Figure 4B.

12: Required arcs for a desired

slope
When this idea is extended to both sides, and to three dimensions, we typically need of
the order of 50 arcs for each block, to ensure a slope accuracy of about one degree.
Exact slope accuracy can never be achieved, because optmizaton cannot “mine” part of
a block.

The Lerchs-Grossmann three-dimensional optmizaton method achieves its aim by

manipulatng the block values and the arcs. It uses no other information. In other
words,
except for the information given by the arcs, it “knows” nothing about the positions of
the blocks - nor indeed about mining.
Therefore, in order to demonstrate how the method works, it is merely necessary to
work with a list of blocks and a list of arcs. Whether these are laid out in one, two or
three dimensions, and how many arcs per block are used, is immaterial.

In order to demonstrate how the Lerchs-Grossmann three-dimensional method works,

we will choose to work in two dimensions, because that is much easier on paper. Also
for simplicity, we will use square blocks and slopes of 45 degrees, although this is not a
requirement for Lerchs-Grossmann, as was shown by the previous diagram. This allows
us to work with only three arcs per block, as shown in Figure 4B.13.

Figure 4B.13: The efect of chaining with three arcs per

block
The Lerchs-Grossmann method flags each block that we currently intend to mine.
During
the optimizaton process, these flags can be turned on and off many tmes. A block is
flagged to be mined if it currently belongs to a linked group of blocks that have a total
value that is positve. These groups are called “branches”.

MEA – Mine Planning, 2009 87

The method repeatedly scans through the blocks looking for blocks that are flagged to
be
mined and that have an arc pointng to a block that is not flagged to be mined. Clearly,
this is not a viable situation. The way it resolves these situatons forms the core of the
Lerchs-Grossmann method.
The following diagrams take you through such a search.

We start with a two-dimensional model, 17 blocks long and 5 blocks high.

Only three blocks contain potental ore, and they have the values shown.
All other blocks are waste and have the value -1.0.

Step 1: The first arc from a “flagged” block that we find is to a block which is not
flagged.

23.9 6.9 23.9

22.9
Step 2: To resolve this, we link the two blocks together. The total value of the two-block
branch is 22.9.

Step 3: We deal with the other two arcs from this block in the same way. The total value
of the four-block branch is 20.9.

MEA – Mine Planning, 2009 88

Step 4: We contnue in the same way along the bottom bench, and then along the next
bench. (Note that even waste blocks are flagged if they belong to a positive branch.)

Step 5: The next flagged block has an arc to a block which is also flagged. We don’t
create
a link for this arc or for the vertical one from the same block, because nothing has to be
resolved.

Step 6: The next arc from a flagged to another flagged block is between two branches.
The procedure is unchanged - we do not insert a link.

Step 7: We contnue adding links until we reach the one shown. When we add this link,
the branch total will become -0.1. Because of this ALL the blocks in the branch have
their flags turned off.

MEA – Mine Planning, 2009 89

Step 8: The next arc of interest is from a flagged block to a block which is part of a
branch
which is not flagged. Efectively the centre and the right-hand branches can co-operate
in paying for the mining of the common waste block, which is circled.

23.9 6.9 23.9

15.9 20.8
Step 9: The Lerchs-Grossmann method includes a procedure for combining the two
linked branches into one branch with only one total value.(Note that there is no
requirement to always branch upwards from the root.)

Step 10: The next arc of interest is from a flagged block to a waste block.
Lerchs-Grossmann detects that this extra waste will remove the ability of the centre
branch to co-operate with the right-hand branch in paying for the mining of the circled
block.

Step 11: Lerchs-Grossmann includes a procedure for breaking the single branch into two
branches by REMOVING a link.

23.9 6.9 23.9

-0.1 -0.1 8.9

Step 12: We contnue adding links and, eventually, the total value of the left-hand
branch
becomes negative. The next arc after this is again between a positve and a negatve
branch.

MEA – Mine Planning, 2009 90