Start with this introduction
Introduction to COMET ONE
Begin here for a concise explanation of COMET ONE, the decisions it helps you explore and how the training tool reveals mine-value interactions.
COMET ONE
A guided learning tool for discovering how objectives, costs, revenues, constraints and geology change mine value. Watching the free videos is an excellent way to begin; then explore supplied examples or, with a subscription, your own resource data.
Learning Library
Follow the complete COMET ONE learning path
Two public playlists—the COMET ONE Tutorial and Algorithms Explained—form the learning sequence. Every video plays here on the COMET Strategy website and can be expanded to full screen.
COMET ONE Tutorial9 videos · 55:20 totalView videos
Start here for registration, inputs, results and the practical consequences of choosing different objectives.
Choose a video below to play it here.Introduction to COMET ONE
Introduces cross-disciplinary strategy optimisation and COMET ONE as a free way to explore mine-value decisions.
Registration, Activation and Optimisation
Walks through account registration, activation and the first COMET ONE optimisation.
Summary of Input Parameters
Explains the teaching datasets and the economic, capacity and reserve inputs used in an analysis.
Overview of Base Case Results
Shows how to read the base-case schedule, NPV, life, ore and detailed result charts.
NPV vs Reserve Cash Flow
Compares maximising NPV with maximising reserve cash flow and explains why the strategies differ.
NPV vs Period Cash Flow
Contrasts whole-project NPV with maximising cash flow one period at a time.
NPV vs Mine Life
Demonstrates why maximising project life is not the same as maximising project value.
NPV vs Cut-off Grade
Separates simply maximising a cut-off grade from optimising the cut-off policy for NPV.
NPV vs Minimum Cost
Shows the unusable extreme produced when minimising cost becomes the objective.
COMET ONE Algorithms Explained5 videos · 27:24 totalView videos
Continue here to understand the dynamic-programming logic behind cut-off-grade optimisation.
Choose a video below to play it here.Backwards Algorithm - Part 1
Defines a simple sequential mining problem and the formulas used by the backwards dynamic-programming method.
Backwards Algorithm - Part 2
Works through sample calculations and a graphical view of the backwards algorithm.
Forwards Algorithm - Part 1
Introduces the forward method as a response to the limitations of backwards optimisation.
Forwards Algorithm - Part 2
Compares calculation effort and shows how the algorithms extend beyond a single cut-off policy.
Cut-off Grade Algorithm Derivation
Derives the formulas behind the well-known page 18 treatment of cut-off-grade theory.
Rapid Online Analysis
Explore the value drivers together
Use a consistent economic framework to understand interactions that are easy to miss when each assumption is considered in isolation.
Compare
Objectives
Explore how NPV, cash flow, metal, reserves and cost-based objectives can lead to different strategic choices.
Test
Costs and Revenues
Change economic assumptions and observe how the preferred strategy and size of the opportunity respond.
Understand
Constraints and Geology
See how project-specific limits, recoveries and orebody characteristics interact with the economic objective.
A Practical First Step
From guided learning to project insight
Begin with sample data
Register free and use the supplied datasets to become familiar with the inputs, outputs and economic relationships.
Compare alternatives
Change one or more assumptions, compare the outcomes and identify the value drivers that matter most.
Build economic judgement
Develop a clearer understanding of why the preferred strategy changes, rather than treating optimisation as a black box.
Progress when ready
Move into formal COMET training or include your own resource data when you need project-specific insight. A subscription is required to use your own data.
Further Reading
Explore Ken Lane's foundational work
Continue into the economic principles behind value-based mine planning.