Input Whittle Values
Function Name:
- BM IMPORT WHITTLE
You use this function to determine the information that will be imported from the Whittle model into the Surpac block model as attributes. Any information you do not want imported can be unselected using the Include Parcel column.
Note: Some attributes are required for the import to be successful. These cannot be unselected.
You can change the values in the Attribute name column to modify the names of the block model attributes that are created.
When importing parcel information from your Whittle file, many attributes are generated based on the information contained in the Whittle parameter file as well as the type of Whittle file (.mod, .msq or .res). Surpac will automatically group Whittle parcel information in so that it is easy for you to use, even though it is not in its original format. Usually, the values for a particular parcel combination (group) is the averaged grade information for that particular block. Exceptions to this are stated below.
Three check boxes appear at the bottom of the form regardless of the input file type. These are; Import rejected values, Import metal values, and Use equivalent metal formula. The columns of the table, and the information to include in the columns, changes depending on the type of file you are using to import. The functions of the check boxes, and the expected inputs for the fields, split by import file type, are described below.
Import rejected values
When selected, parcels with destinations which do not exist in the .par file, and do not appear in the Import Whittle values table, are imported. Parcels with a destination of "-np-" are imported as if the destination is "rejected".
Import metal values
Enables importing metal values as an attribute, similar to the "_grade" attribute mentioned below. This metal attribute is the total contained metal per rock type.
Note: The block model attribute name for the imported metal will be created with "_metal" following its name. For example, was_metal.
Use equivalent metal formula
Enables equivalent metal testing. If the sum of the grades divided by the corresponding cut-offs is greater than one, then the material is processed. In the Whittle documentation, the Blend Bins tab (Simulataneous Optimisation) topic has more information about equivalent metal grade.
Whittle Input Calculations
All formats:
The following are available for import in all Whittle files.
| Imported Value | Description of Value | Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| MCAF | MCAF (mining cost adjustment factor) is a Whittle value used in the optimisation process. If you wish to export the model back into Whittle, then you will need MCAF values. | MCAF is read directly from the Whittle file |
| PCAF | PCAF (processing cost adjustment factor) is a Whittle value used in the optimisation process. If you wish to export the model back into Whittle, then you will need PCAF values. | PCAF is read directly from the Whittle file |
| SG | The average specific gravity of a block. It assumes the materials are completely homogenous throughout the block, as each block will only contain one SG regardless of the number of parcels which may have originally had different sg’s before importing into Whittle. | The SG is calculated as the block tonnage (read from the Whittle file) divided by the block volume (calculated from the block dimensions). |
| volume_factor | The volume factor is a calculated factor which gives an approximation of the percentage of a block which is ore (not waste or air). This value is particularly useful to allow the transfer of data from another software package to Surpac using the Whittle interface. Several other software packages have the concept of partial blocks and this information can be transferred through the Whittle interface, with this value being the same as the partial block tonnage from the other package. Most useful if blocks only contain ore parcels of the same rock type. | The calculation for the volume factor is the total block tonnage (read from the Whittle model file) divided by the total sum of the tonnages of all ore parcels in the block. The value will always be a real number between 0 and 1. |
Mod Files:
| zone_num | The zone number is an optional field which can be stored in a Whittle .mod file. It is not available in the .res output file. | The zone number is read directly from the Whittle .mod file |
|---|---|---|
| [rock type]_tonnage | Total tonnage of rock type in all parcels for the block. | Each parcel line contains a rock type and a tonnage, the total tonnage is calculated by adding the tonnages for every parcel of that rock type in the block. |
| [rock type]_[element] | Average grade of element in a rock type in all parcels (note, attribute will be created with "_grade" proceding it's name) | The calculation of the grade for a particular element in a rock type is the sum of the element in a rock type divided by the sum of the tonnages for that rock type. |
Example:
| Par file | Mod file |
|---|---|
1 5.000 10.000 5.000
2300.000 8350.000 370.000
|
1,1,1,19,0.666,1.000,500.0
|
Resultant block attributes and values:
| Attribute | Value | Algorithm |
|---|---|---|
| ijk | 1001001 | Read IJK from block line(1,1,1,19,0.666,1.000,500.0)
to translate 001001001 to integer = 1001001 |
| mcaf | 0.666 | Read from block line (1,1,1,19,0.666,1.000,500.0) = 0.666 |
| pcaf | 1.0 | Read from block line (1,1,1,19,0.666,1.000,500.0) = 1.000 |
| sg | 2.0 | Block tonnage (500.0) / block volume (5.0 x 10.0 x 5.0 = 250.0) = 2.0 |
| volume_factor | 0.6246 | Total parcel tonnage (312.3) / block tonnage (500.0) = 0.6246 |
