blkcad.desMODELO DE BLOQUE GEOSTAT

User Manual

BLKCADResources block modelling

BLKCAD User’s Manual Page i

Systèmes Géostat International Inc.

Copyright 1999 Geostat Systems International Inc.

This document may not be reproduced in any fashion or in any media without the explicit written permission ofGeostat Systems International Inc.

Geostat is a trademark of Gamma Geostat International Inc.Geostat Systems International Inc. is an authorized user of the trademark.

Windows, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Access are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation

GEOSTAT SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL INC.800 Chomedey Blvd, Suite C-500Laval, Quebec, Canada, H7V 3Y4Phone : (450) 973-6561Fax : (450) 973-6070E-mail : [email protected] : www.geostat.com

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.geostat.com/

BLKCAD User’s Manual Page ii


Table of Contents

Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................................................... ii

List of Figures .............................................................................................................................................................. iii

1- Installation of BLKCAD....................................................................................................................................... 1

1- 1 System requirement ........................................................................................................................................... 11-1-1 Hardware needed ......................................................................................................................................... 11-1-2 Software needed .......................................................................................................................................... 1

1-2 Installation .......................................................................................................................................................... 11-2-1 From CD...................................................................................................................................................... 11-2-2 From diskettes ............................................................................................................................................. 41-2-3 From Web.................................................................................................................................................... 4

1-3 Running BLKCAD ............................................................................................................................................. 81-4 On-line documentation ....................................................................................................................................... 81-5 Re-installing BLKCAD ..................................................................................................................................... 81-6 Installed files....................................................................................................................................................... 8

2- BLKCAD overview.................................................................................................................................................. 1

2-1 Visualization of surfaces, envelopes and composites. ........................................................................................ 12-3 Resource calculation ........................................................................................................................................... 52-4 Reserve calculation........................................................................................................................................... 10

3- Learning BLKCAD in three lessons ......................................................................................................................... 1

3-1 Lesson 1: visualizing composites, envelopes and surfaces ................................................................................. 13-1-1 A first glimpse at composites ...................................................................................................................... 13-1-2 What is a “view”?........................................................................................................................................ 33-1-3 View of a view : zoom, pan and visibility ................................................................................................... 63-1-4 Retrieving composite and envelope data ..................................................................................................... 93-1-5 Loading surfaces........................................................................................................................................ 14

3-2 Lesson 2: creating and estimating blocks ......................................................................................................... 203-2-1 Setting controls.......................................................................................................................................... 203-2-2 Viewing the block model........................................................................................................................... 273-2-3 Editing the block model............................................................................................................................. 303-2-4 Categorizing the blocks and saving the model .......................................................................................... 34

3-3 Lesson 3: calculating resources from block model ........................................................................................... 423-3-1 Producing resource reports ........................................................................................................................ 423-3-2 Defining figures and getting their reserves................................................................................................ 473-3-3 Editing and exporting figures .................................................................................................................... 513-3-4 Blending figures ........................................................................................................................................ 55

BLKCAD User’s Manual Page iii


List of Figures

Figure 1- 1 Installation of BLKCAD - Installation of InstallShield Wizard from Setup .............................................. 2Figure 1- 2 Installation of BLKCAD - Presentation page of BLKCAD in the installation process............................. 2Figure 1- 3 Installation of BLKCAD – Standard warning to close all other applications............................................. 3Figure 1- 4 Installation of BLKCAD – Standard licence agreement ............................................................................ 3Figure 1- 5 Installation of BLKCAD – Identification page ......................................................................................... 5Figure 1- 6 Installation of BLKCAD – Selection of directory..................................................................................... 5Figure 1- 7 Installation of BLKCAD – Selection of Setup type ................................................................................... 6Figure 1- 8 Installation of BLKCAD – Selection of program folder ............................................................................ 6Figure 1- 9 Installation of BLKCAD - Review of Setup information........................................................................... 7Figure 1- 10 Installation of BLKCAD - Copying of files ............................................................................................. 7Figure 1- 11 Installation of BLKCAD – End of BLKCAD installation........................................................................ 8

Figure 2- 1 – Bench (25ft) composites in a nickel-copper deposit (red=>0.3%,blue=<0.3%,black=0)........................ 2Figure 2- 2 Ore limits in each bench as defined in SECTCAD (loaded as 3D polygons)............................................. 3Figure 2- 3 Topo (light blue) and overburden/bedrock contact surfaces (loaded as XYZ triplets)............................... 4Figure 2- 4 Resource model with 14,572 cubic blocks of 25ft side (red = interpolated Ni>0.3%)............................... 6Figure 2- 5 Uppermost bench (#25 at Z=1800ft) with top and bedrock surface ........................................................... 7Figure 2- 6 Middle bench (#17 Z=1600) with blocks within envelope colored according to %Ni............................... 7Figure 2- 7 Long section (200S) with composites, blocks and trace of topo + bedrock surface................................... 8Figure 2- 8 Cross-section (600W) with blocks, composites and trace of topo and bedrock surface............................. 8Figure 2- 9 Resources graphed in Excel from results calculated on imported block file in Access............................. 9Figure 2- 10 Resources according to measured (<50ft-red), indicated (50-100ft-yellow) and inferred categories....... 9Figure 2- 11 Whittle pit optimized on BLKCAD resource model and loaded in BLKCAD....................................... 11Figure 2- 12 Reserve report for resource blocks within Whittle pit (done in Excel) .................................................. 12Figure 2- 13 Excavation limits (“figures”) defined in one bench and within final pit limits ...................................... 13Figure 2- 14 Report of figure reserves currently defined in BLKCAD...................................................................... 13

Figure 3- 1 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Opening project file................................................................................................. 2Figure 3- 2 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Navigating to the project file ................................................................................... 2Figure 3- 3 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – ORTHO-225 view loaded from the project file....................................................... 3Figure 3- 4 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Selecting a different view........................................................................................ 4Figure 3- 5 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Looking for parameters of view 200S ..................................................................... 4Figure 3- 6 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Parameters of view 200S ......................................................................................... 5Figure 3- 7 Tutorial - Lesson 1 – The PLAN view and its parameters ......................................................................... 5Figure 3- 8 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Zooming view 200S ................................................................................................ 7Figure 3- 9 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Zoomed view of 200S ............................................................................................. 7Figure 3- 10 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – The 1700Z view with its parameters .................................................................... 8Figure 3- 11 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Envelope in bench Z=1700.................................................................................... 8Figure 3- 12 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Checking the envelopes currently loaded ............................................................ 10Figure 3- 13 Tutorial – Lesson 1 Checking the composites currently loaded ............................................................. 10Figure 3- 14 Tutorial – Lesson 1 Checking current color table .................................................................................. 11Figure 3- 15 Tutorial – Lesson 1 Changing the color table......................................................................................... 11Figure 3- 16 Tutorial – Lesson 1 Finishing changes to color table ............................................................................. 12Figure 3- 17 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Color of composites is changed........................................................................... 12Figure 3- 18 Tutorial – Lesson 1 Activating the Select Composites and getting composite data ............................... 13Figure 3- 19 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Activating the Import Surfaces............................................................................ 15Figure 3- 20 Tutorial – Lesson 1 - Selecting the surface file to import ..................................................................... 15Figure 3- 21 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Setting the name and color of surface to import.................................................. 16Figure 3- 22 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Setting the format to read the surface text file..................................................... 16Figure 3- 23 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – After loading control points top surface is meshed and gridded ......................... 17Figure 3- 24 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Increasing the transparency of the top surface.................................................... 17Figure 3- 25 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Appending the second surface............................................................................. 18Figure 3- 26 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Setting the name and color of the second surface................................................ 18

