Estimation of reserves is the process of determining the amount of

mineral resources that can be economically extracted from a deposit.

The results of exploration studies, particularly stages of E1 and E2, are crucial in
determining and estimating the ore reserves

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RESERVE ESTIMATION RESERVE ESTIMATION METHODS
Depending on certain parameters: For moderately to steeply dipping tabular
• Cut off grade ore body
• Stopping width ➢ Cross section method
• Weighted average and average ➢ Longitudinal section method
grade ➢ Level plan method
For bedded/ horizontal or low dipping
• Tonnage factor
deposits
• Core recovery
➢Included area method
• Thickness ➢Extended area method
• Strike length/ strike influence ➢Triangle method
• Dip length/ width influence ➢Polygon method
• Correlation of lode ➢Method of isoline
➢Isopach maps method

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 ▪ The Geological Survey of
Proven :These are reserves that can be extracted with a high
India (GSI) established a degree of certainty, based on geological and engineering data.
standardized system for These reserves are also referred to as "measured reserves."
classifying ores and mineral
resources, which has been

Ore reserves
in use in India since 1981. Probable: These reserves are also referred to as "indicated reserves.“
▪ The Bureau of Indian Estimated based on widely spaced sampling points and exploratory
Standards (BIS) later openings with reasonable extrapolation on geological grounds.
adopted this system in The shape, thickness variation, likely persistence, geological
structure, and some information on mineralogy, petrography of the
1989. host rock and wall rocks, ore dressing characteristics are broadly
▪ The Indian Bureau of Mines known.
(IBM) used this system in The error of estimation of tonnage should be in the range of 20-
creating the National 30%
Mineral Inventory (NMI) Implies a lower status to the ore reserve in terms of degree of
assurance
database.
The system categorizes
reserves into four types: Possible :These are reserves that may be extracted in the future, but
1. Proven with considerable uncertainty due to a lack of data or a lower degree
of confidence in the estimates.
2. Probable
These reserves are also referred to as "inferred reserves.“
3. Possible. May have an error level of 30 to 50%
Source: Shri B.B.SHARMA sir, Director, GSI https://www.linkedin.com/in/praveen-geddam-896961216
United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC): This is a global
standard for the classification and reporting of energy and mineral
resources. It provides a consistent and transparent approach to
assessing resources and reserves, based on geological knowledge,
technical feasibility, and economic viability.
Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME) classification:
This is a classification system developed by the SME that is widely used
in the United States. It provides guidelines for estimating mineral
resources and reserves based on geological, engineering, and
economic factors, and includes a set of standard definitions and
reporting requirements.

CLASSIFICATION &
CATEGORISATION OF RESERVES

Canadian National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101): This is a
regulatory framework used in Canada to govern the disclosure of
scientific and technical information related to mineral projects. It
requires companies to follow specific guidelines for estimating and
reporting mineral resources and reserves, and to provide a detailed
analysis of the risks and uncertainties involved.
Australian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral
Resources and Ore Reserves (JORC Code): This is a classification
system used in Australia and other countries in the Asia-Pacific
region. It provides a framework for the estimation and reporting of
mineral resources and reserves, based on geological knowledge,
technical feasibility, and economic viability.

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The UNFC three-dimensional system is
used to classify the resource base and assess the
economic viability of the mineral deposits.

The Economic Viability (E) axis represents the first

digit, the Feasibility (F) axis the second digit, and the
Geological Assessment (G) axis the third digit.

Economic viability (E) has three codes, which in

decreasing order are: E1 (Economic), E2 (Potentially
economic), and E3 (Intrinsically economic).

Feasibility study (F) has three codes which in

decreasing order are: F1 (Feasibility study), F2 (Pre-
feasibility study), and F3 (Geological study).

The Geological Assessment (G) as per UNFC norms

has four codes in order of increasing details:
Reconnaissance (G4), Prospecting (G3), General
The estimation of ore reserves is a critical step in the exploration
Exploration (G2), and Detailed Exploration (G1). Each
process and requires accurate and reliable data. The level of
stage generates resource data with a clearly defined
accuracy and reliability of the estimation depends on the stage of
degree of geological assurance.
exploration and the quality of data collected during each stage.
Source: https://unece.org/DAM/energy/se/pdfs/UNFC/publ/UNFC_ES61_Update_2019.pdf https://www.linkedin.com/in/praveen-geddam-896961216