Dassault Systemes Case Studies Efficient Dump Design Saves Agnico Eagle $1.4 Million
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Efficient Dump Design Saves Agnico Eagle $1.4 Million

Dassault Systemes
Analytics & Modeling - Real Time Analytics
Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration
Mining
Discrete Manufacturing
Quality Assurance
Predictive Maintenance
Process Control & Optimization
System Integration
Training
Agnico Eagle’s Meadowbank gold mine in northern Canada was facing a challenge of integrating mine design and production schedules with geological modeling to increase in-house knowledge and ensure profitability. They were struggling with a competitive software solution for over a year and needed a more efficient and effective solution. The mine is Agnico eagle’s largest gold producer, with 1.8 million ounces of gold in proven and probable reserves since the open pit began in early 2010. The mine is one of the most complicated waste management sites in Canada with 14 dikes, 9 pits, multiple dumps and more than 100 haul routes. The mine was also looking to reduce production costs and needed to modify the long-range plans on-the-go ensuring they are up to date with current operations.
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Agnico Eagle is a gold mining company with mining operations in Canada, Mexico and Finland and exploration activities in Canada, Europe, Latin America and the United States. The company is headquartered in Toronto, Canada and has over 5,500 employees. The Meadowbank mine, located in the Kivalliq region of Nunavut, about 2,600 kilometers northwest of Toronto, is Agnico eagle’s largest gold producer, with 1.8 million ounces of gold in proven and probable reserves since the open pit began in early 2010. The mine is one of the most complicated waste management sites in Canada with 14 dikes, 9 pits, multiple dumps and more than 100 haul routes.
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Agnico Eagle implemented GEOVIA GEMS SQL, GEOVIA MineSched and GEOVIA Whittle with onsite GEOVIA Services training and assistance for life of mine estimation, life of mine production scenarios, pit optimization, pit designs and ore control. The implementation of these solutions was completed successfully with the help of a skilled GEMS power user onsite to train their staff. The staff uses GEMS SQL for pit design and road design infrastructure, and appreciates that it can handle the large amounts of data contained in their complex operation. The implementation of Whittle assisted with economic optimization of the pit design. The company also improved the layout and design of their in-pit dumps, which increased the capacity of the dump by 1.7 million tonnes, decreasing hauling and construction costs. The company also used MineSched for life of mine and medium-term planning.
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A strong mine plan and streamlined operating process that decreased hauling and construction costs.
A smoother process for resource updating – rapid analysis reduced evaluation time from weeks to days.
Significant savings by improving the layout and design of their in-pit dumps.
Saved approximately $1.4 million over the life of mine by increasing the capacity of the dump by 1.7 million tonnes.
Increased output by 70,000 ounces in 2013 due to improved accuracy in classifying pit material.
16% improvement in reserves grades in 2013.
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