Transforming geoscience through integrated workflows

at Olympic Dam
L Dowling1, J M Clark2, A Hatt3 and N Poznik4†

1. Senior Geologist, BHP Olympic Dam, Roxby Downs SA 5725. Email: Laura.Dowling@bhp.com
2. AAusIMM Senior Geologist, BHP Olympic Dam, Roxby Downs SA 5725.
Email: Jesse.Clark@bhp.com
3. MAusIMM Superintendent Production Data and Ventilation, BHP Olympic Dam, Roxby Downs
SA 5725. Email: Alex.Hatt@bhp.com
4. MAusIMM Superintendent Mine Geology, BHP Olympic Dam, Roxby Downs SA 5725.
Email: npoznik@gmail.com
†Present address: Centre of Excellence in Ore Deposits, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 79,

Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 7001

ABSTRACT
Advancements in technology have allowed mine geologists to become highly multidisciplinary, but
our fundamental role has not changed – to maximise the value of the resource. We must embrace
automation and standardisation or risk diluting the effectiveness of mine geologists through
repetitive, non-value adding tasks.
With rapid expansion underground into the Southern Mining Area, Olympic Dam’s Mine Geology
team required systems and processes that allowed a core focus on providing quality geological
products and maximising value from data observations. This paper documents the innovative
transformation of Olympic Dam’s mine geology practices.
The key enabler was the Deswik™ software package, which is used across mine planning teams,
and provides a single source of stakeholder data. Integrated workflows have enabled automation of
repetitive tasks and reduced processing time while improving data quality, repeatability and
transparency.
Underground geological mapping has been transformed from a paper-based system to an electronic
workflow using Deswik™ process maps, enabling extremely efficient data capture. Up-to-date
reference data is used while mapping, including survey data, 3D wireframes and drill hole
information. Collected data is immediately available to all stakeholders on return to surface, for
interpretation and incorporation into geological models.
Our entire diamond drilling process from exploration targeting and detailed planning to scheduling is
fully integrated through Deswik™ and available for animation along with mine plans.
The changes have resulted in an estimated time saving of four full-time equivalent positions (FTEs),
allowing prioritisation of high value-adding geological work including interpretation, analysis,
modelling and strategic planning. The Mine Geology team is now working towards the first fully
integrated, live 3D geological model of Olympic Dam. Additionally, the work has enabled greater
transparency, collaboration between planning teams and ability to communicate risk and opportunity.

INTRODUCTION
Olympic Dam is a tier one orebody and Australia’s largest underground sub-level open-stoping mine
producing around 10 Mt of ore per annum (Ehrig, McPhie, and Kamenetsky, 2012; Badenhorst,
O'Connell, and Rossi, 2016). Rapid expansion into the Southern Mine Area (SMA) in 2015 saw the
fleet of underground diamond drill rigs increase to sixteen at its peak, drilling at a sustained rate of
over 160 km/yr since FY2018, while development rates have also increased to over 30 km per
annum.
Increases in mine development rates and diamond drilling requirements shifted the team’s focus to
data capture with less time available for geological interpretation and data analysis. However, in
order to continue delivering high quality geological products, the Olympic Dam Mine Geology team
required an efficient set of systems and processes that allowed a core focus on maximising value
from data observations.

Mining Geology 2019 / Perth, WA, 25-26 November 2019 397

This paper discusses the technological shift towards integrated, automated and standardised
workflows at Olympic Dam, while documenting the methodology, tools and resources required for
successful implementation.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Focus on the value

Underground production commenced in mid-1988, which set the scene for the next thirty years at
Olympic Dam — mining the Northern Mine Area (NMA). Geological understanding rapidly evolved
in the early 1990s through the discovery and delineation of the NMA. From the mid-2000s through
to 2013 the business assessed an open pit expansion project in the largely untouched SMA,
switching focus in 2013 to an underground expansion. As a result, a significant underground
diamond drilling program was required to increase resource confidence suitable for a sub-level open-
stoping operation.

Figure 1: Simplified basement geological map of the Olympic Dam deposit. Note the uniform, linear
nature of copper mineralisation in the NMA versus greater geometrical diversity in the SMA.
Modified after Ehrig, Kamenetsky and McPhie (2012) and Clark et al. (2018). See Clark and Ehrig.
(in-press) of this volume for detailed geological descriptions.

The geometry of mineralisation in the NMA is simple, characterised by linear sub-vertically dipping
structurally-focussed hematite-rich breccia bodies with an overall strike of approximately 2.5 km. The

Mining Geology 2019 / Perth, WA, 25-26 November 2019 398

SMA, however, is significantly more complex than the NMA with respect to the diverse nature and
origin of rock types, rock mass characteristics, and extent of major structures controlling primary
mineralisation trends (Clark, Passmore and Poznik, 2017) (Figure 1). Clark and Ehrig (in-press) of
this volume provide detailed geological descriptions.
With an expanding team of geologists to support the increased workload, Olympic Dam’s Mine
Geology team required workflows that allowed a core focus on providing quality geological products
and maximising value from data observations.
Olympic Dam’s mine geology value chain was re-evaluated to determine key elements for individual
workflows with a goal of integration and enabling easy access to the right data in 3D, leveraging the
recently implemented Deswik™ (Deswik) Mine Data Management (MDM) system as an integrated
CAD data platform for mine planning and geosciences. As a result, the department focused on
building automated and standardised workflows for the four ‘pillars’ identified in the analysis:
1. underground geological mapping,
2. diamond drilling (from target generation through to scheduling and execution),
3. integration with mine planning (including stope evaluation), and
4. geological drill core logging (not covered as part of this paper).

Underground geological mapping

Prior to the implementation of new workflows and systems the underground mapping process was
tedious and time-consuming, requiring several steps of re-work and double-handling of data. The
preparation, management, and importation of mapping data took several hours, including collecting
the required reference data, manually measuring development progress from survey plans, printing
and re-scaling maps and maintaining a register of areas currently available for mapping.
Underground, paper maps prepared on surface were often found to contain out-of-date information
(e.g. obsolete designs, breakthroughs, survey stations etc.). Maps would become wet and covered
with dirt, resulting in measurements and observations often smudged and lost. Orientations of
structural data collected were manually transferred into the mine coordinate system using a ruler
dragged across the page from a printed compass to the drive location. This caused major
inaccuracies with structural data collection. On return to surface, a light table and fine-tipped pen
were used to trace the map, which was then photocopied. Lithologies were coloured in on the copy
which was scanned, and re-traced digitally on a 2D level plan.
With the labour intensity of post-processing mapping data, a backlog of approximately 25km of yet-
to-be digitised completed mapping had accrued by the end of 2017. This meant that none of the
information gathered was available for modelling or interpretation and represented a significant
missed opportunity to refine and ‘ground truth’ the model as the mine progressed into the SMA.
The resultant digitised mapping data and associated geological and structural orientation data (e.g.
mineralisation, alteration, dip and dip direction) were stored as text objects. Stakeholders, including
mine geology, could not easily parse or filter the highly valuable geological comments captured
underground. Moreover, the geological mapping data was not compatible with nor easily exportable
to software used to complete 3D geological assessments. The inability to easily transfer data into
the preferred software ultimately reduced the accuracy and quality of geological interpretations.

Drill design and scheduling

With an increasing fleet of diamond drill rigs it was necessary to be able to easily visualise existing,
in progress, and planned drilling. With rapid development into the SMA, there is a large amount of
interaction between diamond drilling and mine development activities. The coordination of these
teams and management of interactions are key to ensuring the safe and timely completion of drilling
activities.
Previously, diamond drill plans were created in Microsoft Excel™ and required manual data input of
drill hole information (dip, azimuth, length, drive name, collar coordinates etc.) copied from the 3D
software package used for the design. Plan view and section images were screenshots taken by the
user and the formats were not standardised. Different reference data and legends were used by

Mining Geology 2019 / Perth, WA, 25-26 November 2019 399

different users and the drill plans were often cluttered with custom instructions and comments. Drill
hole string files were stored in network folder locations without hole ID information, requiring the user
to reference various spreadsheets and string files to visualise the plan.
Scheduling of diamond drilling for the five-year plan (5YP) was always thorough, completed using
concept strings and assumptions to determine the metres required for different levels of resource
conversion. However, there was no structured system for the concept strings to flow through from
the concept planning stage to detailed drill design. There was also limited visibility of the drill plan to
stakeholders and it was difficult to strategically assess a range of different drill plans and scenarios.

Stope evaluation
With a dynamic and expanding mine plan, it is essential to ensure that stopes have adequate drill
coverage before being scheduled into the plan and that areas requiring further drilling are well
communicated. Geologist evaluation of drill coverage for concept stopes was previously completed
in bulk several times a year following block model releases, with information generally captured
within a database or spreadsheet separate to the stope files. Without an integrated system it was
difficult to ensure all planned stopes would have adequate diamond drilling at the right time.

SOLUTION
The transition to MDM at Olympic Dam began in mid-2017, led by the Manager Mine Planning, with
a vision to integrate disparate sources of spatial data across all the departments, eliminate paper-
based approvals, and create a platform where up-to-date information is available to all stakeholders
on demand without the use of intermediaries. As a result, mine geology, mine planning, geotechnical
and operational data are all stored within the same database and available to reference in 3D.
MDM provides a central location for storage and management of data and documentation. Workflows
form the approvals framework and means for data import to MDM, allowing standardised and
auditable processes. The Mine Geology team relies on several other software packages for
geological interpretation to create models and analyse data, including Maptek Vulcan™ and
Leapfrog Geo™, while core logging data is captured through acQuire™. The key enabler to a more
efficient way of working for the mine geology team lies in the ability of MDM to bring together data
generated by the different programs into a single platform for visualising and planning, while being
able to easily export the data back to the other software.
The geology team has leveraged process maps and MDM workflow capabilities to standardise and
streamline data capture processes. Process maps allow configuration of progressions of commands
within the software to ensure the team is consistently using the most up-to-date procedure. The
process maps use in-built Deswik functions wherever possible but also include embedded macros,
which are mostly required for the custom user forms. Each button represents an action or series of
actions that are performed sequentially and require varying degrees of user input. These process
maps are then embedded into MDM workflows so that the correct and current data is automatically
imported.

Mapping
Underground geological mapping has been transformed from a paper-based system to an electronic
workflow using MDM and process maps in CAD, enabling extremely efficient data capture using
tablets in the mine environment.
Development of the mapping workflow and process map was completed and tested internally over
a couple of months following the development of tools to convert existing mapping data and import
the backlog natively into MDM. Historic spatial data previously stored in Microstation™ was imported
to Deswik. Comments and other text objects were parsed into standardised attributes and assigned
to the entity or entities to which they referred (e.g. fault infill) or otherwise imported as point
observations.

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 Concept drillhole Geological
and platform Stope evaluation products uploaded
design to MDM

Concept drillholes
scheduled

Drill plan Reference data Automated nightly

Detailed drillhole workflows created maintained by exports for use in
design using up-to-date each department other software
reference data in MDM packages

Schedule updated
with most recent
design and hole
progress

Mapping
workflows created
using up-to-date
reference data

Holes drilled
Drives mapped
directly into
Deswik

Actual drillhole
Planned hole
trace linked to
status updated
Deswik from
nightly in Deswik
acQuire

Modelling and
Holes logged and
interpretation in Live Field
assayed (acQuire)
Model (Leapfrog)

Figure 2 Integrated mine geology workflows

The mapping process map was created in parallel with the development of the specialised Deswik
mapping module, Deswik.GeoTools™ (GeoTools), which now provides a purpose-built, tablet-
friendly user interface. Several of the features developed for the Olympic Dam underground mapping
process map have now been built-in to the software in collaboration with Deswik.
After trialling several models of tablets in the underground environment, the criticality of weight and
having a quality ‘active’ stylus became apparent. All tablets trialled were capable of running the
Deswik software, however the preferred options had a mass of ~1.5kg. The issue of weight also
resulted in the trial of a number of body harnesses for the support of tablets in the field with mixed
results. Tablets with ‘passive’ input styluses suffered from imprecise digitisation which was a
significant hindrance to efficient input of observations.

