maximum stope width between pillars.
Waste Pillar Width - A pillar will separate seed-shapes or stope-shapes if the maximum stope
width would otherwise be exceeded, or low grade/waste can be isolated from stope shapes.
Waste cells (representing mineralization below cut-off, or rock without mineralization)

surrounding the ore cells are required for runs with sub-stopes, as the location of the mined-
out cells is used to force the pillar width between stopes and sub-stopes, and between sub-
stopes and sub-stopes.
If the stope wall angle ranges are the same for both the hanging wall and footwall, or roof
and floor, then the minimum pillar width is checked at each corner. If the stope wall angle
ranges are different, then the minimum pillar width is checked at the wall centre.
Note that the pillar width parameter is defined as the distance in the horizontal plane (i.e. the
apparent pillar width).
Max Side Ratio - The ratio is defined by the end-face wall lengths and the axis direction pairing
being considered, described further in the following sub-sections.

Ideally the side length ratios would be loosely defined (broad range) on a preliminary Stope
Optimizer run to maximize the number of stopes produced or to maximise the stope
dimensions. The side length ratios would then be progressively refined as required.
An example use of the side length ratio is to force walls (i.e., near/far walls or
hangingwalls/footwalls) to be parallel to each other (i.e., a sectional parallelogram) so that all
production hole drilling is parallel for a narrow tabular orebody. This is achieved by using a
1:1 ratio, but this ratio should only be used in a final run to ensure that all the required shapes
are generated in the annealing phase. Likewise, in the U-axis direction plan view
parallelograms can also be specified.
Top-Edge to Bottom-Edge Ratio (V-axis pairing):
Front Edge to Back Edge Ratio (U-axis pairing):

Dilution ELOS/Skin
Dilution refers to material below cut-off grade that gets blended with ore, thus reducing
the grade of excavated material. Dilution in general is impossible to avoid in stoping
due to the geometries of the orebodies and it is therefore divided into planned and
unplanned dilution. The annealed stope shape includes planned dilution which is the
waste material necessary to extract the ore. Unplanned dilution is material that
originates outside the stope boundaries. To factor in unplanned dilution that originates
from outside the stope boundaries from the HW/FW or Near/Far a dilution ELOS/Skin
can be specified. Wall (skin) dilution is added to the stope shape as an equivalent
linear overbreak. The dilutions are added after the optimized stope shape is formed.
Impact of Dilution on the Final Stope Shape:

2.5 Optimization Setup
Cutoff Parameters
A. Set up Cutoff Parameters tab as shown…

Cutoffs
Cutoff and head-grade are defined as follows:
• Cutoff – is used as a stop-shape boundary descriptor by defining rock as either

ore (equal to or above cut-off) or waste (below cut-off).
• Head grade – is used as a stope volume descriptor. The head grade can be
supplied in addition to the cut-off. A user might not want to have “marginal grade
or marginal value” stopes, and so setting the head grade higher than cutoff, will
return the more profitable stopes (e.g. it might relate to a desired profitability), or
stopes that have a higher probability of meeting the cutoff grade.
The cutoff grade can be supplied without the head grade, but a head grade cannot be
supplied without a cutoff grade.
The optimization field can either be a grade field or a value field.
If the optimization field is a grade field, then the equivalent objective is to maximize
the total metal above the cut-off.
If the optimization field is a value field then the optimization objective is to maximize
the total value of the stope above the cutoff, and a stope value less than the cutoff
would be sub-economic. It is the maximization of the profitability of the stope relative
to the cut-off.
There is also an optional function that can be applied to the cutoff only or cutoff with
head grade to optimize total value or total metal while satisfying the cutoff or head
grade. This function maximizes recovery of metal (i.e. kg’s) or total dollar value (i.e.
$’s) and will attempt to recover all possible metal or dollar value while still meeting the
overall cutoff or cutoff with head grade criteria for the stope. However, it does not
maximize the metal grade per tonne (i.e. gm/t) or value per tonne (i.e. $/t). This option
is likely to be desirable to users who value (i.e. rank) maximizing metal recovery above
maximizing head-grade. It could be used to answer the question "how many grams
can be mined at a profit" rather than "which grams to mine to maximize profit".
The cut-off and head-grade numbers can be supplied as:
• A fixed number (either as a grade per mass unit e.g. gm/t, or currency value per
mass unit e.g. $/t),
• Values from the block model so that the value has a spatial property e.g. to vary
cut-off with depth (with a default value applied if the field value for a given cell is
‘absent’ or if cells are absent from the model),
• A relationship between the value and some other variable related to the stope
dimension, specified as points on a curve (e.g. the cut-off is a function of stope
width so that narrow stopes have a higher cut-off and wider stopes have a lower
cut-off). This option allows the Optimizer to dynamically choose between bulk and
selective mining by making the cut-off and head-grade a function of the stope size,
and choosing the mining shapes that return maximum value.

