Using Statistical Interpolation to Build Block Models Part II(Setting up Files and Coding Air Blocks)Using MineSight2007 Dr. B. C. Paul revisions 2009(Note The Screenshots contained in this show are operating views of the MineSight computer programs and the steps suggested for operating include ideas taken from Minetec operating manuals, courses, publications, or technical support advice)

What Do I Have So FarI have the earths surface in a 3D model that I made from a topo mapIm going to use that surface to distinguish areas that are made up of air and have not mineral value from those that are made of rock and might have mineral value

What I Plan On DoingI will set up a block modelMinable reserves are represented by a series of millions of blocks with average grades and other propertiesKind of like a 3D pixel imageI will create a file to hold my block modelI will create a similar digital model of surface elevationsI will use that surface elevation model to code into each block of my block model what percentage of that block is made of rock.

My First MoveI will use MineSight Compass to set up the needed block model and digital surface image.

Start MineSight CompassLeft clickOnMineSightFrom theMenu tabs

A menuDrops down

Left click onCompass

This is a DetourIm getting aDirty note aboutNot findingA project file.

This commonlyHappens whenA project isBeing startedAnd when aProject has beenMoved fromOne computerTo another. (ItLooses track ofThe project file)

If This Happens to YouRead theInstructions theyTell you what toDo.

Then left click Ok

Compass Opens But Everything is Grayed Out

Im Going to Look for the Simple Fix MineSight has lost track of the Project File.Left click file toDrop down theFile menu

Move the curserTo open andLeft click

It Brings Up the Directory for Me to Find the Project FileIf you areGettingComplaintsAbout no file10(Project ControlFile) or noPrj file theyWill usuallyCome up inThis view

You left click onThe file andThen left clickopen

I This Case There Really has been no Project File Created Yet so I Need to Do ThisYipes noFile

Left clickCancel soWe canCreate theNeeded file.

Now I Try to Create a New Project FileLeft click fileTo drop downThe menu

Put the curserAbove New(new turns blueAnd a sideMenu pops out)

Move the curserOver projectAnd left click

Project Files are Initialized From Project Control Files Called File 10sThe computerShows youEverything thatMight be a file 10And asks you toPick it(This is theSame thing thatComes up ifMineSight hasLost track of a File 10)

Note I do see myFile 10. Put theCurser on it andLeft click

Now Left Click On Open

Everything Comes to Life (not grayed out anymore) and Our Little Detour is Over.

Oh Where Were We Oh Yes I Was Going to Create my Block Surface and Block Model Files (called files 13 and 15)Left click onThe projectTab

Then left clickOn the openIcon to openThe projectFile editor

Up Comes My Project File Editor Screen Im going to set up my digital surface My file 13

Left Click On File and Pick New

Up Comes My Choice of What Type of FileLeft click onThe 13-GSF(I want toCreate a file13 and GSFStands forGridded SurfaceFile)

The Computer Immediately Suggests the Minimum Things that Should be in a File 13If I wantOtherVariablesI can clickOn theBoxesAnd addThem.

In my caseTheSuggestionIs fine

So I leftClick theSave icon

It Wants Me to Give the File a Name

About Naming ConventionsMineSight File names still have the old 6 characters before the dot limitationThe last 2 characters should be the numbers for the type of fileIn this case Im creating a file 13The first 4 characters should be some sort of project nameMost people make the same 4 characters so all files associated with a particular package are obviousIf I used this convention I would name the file 15mt13 (since I picked 15 mt for my project with 15 meter bench heights when I started the project)

I Got a Warning About Reinitializing Files and Clicked Ok

Now I Get My Success Message About Setting Up My File 13Ill left clickOk toAcknowledgeI got themessage

I Peak at My Files with ExplorerYup There isA newFile 13

That Was Easy Now Lets Set Up My File 15 Block ModelClick File NewAnd thenLeft click on15 3DBlock Model

It Wants to Know What Variables Id Like in My Model

My First Variable Is Rock%I can choose what I want and my names

For me Rock% will be the % of each block that is made of rockI must also enter minimum and maximum values and the precision I want.

My typing indicates all blocks are between 0% rock to 100% rock and that IWill be satisfied with my data to the nearest whole percentage.(I get 5 spaces to name my items)

My Next Variable is CopperI usually have an idea of my data range from peaking at samples. OneNormally sets the range wide enough to pick up all the values.Precision can be very important for grade items especially since copperGrades are usually under 1% - if I pick the nearest whole percentage IWill loose most of the variability range in my data ie the block modelWill trunkate most of the valuable information.

Enter Other Grade Variable I Believe I Will NeedMo is for my moly grade

Eq Cu allows me to come up with a single metal amount variable EqCuFor what would a copper grade be to give a block the same value asCoproducts Copper and Molybdenum(each block model is required to have a grade variable)

Last Ill Add A Variable for Type of OreMany ore deposits have more than one type of ore for example oxideAnd sulfide

I could also a variable for type of rock since many deposits have moreThan one type of rock.

When Im Done With My Variables I Will Left Click the Save Icon

Why Did I Pick Variables I DidSome Blocks will be above the surface AirSome will be on the surface and will have tonnage but not the whole blockSome blocks will be below the surface they are all rock of some sortThis variable will help me track the tonnage and keep track of air blocks (which are not mined and yield no copper or moly)

My Grade VariablesCu will contain the copper grade I assignIll assign it later using an interpolation routineMo will contain my moly gradeCut-Offs for the mill in a pollymetalic deposit have to consider all the metalsWe have been doing calculations for how many lbs of copper 1 pound of moly is worthWe will have the variable space saved for later use

Variable RequirementsMinesight actually requires us to initialize our block model with a topo%, a grade, and a type

Lets Save Our Initialized Block Model with a NameI type in theName I chooseAnd left clicksave

I Get Another Profound Success Announcement

Now Ive got my file 13 and file 15 ready my next mission will be to code the percentage rock into the blocks in my block model.MineSights file 13 contains a representation of the surfaceWe will take our surface and feed it to our file 13We will then have the computer use that file 13 to determine which blocks are above or below that surfaceThose above are 0% rock or pure air blocksThose below are 100% rockThose right on the surface may be a % between the two extremes

We Will Follow Several StepsRoutine needs a surface made up of blocks at certain heightsKind of pixels each at a certain elevationWe create a gridded surface file with our surface geometryWe then have a code look at what % of each block is above or below the surface or what percent above or below.

Well Close Compass By Clicking on the Red X

Im going to get that Gridded Surface FileIve prepared the file, but I actually still do not have data in it.Im going to prepare a view of the modelThen Im going to put data into itThen Im going to display the gridded surface for inspectionThen I will use it to code the block model with % rock.

We are going to set up a Model View of Our File 13 (so we can code into it)Need to highlightThe directoryWhere thismodel viewWill be stored.

Pick File / New / Model ViewHighlighting FileDrops down theMenu.

Highlighting NewOpens the sideMenu

Highlighting andClicking modelView sets up a Model view

It Wants You To Name Your Model ViewI named mineGriddedSurface

Then I willLeft click Ok

It Needs You to Say Which Project File is going to keep track of the ViewClick onSelect PCF(ie projectControl file)

You Get A Choice of Project Control FilesProject Control files are called file 10s usually you will have one to choose fromHighlight it and then click open.

Now it Wants to Know Which Eligible file you want a visual offYou can chooseBetween a File 13 (a surface)And a file 15(a block model)Since Im tryingTo get a surfaceReady I willHighlight theFile 13 and clickOk as it comesTo life.

My Model View Editor Comes OnI need to selectWhat to display.(most file 13s onlyDisplay topographyBut a file 15 wouldProvide a choice

The little blue iconWill give you aProper list ofEligible choices

When I Click the Blue List Box I Can See I Have Only One Choice Click it.

I Can Do Some Color Adjusting for My Surface (This is a little detour)Push theCutoffs Button

The Cutoffs Color Coding Menu Comes UpI will set theColor codeIntervals I want(left click onIntervals)

Ill Type in My Chosen Intervals and Click Ok(I hope IKnow theElevationsOf my ownMine)

There Are My IntervalsIll nowDrag myMouseAcross themWith theLeft keyHeld downTo selectThem.

My Selection has turned blue

Go to Properties for the SelectionLeft click theProperties button

Go to Set Color By RangeTell it toDisplay facesRather thanWire framesurfaceNext hitSet color byrange

Try Ok for the Default Color RangeLeft click okButton.

You Can See the Color Codes You Will Have for Surface ElevationsI might tryClicking OkTo displayMy file 13.

There is Just One Little ProblemI have myFile 13Set up withAll theDisplayParametersBut thereIs no dataIn the file13 yet.(Yup thatsWhy we areLooking atA blankScreen)

How Will I Remedy This?I will select a geometry object that contains elevation dataYup I have my topo surface object available for that.Ill then tell the computer to use that object to assign elevations to the grid in my gridded surface model

Lets Get Back to Those Model View PropertiesRight clickOn theModel viewTo pop upThe menu

Then leftClick toPickproperties

In the Editor I Will Click the Geometry Tab so I can pick my Geometry Object

Then Ill Left Click the Red Box to Find that Object

I Get the Geometry Set Editor ScreenThe boxesUp in theCornerAllow meTo pickObjectsOr files.