BLKCAD User’s Manual Page iv


Figure 3- 27 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Top and ovbd surfaces are loaded ....................................................................... 19Figure 3- 28 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Section 200S with composites and traces of envelopes and surfaces .................. 19Figure 3- 29 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Starting the block estimation procedure .............................................................. 22Figure 3- 30 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Checking the block grid parameters .................................................................... 22Figure 3- 31 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Parameters and view of default search ellipsoid.................................................. 23Figure 3- 32 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Parameters and view of Standard search ellipsoid ............................................. 23Figure 3- 33 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Estimation settings............................................................................................... 24Figure 3- 34 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Selection of variables to interpolate .................................................................... 24Figure 3- 35 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Selection of bounding surfaces............................................................................ 25Figure 3- 36 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Selection of envelopes for blocks........................................................................ 25Figure 3- 37 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Selection of envelopes for composites ................................................................ 26Figure 3- 38 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Interpolated blocks in section 200S..................................................................... 26Figure 3- 39 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Slice view of bench 8 (Elevations: 1800-1825)................................................... 28Figure 3- 40 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Slice view of bench 16 (Elevations : 1600-1625)................................................ 28Figure 3- 41 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Querying block values......................................................................................... 29Figure 3- 42 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Block representation with wire frame model....................................................... 29Figure 3- 43 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Block representation with filled polygons........................................................... 30Figure 3- 44 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Starting to modify envelope in bench 16............................................................. 31Figure 3- 45 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Selecting an anchor point along contour of envelope in bench 16 ...................... 31Figure 3- 46 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – About to move the selected anchor...................................................................... 32Figure 3- 47 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Moving the anchor to the next vertex .................................................................. 32Figure 3- 48 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Second vertex has been moved – About to keep changes. .................................. 33Figure 3- 49 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Block model is updated to reflect changes in envelope....................................... 33Figure 3- 50 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Defining the search ellipsoid for Measured blocks ............................................. 36Figure 3- 51 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Defining the search ellipsoid for Indicated blocks .............................................. 36Figure 3- 52 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Classification settings.......................................................................................... 37Figure 3- 53 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Defining a new color table to see block classification......................................... 37Figure 3- 54 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Blocks colored according to classification .......................................................... 38Figure 3- 55 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Selecting blocks to export ................................................................................... 38Figure 3- 56 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Calculation of ore and waste in exported blocks ................................................. 39Figure 3- 57 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Defining the format of the output block file ........................................................ 39Figure 3- 58 Tutorial – Lesson 2 Defining the name of the output block file ............................................................ 40Figure 3- 59 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Block file from BLKCAD imported in WordPad................................................ 40Figure 3- 60 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Block file from BLKCAD imported in Excel..................................................... 41Figure 3- 61 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Block file from BLKCAD imported in Access ................................................... 41Figure 3- 62 – Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Initiating resource calculations......................................................................... 43Figure 3- 63– Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Asking resources by bench and category........................................................... 43Figure 3- 64– Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Asking resources above 0.2%Ni........................................................................ 44Figure 3- 65– Tutorial – Lesson 3 –Specifying bounding surfaces for resource calculation ...................................... 44Figure 3- 66– Tutorial – Lesson 3 –Specifying ore types for resource calculation..................................................... 45Figure 3- 67– Tutorial – Lesson 3 – checking progress of resource computation....................................................... 45Figure 3- 68– Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Selecting a text file to store resource report ...................................................... 46Figure 3- 69– Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Resource report as viewed in Wordpad............................................................. 46Figure 3- 70 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Starting to define figures on bench #16............................................................... 48Figure 3- 71 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Limits and name of a first figure are entered....................................................... 48Figure 3- 72 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Figures reserves have been computed ................................................................. 49Figure 3- 73 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Changing characteristics of figures ..................................................................... 49Figure 3- 74 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Setting cut-offs on block estimates...................................................................... 50Figure 3- 75 -Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Selecting the text file for the figure reserve report............................................. 50Figure 3- 76 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Initiating the editing of a figure........................................................................... 52Figure 3- 77 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Moving the vertex of a figure to a new location.................................................. 52Figure 3- 78 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – adding more vertices along the figure outline ..................................................... 53Figure 3- 79 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – New figure outline is defined. Reserves are recomputed .................................... 53Figure 3- 80 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Exporting figures : format of output file.............................................................. 54Figure 3- 81 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Exporting figures : name of output file................................................................ 54Figure 3- 82 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Defining additional figures on bench 16 ............................................................. 56Figure 3- 83 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Calling the blend window.................................................................................... 56

BLKCAD User’s Manual Page v


Figure 3- 84 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Adding figure 16-1 to the blend .......................................................................... 57Figure 3- 85 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Moving to bench 17 below with figures in bench 16 .......................................... 57Figure 3- 86 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Defining a new figure in bench 17 and adding it to blend................................... 58Figure 3- 87 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Modifying figure 17-1 to meet target on ore tonnage in blend............................ 58

BLKCAD User’s Manual Installation-Page 1


1- Installation of BLKCADBLKCAD is a standard stand-alone Windows application. As such, its installation is alsostandard and fully automated.

1- 1 System requirement

1-1-1 Hardware needed

486/Pentium/Pentium II computer with a minimum of 16Mb RAM, an SVGA color monitorcapable of a 800x600 resolution with 64k colors. Disk space needed for the program is relativelysmall (about 3.5Mb).

1-1-2 Software needed

Windows 95, 98, NT operating system. The current version of BLKCAD will not run onWindows 3.1

1-2 Installation

The current version of BLKCAD can be obtained on a CD or several disquettes (fully operativeor demo version) or downloaded from the web site of Geostat (www.geostat.com) as demoversion only

1-2-1 From CD

The current version of BLKCAD is normally stored in the BLKCAD directory of the CD“Geostat Software Library”. Just insert the CD in the CD ROM unit and using standard Windowsnavigation tool (Explorer..), go to that directory and double-click on Setup.exe file in thatdirectory. Setup starts by installing the InstallShield wizard on your hard drive (Figure1-1). Oncethis is installed, you are presented with the banner page of BLKCAD. (Figure1-2). Click on Nextto continue.

Next comes the usual warning to close all other running Windows application before attemptingto install BLKCAD (Figure 1-3). Click on Next if no other significant Windows application iscurrently opened. Otherwise, minimize the Setup window and close those applications beforecontinuing.

The next window is a standard licence agreement. Normally, you should be able to agree withthe terms of this agreement and click on Yes in order to proceed (Figure 1-4).




Figure 1- 1 Installation of BLKCAD - Installation of InstallShield Wizard from Setup

Figure 1- 2 Installation of BLKCAD - Presentation page of BLKCAD in the installation process



Figure 1- 3 Installation of BLKCAD – Standard warning to close all other applications

Figure 1- 4 Installation of BLKCAD – Standard licence agreement



The next page (Figures 1-5) deals with user identification. Just enter your name. If you are aregistered user of BLKCAD (=you are not installing a demo version), the name of yourorganization and serial number should be exactly those given to you (generally on a sticker onthe CD box). On the next page (Figure 1-6), you select the directory where you wish to installBLKCAD. Default is BLKCAD in GEOSTAT in the PROGRAM FILES directory. Click on theBrowse key to select a different one. Click on the Next key once you have selected the directory.

The next page (figure 1-7) deals with the type of Setup that you wish with a choice between threetypes : typical, minimized and custom. Actually in BLKCAD, there are no real differencesbetween the three types hence you may just pick the default “typical” type and click on the Nextkey to proceed with the installation.

Next comes the selection of the program folder for the program icon (Figure 1-8). Default is anew folder with the name “Blkcad”

In the next page, you get a summary of selected Setup parameters (Figure 1-9) like Setup type,target folder and user information. You may still go back and modify any of them.

If you accept the Setup parameters, the InstallShield Wizard will start copying files from CDonto the target drive. A sliding bar indicates the percentage of files copied (Figure 1-10). Whenall files have been copied without problem, a message indicates that the installation of BLKCADis terminated (Figure 1-11). You can then start BLKCAD right away without rebooting yourmachine (see below) .

1-2-2 From diskettesInstallation from diskettes does not differ substantially from installation from CD. You click orrun the Setup.exe file on the first diskette. When needed, installation procedure will prompt youto load next diskettes in the drive.

1-2-3 From WebInstallation from the Web does not differ substantially from installation from CD. You downloada self-extractable file called WBCAD.EXE from Geostat site at www.geostat.com. Click on thatfile to start an installation procedure similar to that shown above. Obviously what you install inthat case is a demo version of BLKCAD.




Figure 1- 5 Installation of BLKCAD – Identification page

Figure 1- 6 Installation of BLKCAD – Selection of directory



Figure 1- 7 Installation of BLKCAD – Selection of Setup type

Figure 1- 8 Installation of BLKCAD – Selection of program folder



Figure 1- 9 Installation of BLKCAD - Review of Setup information

Figure 1- 10 Installation of BLKCAD - Copying of files



Figure 1- 11 Installation of BLKCAD – End of BLKCAD installation

1-3 Running BLKCADOnce installed, you start BLKCAD by clicking on the Blkcad option of the Programs task bar.You may also construct your own shortcut to Blkcad (make it point on file WBLKCAD.EXE ofthe installation directory) and click on the icon of that shortcut to start the program .