Note that where a grade field is supplied, a Calculated Value can be computed taking
into account commodity price, mining and processing costs, mining and process
recoveries, and royalty. The calculated value uses the formula:
Cutoff Selection / Head Grade Evaluation
Cutoff Grade using a single value
A fixed number (either as a grade per mass unit e.g. gm/t, or currency value per mass unit e.g.
$/t)
Cutoff Grade using a model item
Values from the block model so that the value has a spatial property e.g. to vary cut-off with
depth (with a default value applied if the field value for a given cell is 'absent' or if cells are
absent from the model)
Cutoff Grade using curve table
Thick, Mass, Height and Area all relate to the stope size or dimension. Apart from
mass, one would expect the other dimensions of the stope (other than the one
selected) to be roughly constant. Mining cost can then be related to Hydraulic Radius
(the ratio of area and perimeter) and hence the cut-off can be used as a proxy to
quickly establish whether larger or smaller stopes are better in the optimization.
For example, if the primary dimension controlling the cost is the stope width, (which may vary
according to orebody width, the number of lenses and included waste proportion), then this
method of dynamically specifying the cut-off variable will allow the best stope width to be
chosen on a local area basis, per level and section - as a function of cost.

A number of stope dimension variables are provided:
• thick (W dimension - i.e. width for XZ and YZ, height for XY and YX)
• area (UW dimension)
• height (V dimension)
• elevation (Z coordinate)
• mass
The cut-off or head-grade value is interpolated between the curve points supplied, and
otherwise uses the minimum or maximum curve point values if the dimension falls outside
the values supplied. Note that the cut-off or head-grade value to be used as a discriminator
is assigned in the seed generation stage, based on the seed-shape. Therefore the final stope
dimension may not exactly match the defined relationship after annealing.

General Parameters
A. Set up General Parameters as shown…

General Parameters
Evaluation Method - Choose either an Approximate Evaluation (with either approximate or

exact reporting), or an Exact Evaluation with exact reporting.
Approximate Evaluation - A faster method designed for (discretized) sub-cell block models
has been implemented using ray-tracing techniques. This is termed "cell-centreline-
evaluation". Note that the results are not indicative of the name used (“Approximate”) but
rather of the volume calculation technique applied.
The method uses a ray-trace through the sub-cell centroid (along the Model Discretization
Plane W-axis) to intersect the wireframe shape, and calculate the portion of the sub-cell (from
the trace) that falls within the wireframe shape. The volume is obtained by multiplying that
portion (on the W axis) by the fixed dimension of the subcell on the other two (U, V) axes.
While two methods are available for evaluation and annealing, three methods are available
for reporting:
Approximate Evaluation - Approximate Reporting - Uses the Approximate method for

wireframe evaluation, and the same results for reporting
Approximate Evaluation - Exact Reporting - Uses the Approximate method for wireframe
evaluation, but re-evaluates the final stope wireframes for reporting with the “Exact”
method.
Note that for marginal stopes, the differences in exact and approximate evaluation may result
in a stope becoming sub-economic because the exact evaluation can produce a more
conservative result.
If there is a significant difference between Exact Reporting and Approximate Reporting (more
than 1% in grade, tonnes or metal) these differences are reported in the log file. Overall
differences of 5-15% are not uncommon in the summary reports when comparing
Approximate and Exact Reporting for an Approximate Evaluation.

