The software release includes new value-add features and optimised workflows and functionality.

Gordon Thomas, Micromine technical product manager, said: "Micromine 2020 offers intuitive, feature-rich solutions that meet our clients' needs and delivers superior functionality across the entire mining value chain. Geologists, engineers, mine planners and production schedulers can all benefit from the enhanced speed, efficiency, tools and features of MICROMINE's new software."

One of the most notable added features in Micromine 2020 is the new stope optimisation tool.

"The underground equivalent of Micromine's existing pit optimiser module, stope optimiser gives mine planners the means to generate optimal stope outlines to meet design and economic parameters," said Thomas. "For open pit miners, the stope optimiser can also generate the optimum diglines to suit minimum mining widths."

The addition of new implicit modelling tools for geological modelling is another key upgrade that the company stated can make Micromine 2020 users' workflows even more efficient and reliable.

"Micromine 2020's implicit modelling module can speed up the domain modelling process by 100 times, when compared to manual sectional modelling, while ensuring an accurate result," said Thomas. "Conveniently integrated into geologists' workflow, Micromine 2020 ensures all mining exploration and modelling activities can be done in one place, rather than switching between products and systems."

There are also upgrades and new functionalities that have been incorporated into Micromine's existing scheduler tool.

"Micromine 2020's scheduling tool accepts sets of tasks with properties presented in wireframes with attributes and criteria specific to each task - and provides facilities for sequencing the tasks to suit requirements," said Thomas. "The tasks are then displayed in a Gantt chart, with the option of creating 3-D animations and reports. The updated scheduling tool integrates seamlessly with other Micromine functions and supports both the new expression editor and unit conversion facilities.

"Planners can rest assure they will have the means to satisfy specified objectives, maximise net present value and achieve production targets."

With Micromine's charts being an integral part of its workflow, the addition of a range of new statistical chart and analysis functionalities in Micromine 2020 gives geologists the ability to set up charts according to specific requirements, rather than configuring generic chart options.

The additional charting tools include Multivariate Histogram Analysis, Ternary Diagram, Top Cut Graph, Boundary Analysis, Swath Plot, Search Neighbourhood, Quantitative Kriging Neighbourhood Analysis (QKNA) and Grade Tonnage Curve.

Thomas said: "Each chart is dedicated to a specific geological or geostatistical scenario. Together, in an interactive and visual way, they help geologists make informed decisions where there is no clear-cut answer."

Another key function coming to life in Micromine 2020 is the ring design tool for underground engineers, which can enable planning engineers to precisely define the size and configuration of the drill rigs to be used.

"The tool allows users to apply constraints, in accordance with rig specifications. This ensures the range and coverage limits of booms are not inadvertently exceeded during the design process," explained Thomas. "Rings can be created, viewed, edited, mirrored, copied and replicated using the ring design tool, with feedback provided throughout the design process."

Other new additions in Micromine 2020 include:

• The ability for explorers and geologists to visualise private and government web map services layers in Vizex;
• User-friendly import and export options for OMF files, from or to, other GMPs; and
• An import option for ioGas files.

Enhancements made to the existing Micromine product include:

• Enhanced draping and visualising images in Vizex;
• Faster wireframe assign functionality;
• Faster block model reporting;
• Improved block model regularisation features;
• Improved drillhole creation workflow; and
• Improved wireframe management tools;
• Data selection functionality using a new lasso tool in Vizex;
• Major improvements in the creation and management of Python scripts.

Thomas concluded: "A lot of effort has gone into incorporating improvements and additions that will truly add value to our clients throughout the mining value chain - simplifying and speeding up processes, and helping clients deliver the very best results."