1-4 On-line documentationThis option is not active yet.

1-5 Re-installing BLKCADThere is no special provision for re-installing a new version of BLKCAD from either diskettes,CD-ROM or the Web. Old files with the same name and already present on the default directorywill be erased without warning.

1-6 Installed filesMain program file is WBLKCAD.EXE in the installation directory (by default : C:\ProgramFiles\Geostat\Blkcad). Graphic routines are in the HOOPS32.DLL library in the same directory.Subdirectory Demo Files contains the files of test data used in the tutorial (see below).

BLKCAD User’s Manual Overview-Page 1


2- BLKCAD overview

BLKCAD is designed to model orebodies and compute resources/reserves with small blocks on aregular grid. Values are assigned to blocks according to input “envelopes” and/or “composites”data. Block “geological” tags (litho, mineralization, alteration..) are assigned to each blockaccording to its position with respect to envelopes of the various geology types present in thedeposit. Envelopes are 3D contours (=closed polylines) which can be defined in BLKCAD orimported from SECTCAD (by Geostat) or other programs (such as AutoCAD). Block grades areinterpolated from adjacent composites with inverse-distance method. Composites are points withknown grades. Most of the time, they are derived from drill hole assay intervals (from-to data)through application programs such as COMPOS by Geostat. The quantity of material available ineach block at those interpolated grades depends of a topo surface model and possibly anoverburden bottom surface model. Both models are defined from input 3D coordinates of controlpoints on those surfaces.

BLKCAD can also modeled multi-seam or layered deposits. In that case, each block on the 3Dregular grid is a mixture of materials from various seams or layers. BLKCAD determines theproportion of each seam material in a block through a set of input contact surfaces. Each surfaceis defined through the 3D coordinates of control points on that surface. Those points arenormally imported from either SECTCAD or COMPOS by Geostat or other programs (such asAutoCAD). Grades of the portion of a seam or layer in a block are interpolated by inverse-distance from adjacent composites in the same seam or layers. In the end, BLKCAD recombinesgrades of seam fractions to get grades for the full block.

BLKCAD is a true Windows application which means that you can open it with other Windowsapplication (database, spreadsheet, AutoCAD session..) and exchange data or graphics with thoseother applications. BLKCAD also use standard Windows drivers for peripheral devices such asscreen, mouse and printer.

2-1 Visualization of surfaces, envelopes and composites.

As indicated, the three major ingredients of a resource block model are 1) bounding surfacessuch topography or overburden bottom 2) bounding envelopes 3) composites to control thequality of material between surfaces and within envelopes. Those ingredients are normallyimported from files derived by other applications such as SECTCAD and COMPOS by Geostator AutoCAD. A first function offered by BLKCAD is to visualize those ingredients from anypoint in the3D space, control their visibility or transparency (for bounding surfaces) and colorthem according to any quality parameter (for composites). Figure 2-1 shows the 554 25ft benchcomposites in a nickel-copper massive sulphide deposit. Their coordinates and grades have beencomputed by COMPOS in mostly vertical holes. Each composite is represented by a cross with acolor corresponding to the %Ni of the composite (red above 0.3%, blue below 0.3% and blackfor nil) . Figure 2-2 shows the ore limits defined on each bench in SECTCAD. They are loadedas 3D polygons. Finally, figure 2-3 shows the current topo surface going through hole collars aswell as an interpreted overburden/rock contact surface. Both surfaces are “tinned” from loadedXYZ triplets.



Figure 2- 1 – Bench (25ft) composites in a nickel-copper deposit (red=>0.3%,blue=<0.3%,black=0)



Figure 2- 2 Ore limits in each bench as defined in SECTCAD (loaded as 3D polygons)



Figure 2- 3 Topo (light blue) and overburden/bedrock contact surfaces (loaded as XYZ triplets)



2-2 Block model construction and visualization

Given the composites, ore envelope and bedrock surface, BLKCAD will fill the ore envelopebelow the bedrock surface with 25ft cubic blocks and interpolate the Ni and Cu grades of each ofthose 14,572 blocks from Ni and Cu grades of adjacent composites (Figure 2-4). You have fullcontrol over : block size, search parameters (size and orientation of an ellipsoid – maximumnumber of adjacent composites – octant search with minimum/maximum number of compositesin each octant), interpolation parameters (power of inverse distance) which means that you canchange any of those controls and produce as many resource block models as you wish andcompare their values.

Once the block model has been computed according to your specs, you can view any slice of iti.e benches (Figures 2-5 and 2-6) or sections (Figures 2-7 and 2-8) with all input ingredients(composites, surfaces and envelopes) in the same slice.

2-3 Resource calculation

Resource block values and position can be exported into spreadsheets like Excel or databaseslike Access and resources at various cut-offs can be computed and graphed (figure 2-9).

BLKCAD also has a specific feature to classify block resources according to distance to nearestcomposite of the same type in a search window. The classification tag can be exported into theoutput block file and use by Excel or Access to calculate and graph resource in differentcategories.(Figure 2-10).



Figure 2- 4 Resource model with 14,572 cubic blocks of 25ft side (red = interpolated Ni>0.3%)



Figure 2- 5 Uppermost bench (#25 at Z=1800ft) with top and bedrock surface

Figure 2- 6 Middle bench (#17 Z=1600) with blocks within envelope colored according to %Ni



Figure 2- 7 Long section (200S) with composites, blocks and trace of topo + bedrock surface

Figure 2- 8 Cross-section (600W) with blocks, composites and trace of topo and bedrock surface



Resource grade-tonnage curves

0

5000000

10000000

15000000

20000000

25000000

0.00 0.20 0.40 0.60 0.80 1.00

%Ni cut-off

To

nn

ag

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0.20

0.40

0.60

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TONNES

NI

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Figure 2- 9 Resources graphed in Excel from results calculated on imported block file in Access

Figure 2- 10 Resources according to measured (<50ft-red), indicated (50-100ft-yellow) and inferred categories



2-4 Reserve calculation

Resource block models calculated by BLKCAD are typically used by pit optimization programslike Whittle 3d, 4D and 4X. Geostat provides an interface program called PITPACK to thoseprograms. The same interface is capable of extracting any pit shell from Whittle optimizationresults and import it into BLKCAD as a bottom gridded surface (Figure 2-11). BLKCAD canthen extract only blocks between topo surface and pit bottom and export them into Excel orAccess where reserves (including overburden volume and waste/ore ratio) can be calculated(Figure 2-12).

2-5 Production scheduling

Once final pit has been defined, BLKCAD can still be used to calculate reserves withinexcavation limits (or “figures”) in any bench or sections (blast, one-year production limit, pitexpansion). Reserves always include ore/waste/overburden tonnage and weighted average gradefrom underlying blocks. Cut-offs on individual block values can be set for ore/waste delineation.A variable density can be used in calculating the ore tonnage and weighted average grades.Figure reserves and limits can be saved in text files to be imported in Excel or Access for moredetailed production scheduling.



