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# Production Parameters

You can use the following parameters in the Parameters column of the Parameters data grid:

- BLOCK_FACTOR
- BLOCK_VOLUME
- MAX_ACTIVE_BENCHES
- MAX_ACTIVE_GROUPS
- MAX_ACTIVE_LOCATIONS
- MAX_BENCH_DROP_PER_PERIOD
- MAX_BENCHES_PER_PERIOD
- MAX_CAPACITY
- MIN_CAPACITY
- RECALC_ACTIVE_LOCATIONS_AT_PERIOD_START
- SCOPE_LEVELS_ACTIVE_LOCATION_CALCS
- SWELL_FACTOR
- User parameters

The list shows only the parameters that are valid for the selected locations. If a parameter is not valid for one or more of the selected locations, it does not appear on the list, even if the parameter is applicable to the rest of the locations. If you leave the Locations column blank, all parameters are displayed in the list.

## BLOCK_FACTOR

You use the BLOCK_FACTOR production parameter to apply a multiplication factor to the block volume, block mass, and the aggregate attributes (as defined in the Qualities data grid of the Define Geology > Models tab). This parameter is often referred to as a "mine call" factor.

Note: Values for average attributes, as defined in the Qualities data grid, are not changed by the block factor.

The default block factor for each material is 1. A value greater than one increases the volume and mass. A value less than one decreases the block volume and mass.

The block factor can be specific to each material class. You use material-specific block factor to define different block factors for different material classes. To use a material-specific BLOCK_FACTORyou include the material in the parameter name, separated from "BLOCK_FACTOR" by a space, for example "BLOCK_FACTOR ore". Because the block factor can be material-specific, you can use it as a method to model reduction and dilution. A better method to model reduction and dilution is to use a volume adjustment attribute in the block model before scheduling.

The block factor is applied to the mining block quantities before scheduling.

## BLOCK_VOLUME

You use the BLOCK_VOLUME parameter to override the block volume of each material class in each mining block with a fixed volume.

The BLOCK_VOLUME parameter is not used in many scenarios. The most common example of where you would choose to use BLOCK_VOLUME is when you are simulating ancillary activities using additional mining locations. If you want to model an activity based on volume, but where the activity takes place for a fixed time that is independent of the size of the polygon or location, you can create a mining location with a single block and use BLOCK_VOLUME to set the volume of the block.

## MAX_ACTIVE_BENCHES

You use the MAX_ACTIVE_BENCHES parameter to set the maximum number of benches that can be mined in a location at any one time.

Note: This parameter is available only if the mining method is benches.

When MAX_ACTIVE_BENCHES is set, after the maximum number of benches for the location is reached, mining will not start on a new bench until one of the active benches in the location is completed.

## MAX_ACTIVE_GROUPS

You use the MAX_ACTIVE_GROUPS parameter to set the maximum number of groups that can be active in a location at any one time. MAX_ACTIVE_GROUPS considers a group to be active if any activity, ancillary or mining, is occurring in the group.

Note: This parameter is available only if the mining method is polygon, bench polygons, or solids.

When MAX_ACTIVE_GROUPS is set, after the maximum number of groups for the location is reached, activities will not start in a new group until all activities at one of the active groups in the locations is completed.

When activities start in a location, if you have more groups available than the maximum number of groups permitted, and you have targets defined, MineSched calculates the optimal starting groups.

## MAX_ACTIVE_LOCATIONS

You use the MAX_ACTIVE_LOCATIONS parameter to set the maximum number of locations that can be mined at any one time.

Note: MAX_ACTIVE_LOCATIONS parameter cannot be used if ancillary activities are defined.

When MAX_ACTIVE_LOCATIONS is set, after the maximum number of locations is reached, mining will not start on a new location until one of the active locations is completed.

If you have set the RECALC_ACTIVE_LOCATIONS_AT_PERIOD_START to yes, the active locations are recalculated at the start of each period. Recalculating the active locations at the start of each period is useful when you are scheduling using targets and your targets change at the start of each period.

If you are scheduling with a quality or material ratio target defined, you can use MAX_ACTIVE_LOCATIONS to allow MineSched to calculate the optimum combination of locations to mine to best meet the targets. Each time a location is completed, Minesched calculates the next location to mine based on best meeting the targets.

If you are scheduling with priorities defined, you can use MAX_ACTIVE_LOCATIONS to set MineSched to mine from the set number of locations in the order you have defined by setting the priorities. When mining starts, for a location to be available it must have a resource assigned to it which has a MAX_RATE greater than zero.

You can set MAX_ACTIVE_LOCATIONS globally or you can set different values for MAX_ACTIVE_LOCATIONS for different groups of locations. If you use the wildcard (*), or leave the Locations column blank, the value for MAX_ACTIVE_LOCATIONS is set globally. If you specify locations for the MAX_ACTIVE_LOCATIONS parameter, the optimal locations are selected from the group of location specified.

You cannot set both location specific and global MAX_ACTIVE_LOCATIONS at the same time. If you do set parameters for both location specific and global MAX_ACTIVE_LOCATIONS, the global setting is applied.

## MAX_BENCH_DROP_PER_PERIOD

You use the MAX_BENCH_DROP_PER_PERIOD parameter to constrain the rate of vertical advance in a period. You limit the rate by defining the number of benches that can be mined in a single scheduling period. The value for this parameter can be any positive integer, and the value can change over time.

