Mineral Resource Estimation 2

THE METHOD OF HORIZONTAL SECTIONS

Indian Institute of Engineering Science and

Technology, Shibpur
 mineral inventory computations
• Mineral inventory computations are carried out to determine
the potentially economic minerals in terms of their quantity,
quality or value, and spatial distribution
“They are the most responsible and irreplaceable tasks in
the valuation of a mineral deposit. Efficiency in extraction
and productiveness is impossible without accurate
reserve computations.” . . . . . Popoff
• The accuracy of estimate required for the parameters is
dependent upon the objective of estimation
• A deposit is divided into regularly spaced gridded blocks and
then, using a suitable extension technique, values and
tonnages are assigned to the blocks
 mineral inventory computations
• An extension function is a mathematical function used to
extend sample values to estimate the value of surrounding
volumes of mineral
• Any method of calculating mineral inventories from sample
data can properly be called an extension function
• Over the years various methods for computation of mineral
inventory have been developed; all such methods are based
on one of the following three rules:
1. the rule of gradual changes;
2. the rule of nearest points, or equal influence; and
3. the rule of generalization.
 rule of gradual changes
• The rule of gradual changes, - also termed the law of
linear function
– All sample elements of a mineral body change gradually
and continuously as a linear function along a straight line
connecting two adjacent sample points
• This principle is used in triangles method in which all
sample points (drill holes) are connected by straight
lines into a system of triangles
 triangles method
• Varying altitude of the
vertices represents the
varying thickness of
mineralization
• Thus vertical sections cut
along the sides of the
triangles form prisms
• For the purpose of
estimating mineral
inventory each prism is a
block (or sub-block).
 triangles method
• Thickness-weighted mean
grade of the three samples
in every triangular prism
represents the grade of the
prism
– if t1, t2, and t3 are the
thickness of mineral prism
at the three vertices 1, 2
and 3 of the triangle and if
the composited grade at
these points are g1, g2 and
g3 respectively, then the
average grade assigned to
the prism is given by
 triangles method
• If the mineral
occurrence is of
uniform thickness or if
compositing is done for
a particular bench
height then t1=t2=t3
and the average grade
for the area contained
in the triangle is
 Triangles method
Drill Hole Average Triangle Area *
Triangle No. Grade grade Area Grade
1 0.12
2 0.21
124 4 0.50 0.277 14.5 4.012
1 0.12
4 0.5
146 6 0.05 0.223 21.6 4.824
2 0.21
3 0.17
235 5 0.33 0.237 21.1 4.994
2 0.21
4 0.50
245 5 0.33 0.347 26.2 9.083
3 0.17
5 0.33
358 8 0.15 0.217 14.9 3.228
4 0.5
5 0.33
457 7 0.26 0.363 28.2 10.246
4 0.5
6 0.05
467 7 0.26 0.270 29.7 8.019
5 0.33
7 0.26
578 8 0.15 0.247 22.3 5.501
∑ 178.5 49.906
 Area Averaging
• The area-averaging method is among the simplest of all
reserve estimation methods, involving only a geologic
interpretation of the shape of the ore and averaging of the
grades within that shape as follows:
1. Draw the outline of the ore body on each map; these are the
ore blocks and may be regular or irregular shapes. If several
ore zones or ore types are present, each is drawn individually.
2. Measure the area of each ore block (usually by planimetering).
Multiply the volume (cubic meters) by the density (tonnes per
cubic meter) to compute the tonnes of ore
3. Compute the average grade of samples within each block.
4. Calculate the sum of the tonnage in the individual blocks.
• Average grade is the tonnage-weighted average grade of
the individual blocks.
 Area Averaging
Hole Grade Area Grade * Average
Area Grade
1 0.12 39.4 4.728
2 0.21 37.6 7.896
3 0.17 42 7.140
4 0.5 37.7 18.85
5 0.33 33.8 11.154
6 0.05 50.1 2.505
7 0.26 46.8 12.168
8 0.15 46.3 6.945
∑ 333.7 71.386 0.214 Computation of an estimate using the
polygonal method
 The nearest neighbour method
• The nearest neighbour
method, also known as
computerised polygonal
method, involves creating
smaller regularly shaped
blocks in the mineralized
zone
• Value of the sample nearest
to the centre of the block is
assigned to the block
The nearest neighbour method
Anisotropic Inverse Distance Squared Method

• The figure shows three

vertical end-sections of a
block of ore
• Information regarding the
area and grade are
furnished
• Calculate the total tonnage
and grade of the block.
Anisotropic Inverse Distance Squared Method

• The figure shows two

vertical end-sections of a
block of ore
• Information regarding the
area and grade are
furnished
• Calculate the total tonnage
and grade of the block.
 Area Averaging

1. Area of first section A1 = 140 m2

2. Mean grade of the mineralized part
of the first section g1 = 2.29% Ni
3. Area of second section A2 = 170 m2
4. Mean grade of the mineralized part
of the second section g2 = 3.00% Ni
5. Distance between the sections, L =
70m
6. Specific gravity of ore = 6.68 t/m3
 Area Averaging
1. Area of first section A1 = 140 m2
2. Mean grade of the mineralized part of
the first section g1 = 2.29% Ni
3. Area of second section A2 = 170 m2
4. Mean grade of the mineralized part of
the second section g2 = 3.00% Ni
5. Distance between the sections, L =
70m
6. Specific gravity of ore = 6.68 t/m3

tonnage = Ore Volume ⤬ Specific gravity of ore = 10850*6.68 t

= 72478 t
 Area Averaging: IBM
1. Area of first section A1 = 140 m2
2. Mean grade of the mineralized part of
the first section g1 = 2.29% Ni
3. Area of second section A2 = 170 m2
4. Mean grade of the mineralized part of
the second section g2 = 3.00% Ni
5. Distance between the sections, L =
70m
6. Specific gravity of ore = 6.68 t/m3

tonnage = Ore Volume ⤬ Specific gravity of ore = 10850*6.68 t

= 72478 t
 Area Averaging
Section Area (m2) Av. Grade (% Ni) Area * Grade

A1 140 2.29 320.6

A2 170 3.0 510
310 830.6

Average grade of Nickel in the enclosed block

 Inverse-Distance Squared Method

• In the early days of

computer applications
Inverse-Distance Squared
(IDS) Method gained
popularity
• This interpolation method is
based on the principle of
gradual change for making
value estimates using
straightforward mathematics
for weighting the influence
of all neighbourhood
samples on the block being
evaluated
 Inverse-Distance Squared Method

• An example showing
block grade computation
from the values of
samples within a
predefined search radius
R is shown in the Figure
• By squaring the distance
IDS ensures that more
weight is assigned to the
nearest sample.
Anisotropic Inverse Distance Squared Method

• The IDS method can be

modified to reflect
anisotropism within the
deposit
• The figure shows a
computational process
when the trend and
anisotropic factors are
known
Anisotropic Inverse Distance Squared Method

• If V is sample value,
d is distance, B is
block value, R is
elliptical search
radius, X is major
axis, Y is minor axis,
x=2y is the
anisotropic factor,
then
• A = (X3- X1)(Y2 Y1) 1/2
(X3 X1)(Y1 Y3) 1/2 (X3
X2)(Y2 Y3)
• 1/2 (X2 X1)(Y2 Y1)