Figure 2- 11 Whittle pit optimized on BLKCAD resource model and loaded in BLKCAD



Bench Ore Internal Waste External Waste Total

Tonnes %Ni %Cu Tonnes %Ni %Cu Tonnes Tonnes

1875 0 0.00 0.00 0 0.00 0.00 325111 3251111850 0 0.00 0.00 0 0.00 0.00 1917902 19179021825 0 0.00 0.00 0 0.00 0.00 3750358 37503581800 59455 0.34 0.26 26896 0.21 0.15 4797618 48839701775 174119 0.29 0.24 45299 0.21 0.16 5026929 52463471750 366640 0.30 0.25 147222 0.20 0.15 4372788 48866511725 777164 0.31 0.29 263302 0.18 0.15 3445570 44860361700 1216000 0.36 0.35 540759 0.16 0.16 2342818 40995781675 1579810 0.39 0.41 567656 0.19 0.19 1561407 37088721650 2172946 0.42 0.45 77858 0.22 0.19 1082934 33337381625 2290441 0.46 0.51 0 0.00 0.00 665332 29557731600 2202674 0.49 0.55 0 0.00 0.00 360978 25636521575 2027139 0.54 0.63 2831 0.23 0.21 120326 21502961550 1368885 0.55 0.69 0 0.00 0.00 60871 14297561525 770086 0.50 0.63 0 0.00 0.00 8494 7785801500 203846 0.47 0.47 0 0.00 0.00 0 2038461475 43884 0.43 0.35 0 0.00 0.00 0 43884

Total 15253090 0.45 0.50 1671824 0.18 0.17 29839435 46764349Stripping ratio = 2.07

0 1000000 2000000 3000000 4000000 5000000 6000000

1

3

5

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9

11

13

15

17

Ben

ches

Tonnes

Ore

Int. Waste

Ext. Waste

Figure 2- 12 Reserve report for resource blocks within Whittle pit (done in Excel)



Figure 2- 13 Excavation limits (“figures”) defined in one bench and within final pit limits

Figure 2- 14 Report of figure reserves currently defined in BLKCAD

BLKCAD User’s Manual Tutorial-Page 1


3- Learning BLKCAD in three lessons

This is the tutorial part of this manual. Tutorial data have normally been installed in the directoryC:\Program Files\Geostat\Blkcad\Demo Files. The tutorial project lets you become familiar withBLKCAD before using your own data. It is a massive sulphide deposit with nickel and coppervalues that really exists. It comes complete with composites, ore envelope, bounding surfacesand a complete resource block model.

3-1 Lesson 1: visualizing composites, envelopes and surfaces

3-1-1 A first glimpse at composites

1. Start BLKCAD as explained before e.g. clicking on an icon with shortcut to Wblkcad.exe.2. Click on the File option of the top menu and then double-click on the Open option of the File

menu (Figure 3-1). You may notice that the File menu has other important options : New tostart a new project, Save to keep your work on file and Exit to quit BLKCAD.

3. Navigate through directories until you get to where you installed the demo files of BLKCAD.Normally, it is C:\Program Files\Geostat\Blkcad\Demo Files. Double-click on file Demo.bcdin that directory (Figure 3-2). In BLKCAD, all the input information (composites, envelopes,surfaces..) plus your computed block model are kept in a single file with an extension of.BCD. Generally, you give to that file the name of your project.

4. You should get the global view of composites shown on Figure 3-3. Note that eachcomposite is represented by a cross at its center point. Those crosses are regularly distributedalong mostly vertical lines which correspond to the original drill holes. In this case,composites are 25ft bench intercepts. The coordinates of their center point have beencomputed by the COMPOS program by Geostat.. In the background, you can see grids onthree different planes. They are the planes of the reference coordinate system i.e. vertical N-S, vertical E-W and horizontal. The tripod at the bottom right of the screen indicates that weare looking to the SW (X indicates the east and Y the north). In the upper left of the screen,just below the menu bar, you will notice a dialog box called Section with a scrolling bar seton ORTHO-225. This box is actually a toolbar which can be moved around the screen (justclick and drag in the grey part of the box – toolbar is usually “docked” on one side of themain window). It tells us that we are currently looking at a perspective view called“ORTHO-225” (Perspective to azimuth 225o = SW). This is the view which is displayedwhen we load the project file because this is what we had on the screen the last time weupdated the project file.



Figure 3- 1 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Opening project file

Figure 3- 2 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Navigating to the project file



Figure 3- 3 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – ORTHO-225 view loaded from the project file

3-1-2 What is a “view”?

1. Sections should rather be called views. Click on the scrolling arrow of the Section toolbar tosee what views are currently available (Figure 3-4). In addition to the ORTHO-225, we havea series of other ORTHO perspective views with different azimuth angles, SIDE horizontalviews, two PLANE views (from top-down and bottom-up) and specific “sliced” views called200S, 400E and 1700Z. Click on the 200S view

2. You now get a view which, in this case, is precisely a section. Note from the tripod on thebottom right of the screen that we are now looking north (the east or X is pointing to theright). Note that we now get a single grid of coordinates (in the E-W vertical plane).To getthe view parameters, click on the Sections Dialog option of the Options menu (Figure 3-5)

3. The Define Sections window (Figure 3-6) tells you that for view 200S : 1) you are looking atthe anchor point with coordinates X=-200, Y=0, Z=1500 2) you look at this point accordingto a direction vector with a 0o azimuth and 0o dip, hence a vector pointing to the north. Withthe anchor point and view vector, you have just defined a section plane going through thatpoint and perpendicular to that vector. 3) view is limited to a corridor which extends from50ft in front of the section plane (in the direction of the view vector) to 50ft behind thatplane. Hence our composites are within a corridor of +/-50ft around the E-W section at X=-200. When there is no corridor (distances set to 0), all composites are visible like in theORTHO-225 view (please check) or PLAN view (Figure 3-7). Click on the Cancel or OKbutton to close the Define Sections window



Figure 3- 4 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Selecting a different view

Figure 3- 5 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Looking for parameters of view 200S



Figure 3- 6 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Parameters of view 200S

Figure 3- 7 Tutorial - Lesson 1 – The PLAN view and its parameters



3-1-3 View of a view : zoom, pan and visibility

1. Let’s get back to the 200S view. Although zooming and panning can be done by selectingoption of the View menu, it is faster to do it by selecting keys of the main toolbar (or“BlockCAD” toolbar – if you don’t see it, click on the BlockCAD of the Toolbars option ofthe View menu ) just below the top menu. Press the Zoom Window key of the toolbar (this isthe one most to the left on the toolbar – it shows a glass magnifier - if you keep the pointeron top of it for some time, you will see the prompt “Zoom Window”). Cursor is changed intoa glass magnifier. Click on one corner of the zoom window and then drag to the oppositecorner (Figure 3-8). You get your zoomed view (Figure 3-9).

2. On the same toolbar, you can experiment with the Zoom All button to the right of the ZoomWindow button. To the right of the Zoom buttons, you get the Pan Buttons starting with thegeneric Pan which prompts you to drag a pan vector on the screen followed by standard pansto left, right, up and down which move the view by ¼ of the dimension of the currentwindow in the corresponding direction. Finally, to the right of the Pan Buttons, you have abutton to undo your last view ( something like a Zoom Previous) or another one to restoreundone views.

3. Last thing to notice on your screen : the so-called “Status Bar” at the bottom (if you don’t seeit, click on the Status Bar option of the View menu) with some messages but, more important,the 3D coordinates of the mouse pointer on the current view plane. Move the pointer on topof composites on the 200S view (after a Zoom All): you will notice that Y stays at -200 (200Sis the E-W section at Y=-200), X ranges from –900 to +1800 while Z ranges from 1400 to1900.

4. Change the view to 1700Z. The Define Section window tells you that this is an horizontalslice (azimuth = 0, dip =-90). 25ft thick (corridor = +/-12.5), centered on Z = 1712.5 (Figure3-10). Click on the E button to the right of the Zoom/Pan buttons of the BlockCAD toolbar :by pressing this button, you make all loaded envelopes visible (Figure 3-11). As you maynotice from the pink line showing on your screen, an “envelope” is a set of contour linesdefined around specific material in benches. Blocks within the envelope would normally beestimated from composites in the same envelope.



Figure 3- 8 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Zooming view 200S

Figure 3- 9 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Zoomed view of 200S



Figure 3- 10 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – The 1700Z view with its parameters

Figure 3- 11 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Envelope in bench Z=1700



3-1-4 Retrieving composite and envelope data

1. First let’s see what is currently loaded in SECTCAD : click on the Envelope/Surface/FigureSettings entry of the Options menu. Click on the Envelopes tab of the Project Settingswindow (Figure 3-12). You can see that we have one envelope called “1” which is visible inpink and with a density of material in the envelope set to 0.085(t/ft3). Close theEnvelope/Surface/Figure Settings window.

2. Click on the Project Status entry of the Options menu. It shows some counters on blocks(apparently we have 287,310 of them but none is visible – we will talk more on blocks in thenext lesson) and composites (a total of 554 of them). Click on the scroll arrow of theEnvelope box (Figure 3-13) and select 1 : you can see that 249 composites are inside thisenvelope. Close the Project Status window.

