Optimisation of life-of-mine production scheduling for block-caving mines under mineral resource and material mixing uncertainty

This paper presents a methodology to integrate mineral resource uncertainty from scarce orebody sampling and material mixing uncertainty due to ore flow into the life-of-mine production scheduling of block caving mines. Geological uncertainty is integrated using a Sequential Gaussian Simulation workflow and material mixing uncertainty by simulating material flow using a Cone of Movement concept. A case study is presented in which the uncertainty-based workflow is compared with a deterministic workflow. The stochastic optimisation yields a 4.97% increase in the NPV and a robust production schedule that meets production targets under both sources of uncertainty.