| zone_num | 0 | Read from block line (1,1,1,19,0.666,1.000,500.0) = 0 (no
value found) |
| wasx_tonnage | 312.3 | Total tonnage for parcels with a "wasx" rocktype (312.3) = 312.3 |
| wasx_au_grade | 0.183957733 | Average grade for all "au" quantities in a "wasx" rocktype (57.45 / 312.3) = 0.183957733 |
Res files:
| pit_num | After the Whittle optimisation, all blocks are allocated a "pit number" which defines the lowest pit number the block is within. Effectively, this pit number is the result of the optimisation, and is therefore the value that is most important to import. | The pit number is read directly from the Whittle .res file. |
|---|---|---|
| [rock type]_tonnage | Total tonnage of rock type in all parcels of the block. | Each parcel line contains a rock type and a tonnage, the total tonnage is calculated by adding the tonnages for every parcel of that rock type in the block. |
| [rock type]_[element] | Average grade of element in a rock type in all parcels within the block (note, attribute will be created with "_grade" preceding it's name) | The calculation of the grade for a particular element in a rock type is the sum of the element in a rock type divided by the sum of the tonnages for that same combination. |
Example:
| Par file | Mod file |
|---|---|
1 5.000 10.000 5.000
2300.000 8350.000 370.000
|
1,1,1,19,0.666,1.000,500.0,1,1,136.5
|
Resultant block attributes and values:
| Attribute | Value | Algorithm |
|---|---|---|
| ijk | 1001001 | Read IJK from block line(1,1,1,19,0.666,1.000,500.01,1,1,19,0.666,1.000,500.0,1,1,136.5)to create
001001001 to integer = 1001001 |
| mcaf | 0.666 | Read from block line (1,1,1,19,0.666,1.000,500.01,1,1,19,0.666,1.000,500.0,1,1,136.5
= 0.666 |
| pcaf | 1.0 | Read from block line (1,1,1,19,0.666,1.000,500.01,1,1,19,0.666,1.000,500.0,1,1,136.5)
= 1.000 |
| sg | 2.0 | Block tonnage (500.0) / block volume (5.0 x 10.0 x 5.0 = 250.0) = 2.0 |
| volume_factor | 0.6246 | Total parcel tonnage (312.3) / block tonnage (500.0) = 0.6246 |
| zone_num | 1 | Read from block line (1,1,1,19,0.666,1.000,500.01,1,1,19,0.666,1.000,500.0,1,1,136.5)
= 1 |
| pit_num | 1 | Read from block line (1,1,1,19,0.666,1.000,500.01,1,1,19,0.666,1.000,500.0,1,1,136.5)
= 1 |
| block_val | 136.5 | Read from block line (1,1,1,19,0.666,1.000,500.01,1,1,19,0.666,1.000,500.0,1,1,136.5)
= 136.5 |
| wasx_tonnage | 312.3 | Total tonnage for parcels with a "wasx" rocktype (312.3) = 312.3 |
| wasx_grade | 0.183957733 | Average grade for all "au" quantities in a "wasx" rocktype (312.3 /57.45) = 0.183957733 |
Msq files:
| block_tonnage | Total tonnage of this block. | The block tonnage is read directly from the Whittle .msq file. |
|---|---|---|
| mined_period_[a,b,c,d] | The period number in which this block was mined. Mined_period_a represents the first period found, mined_period_b represents the second etc. Normally a block won't be mined in more than 2 or 3 periods.(note, attributes will be created with "_value" and "_fraction" preceding it's name) | The 'value' and 'fraction' are directly from the Whittle .msq file. |
| [rock type]_[element]_[destination] | Average grade of element in a rock type per destination in all parcels. Additional attributes will be created if more destinations (such as "-np-" any other process methods) are found in the msq file while processing, "-np-" destinations will be renamed to "rejected". (note, attribute will be created with "_grade" preceding it's name). | The calculation of the grade for a particular element in a rock type is the sum of the element in a rock type, going to a destination divided by the sum of the tonnages for that same combination. |
| [rock type]_[destination]_tonnage | Total tonnage of rock type in a destination in all parcels in the block. | The calculation of the tonnage for a rock type going to a destination is the sum of the rock type going to a destination. |
Example:
| Par file | Msq file |
|---|---|
1 30.0 30.0 30.0 3475.0 2880.0 285.0
|
1 1 1 27 1.000 1.000 72360.000 5 1.0000 3
|
Resultant block attributes and values:
| Attribute | Value | Algorithm |
|---|---|---|
| ijk | 1001001 | Read IJK from block line(1 1 1 27 1.000 1.000 72360.000 5
1.0000 3) to create 001001001 to integer = 1001001 |
| mcaf | 1.000 | Read from block line (1 1 1 27 1.000 1.000 72360.000 5
1.0000 3) = 1.000 |
| pcaf | 1.000 | Read from block line (1 1 1 27 1.000 1.000 72360.000 5
1.0000 3 ) = 1.000 |
| sg | 2.68 | Block tonnage (72360.000) / block volume (30.0 x 30.0 x 30.0 = 250.0) = 2.68 |
| volume_factor | 1.0 | Total parcel tonnage (72360.000) / block tonnage (72360.000) = 1.0 |
| mined_period_a_value | 5 | Read from block line (1 1 1 27 1.000 1.000 72360.000 5
1.0000 3) = 5 |
| mined_period_a_fraction | 1.000 | Determined Read from block line (1 1 1 27 1.000 1.000
72360.000 5 1.0000 3) = 1.000 |
| push_back | 1 | Read from block line (1 1 1 27 1.000 1.000 72360.000 5
1.0000 3) = 3 |
| sl_au_mill_grade | 0.1977 | Average grade for all "au" quantities in a "SL" rocktype going to "MILL" (9540.8/48240) = 0.1977 |
| sl_au_rejected_grade | 0.15 | Average grade for all "au" quantities in a "SL" rocktype going to "-np-" (3618/24120) = 0.15 |
| sl_cu_mill_grade | 0.2788 | Average grade for all "cu" quantities in a "SL" rocktype going to "MILL"(13453.6/48240) = 0.2788 |
| sl_cu_rejected_grade | 0.2022 | Average grade for all "cu" quantities in a "SL" rocktype going to "-np-" (4877.6/24120) = 0.2022 |
| sl_mill_tonnage | 48240 | Total tonnage for parcels with a "SL" rocktype going to "MILL" (48240) = 48240 |
| sl_rejected_tonnage | 24120 | Total tonnage for parcels with a "SL" rocktype going to "-np-" (24120) = 24120 |