3. Next, let’s color composites according to their values. Click on the Display Propertiesoption of the Options menu and select the Search Table tab of the Display Settings window.You can see from the box of current entries has nothing really activated. You can also seefrom the Apply Colour On box that default variable used to color composite is called ni i.e.the %nickel of composite. If you click on the scroll arrow of that box (Figure 3-14), you cansee that you can color composites according to values of another variable called cu i.e. the%copper. Keep ni active and click in the Minimum box with its current default value of 0.Replace it (from keyboard) with 0.01. In the same manner, replace the 0.0 in the Maximumbox with 0.3. Next you click on the Select Color button and select a dark blue on the Colorwindow (Figure 3-15) . Click on the OK button of the Color window to close it . The box ofcurrent entries tells you that composites with a %Ni between 0.01 and 0.3% will be coloredin blue. Next click on the second line of that box, keep selecting ni in the Apply Colour Onlist box, enter 0.3 in the Minimum box and 0.4 in the Maximum box and select a light bluecolor from the Color window activated by clicking on the Select Color button. Repeat thesame for a 0.4-0.5 range with yellow, 0.5-0.7 range with orange and 0.7-100 range with red(Figure 3-16). When you leave the Search Table option of the Display Settings window byclicking on the OK button, you can see colored composites in bench 1700 (Figure 3-17).Note that the envelope is drawn around colored composites while putting aside zero gradecomposites left in black.

4. Finally, we will see how to get the assay values of the newly colored composites that appearon the screen. First we make sure that the so-called Info toolbar is visible just above theStatus toolbar. If not, click on Info of the Toolbars option of the View menu. Then check theSelect menu : Composites option should be activated (if not, click on it). Then you candouble-click on any composite and you get its name, coordinates and %Ni and %Cu values inthe Info toolbar (Figure 3-18). Note that the Info toolbar has two scrolling arrows to viewlong strings (when you have many variables).



Figure 3- 12 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Checking the envelopes currently loaded

Figure 3- 13 Tutorial – Lesson 1 Checking the composites currently loaded



Figure 3- 14 Tutorial – Lesson 1 Checking current color table

Figure 3- 15 Tutorial – Lesson 1 Changing the color table



Figure 3- 16 Tutorial – Lesson 1 Finishing changes to color table

Figure 3- 17 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Color of composites is changed



Figure 3- 18 Tutorial – Lesson 1 Activating the Select Composites and getting composite data



3-1-5 Loading surfaces

1. So far, all what we have discovered in BLKCAD (composites and envelope) was alreadyloaded in the project file demo.bcd. Actually they had been imported from files in a previousupdate of the project file. We are going to do such an import operation with surfaces. Goback to the ORTHO-225 view (note that we have a contour of envelope 1 in each bench) andselect the Surfaces option of the Import menu.(Figure 3-19).

2. Navigate through directories until you get to where you installed the demo files of BLKCAD(normally, it is C:\Program Files\Geostat\Blkcad\Demo Files) and click on demotop.xyz(Figure 3-20). A Surface Property window opens. In the Surface Name box of that windowyou enter the name of the surface that you are about to load : we suggest that you type top,then you select a Surface Color by clicking on the Select Color button : we suggest that youpick a dark green in the color table. Finally, you keep the default option of importing tripletsof coordinates for control points on the surface (Figure 3-21). Click on the Next button.

3. Next you are presented with a File Format window where you specify where to read the X, Yand Z coordinates of control points in the input file. By clicking into the scroll arrow of theField Name box , you can see that, with the current settings, you read X as a string of 10characters starting in column 1, then Y and Z with the same length of 10 characters. The firstfew lines of the file shown in the window tell you that this file format is Ok (Figure 3-22).Click on the Finish button.

4. BLKCAD reads the demotop.xyz file and automatically meshes then grids the surface fromthe control points read. Once finished, a rather flat surface covers the envelope andcomposites (Figure 3-23).

5. In order to be able to “see through” the top surface, we are going to give it sometransparency. Get back to the Envelope/Surface/Figure Properties option of the Optionsmenu and select the Surfaces tab of the Envelope/Surface/Figure Settings window. You cansee that the top surface is there with its dark green color. Click on the Transparency slide barand move its cursor to the right (Figure 3-24). Then click on the OK button. You can now seeenvelopes and composites below the surface.

6. Repeat the same exercise with a second surface in file demoovb.xyz. Click the Append buttonin the box that tells you that a Set of Surfaces is already loaded. That box shows up whenyou click on the Surfaces option of the Import menu (Figure 3-25). You can call that surfaceovbd (this is the interpreted overburden-bedrock contact surface) and give it a brown color(Figure 3-26). Format to read it is the same as for top. Once loaded (Figure 3-27), this newsurface appears below the top one and will a lesser extension (it was only recognized in drillholes). You can also give some transparency to that second surface.

7. Get back to the 200S view to review composites (now in color), trace of envelope contours(in pink), trace of top surface (in dark green) and trace of overburden surface (in brown)(Figure 3-28)

8. Click on the Save option of the File menu to update the project file demo.bcd with your colorcode and the two surfaces read.



Figure 3- 19 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Activating the Import Surfaces

Figure 3- 20 Tutorial – Lesson 1 - Selecting the surface file to import



Figure 3- 21 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Setting the name and color of surface to import

Figure 3- 22 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Setting the format to read the surface text file



Figure 3- 23 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – After loading control points top surface is meshed and gridded

Figure 3- 24 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Increasing the transparency of the top surface



Figure 3- 25 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Appending the second surface

Figure 3- 26 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Setting the name and color of the second surface



Figure 3- 27 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Top and ovbd surfaces are loaded

Figure 3- 28 Tutorial – Lesson 1 – Section 200S with composites and traces of envelopes and surfaces



3-2 Lesson 2: creating and estimating blocks

In the first lesson, we have checked the three types of ingredients necessary to build a realisticresource block model for our massive sulphide deposit. Those three types of ingredients are : 1)surfaces (top and overburden) to limit the extension of blocks upward, 2) envelopes to limit theextension of blocks laterally and 3) composites to control the variation of ore grades. We arenow in a position to build the resource block model.

3-2-1 Setting controls

1. Like in the first lesson, start BLKCAD and open the DEMO.BCD file. Normally you shouldget back to the view of section 200S with the top and overburden surfaces, the ore envelopeand the composites. Click on the Setup Block Model option of the Estimation menu (Figure3-29).

2. From the Block Grid Settings window (Figure 3-30), you can see that a block matrix isdefined through coordinates of origin, block size and starting/ending indices (or coordinates)along the three coordinate axes. At the moment, the matrix is made of up to 157 columns 25ftwide from X=-1200 (center of first column), 61 rows 25ft wide from Y=-800 (center of firstrow) and 30 benches 25ft wide down (this is why size is –25) from Z=1987.5 (center of firstbench at the top). Values in any box can be changed (and some others will changeaccordingly e.g. if the ending X-coordinate is changed from 2700 to 2800, the ending columnindex will change from 157 to 161).Click the OK button. A warning tells you that anyexisting block values would be erased since you (may have) changed the grid matrixparameter. Click the OK button of the warning box .

3. Click on the Define Search Ellipsoid option of the Estimation menu. A Search EllipsoidParameters window opens and a small shaded blue sphere shows up at the center of thescreen (Figure 3-31). That sphere is actually the default ellipsoid with parameters in thewindow i.e. 100ft radius in all directions. In the Name box, type in Standard instead ofDefault, then in the Radius boxes of both Major Axis and Intermediate Axis type in 500instead of 100 and finally click on the Add/Update button (Figure 3-32). As shown by theellips at the center of the screen, you have just defined a new search ellipsoid called Standardwith a long radius of 500ft in any horizontal direction and a short radius of 100ft in thevertical direction. You can define and store more ellipsoids and use them when needed. Clickon the OK button of the Search Ellipsoid Parameters window.

4. Click on the Estimation Settings option of the Estimation menu. The Estimation Settingswindow opens with various tabs. Under the Estimation tab, set the Maximum Number ofSamples to Use to 15 (instead of the default 25), pick Standard in the Search Ellipsoid box,set the Block Discretization values along X and Y to 2 (instead of 1) and activate the box ofUse Default Values for Assays if No Samples are Found (Figure 3-33). This way, blocks willbe interpolated from up to the 15 closest composites inside a 500x500x100ft ellipsoidcentered on the block. In distance calculations, blocks will be represented by 2x2 = 4 pointsin the XY (horizontal) plane. If no samples are found in the ellipsoid, default values areassigned to the block.

