Mining Rate Calculator
The core formula is Mining Rate = total tonnes moved ÷ operating hours, giving a production rate in tonnes per hour (t/h).
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How to use this calculator
- Enter the total tonnes moved and the operating time (in hours) for the period you are measuring — a shift, day or month.
- Optionally add the total cost, total fuel used and the surveyed/reconciled tonnes to also get cost per tonne, fuel burn per tonne and a reconciliation factor.
- Read the mining rate in tonnes per hour, plus a projected tonnes-per-day figure, and use the steps panel to see the working.
How it works
The core formula is Mining Rate = total tonnes moved ÷ operating hours, giving a production rate in tonnes per hour (t/h). Multiplying that hourly rate by 24 gives a projected tonnes-per-day figure, which assumes the same rate is sustained across a full 24-hour day — real days lose time to shift changes, refuelling, blasting delays and breakdowns, so enter your actual available hours for a realistic number.
When you supply the optional fields, the tool also computes Cost per Tonne = total cost ÷ tonnes, Fuel Burn per Tonne = litres ÷ tonnes (L/t), and a Reconciliation Factor = surveyed tonnes ÷ claimed tonnes × 100 %. A reconciliation factor near 100 % means the claimed production matches the survey pickup; above 100 % the survey found more than claimed, below 100 % it found less, which flags weightometer, payload-assumption or short-loading issues to investigate.
Worked example
Nightshift ore movement. A shovel-and-truck fleet moves 15,000 t of ore over a 20 h operating window, burning 6,000 L of diesel at a total cost of $45,000. The next-day survey reconciles 15,300 t. Enter tonnes = 15000, hours = 20, cost = 45000, fuel = 6000, surveyed = 15300. The calculator returns a mining rate of 750 t/h, a projected 18,000 t/day, cost per tonne of $3.00, fuel burn of 0.4 L/t, and a reconciliation factor of 102 % (survey came in 2 % above the claimed tonnes).
Common mistakes
- Mixing bank tonnes with loose (swelled) tonnes — pick one basis and keep tonnes, cost, fuel and survey figures all on that same basis, or the rate and reconciliation are meaningless.
- Entering scheduled hours instead of actual operating hours — including planned downtime inflates the denominator and understates the true instantaneous mining rate.
- Reading the 24 h/day projection as an achievable daily target; it is a straight scale-up of the hourly rate and ignores real-world availability and utilisation losses.
Frequently asked questions
What is a mining rate?
The mining rate is how much material a pit or fleet moves per unit of time, usually tonnes per hour, per day or per month. This tool computes it as total tonnes moved divided by the operating hours you enter, then scales the hourly figure to a projected tonnes-per-day rate.
How is cost per tonne calculated?
Cost per tonne is the total cost for the period divided by the tonnes produced in that period. It is a mining unit-cost metric — enter the same cost scope (for example, load-and-haul only, or all-in) that matches the tonnes you entered so the figure is comparable.
What does the reconciliation factor tell me?
It is surveyed (reconciled) tonnes divided by claimed tonnes, as a percentage. Near 100 % means claimed production matches the survey; above 100 % the survey found more material than claimed, below 100 % it found less. Persistent drift points to weightometer calibration, payload assumptions or short-loading that need checking.
Can I use this for a monthly or annual rate?
Yes. Enter the tonnes moved and the operating hours for that longer period (for example, a full month of production hours) and the mining rate is expressed per hour, with the projected per-day figure scaled from it.
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