Using mining grade control software to enhance accuracy
Pitram’s mining grade control software utilises mine design, survey and production data to provide real-time stockpile balances and metals stocks throughout the mining operation to assist with the accuracy of grade control.
Grade control is critical to practical excavation plans. Any inaccuracies at this stage can cause major setbacks to operational and business performance.
Every mine comprises a different grade and tonnage. During exploration, grade control is a mining process to quality check and control the grade and variability of an ore. The purpose of grade control is for mining companies to understand and document any variability in their sampling and their ore reserve, considering the many facets of data collection before mining begins.
Calculating stockpile grade
Location grades are imported from mine design information and are refined from assay results as they become available. These grades, along with material movements recorded in Pitram, are used to calculate the grade of each material parcel as it moves through the mine. Stockpiles and orepasses can be modelled (as Weighted Average Grade (WAG), First In/First Out (FIFO) or Last In/Last Out (LIFO)) to determine how the grade of movements from each stockpile is calculated.
Stockpile balances are updated following every material movement ensuring that the location and value of available material is known at all times. It is the responsibility of mine geologists to predict and map the acceptable grades based on advice from metallurgists, mill operators and mine engineers. Grade control drilling is the final step for mine geologists in defining the ore body boundaries and the grade/tonnage component by fine tuning to within 5 meters.
Stay informed with mining grade control software
Drilling samples are further analysed on site or are sent back to commercial laboratories to tell geologists how much gold is in each sample.
The grade of an ore body and the mineral being mined is rarely constant. For example, it can be more concentrated near the surface, dissipating as the drilling samples reach greater depths. Grade control drilling helps to define the economic limits: where the mineral is too scarce for a return on investment.
The milling process is most efficient at a particular grade when mining gold, for example. With high grade material, some of the gold could filter out with the tailings and need to be blended with low grade material for more efficient separation.
Pitram’s materials management utilises mine design, survey and production data to provide real-time stockpile balances and metals stocks throughout the mining operation.
Further reading
>Learn more about Pitram’s mining grade control software.
