Simulation as a Decision Support Tool in Mine Planning

Mine planning in open-pit mines aims to define production and quality goals through the sequencing of fronts, material flows, and the sizing of the cargo and transport fleet. However, the operational feasibility of these plans is commonly evaluated based on average assumptions, which do not always adequately represent the operational dynamics. This work presents a methodological approach to evaluate the feasibility of mining plans based on Monte Carlo simulation, discrete event simulation and agent-oriented simulation. The model, developed on the AnyLogic platform, allows the evaluation of plans before their execution, incorporating mine sequencing, mine geometry, road network, fleet characteristics and stochastic operational rules. A case study in an open-pit mine in Nova Lima, considering the horizon of 2026, demonstrates the potential of the approach as a decision support tool.