Comparison of Evaluation Methods:
Maximum waste percentage - The maximum waste fraction of stope-shapes can be defined
(i.e., the proportion of rock with mineralization values below the specified cut-off included
within the stope-shape). The waste inclusion is defined as the Volume of material inside the
diluted stope shape below cutoff divided by volume of diluted stope share. It is best practice
to start at 100% and refine with multiple runs to make sure there are stopes created.
Output sub-economic stopes - Outputs stopes that failed the cutoff.
Output failed result filter stopes - Outputs stopes that failed the Filter results.

Model Discretization
Custom model discretization - A good rule for model discretization number (in U and V) is
that the number is twice the number of sub-shape intervals. The goal is to ensure that there
are a minimum of two discretized cell centers in U and V for each stope or sub-shape shape.
The default of 4x4 is suitable for regular sub-shape splits of 2x2. If the model discretization
number is too small, a more suitable choice will be automatically assigned and noted in the
log file.
Filter Expressions
Anneal Process - The Anneal Filter expression can be used to control the generation of the
stope seed and subsequent stope annealing process. The stope seed and annealing process
must satisfy the filter expression to produce a stope shape.
Filter Results - The Results Filter is applied to the generated stope shapes and controls the
subset of stopes written to the output files. The switch "Output Failed Results Filter Stopes"
can be used to output stope shapes that failed the results filter test and they will be reported
as sub-economic stopes shapes (RESULT=0 with the selected sub-economic colour).
Optinal Parameters
Ignore pillar requirement between parallel full and sub shapes - Use this in situations where
you would want to mine sub-stopes that are adjacent to full stopes in the W-axis (where the
normal practice is to require a pillar).
Example of "Ignore pillar requirement between parallel full and sub shapes":

Ignore pillar requirement between split shapes - In the Split post-process operation, there
are no pillars between split stopes, but at the end of a split sequence the pillar is still
required. This switch removes the latter requirement, much like the previous switch.
Different dip corner width test - The different near/far or hangingwall/footwall seed
generation and annealing functions work on width tests at the stope center, but this also
means the tests could fail at the corners. This switch forces the tests to also be applied at the
corners but the results are only reliable when a single stope is generated for each quadrant.
Check result with dilution included - Test if dilution will make the stope shape uneconomic,
and only consider shapes that are economic with dilution. The default mode is to optimize
the undiluted shape and then add dilution, but with this control a smaller undiluted shape
will be produced and the dilution will include more 'above cutoff' material.
Use minimum offset distance for annealing - This is a control to use a minimum offset
distance in the annealing of stope shapes. Sequences of seed shapes that are more than the
minimum offset distance apart are considered independently in the annealing stage. Stope
shape annealing run times increase dramatically as the number of stopes evaluated together
increases. Where there are a large number of adjacent lenses in the orebody and many seed
shapes in the transverse direction, this technique can be used effectively.

2.6 Results
Post Processing
A. Set up Post Processing panel as shown…

Stope Splitting
This function subdivides stope-shapes according to user defined rules. It is generally

applicable for stope-shapes that are wider than their maximum stable wall span(s) or for sub-
setting very-wide ore bodies. It may also have some conceptual design application for drift
and fill and mechanized cut and fill type mining methods by setting split widths to
development width and using a minimum and maximum tolerance on the split width. It may
also be applicable for establishing shapes that correspond with blast ring increments such as
for the transverse SLC mining method.
Various rules are provided for splitting stope-shapes:
• Split in transverse direction (W-axis)

