How to Prioritise Mining of Parcels in Block in APS – Alastri Quick Articles

In short-term mine planning, a planner may need to establish a specific mining sequence for parcels within a Blast or Dig solid. This sequence can be determined for several reasons:

1. Economic Optimization

Maximize Early Ore Processing: Prioritize high-grade or valuable ore to boost immediate revenue and improve overall recovery rates.
Ensure Consistent Plant Feed: Maintain a balanced supply of ore to the processing plant by scheduling the mining of different material classes accordingly.
Stockpile Management: Focus on mining high-priority ore for immediate processing, while lower-grade or waste material can be stockpiled for later.

2. Operational Efficiency

Optimise Equipment Utilisation: Sequencing parcels ensures that mining and hauling equipment is used efficiently, reducing downtime or inefficiencies.
Meet Production Targets: By prioritizing parcels, the planner can ensure that production targets for tonnage and grade are met on schedule.

This approach strikes a balance between economic value and operational practicality, ensuring financial goals are achieved alongside production efficiency.

Implementing Parcel Prioritisation in APS

To apply this sequencing in APS (Automated Planning System), you can create Mutex Subsets in the "Setup Task > Parcel Subsets" section under Mining Activity. The group names should be integers, with lower numbers indicating higher priority. Follow these steps to set it up:

In APS, go to Setup Task and select Parcel Subsets.
Choose Mining.
Create a new Mutex Subset.
Assign a name to the Mutex Subset.
For each parcel, define a Group number, which will determine the mining sequence (lower numbers mean higher priority).

Once the priority is set with the Mutex Subset, assign it to the Mining Activity through Setup Task > Rate and Precedences > Mutex Parcel Subset for Priority.

Example: