Maturity Model Grade Control

7/28/2019 Maturity Model Grade Control

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Date: 11 Oct 2012

Author: acQuire Research

Document Revision: 1.0

MATURITY MODEL

Grade Control Evaluation Guide


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CONTENTS

Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 3

Methodology .......................................................................................................................................................... 4

Evaluation Procedure ......................................................................................................................................... 4

Evaluation Template ........................................................................................................................................... 4

Task Evaluation Guides ........................................................................................................................................... 6

Blasthole Sample Selection ............................................... ................................................. ................................. 7

Blasthole Sample Collection ............................................................................................................................... 8

Blasthole Sample Submission ............................................................................................................................. 9

Blasthole Geological Logging ............................................................................................................................ 10

Blasthole Sample Analysis ................................................................................................................................ 11

Grade Control ................................................................................................................................................... 12


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INTRODUCTION

This document describes an evaluation methodology and suite of guides that can be used to appraise the

maturity of different geology-related activities within operations. These guides can be completed by on-site

staff members in the form of a survey, or by a visiting professional observing an operations behaviours.

The methodology is designed to evaluate each activitys maturity using different methods. There are three key

methods: a) the Maturity Index, b) the Task Description and c) Improvement Areas. These methods examine

the activity from different angles and should align if the results are consistent.

The final results can be combined to produce an overall appraisal of the geoscientific information management

environment.


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METHODOLOGY

Evaluation Procedure

The Grade Controlprocesses are divided into different activities. Each activity is evaluated and its maturity is

ranked independently from the other activities. An activity has an accompanying task evaluation guide that is

used to appraise its level of maturity using two contrasting methods. Each method enables the reviewer tocompare a task operators perception of their activitys maturity, the MATURITY INDEX, against a more

detailed and targeted approach, the TASK DESCRIPTION. The two methods are designed to complement each

other and identify inconsistencies.

Each evaluation guide uses the same template. The template can be completed by either the task operator or

an independent observer. At the completion of the evaluation, the results should be combined for all activities

to create an overall synopsis.

Evaluation Template

The evaluation template is a single page and consists of five different sections. A single page enables the

template to be approachable and concise.

DEFINITION

TASK OPERATOR (Tick one or more options)

Shared support staff

Mining professional

Other

Dedicated support staff

Contractor

None

TASK DESCRIPTION (Answer each question and indicate the supporting system)

Detail Y / N Supporting system

acQuire

Excel

Other

MATURITY INDEX (Tick the option that is closest to your situation)

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2

3

4

5

IMPROVEMENT AREAS (Rank attention required by each area)

Area Not Needed Required Essential

Operator development and training

Supporting systems and tools

Operating procedures

Data management practices

Naming and identification standards

Organisation and coordination


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These templates sections are:

DEFINITION: This section briefly describes the activity without implying a particular approach to performing it.

TASK OPERATOR: The task operator identifies who performs the activity within the organisation.

TASK DESCRIPTION: The task description is a list of questions that target specific behaviours. Each questionmust be answered as YES or NO, and if YES then the supporting system should be selected. The supporting

system is the main tool used to complete the task referred to by the question.

MATURITY INDEX: The maturity index is a sliding scale that targets the perception of the task operator with

regards to the maturity of the activity.

1 - No formal procedure, completed by individuals in isolation. 2 Little formal procedure, completed by individual but aware that others are involved. 3 Attempts to formalise procedures and collaborate with others. 4 Formal procedures are in place and adequate, working solutions are operating. 5 - Formal procedures and solutions in place that improve productivity.

Only one category should be selected.

IMPROVEMENT AREAS: The improvement areas identifies where the task operator perceives there to be

failures in the current procedures and opportunity to be improved. These areas should align with the maturity

index and task description sections. Inconsistencies should gauge the reliability of the evaluation.


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TASK EVALUATION GUIDES

There are individual evaluation guides for the common tasks related to grade control drilling. The guides cover:

Blasthole Sample Selection Blasthole Sample Collection Blasthole Sample Submission Blasthole Geological Logging Blasthole Sample Analysis Grade Control

Each guide follows the methodology described previously


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Blasthole Sample Selection

DEFINITION

The Blasthole Sample Selection task involves the definition of what materia l must be taken for analytical

and physical tests from blastholes within a shot. Sample selection identifies key blastholes according to

geological and grade criteria. A subset of the blastholes material is then chosen according to a set of

sampling rules. This material is considered to be a representative sample of that blasthole.



Mining professional

Other


Contractor

None



Are there defined rules for sampling a shot?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Are samples defined by a geologist as they inspect the shot

in the pit while considering a set of rules?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Is the shot inspected first, followed by a geologist defining

samples in the office while a set of rules are enforced?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Are the selected samples recorded on paper as a list?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Are the selected samples recorded on paper as a 2D plot?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Are the samples recorded in a database before sampling

occurs?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Is a printed (not hand written) report/plot of the samples

used by the pit technicians to guide sampling?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Is there a review of the samples taken against the samplingrules?

acQuire Excel Other


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Sampling follows a

simple set of rules

and is performed

by pit technicians

without a

geologistsinvolvement.

A geologist defines

the blasthole

samples on a paper

plot for the pit

technicians to

follow.

The geologist

defines the

blasthole samples

and records them

in an XLS. The

samplers use apaper plot to guide

them.

A geologist defines

samples and stores

them in a database.

They are checked

against rules. A

sampling sheet andplot are generated

for pit technicians.

The geologist

defines and

records blasthole

samples digitally.

The pit technicians

view the blastholesamples digitally

on a computer.