• Split in longitudinal direction (U-axis and/or V-axis). Note that longitudinal splitting is
equivalent to applying U-axis (and/or V-axis) sub-stopes from a "full" stope.
• Split on a regular stope-framework grid (with optional annealing) to create a
checkerboard pattern (for abutting open stoping layouts).
• Offset the split wall positions between adjoining stopes (i.e. adjacent in the U-axis
sense) by using an offset from the stope-framework grid for a staggered checkerboard
pattern.
• Split from a centered stope. It places the first stope central to the transverse width
(i.e., not on either side of the centre). The "centre" is defined as being at the mid-
stope height).
• Split equally.
• Split from the near wall with the final split adjusted to tolerance settings.
• Split from far wall with the final split adjusted to tolerance settings.
• Split from hangingwall with the final split adjusted to tolerance settings.
• Split from footwall with the final split adjusted to tolerance settings.
• Vertical or angled internal split walls. The internal walls are either split vertically or
proportionally parallel to the near/far or hangingwall/footwall walls.
• Vertical or angled end walls (at the W-axis extremities).
Some notes on the parameters used follow:
• The dimensions of split stopes is determined by an "interval", a "minimum" and a

"maximum" length. In most cases the un-split stope length will not be an exact
multiple of the "interval", and so the "minimum" and "maximum" values will need to
be selected to take into account all possible split sizes. Two cases will need to be
considered depending on whether the "interval" value is also the "maximum" value,
or the "maximum" can exceed the "interval". As a guideline the “minimum” should be
less than half the "maximum".
• The "transverse_offset" only functions for grid splitting.
• In the detailed output report, the average width field “SAVGWID” is calculated as an
apparent width using the stope volume divided by the UV face projection area (i.e. the
projection area of the quadrilateral/rectangle tube representing the

hangingwall/footwall faces). If the face walls dip, there will be a slight difference from
the geometric or true width.
• Splitting is applicable to sub-stopes.
• The increments, minimum and maximum distances are referenced from the stope
centroid position (i.e. not from the floor, roof/back/crown, or either sidewall).
• To identify each split stope in the stope naming function you can concatenate the
output file fields QUAD, PASSNUM and STOPENUM to create
QUAD_PASSNUM_STOPENUM (i.e. individual split stopes in a primary pillar-line or
secondary pillar-line). The QUAD will be the same for both primary and secondary as
it is a subdivision of a “full” stope, the PASSNUM identifies which sub-stope it is, either
primary=2 or secondary=3 for example, and the STOPENUM provides the split order
(i.e. transverse counter) from lower co-ordinate to higher co-ordinate (in this case
footwall/near side to hangingwall/far side).
Split from HW, Split from Center, and Split Equal:

Split Equal Applied to Rotated Framework with Irregular Section Spacing using Sub-Stope
Function:

Merge
Merge may be used for the following reasons:
• To define a maximum that is determined by geotechnical stability (e.g. not to exceed a

hydraulic radius criteria).
• To define a minimum that is determined by economics or mining practicalities (e.g.
combining stope-shapes that required small intervals due to variability of the orebody).
• To define a regularized extraction sequence for stope-shapes (e.g. vertical stacking of
primary and secondary stopes).
Details of the two available merge options follow. Note that after applying a merge option,
the QUAD number remains the same as prior to the merge. The stope name and stope
number are changed to reflect the agglomerated stopes.
Grid Options
A grid interval, being a multiple of the full stope dimension in the U-axis or V-axis direction, is
selected where the framework U or V origin provides the reference "U" or "V" value.
With the "grid" interval option, the interval is the grid spacing with stopes grouped to be
aligned on a grid. This is useful if merged (grouped) stopes must be aligned from level-to-level
or section-to-section. The "grid" option requires stopes to be bounded by grid lines (unless
the remaining pieces can be attached within the stope strike-length min/max range for U or
stope height min/max range for V).
The maximum length for the grid option must be less than twice the grid interval.
Merge Examples - Grid versus Interval
Full stopes (10m strike) prior to applying any Merge function:

Updated stopes after applying 50m Grid Merge (using 30-90 Range):
Updated stopes after applying 50m Interval Merge (using 30-70 Range):
Interval options
For the "interval" option, the interval is not constrained to be on a grid. i.e. shapes will be
grouped level by level but not conforming to a grid spacing, just to achieve the target
interval. The "interval" option aims to group the stopes at the interval size (regardless of the
grid position), but otherwise still work within the min/max stope strike-length limits.
With regards to minimum and maximum merge lengths, a whole integer multiple makes good
sense as no other outputs can be generated. For example if you have 5m stopes and you want
to group into 15m stopes, your only options are 5m, 10m, 15m for minimum, and 15m, 20m,
25m for maximum. If you want the most stopes output you would have minimum of 5 and
maximum of 25 to pick up all the pieces that do not form full 15m aggregations.

