Geometallurgy is now recognised within the mining industry as an approach that can both maximise value and reduce the risks associated with resource development. The process of spatial ore variability testing for metallurgical response and the use of quick, inexpensive metallurgical proxies has been well developed in the past decade in industry and the literature, and via various collaborative research programs and laboratories. Technology continues to advance with new techniques such as hand-held analytical tools and automated hyperspectral core scanning, allowing for even faster, less expensive in situ geometallurgical testing._x000D_
In the current mining industry downturn, a critical frontier of geometallurgy is in its application in short-term geological modelling (ore control) and mine planning, and the associated decision-making. This is the end game at which the hard-won knowledge of orebody variability can be exploited to add near-term value. In order for spatial block models to be fit-for-purpose for such tactical uses, they must be populated with key geometallurgical information and then have workflows that use this richer model as a basis of material allocation to destinations so that the true value of the resource is realised._x000D_
We envision geometallurgy (geomet) programs designed to add and sustain value at two levels: Strategic geomet' has a long-term strategic focus that actively uses all relevant data that helps predict processing performance such as bench-scale metallurgical tests, mineralogy, geochemistry, ore texture etc (the geometallurgical database') to model spatial ore variability and metallurgical response throughout the life-of-mine (LOM). This will enable better resource definition, more optimal mine planning and scheduling, improved process design and sustaining capital strategy over the LOM. The value-realisation is gained by basing all these strategic decisions on spatial models that better reflect the actual value of blocks (or aggregates of blocks) in the model._x000D_
Tactical geomet' has a short- to medium-term tactical focus that, again, actively uses the geometallurgical database, but also includes new data derived during ore control activities (such as drilling and sampling) to inform allocation-to-destination decisions via the ore control process. This will enable improved efficiency (ie less error) in allocation of mining blocks as direct feed, stockpile or waste. Importantly, this efficiency will be measured in terms of value and not grade, which is an incomplete - and typically biased - proxy for value. The key benefit is that ore control will then be planned and executed on the basis of realised value._x000D_
We therefore propose a twofold systematic and holistic, value-based geometallurgical process. This process needs to be planned and implemented in an integrated manner, noting that strategic and tactical geometallurgy can be worked on by the same professionals, sharing data, methodologies and potentially models. What differs between the two levels is the required granularity, the business context and (critically) the decision-making time horizons._x000D_
CITATION: McKay, N, Vann, J, Ware, W, Morley, C, Hodkiewicz, P, 2016. Strategic and Tactical Geometallurgy - a Systematic Process to Add and Sustain Resource Value, in Proceedings The Third AusIMM International Geometallurgy Conference (GeoMet) 2016, pp 29-36 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).