Plotlogic’s OreSense® increases production at Iron Ore mine


Executive Summary


An iron ore mine in Western Australia’s Pilbara is using Plotlogic’s OreSense® to enhance its short-term scheduling and real-time planning to minimise problematic ore and make its plant feed more consistent. The mine uses this new, additive dataset as an “early warning system” to detect differences between mine plan and actual results. The data created is ingested into existing mining software. Use of OreSense® will ultimately lead to an increase in plant production.


Problem Statement


Like all iron ore mines in the Pilbara, our client has been required to mine deeper and closer to the water table. Problematic ore, with high clay and moisture content, has become more common. Short-term mine plans and schedules do not always forecast the existence of problematic ore. This lack of visibility means site operators cannot take steps to correct the issue by better blending or removing the ore. It has led to increased downtimes of the plant and downstream delays at port.


Solution


Plotlogic’s OreSense® Platform has been adopted to provide an additive dataset solving the gap between short-term scheduling and actuals. OreSense® is currently identifying problematic ore in the mine face and in stockpiles so that it can be blended or excluded from processing. Results are downloadable from Plotlogic’s Mineral Mapper web-based portal in minutes.


Results


The mine’s short-term scheduling team is viewing Plotlogic’s results daily as a means of an “early warning system”, to challenge and test the accuracy of its mine plan. When the plan results deviate significantly from Plotlogic’s data, the team investigates further and adjusts the short-term mine plan and the scheduling. Use of OreSense® has led to fewer hang ups and clogging in the plant - increasing production. Because fewer clays are being processed, the mine is saving on energy, water and chemicals.


Conclusion


Due to positive results, the mine’s operators have requested quotes for Plotlogic’s On-Bench Digital Assay and Conveyor solutions for both the plant and port. Plotlogic is working closely to roll out a whole of mine optimisation solution.

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