5. Under the Assays tab, select ni in the Assay box, enter 2 in the IPD Power box and click onthe Add/Update button. Then select cu in the Assay box, enter 2 in the IPD Power box andclick on the Add/Update button (Figure 3-34). This way both %nickel and %copper will be



interpolated by inverse squared distance with a default grade of zero (for blocks with nocomposites in the search ellipsoid).

6. Under the Surfaces tab, select top in the Topography (Top Surface) box and then ovbd in theBottom of Overburden box (Figure 3-35). This way, any block fraction above top will be leftempty . Any block fraction between ovbd and top will be tagged as overburden and notinterpolated. Only blocks with a fraction below ovbd will have their %nickel and %copperinterpolated. Note that you can also have a bottom bounding surface (e.g. a pit).

7. Under the Envelopes tab, click on 1 in the box Not Selected, then click on the Estimate buttonso that 1 is in the box Selected (Figure 3-36). Under the Composites tab, click on 1 in the boxNot Selected for Envelopes, then click on the Estimate button so that 1 is in the box Selected(Figure 3-37). This way, blocks within the ore envelope (tagged 1) will be interpolated onlyusing composites within the same ore envelope (in other words, zero grade compositesoutside the envelope are not used in the interpolation of ore blocks). Click on the OK buttonto close the Estimation Settings window (and store your settings for the next interpolationrun).

8. Click on the Estimate Blocks option of the Estimation menu. Messages indicate thatcomposites and blocks are classified according to envelope and blocks in envelope areinterpolated with composite in the same envelope. After a few seconds, blocks show on the200S section with colors according to their interpolated %nickel grade (Figure 3-38)



.

Figure 3- 29 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Starting the block estimation procedure

Figure 3- 30 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Checking the block grid parameters



Figure 3- 31 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Parameters and view of default search ellipsoid

Figure 3- 32 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Parameters and view of Standard search ellipsoid



Figure 3- 33 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Estimation settings

Figure 3- 34 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Selection of variables to interpolate



Figure 3- 35 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Selection of bounding surfaces

Figure 3- 36 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Selection of envelopes for blocks



Figure 3- 37 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Selection of envelopes for composites

Figure 3- 38 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Interpolated blocks in section 200S



3-2-2 Viewing the block model

1. A block model is best examined slice after slice in any of the three reference planes of blocksi.e. XY (benches), XZ (EW sections) and YZ (NS sections). Obviously, we can define aspecific view for each slice (like the current 200S, 400E and 1700Z). It is however moreconvenient to use a specific slice viewer on the Slice toolbar which already gives us access tothe current views. This Slice toolbar is normally just below the main toolbar. Click on thescroll arrows of the Planes box of that toolbar until you get XY Plane (Plan). Just to the rightof that box, you have a counter box . If you click on the arrows of that box, you will noticethat numbers go from 1 to 30 i.e. the maximum number of benches defined in the currentblock matrix. Select 8 and click on the Refresh button. You are instantly presented with amap of bench 8 (elevation 1800-1825) which is the higher bench with some blocks. You caneasily recognize the topo surface (green with transparency), overburden surface (brown),envelope (pink contour), composites (crosses) and blocks (mostly blue squares) in that bench(Figure 3-39).

2. Now select one of the bottom benches like 16 (elevation 1600-1625).You clearly see theblocks constrained by the envelope with generally low estimates (blue color) in the east andwest extremities and medium to high estimates (yellow, orange and red colors) in the center(figure 3-40). Zoom in the center part of the bench : you can see that blocks are representedby a small square at their center. You can also check that wherever a composite is present(shown by a cross) the color of the surrounding blocks is the same as that of the composite.You can also query any block value : just click on the Blocks option of the Select menu andthen double-click on the block you wish to query (Figure 3-41). You get block location,status and estimated grades in the box of the Info Toolbar at the bottom of the screen (don’tforget the scroll arrows of that box to view all the block information).

3. Blocks can be represented in different ways although the small square marker at the center isthe most efficient (and default) representation. To see others, click on the Display BlocksAs… option of the View menu and click on the Wireframe Model option (Figure 3-42) :blocks will be shown as hollow squares (actually, they are hollow cubes in the 3D space).Another option that you can try is XY Planar View (Figure 3-43) : in that case, blocks arefilled horizontal squares. The 3D Shaded Model option is best used with perspective views.



Figure 3- 39 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Slice view of bench 8 (Elevations: 1800-1825)

Figure 3- 40 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Slice view of bench 16 (Elevations : 1600-1625)



Figure 3- 41 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Querying block values

Figure 3- 42 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Block representation with wire frame model



Figure 3- 43 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Block representation with filled polygons

3-2-3 Editing the block model

1. Next, we will slightly adjust the outline of the envelope in a bench and ask BLKCAD toupdate the block model accordingly. Click on the option Modify Envelope of theCreate/Modify menu. Then click near one vertex of the pink contour on the screen (Figure 3-44). BLKCAD asks you to confirm that you wish to modify the outline of envelope 1 atelevation Z=1612.5 (mid-bench elevation). Click on the OK button to confirm. You mayhave noticed that two new toolbars have popped up : the Digitize toolbar (with two buttonsshowing dark circles) and the Edit Vertices toolbar (with a button showing an anchor).Actually, we will use the Edit Vertices toolbar. The Digitize toolbar is just in case we wish touse any of the Snap buttons. As indicated above, you can move around those toolbars byclicking and dragging on their border.

2. Click on the Anchor button of the Edit Vertices toolbar (Figure 3-45) then click on one vertexalong pink contour. Selected vertex is shown with a small square. Click on the Move buttonof the same toolbar (Figure 3-46), then click on a new location for the selected vertex. Clickon the Next Point button (Figure 3-47) to move the anchor to the next vertex, then click onthe Move button again and finally click on a new location for that new vertex. In the endclick on the Save Changes (green) button to keep the changes that you made to the contour(Figure 3-48). Alternatively you can click on the Cancel (red) button to restore the oldcontour

3. New pink contour with you modifications is drawn. To update the block model, simply clickon the Estimate Blocks option of the Estimation menu. (Figure 3-49).



Figure 3- 44 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Starting to modify envelope in bench 16

Figure 3- 45 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Selecting an anchor point along contour of envelope in bench 16



Figure 3- 46 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – About to move the selected anchor

Figure 3- 47 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Moving the anchor to the next vertex



Figure 3- 48 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Second vertex has been moved – About to keep changes.

Figure 3- 49 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Block model is updated to reflect changes in envelope



3-2-4 Categorizing the blocks and saving the model

1. Before we save our resource block model, we will categorize resources in each blockaccording to its distance to nearest composite in the same bench. Blocks within 50ft ofcomposites will be tagged as Measured whereas blocks within 150ft will be tagged asIndicated. Balance of blocks are put into the Inferred category. First we need to set newsearch ellipsoids corresponding to those limit distances. Get back to the Define SearchEllipsoid option of the Estimation menu and Add to the list of available ellipsoids one calledMeasured with radii 50,50 and 25ft (Figure 3-50) and another one called Indicated with radii150,150 and 25ft (Figure 3-51). Click the OK button to leave the Define Search Ellipsoidwindow.

2. Click on the Classification Setup of the Estimation menu. You are presented with aClassification Settings window. Under the Block Classification tab, enter MEASURED in theClassification box, then pick Measured in the Ellipsoid box, enter 1 in Min Samples and clickon the Add/Update button. Repeat the same operations with classification = INDICATED,ellipsoid = Indicated, Min. Samples = 1 and finally classification = INFERRED, ellipsoid =Standard, Min. Samples = 1 (Figure 3-52). Arrange the other settings like for estimation i.e.1) under the Surfaces tab, Topography (top Surface) = top and Bottom of Overburden = ovbd2) under the Envelopes tab, Selected = 1 3) under the Composites tab, Selected = 1. Oncedone, click the OK button to close the Classification Settings window.

3. Click on option Classify Blocks of the Estimation menu. A progress bar indicates thatBLKCAD is classifying blocks. You may notice that classification takes more time thatestimation itself because BLKCAD needs apply three search ellipsoids on each block insteadof just one. Once classification is finished, nothing really shows up on screen. To see theresults of the classification, we will define a new color table. Go back to the Display Settingswindow (option Display Properties of the Options menu) and select the Search Table tab.Click on the Next LUT button and define a new table with MEASURED blocks in red,INDICATED blocks in yellow and INFERRED blocks in blue (for each new line in the box ofcurrent entries, you pick the name of category in the Apply Color On box and you pick thecorresponding color with the Select Color button – Figure 3-53). Blocks are now coloredaccording to classification tag with clusters of red blocks within 50ft of composites and zonesmore than 150ft from composites in blue (Figure 3-54).