IMPROVEMENT AREAS (Rank the attention required by each area)









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Blasthole Sample Collection

DEFINITION

Blasthole Sample Collection involves the physical collection and identification of samples. Samples are

usually a subset of the material extracted from a blasthole during drilling. It must be collected using a

technique that attempts to ensure that the sample is representative of the entire bench interval. Each

sample is packaged and tagged so it can be identified before being sent to a laboratory for testing.



Mining professional

Other


Contractor

None



Are there pre-labelled sample bags?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Do the pre-labelled sample bags have the sample ID on

them?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Do pre-labelled sample bags have reference information

such as bench/shot/holeno on them?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Is a 2D plot of the shot used during collection?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Is it easy to view what samples have been collected?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Is there a digital and/or paper record of collected or missing

samples?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Do you make a record as each sample is collected?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Do you reconcile collected samples against the sample

sheet?

acQuire

Excel

Other


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Samples are

collected and

placed into

unmarked bags.

Sample IDs are

written on to the

bag. No record iskept.

Samples are

collected and IDs

are written on to

the bags. A paper

record is kept of

what samples were

actually taken.

Samples are

collected and IDs

are written on to

the bags. Sampling

records are kept in

XLS and used to

review the activity.

Samples are

collected and

placed into pre-

labelled bags.

Sampling records

are kept in a

database and usedto review the

activity.

Samples are

collected and

placed into pre-

labelled bags.

Records are

captured during

sampling andstored in a

database for

revision.







Naming and identification standards Organisation and coordination


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Blasthole Geological Logging

DEFINITION

The BlastholeGeological Logging task involves the logging of geological properties of the blasthole

samples. Geology is recorded for each blasthole, according to a logging procedure that defines what

properties should be logged and how they should be described. The data are stored for later use by

grade control, resource estimation or sampling activities.



Mining professional

Other


Contractor

None



Is there a defined geological logging procedure?

acQuire

Excel

OtherAre you guided digitally by the procedure while logging?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Have there been multiple logging procedures over time?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Is the logging recorded on paper and entered afterwards?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Is the logging recorded digitally as the samples are logged?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Is the logging performed on a 2D plot of the shot?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Do you perform logging disconnected from the network?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Do you transfer the logging into the database after it is

complete?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Is bench geology interpreted during logging?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Are you able to partially log a shot at different times?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Is the geological logging compared to analytical results?

acQuire

Excel

OtherIs there a formal approval process for logging?

acQuire

Excel

Other


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Blastholes are

logged onto paper

and manually

entered into a

personal XLS.

Blastholes are

logged onto paper

and manually

entered into a

shared XLS. Basic

validation occurs

when entering the

data but errors can

remain.

Blastholes are

logged onto paper

and entered into a

database. The

database validates

the logging and

forces any errors to

be corrected.

Logging is done

digitally and

downloaded upon

return to the office.

Validation occurs

during logging.

Formal approval is

needed before

distribution.

Logging is done

digitally. It is

validated and

stored in the

database during

logging. Formal

approval is needed

before

distribution.










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Blasthole Sample Analysis

DEFINITION

The BlastholeSample Analysis task involves the monitoring and reception of analytical results from a

laboratory. It includes the tracking of labjob progress, management of preliminary/certified results and

QA/QC checks.



Mining professional

Other


Contractor

None



Are you able to view the status of pending labjobs online?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Are you able to re-prioritise a labjob?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Are results sent to you by the lab automatically when they

are ready?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Are you able to request results from the laboratory in an

unattended manner?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Are results stored in a central location?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Do you reconcile dispatched samples versus received results?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Do you do QA/QC checks before using the results?

acQuire

Excel

Other

If results fail QA/QC then do you request reanalysis?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Is a digital record of the QA/QC stored against the results?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Do you track and mix preliminary with certified results?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Are you able to easily revert or disqualify erroneous results?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Is analytical metadata stored with the results (method, etc)?

acQuire

Excel

Other


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Results are

emailed back

when they are

ready (using

Excel). They are

copied into a mine

planning package

manually.

Results are emailed

back when they are

ready (in Excel).

They are checked

against the dispatch

and stored in a

single Excel book.

Results are emailed

back in Excel then

they are compiled

into a database.

Simple validation

occurs during

import.

Labjobs are

monitored

manually. Results

are emailed and

compiled into a

database. QA/QC

procedures detect

any significanterrors.

Labjob progress is

viewed online.

Results are sent

directly into the

database. QA/QC

validates results

before becoming

official anddistributed.










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Grade Control

DEFINITION

Grade Controlrequires reliable and easy access to blasthole sample results. The results can be used by a

grade control or mine planning package. Generally, the results are not modified during this task

although it may be necessary to attach notes to a shot or blasthole.



Mining professional

Other


Contractor

None



Are blasthole results exported to a text file and imported into

another package for processing?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Are multiple copies kept of these export files?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Is there an official, labelled export that is distributed to all?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Is there one procedure used to access results by everybody?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Does each export have the same structure and columns?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Can you easily determine what has changed between

exports?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Do you have to re-export to view other properties of the

blasthole sample results?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Do you only export official results and ignore non-official

data?

acQuire

Excel

Other

Can you access new results directly from within the grade

control packages?

acQuire

Excel

Other


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A personal copy is

manually obtained

by each staff

member

whenever the

results are

needed.

Each staff member

gets a copy but

maintains their own

official registry of

exports for their

activity.

A single staff

member creates

and distributes

exports. Each

export may be

customised for

each activity.

Exports are

controlled and

labelled uniquely.

There is only one

official copy of each

export. The official

copy has the samestructure.

Official results are

access directly

from within each

package. There are

no exports or

copies.









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Maturity Model Grade Control