Stope Smoothing
The stope-shapes from the Stope Optimizer are optimized on a tube-by-tube basis
independently, and consequently, the abutting stope walls will typically not match exactly in
position. This may be ideal for abutting stopes that can be mined independently of each other
(e.g. primary and secondary long-hole stopes) but commonly this does not occur for
geotechnical reasons and/or for the mining method practicalities. A typical example would be
a continuous retreat long-hole benching mining method.
Smoothing is an additional step using the same annealing algorithms. This optimizes the
shapes not just in a single tube, but taking into account the adjacent tubes. The “gaps”
between the corners of adjacent stope-shapes will be eliminated / minimized from one tube
to the next in order to:
• Create a smooth transition vertically (V-axis) and/or horizontally (U-axis) for vertical
framework orientations, or
• Create a smooth transition in the U and/or V axes for the roof/floor for horizontal
framework orientations.
The additional smoothing is applied subject to:
• A maximum allowable gap tolerance between corners of abutting stopes.

• The smoothed stope-shape not falling below the designated cut-off.
• The stope geometry rules not being violated.
Smoothing does not "average". It first tries to minimize the gap while maintaining each of the
user supplied stope geometry constraints. For example, if your stope-wall dip range was
tight, then it may not necessarily “close the gap” if the dip limit was violated. It cannot make
an economic stope sub-economic. It then tries to improve the value of the resultant stope-
shapes without significantly increasing the gaps. So in some runs, only portions of the stope
wireframes may be smoothed. Any gaps between stopes that are greater than the maximum
allowable tolerance will not be changed. Gaps below the maximum may be partially or
completely reduced to zero gaps.
Sub-stope corners are adjusted at the corners adjacent to a full-stope corner, however sub-
stopes are not smoothed with other sub-stopes.
Prior to smoothing the gaps are analyzed and stopes with more gaps to adjacent stopes and
sub-stopes are processed first. (i.e., stopes at the center of the orebody are likely to be
smoothed first and stopes at the extremities will be smoothed last). All tubes are processed
in sequence in the first pass. As each tube is smoothed, up to 8 other adjacent tubes (with
stopes or sub-stopes) will be adjusted. The complexity of the annealing in this additional step
can be an order of magnitude greater, and consequently the smoothing run can often take 5-
10 times longer than an unsmoothed run, and sometimes more, particularly if there are
multiple lenses or parallel orebodies.
The first pass is usually enough to give a good result. There are no parameters to control the
time spent on the first pass. Any additional passes are optional, and under user control. The

parameters to control additional runs are either by number of passes or by time limit (in
hours).
Smoothing can be controlled by either comparing the "gaps" between stope corners, or
alternatively the "ratio" of stope edges. The first method has been found to be the most
effective.
Smoothing Function Example:

Output Settings
A. Set up Output Settings as shown…

Output Stopes
MSR filename - name of the stope shapes msr file located in the _stopeoptimizer
project folder
Output verification shapes - Toggle this option ON to output the verification shapes in
the form of an msr located in the _stopeoptimizer project folder.
Shape Colours - these colours are used for the shapes displayed in the Stope View,
and the msr files generated.
Stope Naming - This allows you to customize the name of each stope with a prefix, a grade
value in the report and stope number
Log filename - name for the generated log file located in the _stopeoptimizer project folder.

2.7 Importing Stope Solids
Step 1 – Importing
A. Highligh 05-STOPE OPTIMIZER folder. Right click and select Import  MineSight 3D.