4. We have now finished the construction of our block model. We can save the blocks withtheir values and tag in the Demo.bcd file by clicking on the Save option of the File menu. Wecan also export the block values and tag in a formatted ASCII file by clicking on the Blocksoption of the Export menu. A Select Blocks window shows up. Click on 1 in the NotExported box then click on the <<Move button to only export blocks in envelope, pick top inthe Topography (top surface) box and ovbd in the Overburden box and click on the Nextbutton (Figure 3-55). The next Calculation window (which controls the calculation of %oreand %waste in blocks) is not used in our case hence you just click on the Next button (Figure3-56).

5. In the next Export window, you define where and how to write the block variables in theASCII output file. We suggest that you enter the following controls : Field Name =IX(column), Position =1, Length =3; Field Name = IY(row), Position = 4, Length = 3, FieldName = IZ(bench), Position = 7, Length = 3, Field Name = %Between topos, Position = 10,Length = 5, Decimals = 2, Field Name = %Overburden, Position = 15, Length = 5,



Decimals = 2, Field Name = Classification, Position = 20, Length = 10, Field Name = ni,Position = 30, Length =10, Decimals =2, Field Name = cu, Position = 40, Length = 10,Decimals = 2. Note that you can define the Position and Length of the field whose nameappears in the Field Name box by dragging the mouse on an interval along the numbered ruleand clicking the Select button. Variables which you don’t want to write in the output file areleft with a length of 0 (Figure 3-57). Click on the Finish button.

6. Finally the last window is to indicate the name of the ASCII block file to create. We suggestdemo.blk in the demo files directory (Figure 3-58). Click the Save button. If the file alreadyexists, you get a warning but you can erase the previous version of the file.

7. The ASCII block file can be loaded in many different programs like WordPad (just do anOpen of demo.blk - Figure 3-59), Excel (do an Open of demo.blk as Fixed Width ASCII –Figure 3-60) or Access ( same – Figure 3-60). In both Access and Excel , you can createqueries or macros to calculate resource summaries from imported block values.

9. Click on the Save option of the File menu to update the project file demo.bcd with your blockmodel.



Figure 3- 50 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Defining the search ellipsoid for Measured blocks

Figure 3- 51 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Defining the search ellipsoid for Indicated blocks



Figure 3- 52 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Classification settings

Figure 3- 53 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Defining a new color table to see block classification



Figure 3- 54 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Blocks colored according to classification

Figure 3- 55 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Selecting blocks to export



Figure 3- 56 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Calculation of ore and waste in exported blocks

Figure 3- 57 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Defining the format of the output block file



Figure 3- 58 Tutorial – Lesson 2 Defining the name of the output block file

Figure 3- 59 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Block file from BLKCAD imported in WordPad



Figure 3- 60 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Block file from BLKCAD imported in Excel

Figure 3- 61 Tutorial – Lesson 2 – Block file from BLKCAD imported in Access



3-3 Lesson 3: calculating resources from block model

One of the main interest of a resource block model is to get resources in various categories and atvarious cut-offs or reserves within excavation limits or “figures” generally defined on benches.Because of the way the resource block model has been constructed in BLKCAD, the figuresreserves reflect the change of geology (through different envelopes) and variations of gradesfrom one composite to the next in the same geology. In this lesson, you learn how to definefigures in BLKCAD and get their reserves, how you can edit previously defined figures andrecalculate their reserves, how to blend reserves from different figures to make the productionfor a given time period and finally how you can export the figure limits and their reserveparameters. But first, let see how we get resource reports out of BLKCAD.

3-3-1 Producing resource reports

1. Start BLKCAD again, open the demo.bcd that you saved in the previous lesson (section 3-2-4) and click on the Resource Report Settings option of the Estimation menu (Figure 3-62).

2. In the Resource Reporting window, under the Report Options tab. Select Report Resourceson a bench-by-bench basis and Report by Classification Categories. Make sure that resourcesare computed with all blocks in the model i.e. Block Model Extents are 157 columns, 61 rowsand 30 benches (Figure 3-63 – Note that you can easily get resources in specific groups ofblocks)

3. In the same window, under the Assay tab, click on the scroll arrow of the Assay box andselect Ni, enter 0.2 in the Min cut-off box and 100 in the Max cut-off box and click on theAdd/update button to add %nickel in the list of assays to include in the resource report with acut-off of 0.2%Ni applied to the blocks (in other words, you are about to compute resourcesabove a 0.2% cut-off). Repeat the same operation for Cu but this time, keep the minimumcut-off equal to 0 (Figure 3-64).

4. In the same window, under the Surfaces tab, select topo in the Topography (Top Surface) boxand ovbd in the Bottom of Overburden box (Figure 3-65).

5. Finally, always in the same window but under the Envelope tab, click on 1 in the NotSelected column and click on the <<Estimate button to indicate that you just want resourcesfrom blocks within the envelope (Figure 3-66). Actually, in this case, you could ask forresources in the entire model since our model is just made of blocks within the envelope butif you were in a situation with various ore types, you could selectively get resources in eachore type or any combination of them. Click on the OK button to close the Resource Reportingwindow.

6. Click on the Resource Report option of the Estimation menu. A Generating Report progressbar tells you about the progress of resource computation (Figure 3-67). When computation isterminated, BLKCAD ask you for the name of the text file that will store the report. Enterdemo in the File Name box and click on the Save button (Figure 3-68). Your report is storedin file demo.txt of the C:\Program Files\Geostat\Blkcad\Demo Files directory.

7. To view the resource report, just load the demo.txt file into Notepad or Wordpad (Figure 3-69). It tells you that, above 0.2%Ni, you have 3.41Mt measured at 0.44%Ni and 0.50%Cuplus 13.15Mt indicated at 0.42%Ni and 0.46%Cu plus 1.69Mt inferred at 0.34%Ni and0,39%Cu for a total of 18.26Mt at 0.41%Ni and 0.46%Cu

.



Figure 3- 62 – Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Initiating resource calculations

Figure 3- 63– Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Asking resources by bench and category



Figure 3- 64– Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Asking resources above 0.2%Ni

Figure 3- 65– Tutorial – Lesson 3 –Specifying bounding surfaces for resource calculation



Figure 3- 66– Tutorial – Lesson 3 –Specifying ore types for resource calculation

Figure 3- 67– Tutorial – Lesson 3 – checking progress of resource computation



Figure 3- 68– Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Selecting a text file to store resource report

Figure 3- 69– Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Resource report as viewed in Wordpad



3-3-2 Defining figures and getting their reserves

1. You should normally be viewing bench#16 at Z=1612.5 If not, select the bench (XY plane)16 (section 3-2-2) . Re-activate the first color table on %Ni grade (click on the <<PreviousLUT button under the Search Table tab of the Display Settings window – sections 3-1-4 and3-2-4). Click on the Create Figure option of the Figures menu (Figure 3-70).

2. The Digitize toolbar with its green light button shows up. Click on that button : all the otherbuttons are now active including a red light button. Click on the four vertices of anapproximately rectangular polygon completely inside the envelope. Then click on the redlight button of the Digitize toolbar. A Create Figure window shows up. Enter 16-1 in theFigure Name box (Figure 3-71), then click on the OK button.

3. The polygon that you just defined is shaded in black. A small window prompts you to re-compute the values of the figure. Click on the Yes button of that window. Figures reservesshow in the Info toolbar (normally at the bottom of the screen). Click on the scroll arrow atthe right of the toolbar to check the surface area, corresponding ore volume and tonnage andaverage %ni and %cu of material in your figure 16-1 Note that the polygon is now shadedwith the color corresponding to this %ni. Figure volume is surface area x 25ft (bench height)and tonnage is volume x 0.085t/ft3 (fixed ore density).Figure grades are weighted averagesof block estimates cut by the polygon. Weights are actually proportional to the surface areacut by the polygon in each block. You have just defined your first figure in BLKCAD(Figure 3-72).

4. At any moment, you can get figure reserve parameters in the Info toolbar by clicking on theFigures option of the Select menu and then double-clicking inside your figure

5. Click on the Figure Settings of the Figures menu. Under the Figure tab of the FigureOptions window, you can change the properties of the figures that you have already definedlike its name, its visibility, its shading, even its calculated values. This is also where you candelete figures that you no longer need (Figure 3-73).

6. Under the Assays tab of the same window, you can define cut-offs on estimated block values.In that case, the ore inside the figure is just in blocks cut by the figure outline and withestimates within cut-offs. For example, enter 0.2 in the Min Cut-off box and 100 in the MaxCut-off box, then click on the Update button to set that ore is just in blocks >0.2%Ni (Figure3-74). Press on the OK button. Next you click on the Recalculate One Figure of the Figuresmenu and then you click inside your figure. New reserves show in the Info toolbar : you willnotice that ore tonnage is down but ore grades are up. Also some waste tonnage appears.

7. You can get a printable report of reserves in all current figures by clicking on the FigureReport option of the Figures menu. Simply enter the name of the text file that will store thereport, like Figure (Figure 3-75 – the file is given an extension of rpt). Like for the resourcereport (see previous section 3-3-1), you can use either Notepad or Wordpad to see the figurereserve report in figure.rpt



Figure 3- 70 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Starting to define figures on bench #16

Figure 3- 71 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Limits and name of a first figure are entered



Figure 3- 72 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Figures reserves have been computed

Figure 3- 73 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Changing characteristics of figures



Figure 3- 74 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Setting cut-offs on block estimates

Figure 3- 75 -Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Selecting the text file for the figure reserve report



3-3-3 Editing and exporting figures

1. Zoom on the figure that you just defined. Click on the Modify Figure option of theCreate/Modify menu (Figure 3-76). Click inside your figure 16-1 and confirm that it is thefigure that you wish to edit.

2. Outline of the figure turns red and a red square appears on one of its vertices. All buttons ofthe Edit Vertices toolbar (the one with the anchor) are now active. Notice that this is the sametoolbar that you used when you were editing the outlines of the ore envelope in section 3-2-4.If you wish to select another vertex to edit, click on the Select Anchor button on the toolbar(the one with the anchor) and then click on that vertex. Alternatively, you can click on theNext Point button (with the right arrow) or the Previous Point button (with the left arrow) ofthe toolbar until you reach the vertex that you want to edit. To move the selected vertex (withthe red square) to another location, click on the Move Point button (with the twoperpendicular arrows) of the Edit Vertices toolbar, click on any of the Snap buttons of theDigitize toolbar that you wish to activate and click on the desired new location of that vertex(Figure 3-77). To add more vertices along the ore envelope outline, keep clicking first on theAdd Point button (yellow) of the Edit Vertices toolbar and second on the location of newvertex along the outline (Figure 3-78). At anytime, if you wish to abandon your editingoperations and restore the original figure, click on the Cancel button (with the red cross) ofthe Edit Vertices toolbar.

3. When you feel that the new figure is OK, just click on the Accept Changes button (with thegreen tick mark) of the Edit Vertices toolbar. You are asked to confirm that you want torecalculate the reserves of figure 16-1 with its new outline. If you click on the Yes button,figure reserves are recalculated and polygon of figure is re-painted according to the newaverage %Ni of the figure (Figure 3-79).

4. You can export the reserve parameters and coordinates of all current figures into text files (toload into AutoCAD for coordinates or Excel for reserve parameters). Click on the optionFigures of the Export menu. You are asked to specify if you wish reserve parameters andcoordinates in the same file or two separate files. Keep the default of a single file and pressthe Next button. Then you can specify which variables you want to keep in the output file andhow they should be written (starting position on record, length=maximum number ofcharacters used and number of decimals for numerical data – Figure 3-80). Note that youcan’t use position #1 which is reserved for a flag = 1 for the header record at the start of eachnew polygon (with reserve parameters if a single file was selected) and = 2 for coordinaterecords. Any parameter that you do not want to keep in the output file is given a length of 0.Normally, you would keep the figure name (with 2-10), ore tonnage (with 12-10-0), %Ni(with 22-10-2), %Cu (with 32-10-2), X-coordinate (with 2-10-2 ), Y-coordinate (with 12-10-2 ) and Z-coordinate (with 22-10-2). Click on the Finish button.

5. Finally you are prompted for the name of the text file to store figure coordinates and reserveparameters (Figure 3-81). We suggest that you enter figure.dig on the demo files directory.Like for report files, you can view the contents of figure.dig in Notepad or Wordpad.



Figure 3- 76 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Initiating the editing of a figure

Figure 3- 77 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Moving the vertex of a figure to a new location



Figure 3- 78 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – adding more vertices along the figure outline

Figure 3- 79 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – New figure outline is defined. Reserves are recomputed



Figure 3- 80 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Exporting figures : format of output file

Figure 3- 81 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Exporting figures : name of output file



3-3-4 Blending figures

Blending offers a convenient way to combine figures to meet production targets for any giventime period. Best is to view BLKCAD figures as potential blasts in the benches of an open-pitmine. With blending you can add blasts in different benches, check for the practicality of miningthem in the same sequence (you cannot mine a blast if there is not any sufficient room in thebenches above), edit the limits of blasts before re-entering them in the blend and print a reportdetailing all the blasts to mine, their tonnages and values and the tonnage and values of the total.This option is particularly useful in deposits of industrial minerals (e.g. limestone for cement)when mitigation of good and bad material is necessary to optimize the utilization of the resource.

1. Get back to your figure 16-1 and make sure to show blocks with a colored marker at theircenter to better view the figures. Using the Create Figure option previously described in thislesson, add a couple of figures around 16-1. Use the Snap Figure or Snap Side buttons of theDigitize toolbar to make sure that you don`t leave gaps between adjacent figures or that theydon`t overlap (Figure 3-82)

2. Click on the Figure Blending option of the Figures menu. A Figure Blending window popsup. This window will always stay on top of the main display until you specifically close it byclicking on the Close button All the Blend Totals are null and there are no figures in theCurrent Figures in Blend scroll box (Figure 3-83).

3. Click on the button Add Figure to Blend of the Figure Blending window and click insidefigure 16-1 : tonnage, volume and grades of figure 16-1 appears in the Blend Totals andfigure color becomes clearer to indicate that the figure has been put in the blend (Figure 3-84). Repeat the same operation for all the figures defined in that bench 16 : you will noticethat each time you add a new figure in the blend, totals are updated.

4. Select bench 17 just below (select XY-Plane (Plan) in the Planes box, then set counter to theright at 17 and click on the Refresh button further to the right). Do a Zoom All to see allestimated blocks in that bench and with the View Sections Dialog option of the Optionsmenu, increase the –1/2 Corridor from 12.5 to 13ft : then you see the figures that you definedin the bench above (Figure 3-85). Zoom on the zone with those figures and in the FigureSettings option of the Figures menu, set the Rendering Method of all figures to Lines Only tobetter view the blocks in bench 17 below the figures in bench 16 .

5. With Create Figures, define a new figure 17-1 in bench 17 that could easily be mined oncethe figures in the bench above are gone. Add that figure to the blend (Figure 3-86) If thetonnage of ore in blend does not meet your production target (say you want 550,000t and youjust have 519,216t like on Figure 3-86), then you remove figure 17-1 from the blend byselecting it in the Current Figures in Blend scroll box and then clicking on the RemoveFigure from Blend button : you will notice that color of figure 17-1 is back to original andblend totals are updated.

6. Using commands of Modify Figures described in previous section, you can enlarge the extentof figure 17-1 (Figure 3-87), save and recalculate its reserves and add them to the blenduntil you meet the desired ore tonnage You can click the button Export to file (we suggestblend.txt) to keep the details of you figure combination and then on the button Clear CurrentBlend Totals to empty the blend before starting a new one.

7. Click on the Save option of the File menu to keep all your figures in the demo.bcd file andclick on the Exit option of the same menu to exit BLKCAD



Figure 3- 82 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Defining additional figures on bench 16

Figure 3- 83 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Calling the blend window



Figure 3- 84 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Adding figure 16-1 to the blend

Figure 3- 85 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Moving to bench 17 below with figures in bench 16



Figure 3- 86 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Defining a new figure in bench 17 and adding it to blend

Figure 3- 87 Tutorial – Lesson 3 – Modifying figure 17-1 to meet target on ore tonnage in blend

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