Conference Proceedings - World Mining Congress 2026

2073 The decomposition of the system into three interdependent subsystems — production level, haulage level, and material handling system — allows the dominant system constraint to emerge naturally from simulation, rather than being assumed a priori. This capability is especially valuable in expansion contexts, where the dominant constraint changes as new production sectors are incorporated. Statistical calibration and validation of the model against real historical data is a necessary condition for simulation results to have value as support for high-impact decisions. A calibrated model that faithfully reproduces the historical behavior of the system provides a solid foundation for projecting the impact of structural changes with quantifiable confidence. The continuous use of the calibrated model — periodically updating it with the most recent operational data — transforms simulation from a one-time engineering deliverable into a permanent operational management tool, capable of accompanying the operation's decision cycle throughout its entire useful life. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors thank the operational teams of the underground mining operations whose historical information has supported the development and validation of the methodological framework presented, for their openness in sharing operational data and for their contribution to the validation of model logic. REFERENCES Banks, J., Carson II, J. S., Nelson, B. L. y Nicol, D. M. (2005). Discrete-Event System Simulation (4th ed.). Prentice Hall. Castro, R. y Cuello, D. (2018). Hang-up analysis and modelling for Cadia East PC1-S1 and PC2S1. Proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium on Block and Sublevel Caving. Australian Centre of Geomechanics. https://doi.org/10.36487/acg_rep/1815_15_castro Halatchev, R. and Knights, P. (2011). Simulation-based fleet management in underground mines. Mining Technology, 120(3), 131–140. Law, A. M. (2015). Simulation Modeling and Analysis (5th ed.). McGraw-Hill. Upadhyay, S. P. y Askari-Nasab, H. (2016). Simulation and optimization approach for uncertaintybased short-term planning in open pit mines. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology, 26(2), 227–236.

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