B. Select run01_stopes.msr as shown. Click Open to continue.
C. Double click on run01_stopes to open the object.

D. Create a new geometry object as shown.
Name it stopes to mine.

E. Activate the selection icon as shown.
Then click on the individual stopes one by one…
Right click on the viewer after slecting several as shown.
F. Select Element  Copy to Object.

G. Drag a selection window aroud the selected stopes.
A selection box will appear around each stope solid.

H. Then Right clikc on the viewver. Select the location of the object and then click Open to
continue.
I. Save the selection to finlaize the operation.

J. Click on the invisbility icone next to run01_stopes object to see if the data transfer is
succesful.
K. You can finsh the rest of the stope solids same way.

Step 2 – Object and Element Properties
A. Query the stope as shown…Element Name: 1 and Material Name: ColorGreen…these

attributes were assigned by Stope Optmizer tool.
A name conventions that includes a stope number as well as level information would be a
more descritive in your design.

B. First we need to unattribute all the stope solids within the stopes to mine object. Select
Element  Attribute Tool…Select all the stopes as shown…Click right to finalize.
C. Apply…

D. Save the selection…
E. Change the object properties as required…

Step 3: Element Attribute
A. In Attribute Element Tool enter the following settings…
B. Indexing tab…enter the following settings.

C. Select the stopes at 2520 level from left to right…
D. Apply…and save the selection…

E. After saveing the selection query one of the attributed stopes…the element name is now
more descriptive.
F. Finih all the production levels the same way…

2. 8 Reserve Calculations
A. Select Model Reserves from Viewer (Multi Select) as shown…
B. Select all the stopes in the viewer.
C. Reserve window will appear…organize the tab le as required. Save as a tamplate.

THE END

Sublevel Stope Optimazer

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What is the purpose of the Stope Optimizer tool?

What is the purpose of the Stope Optimizer tool?

How does the Stope Optimizer tool create stope shapes?

How does the Stope Optimizer tool create stope shapes?

2.

MineSight UG Training 2-1

Updated by Dr Mehmet Cigla

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

MineSight UG Training 2-3

MineSight UG Training 2-5

MineSight UG Training 2-7

C. Alford “Optimization in underground mine design”, 25th APCOM AusIMM, 1995.

MineSight UG Training 2-9

B. Accept the default name and click OK to continue.

C. Stope Optimizer will appear…It will be in-active as seen.

MineSight UG Training 2-11

MineSight UG Training 2-12

The Slice Optimization Method can be applied in stope-shape framework orientations,

MineSight UG Training 2-13

MineSight UG Training 2-14

MineSight UG Training 2-15

MineSight UG Training 2-16

MineSight UG Training 2-17

MineSight UG Training 2-18

B. Save your settings…

MineSight UG Training 2-19

Stope Items to Write:

Coding Subcell Count:

Additional Reporting Fields

MineSight UG Training 2-20

B. Save your settings…

MineSight UG Training 2-21

Item - Block Model item

Use Material by Distance - Created stopes must be a minimum specified distance

Item - Block Model item

Item - Block Model item

Item - Block Model item

MineSight UG Training 2-22

A. Set up Framework Limits tab as shown below…

MineSight UG Training 2-23

MineSight UG Training 2-24

Unrotated/Rotated - This specifies if the stope framework is rotated or not.

MineSight UG Training 2-25

A. Set up Sections/Levels tab as shown…

MineSight UG Training 2-26

MineSight UG Training 2-27

C. Save your settings…

MineSight UG Training 2-28

A. Set up Layout tab as shown…for simplicity, there will no sub-shape optimization.

B. Save your settings…

MineSight UG Training 2-29

Sub-shapes - A regular or irregular sub-interval of the full-shape

Edge/Back Forward/ Up Down - Horizontal/Vertical - A number of automatic configurations

Automatic Sub-Stope Edge Sequences (U divisor set to four):

Sub-Stope Fractional Proportion Example:

MineSight UG Training 2-31

A. Control Geometry tab…for simplicity, there is no geometry control.

B. Save your settings…

MineSight UG Training 2-32

Ore Dev Control-String Example: