Strategic Mine Planning and Optimization - Whittle Core: Comprehensive 5-Day Training Course

Course Overview

The Strategic Mine Planning and Optimization - Whittle Core training program is an intensive 5-day professional development course designed to equip mining professionals, engineers, and geologists with advanced skills in open-pit mine planning and optimization. This comprehensive training focuses on leveraging GEOVIA Whittle software—the industry’s gold standard for strategic mine planning—to maximize operational value, optimize pit designs, and develop economically viable mining schedules.

Participants will gain hands-on experience with Whittle’s powerful optimization algorithms, including the renowned Lerchs-Grossmann algorithm, and learn to apply cutting-edge techniques that can improve project economics by 5% to 35%. Whether you’re a mine planner, resource geologist, mining engineer, or operations manager, this course provides the technical expertise and practical skills needed to unlock intrinsic value from mining assets through data-driven decision-making and strategic optimization.

Target Audience: Mine planners, mining engineers, resource geologists, technical services managers, mine optimization specialists, and professionals seeking to enhance their strategic mine planning capabilities.

Prerequisites: Basic understanding of mining operations, geology fundamentals, and familiarity with mining economics. Prior experience with mine planning software is beneficial but not mandatory.

Day 1: Fundamentals of Strategic Mine Planning and Whittle Introduction

Morning Session: Strategic Mine Planning Concepts (4 hours)

The opening session establishes foundational knowledge essential for strategic mine planning. Participants explore the critical difference between tactical and strategic planning, understanding how long-term optimization drives superior economic outcomes. The session covers fundamental concepts including Net Present Value (NPV), discount rates, and time value of money—key metrics that govern mining investment decisions.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• Understanding strategic versus tactical mine planning approaches

• Comprehensive overview of mining value chains from exploration to closure

• Financial fundamentals: NPV, IRR, payback period, and discount rate applications

• Introduction to ore body modeling and resource classification (Measured, Indicated, Inferred)

• Economic parameters affecting mine planning: commodity prices, operating costs, capital expenditure

• Overview of mining regulations, environmental considerations, and social license to operate

Practical Components:

• Case study analysis: Examining successful strategic mine plans from global operations

• Financial modeling exercises: Calculating NPV under various scenarios

• Group discussion: Identifying value drivers and optimization opportunities in different mining contexts

Afternoon Session: Whittle Software Introduction and Setup (4 hours)

This session introduces participants to the GEOVIA Whittle environment, focusing on software navigation, data management, and initial project setup. Participants learn the software architecture, understand different modules, and begin working with their first Whittle project.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• Whittle software interface navigation and workspace customization

• Understanding Whittle modules: PitOptimizer, Milawa Scheduler, and reporting tools

• Data importation techniques: block models, geological data, and topographic surfaces

• Block model validation and quality assurance procedures

• Parameter definition: mining costs, processing costs, recovery rates, and selling prices

• Creating and managing Whittle project files and databases

Hands-on Activities:

• Software installation and license configuration

• Importing sample block models and validating data integrity

• Setting up project parameters and economic assumptions

• Exploring visualization tools and 3D model manipulation

• Creating custom reports and exporting data for external analysis

Day 2: Pit Optimization Theory and Ultimate Pit Limit Design

Morning Session: Pit Optimization Algorithms and Theory (4 hours)

Day 2 delves into the mathematical foundations of pit optimization, focusing on the Lerchs-Grossmann algorithm—the cornerstone of Whittle’s optimization capabilities. Participants gain theoretical understanding necessary for interpreting optimization results and making informed design decisions.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• Mathematical principles of pit optimization and graph theory applications

• Deep dive into Lerchs-Grossmann algorithm: functionality, strengths, and limitations

• Understanding maximum flow algorithms and pseudoflow implementations

• Concept of economic block value calculation and net value assignment

• Mining slope constraints, geotechnical parameters, and stability considerations

• Revenue factors: cut-off grades, metallurgical recovery, and commodity price assumptions

Educational Components:

• Detailed walkthrough of block value calculations with multiple commodity scenarios

• Exploration of mining and processing cost structures

• Understanding discount rates and their impact on ultimate pit limits

• Analysis of sensitivity to economic parameters

• Historical evolution from manual methods to modern algorithmic optimization

Afternoon Session: Ultimate Pit Limit Generation in Whittle (4 hours)

The practical application of morning’s theory, this session guides participants through generating ultimate pit limits using Whittle’s PitOptimizer module. Participants work through multiple optimization scenarios, learning to interpret results and select optimal designs.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• Step-by-step ultimate pit limit generation using PitOptimizer

• Configuring optimization parameters: slopes, mining widths, and bench heights

• Running single and multiple pit optimizations

• Generating nested pit shells and understanding the pit shell family

• Interpreting optimization results: tonnage-grade curves and economic analysis

• Sensitivity analysis: evaluating impacts of price, cost, and recovery variations

Practical Exercises:

• Generating ultimate pit limits for multiple economic scenarios

• Creating and analyzing pit shell families with varying revenue factors

• Conducting sensitivity analysis on key economic drivers

• Comparing optimization results under different geotechnical constraints

• Exporting optimized pit shells for downstream applications

• Documenting optimization parameters and decision rationale

Day 3: Pushback Design and Production Scheduling

Morning Session: Nested Pit Analysis and Pushback Strategy (4 hours)

This session focuses on translating ultimate pit limits into practical mining sequences through pushback design. Participants learn strategic approaches to phase development that balance early cash flow generation with operational constraints.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• Understanding nested pit shells and their role in production sequencing

• Pushback design principles: access, mining fleet capacity, and grade control

• Strategic pushback selection criteria: NPV maximization vs. early revenue

• Analyzing tonnage, grade, and stripping ratio progression through pit shells

• Balancing waste stripping requirements with processing capacity

• Incorporating operational realities: equipment limitations, stockpiling strategies

Analytical Activities:

• Reviewing nested pit shell families and selecting strategic pushbacks

• Calculating stripping ratios and waste-to-ore ratios for each phase

• Evaluating grade distribution and mill feed blending opportunities

• Creating pushback sequences that optimize NPV while managing risk

• Developing conceptual mine access and haul road layouts

Afternoon Session: Production Scheduling with Milawa (4 hours)

Participants advance to production scheduling using Whittle’s Milawa scheduler, transforming spatial pit designs into time-phased mining schedules that maximize project value while respecting operational constraints.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• Introduction to Milawa scheduler interface and workflow

• Defining mining and processing capacity constraints

• Setting up scheduling parameters: mining rates, equipment productivity, stockpile policies

• Creating precedence relationships and mining sequence constraints

• Generating optimized production schedules that maximize NPV

• Balancing grade control, mill feed requirements, and blending strategies

Hands-on Scheduling:

• Building a complete production schedule from optimized pit shells

• Defining mining blocks and establishing extraction sequences

• Implementing mining capacity constraints and processing limitations

• Incorporating stockpile management and grade blending strategies

• Running schedule optimizations with multiple objective functions

• Analyzing schedule outputs: Gantt charts, production profiles, cash flow projections

• Identifying critical path constraints and bottlenecks

Day 4: Advanced Optimization Techniques and Scenario Analysis

Morning Session: Multi-pit and Multi-element Optimization (4 hours)

Advanced optimization scenarios require specialized techniques for complex deposits. This session explores multi-pit optimization for deposits with multiple ore bodies and multi-element optimization for polymetallic deposits.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• Multi-pit optimization strategies for multiple ore bodies

• Handling polymetallic deposits with multiple payable commodities

• Simultaneous optimization of multiple mining operations (SIMO)

• Resource allocation between competing mining areas

• By-product credit calculations and equivalent grade methodologies

• Stockpile optimization for grade blending and scheduling flexibility

Advanced Applications:

• Setting up and running multi-pit optimization scenarios

• Configuring multi-element block models with complex metallurgy

• Applying weighted equivalent grade calculations for polymetallic ores

• Optimizing multiple pits with shared infrastructure and processing facilities

• Analyzing trade-offs between competing optimization objectives

Afternoon Session: Uncertainty Analysis and Risk Management (4 hours)

Mining projects face numerous uncertainties affecting economic viability. This session addresses risk quantification, sensitivity analysis, and robust optimization under uncertainty.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• Identifying key sources of uncertainty: commodity prices, operating costs, geological variability

• Conducting comprehensive sensitivity analysis on critical parameters

• Scenario planning: optimistic, base case, and pessimistic scenarios

• Monte Carlo simulation for risk quantification

• Developing flexible mine plans that adapt to changing conditions

• Understanding real options valuation in mine planning

Risk Analysis Activities:

• Performing detailed sensitivity analysis on price, cost, and grade parameters

• Creating scenario matrices evaluating multiple concurrent uncertainties

• Analyzing results to identify robust optimization strategies

• Developing decision trees for staged development approaches

• Quantifying project risk using statistical methods

• Creating risk-adjusted mine plans and investment recommendations

Day 5: Integration, Reporting, and Real-World Application

Morning Session: Integration with Other Mine Planning Tools (3 hours)

Modern mine planning requires seamless integration between multiple software platforms. This session covers data exchange, interoperability, and workflow integration.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• Exporting Whittle results to detailed design software (Surpac, MineSight, Deswik)

• Importing block models from geological modeling software

• Data format standards and conversion techniques

• Integration with enterprise resource planning (ERP) and execution systems

• Visualization and presentation techniques using external tools

• Workflow automation and scripting capabilities

Integration Exercises:

• Exporting optimized pit shells and schedules to CAD software

• Creating visualization materials for stakeholder presentations

• Developing integrated workflows between geological modeling and optimization

• Automating routine optimization tasks through scripting

Afternoon Session: Reporting, Communication, and Case Studies (3 hours)

The final session focuses on communicating optimization results to diverse stakeholders and analyzing real-world case studies demonstrating strategic mine planning impact.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• Creating comprehensive technical reports documenting optimization studies

• Developing executive summaries for non-technical stakeholders

• Visualization best practices for presenting complex optimization results

• Compliance reporting for regulatory and investment purposes

• Understanding the approval process for strategic mine plans

Real-World Case Studies:

• Analysis of successful pit optimization projects with documented economic improvements

• Review of challenging optimization scenarios and lessons learned

• Discussion of common pitfalls and how to avoid them

• Industry best practices from leading mining operations

Final Assessment and Course Wrap-up (2 hours)

The course concludes with a comprehensive practical assessment where participants demonstrate mastery of learned skills by completing an end-to-end optimization project.

Assessment Components:

• Individual project: Complete optimization study from block model to production schedule

• Presentation of optimization results and recommendations

• Peer review and feedback session

• Certificate of completion for qualified participants

• Discussion of continuing education opportunities and advanced training pathways

Course Deliverables and Resources

Participants receive comprehensive materials to support continued learning and application:

• Course Materials: Comprehensive training manual with detailed tutorials and reference materials

• Sample Data Sets: Multiple block models and case study data for practice

• Template Library: Pre-configured optimization templates and report formats

• Video Tutorials: Recorded demonstrations of key workflows for future reference

• Certificate: Professional development certificate upon successful completion

• Alumni Network: Access to course alumni community for ongoing professional support