MEA Notes and Handouts April 26, 2020

© MEA 2006 V 1.0 08/2006

INTRODUCTION TO
GEOSTATISTICS

© MEA 2006 V 1.0 08/2006

Module: Introduction to Geostatistics

Lecture: Geostatistical Estimation

Prof Emmanuel Chanda

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© MEA 2006 V 1.0 08/2006

INTRODUCTION TO GEOSTATISTICS
◼ Our Goals :
1. Comprehend basic concepts in geostats and
procedure for geostatistical estimation.
2. Calculate & model the semivariogram function.
3. Calculate the estimation variance
4. Setup Kriging system for point and block
estimation.
5. Application of Ez{Krige} software

DEFINITIONS
◼ GEOSTASTICS is the application of the theory of
regionalised variables in estimation.
◼ Theory of RVs developed by Matheron (1962) in
France.

◼ REGIONALISED VARIABLE: value of a point within an

ore body whose magnitude is a function of:
(1)Position relative to other samples
(2)Sample “Support”

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DEFINITIONS

◼ SUPPORT: Volume, shape and

orientation

◼ TYPICAL RVs: grade, moisture content

of rock, $/tonne, density, thickness of
ore or overburden, PH of soil,
environmental parameter, dust
concentration in ppm.
◼ More RVs?...................................

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PROBLEMS IN ENVIRONMENTAL
REMEDIATION

Drill holes (samples)

Where and how much to sample?

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PROBLEMS IN ENVIRONMENTAL
REMEDIATION

RV Characterisation

How to characterise the

concentration of contaminants
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PROBLEMS IN ENVIRONMENTAL
REMEDIATION

RV Characterisation

How much to remediate

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SOLUTIONS USING GEOSTATISTICS

INPUT OUTPUT
Geostatistical 3D surface
Modelling for volume
Limited environmental modeling
sample data remediation
from - Concentration
of pollutant
borehole &
well logs - Assessment of
confidence

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◼ The HISTORICAL
mining industry needed to predict
PERSPECTIVE
ore grades.

◼ Theory of regionalised variables or

Geostatistics developed in 1960s
- George Matheron (father of Geostats?)
- South African gold Mines (D Krige)
- Developments by D Krige; H Sichel, M
David; A Journel; I Clark; others

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SICHEL’S ‘t’ ESTIMATOR

❖ Approach:

o Assume observations are independent and

drawn from lognormal distribution.

❖ Drawbacks:

o Must know or assume the form of

distribution
o Independence implies no consideration of
location

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TREND SURFACE ANALYSIS

❖ Approach:
o Describe trend using arbitrary algorithm, e.g., Inverse
Distance Squared.
o Use stats to fit mathematical function

❖ Drawbacks:
o Hard to choose weighting factors
o Random variation around fixed component of the
trend is assumed to follow a single distribution
throughout.
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GEOSTATISTICS TO THE RESCUE!

❖ What is geostatistics?
o Method of interpolating spatial data.
Accounting for both distance and direction
✓Best estimate
✓Confidence interval

❖ Two key elements

o Construction of the “semivariogram”.
o Interpolating with “kriging”.

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BASIC CONCEPT

Drill holes
?

Estimate the unknown

point/block using neighbouring
samples
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❖ Sound theoretical and practical basis for

quantifying geological concepts
WHY GEOSTATISTICS IS of:
SUPERIOR
o Area of influence
o Continuity (or lack of it) of mineralisation.
o Measure of “anisotropy” or lateral changes in
mineralisation according to trend direction of
an orebody and its orthogonal components.
❖ Objectives of Geostatistics:
1. Estimate most likely grade of ore blocks
2. Estimate the errors of such estmates

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SOURCES OF ERROR IN AN ESTIMATION

❖ An estimate of the block or stope grade differs
from the true grade.
❖ Variability of grades arises from geology.
❖ The sources of error due variability are:
✓ Continuity
✓ Zone of influence
✓ Structural & small scale variation
✓ Degree of homogeneity
✓ Mode of formation
❖ Geostatistics accounts for these sources of errors
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OTHER FACTORS

❖ The size and shape of block of ground.

❖ The position of samples relative to the
block.
❖ The position of samples relative to each
other. For example:
o Fig 1a will provide more reliable estimate
than sample configuration in Fig 1b.

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FIGURE 1a AND 1b

Sample Block

Figure 1a Figure 1b

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QUANTIFYING THE ESTIMATION ERROR

ESTIMATION ERROR
=
TRUE VALUE – ESTIMATED VALUE

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FUNDAMENTAL BASIS FOR

GEOSTATISTICAL APPROACH

Sample

• Square block with sample at the centre

• Extending the sample value to the block
results in an error.
• The magnitude of the error is a function of
sample location, block size. Minimize error!!
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ROUTINE TASKS IN GEOSTATISTICS

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CONCLUSION

Geostatistics combines the science

of data comparisons, the intuition
of geology, the knowledge of
mining and the art of modelling to
create 3-dimensional models that
communicate one’s understanding
of the insitu grade. This model can
then be used for mine planning and
decision making

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CONFUSED?

◼ Review the material!

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