Ep 141: Mineable Shape Optimisation (MSO) - where geology, cost, and design intersect

Mineable Shape Optimisation (MSO) sits at the intersection of geology, mining engineering, and economics. Used well, it helps teams move beyond theoretical resources and towards designs that reflect what will actually be mined.

In this episode of Fresh Thinking, Dr Gregory Zhang (Senior Resource Geologist) and Hamish Guthrie (Managing Consultant - Mining) discuss how MSO works, why it matters, and where it can add real value. They discuss the economic logic behind MSO, the importance of geological understanding, and how assumptions around cost, dilution, and mining method influence the outcomes.

Key moments
00:02 – What MSO is and why it’s used in underground mining
01:53 – The economic logic behind MSO and cut-off decisions
02:48 – Geological inputs that matter most for MSO outcomes
04:49 – How MSO actually works under the hood
06:13 – Comparing underground MSO with open pit optimisation
08:09 – Using MSO to manage dilution in narrow vein deposits
10:30 – Sensitivities, parameters, and study-level considerations
11:17 – Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
14:49 – A practical MSO workflow: inputs, outputs, and communication

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If you would like to contact Gregory or Hamish: [email protected]

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Snowden Optiro:
Snowden Optiro is a resources consulting and advisory group that provides independent advice, consulting and training to mining and exploration companies, their advisors and investors.
We help mine developers to advance their projects, mining companies to improve their operations and their professionals, and investors to de-risk their investments by the provision of quality advice, training and software in the field of Mineral Resources and Mineral/Ore Reserves.
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