The MAX_BENCH_DROP_PER_PERIOD is applied at the block level. This means that if the production rate is high enough that the quantity of material mined in a period is constrained by only the MAX_BENCH_DROP_PER_PERIOD, the pit surface at the end a period would have the same shape as the pit surface at the start of the period, but would be lower by the specified number of benches.

Note: This parameter is available only if the mining method is Benches.

## MAX_BENCHES_PER_PERIOD

You use the MAX_BENCHES_PER_PERIOD parameter to constrain the number of benches that can be active in any period. After the maximum number of benches has been mined in a period, the next bench does not become available for mining until the next period.

Note: This parameter is available only if the mining method is Benches.

## MAX_CAPACITY

You use the MAX_CAPACITY parameter to define the maximum volume of material that can exist at a stockpile. When you define a maximum capacity for a stockpile, you can create an event that occurs when the stockpile reaches that capacity.

During scheduling, when you have defined a maximum capacity for a stockpile, after the capacity is reached, MineSched does not automatically stop sending material to the stockpile. To stop material being sent to a stockpile after the maximum capacity is reached, you must set up a material movement rule that stops material being added to the stockpile, and set up a different stockpile to which the source material is sent.

Note: A stockpile reaching maximum capacity is a one-time event. If material is removed from the stockpile, and more material added to it so that the maximum capacity is reached a second or subsequent time, the event is not triggered.

## MIN_CAPACITY

You use the MIN_CAPACITY parameter to define the minimum volume of material that can exist on a stockpile. When you define a minimum capacity for a stockpile, you can create an event that occurs when the stockpile reaches that capacity.

To use MIN_CAPACITY the stockpile must be assigned a resource that pushes material to another stockpile.

Note: Resources cannot be assigned to stockpiles that feed processes, which means you cannot set a MIN_CAPACITY for a stockpile that feeds a process.

During scheduling, when you have defined a minimum capacity for a stockpile, after the capacity is reached, MineSched does not automatically start sending material to the stockpile. To start sending material to a stockpile after the minimum capacity is reached, you must set up a material movement rule that defines the source of the material that is sent to the stockpile after the minimum capacity is reached. You must also assign a resource to the stockpile, which can move the material to the stockpile after it has reached the minimum capacity.

Note: A stockpile reaching minimum capacity is a one-time event. If material is added to the stockpile, and then removed again so that the minimum capacity is reached a second or subsequent time, the event is not triggered.

## RECALC_ACTIVE_LOCATIONS_AT_PERIOD_START

You use the RECALC_ACTIVE_LOCATIONS_AT_PERIOD_START parameter to select whether the active locations are redetermined at the beginning of each period.

This parameter is useful when you are target scheduling and the targets change for each period.

If you set RECALC_ACTIVE_LOCATIONS_AT_PERIOD_START to yes, at the start of each new period the active locations are selected based on the targets set for the new period.

If you set RECALC_ACTIVE_LOCATIONS_AT_PERIOD_START to no, the active locations at the start of each period are the locations that were active at the end of the last period, even if the targets have changed in the new period.

## SCOPE_LEVELS_ACTIVE_LOCATION_CALCS

You use the SCOPE_LEVELS_ACTIVE_LOCATION_CALCS parameter to define the scope levels when the active locations are calculated.

If you use SCOPE_LEVELS_ACTIVE_LOCATION_CALCS, only the unmined blocks that are located within the specified number of scope levels from the currently available blocks are included in the calculation when evaluating the location. You can use any integer value for the number of scope levels.

If you do not use SCOPE_LEVELS_ACTIVE_LOCATION_CALCS, all unmined blocks in a location are included in the calculation when evaluating the location.

If a location includes more material than can be mined in a single period, it is recommended that you use SCOPE_LEVELS_ACTIVE_LOCATION_CALCS.

## SWELL_FACTOR

You use the SWELL_FACTOR parameter to model the change in volume of material that can occur when material is moved from the source to the destination location.

The SWELL_FACTOR value acts as a multiplier on the original volume of the material at the source location. For example, when unmined material is mined and moved to a stockpile, the volume of the material increases, usually by a factor close to 1.3. You can apply a swell factor so that the volumes of the stockpiles are reported correctly. You can also apply a swell factor so that you can model fill locations using the correct volume of material after it is mined.

Swell factor can be specific to each material class. You can use material-specific swell factors to model different values for swell factor for different materials. To use a material-specific SWELL_FACTOR you include the material in the parameter name, separated from "SWELL_FACTOR" by a space, for example "SWELL_FACTOR ore".

Note: To specify multiple material classes you can use wildcards in the material class name.

## User Parameters

You can change the values for any parameter you have defined in the User parameters data grid on the Define Geology > Models tab.

If you do not set values for the user parameters for surface mining locations in the Parameters data grid, the background value you defined in the User parameters data grid is used.

You can change the value of a numeric user parameter at a date or event, or you can change the value for any user parameter for specified surface and underground mining locations.

Note: The easiest method to define user parameters for underground locations is to use the User parameters data grid of the Setup Schedule > Underground > Locations tab. If you define user parameters for underground locations in the Parameters data grid, they take precedence over parameters defined in the User parameters data grid in the Setup Schedule > Locations > Underground tab.

### See also

- Parameters
- Precedences
- User Parameters
- Targets

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