Range Diagram

The Range Diagram command is an interactive tool that displays graphics which are dynamically updated when adding or editing values in the spreadsheet text below. This is a quick and easy way to find parameters such as pit width, or to size a dragline to fit the geology. Methods of mining include Side Cast, Dozer Push, Extended Bench and Spoil side mining. Output includes both drawing the sections in CAD and printing out reports as PDF files, where each step is a separate page. Each option is detailed below.

Side Cast Example

Input Parameters

Plan Type: Selects the mining method from Side Cast, Dozer Bench, Extended Bench and Spoil Bench.
Pit Width: Sets the width of the existing, open pit. This could be the previous pass, or a boxcut.
Spoil Angle: Sets the angle of repose of the spoil pile.
Coal Fender Height: This option sets the height that is allowed to cover the remaining coal with spoil, this leaves a wedge of coal known as a fender.
Spoil Toe Offset: This setting places the toe of the spoil this distance from the bottom of the coal seam.
Cut Width: This parameter is the width of the new cut. This is the field that is frequently changed to see what pit widths will work
Back Face Angle: This setting controls the back face angle of the highwall for all strata. It will update graphically with any change here.
Cut Direction: This determines weather the cut is advancing to the right or left in the graphics window. It is just a mirror image of either.
Spoil by Reach: This option places the top of the pile at a distance specified in the Spoil by Reach column. When it is on, Coal Fender Height and Spoil Toe Offset settings are unavailable.
Settings: This button option has three variations. Each one is shown and mentioned here.

Extended Bench Settings. This option has two settings to set the Steepened Angle of repose for the pushed material, and to set the width that the bench is extended horizontally.

Dozer Push Settings. These four settings control the operation of dozer push. The Steepened Angle is the angle of repose of the pushed material. The Doze Angle is the slope to push down to the bench level. The Doze Depth sets how far down to push from the top. And finally, the Doze Width sets the bench width of the flat dozer bench.
Spoil Side Bench Settings. These settings control the spoil side bench dimensions. The Steepened Angle sets the angle of repose of the bench material. The Bench Height sets the height of the bench from the pit floor. The Spoil Offset sets the width of the bench horizontally from the spoil.

Dragline and Seam Data

Dragline: This dropdown displays a list of predefined draglines. These can be added and edited with the separate command Define Dragline Equipment.
Reach: This displays the horizontal reach of the selected dragline. None of the colored text can be edited. Since it is colored blue, it cannot be edited here.
Max Height: This displays the vertical dumping height of the selected dragline. Since it is colored blue, it cannot be edited here.
Max Depth: This displays the vertical digging depth of the selected dragline. Since it is colored blue, it cannot be edited here.
SW Dig: This reports the dragline Swing Angle on the dig side. If it is red, then it cannot reach the entire cut, even with a -90 degree swing.
SW Dump: This reports the dragline Swing Angle on the dump side. If it is red, then it cannot reach far enough to dump, and not cover the coal, even with a 90 degree swing.If it is green, then that is the angle it needs to swing to dump and clear the coal, or the fender height.
Strata: This option sets the seam that the dragline is sitting on. To represent a chop/dig setup where the dragline sits on the second IB, while digging the OB, use the setting as shown here. Otherwise it normally would sit on the first OB.

Offset: This sets the distance for the dragline center pin offset from the crest of the highwall. This applies to all four methods.
Strata Row: This is the list of strata added to the cross section.
Key: The Key setting controls whether it is waste (NO), and coal (YES).
Thickness: This is where the thickness of each strata or bench is entered. The section will update graphically when a new value is entered.
Face Angle: This setting controls the highwall angle of each strata. It will update graphically with any change here.
Density: This is the density of the material used for calculating tons.
Toe Offset: This option is used for placing the toe of the spoil a certain distance from the toe of the highwall of coal or overburden.
Swell%: This is the swell factor of the material as it is moved from in-place to the spoil.
Sh/Truck Thickness: This option controls whether any of the material is hauled away and not spoiled. This is entered in as a depth from the top. This material is removed and not placed in the spoil pile.
Spoil By Reach: This is the horizontal distance from the top of the pile to the dragline. This is used if the similarly-named option is switched on.
Coal Fender Height and Spoil Toe Offset: These parameters are calculated automatically if the Spoil by Reach option is used.
Key Cut: The Key cut gives the option to split the overburden block into two sections. The first option is to turn it on with Use Key Cut. The Cut Side is either Left or Right. This allows for moving the dragline to get more spoil distance.

Left Key Cut

Cut Width: The width is entered in to set the horizontal distance of the bottom of the Key cut.
Cut Angle (degree): This is the angle of the key cut highwall.
Dragline Offset: This is the distance for the dragline center-pin from the crest of the highwall. This moves the dragline from the initial position to get the Key cut moved.
Add to Spoil: This option determines whether to spoil or not. If it is hauled away by other equipment, then this should be off. If it is spoiled with the dragline, then it should be on.
Flatten Key-Cut Spoil: This option flattens the top of the spoil pile on key-cuts so that the horizontal distance across the top equals the user-specified distance. A Repose angle and a New Spoil Offset also can be also specified.
Set Buck-wall Angle: This option allows to set the angle of the spoil buckwall.

Add Dragline (+): This option places the dragline on another strata. It can be the same dragline on another pass, or it can be another dragline if there are more than one working in that pit. Additional Draglines or passes show up as different tabs below the spreadsheet. Shown here is the same dragline as dragline2, working on a lower seam on another pass, deeper in the pit.

Remove Dragline (-): This takes away the dragline tab that was added to the diagram.
Add Strata (+): Use this button to add each strata to the diagram, such as OB, Coal or interburden. Once it is added, then pick in the cell to give it the proper name and set its thickness, angle and density.
Remove Strata (-): This takes away the strata that was added to the diagram.
Move Up or Down Arrows: This moves the selected strata up or down in the section.

Graphics Window: The ground surface is color green.

Pan: Pans around in the window
Zoom: Zooms in and out in the window
Zoom Extents: Zooms the diagram to fit the entire display window.
Settings: This button brings up the following dialog for settings:

Show Current Dragline Only: This should be on to see the dragline locations with a Key Cut, and also to see the other dragline locations on other passes.
Label: These options will label the angles, distances, thicknesses, strata names, areas and a dragline range in the display window.

Color: This button brings up the following dialog to control colors of linework:

Output: The output shows up in the lower right. It displays the area of the cuts and fills of all the material moved, and the dragline that moves it.

Draw: This option will draw the steps in CAD as polylines with fill. It will prompt for the starting point in CAD to draw them. Exit the command to see them in CAD. Here is an example of what it draws, their colors and entities.

Report: The report button will create a multipage PDF document where each step in the section will be on a separate page. Then at the end, one final page will show all the steps together with the finished section.

Pulldown Menu Location: Surface
Keyboard Command: ranged
Prerequisite: dragline equipment defined