Process / pipelineGraph-based Optimization
Lerchs-Grossmann Algorithm
The Lerchs-Grossmann Algorithm is a graph-theoretic method for determining the ultimate pit limit in open-pit mining operations. Introduced by Helmut Lerchs and Israel Grossmann in 1965, it maximizes the net present value of extracted ore while respecting slope stability constraints. This algorithm forms the theoretical foundation for most modern pit optimization software.
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Sources
- Lerchs, H., & Grossmann, I. F. (1965). Optimum design of open-pit mines. Canadian Mining and Metallurgical Bulletin, 58(633), 47-54. DOI: 10.1007/BF01210879 ↗
- Johnson, T. B. (2014). Optimum pit limits - definition and computational procedures. Journal of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 249, 21-28. link ↗