Open pit planning and scheduling play a significant role in establishing, maintaining and improving the economics of open pit mining ventures. The development of an open pit plan and schedule involves consideration of the following elements:
the market for the mineral,
the mineral deposit,
the treatment process,
the external factors,
the mining method,
the scale of operations,
the open pit design,
the open pit schedule,
the calculation of economic performance, and
the implementation of the open pit plan and schedule.
The above factors are described and discussed. Open pit planning and scheduling is the linkage which enables a mineral deposit amenable to open pit mining to meet a market requirement for the particular mineral. To effect this linkage the open pit planner should have a good detailed appreciation of both the mineral deposit and the market.