Im goingTo try toPick myTopoSurfaceObject.(use redDot box)

I Get A Box of Selection ToolsThe mostImportantAre theRed box(pick it fromThe dataManager list)

And the blueWorm pickFrom theScreen(its a littleMoreUnpredictableAnd myObject is off)

Now I Get a Data Manager-Like Listthat Includes my Topo Surface ObjectI left clickOn myTopoSurface(it turnsBlue)

Then I leftClick Ok

Now My Pick Tools Box Says Ive Got SomethingSome times IWould wantTo try to pickAdditionalObjects notThis timeThough

Ill Left Click on the Surface I picked and then I will Left Click Ok

Ive Now Got My Self A Set of Geometry ObjectsIf I amGoing toUse theSetA lot IHaveSomeOptions toName andSaveDown hereOtherwise I will click Ok

When I Click Ok It Tells Me I Have Changed the Current Geometry Set.It asks meIf that isOk.

I sure hopeIve beenDoingSomethingSo I willClick Yes

Now I Have Myself a Geometry Set to Use for setting elevation on my gridded surface.Yes itsCalledUnnamedSince IDeclinedTo name it.Note now that I have anOption to Grid something(The grid button is noLonger grayed out)Ill left click grid.

It Takes Me Right to the Grid Surface Tab

Now I Need to Say Where I Want the Data Put in My File 13I will pickThe variableIn theFile 13 IWant it toGo to(I can pullDown a listWith theBlue box)In this caseThat wasProfoundCause thereIs only onevariableLook Grid is AliveNow!

Now Im Ready to GoI Click Grid

I can seeSomethingHappened

Now IllClick Ok toLet it knowIm happy

The Mystery of those Bottom BoxesApply means yes I like this. Keep my work but dont close the box because I want to do moreCanel means Yipes I screwed up get rid of that before someone sees what I did.Ok means Yes I like this. Close the dialog box and lets move on.

With the Dialog Box Closed I Can See My Lovely Surface!

I Will Now Use This Gridded Surface to Code my Air and Rock BlocksStart upMineSight Compass

On Compass Make Sure We Are On the Menu TabMake Sure the GroupAnd operations are setTo show you everythingClick on DescriptionTo have it alphabetizeBy description(make it easier to findThe procedure weWant)

Click on Add Topo % to ModelThe routine will code the rock % into the block model

It Needs the Variable Names in Your File 13 and File 15 Block ModelI Can Click onThe down arrowTo variablesAvailable in myFile 13 GriddedSurface File.

Ok for a One Variable File 13 Picking the Variable Name Isnt Too StimulatingLeft Click onTopog

At Least Saying Which Variable in My Block Model to Use has More ChoicesI will useRock% toReceive theinfo

Now Click Go

The Coding Routine Begins to Execute

It Tells Me It Finished and Invites Me to Press Any Key to Continue

I Close Out of MineSight Compass Only to Find Ive Got a Block Model I Cant See

Im Going to Create A Model View So I Can See What I Have

Ill Name My Model View and Click Ok(Yup thisIs lookingA bit likeWhat weDid for ourFile 13Display)

Oh Yes We Pick Our PCF File

There is Only One So This Will Be Tough (not)

Pick the Block Model as the Thing to Display

In Model View Editor (which comes up)Make sure youHave theDisplay tab

Then pick theVariable Rock%To display

Lets Set the Display RangeClick on theRange tab

(Unless youHave tons ofMemory andA very fastProcessor Dont try toDisplayEverything atonce.)

The defaultDisplay is theWhole toplevel

Ill Use Those Slide Boxes to Set 1/4th of the Model from Top to Bottom

Well There My Display BoxOf courseIts all grayBecause IHave noRange orColor coding

Bet thatsWhy itsShowing meThe cut-offColors box.

Click on Intervals and Fill in the Interval Data I Want.

Drag Over My Range and Click Properties

The Object Properties Dialog Box OpensMake sure IHave theGeneral Tab

Then left clickSet color byRange.

The Color Range Box OpensIll exceptTheDefaultWithoutUsing thoseSlider boxes

Ill justClick ok.

Oh Ya!0% rock isAbove theSurface

100% rock isBelow

And mixed %Is right onThe surface

I Can Turn Off My Gridded Surface and Admire the Block Model Im Starting to GetOf course itWould beReal handyTo haveSome oreGrades inThere too.(Stay tunedFor the nextEpisode)