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The underground mapping workflow in MDM is configured to include up-to-date reference data
including existing mapping, survey strings, survey stations, planned development, drive annotations,
centrelines, refuge chamber locations, barricades and ventilation information. Existing 3D structural,
lithological or alteration wireframes and drill hole information can also be loaded for reference
underground, dependent on the area being mapped.
Areas ready for mapping are easily identified by loading surveyed development in MDM. Workflows
are checked out using an area and level filter and are assigned a unique ID using a combination of
the chosen attributes. Active workflows are visible to all geologists, so everyone can see the areas
that are already being targeted for mapping by other team members.
Most drives at Olympic Dam are shotcreted to 1.8m above the floor (the ‘grade-control’ line) and
active headings are generally shotcreted immediately following bogging, with access prohibited
within 3m of any unsupported face. This restricts the ability to complete full face-mapping and
observe structures parallel to drives, but it is still possible to capture important geological information
and take structural measurements along drive walls.
The underground mapping process map was developed to allow capture of key features that serve
as inputs to grade estimation and geologic modelling quickly and easily, including structures, rock
types and point observations such as sulfides or alteration. It is tablet-friendly, using drop-down
boxes for text and slider bars for numerical values so entering/typing text is not required. Using the
process map buttons ensures that all data goes to the correct layers when checking the workflow
back into MDM.

Figure 3: Underground Mapping process map

A set of standard shared attributes applies to all the mapping objects including three fields for
infill/alteration, two fields for sulfide species and one for texture, scale (e.g. low, moderate, high),
rock type/lithology and structure type. Shared attributes allow flexibility in describing the features.
For example, alteration can be logged as a single point observation if there is a small window of
exposed rock, or it can be assigned to a lithology polyline, indicating that the alteration has been
observed along the walls of an entire section of drive.
The ‘guide line’ feature provides the ability to project a line out from a single measurement along the
drive in order to test structure continuity across the drive or to other drives nearby. Required input is
a digitised point, measured dip direction, and length of line. A temporary object is created which
represents the strike of the structure (i.e. 90 degrees to the chosen dip direction) and has the
specified length. Structural features can then be traced over the guide line and the previously chosen
dip direction will be remembered.

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Figure 4: Indicative area of completed mapping with attributes displayed for a selected fault. Drive
centrelines represent the observed lithology. Point observations are primarily used for sulphide
species but may represent other features such as alteration or textures.

Figure 5: Guideline form and temporary guideline drawn from point ‘X’ for a structural feature with a
measured dip direction of 240 degrees (strike +/- 90 degrees).

Structural data is input as a polyline along the strike of the structural feature. The process map allows
a two-point polyline to be drawn, eliminating the need to ‘right-click’ or press ‘Esc’, which greatly
increasing the usability and efficiency of data capture on tablets. The two possible dip directions are
calculated from the polyline orientation with the guide line dip direction chosen by default where
applicable. A slider bar is used to set the dip so that no typing is required. Plunge/plunge direction
can be entered on an optional input form as well as other attributes such as thickness, infill/alteration,
texture etc. The structural feature input as per this method, including the two-point polyline, has now
also been built into the GeoTools module.

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 Figure 6: Structural data input form

Rock types/lithologies are entered by tracing polylines along the design centrelines of the drives (and
in some cases along the walls where more detail is required). Essentially this creates a drill hole
along the drive, which can very easily be incorporated directly into lithological models including the
Leapfrog™ Live Field Model currently being developed at Olympic Dam (Taylor et al, in-press). The
simplicity of using a polyline as opposed to polygons ensures that the resolution of data being
captured is appropriate and allows for much easier visualisation and interpretation across multiple
drives and levels. Where applicable, contacts can be drawn as structural features to represent the
known orientation of hard lithology boundaries.
Point observations are primarily used to capture sulfide species and alteration. Other observations
can also be captured such as salt exsolution, water seepage, textures, or structural features where
it is not possible to measure an orientation.
Interpreted extensions of structural measurements across multiple drives may also be captured
underground and are loaded into a separate ‘working’ layer for future reference when doing
interpretation.
On return to surface, some post-processing of data is required to copy dynamic annotations to their
own layer, assign the level and area codes and stamp the data with the date collected and user
information. This takes a couple of minutes to do. Once completed, the workflow is checked back
into MDM and data is immediately available to all stakeholders for interpretation and incorporation
into geological models.
Interpretation of structural measurements is completed on surface, where the extension of structures
beyond each drive and relationships with other mapped, wireframed or logged structures is
determined. Stope-scale structures are converted to wireframes using a script which reads the
dip/dip direction and structure type attributes, for use by geologists, mine planning and geotechnical
engineers in detailed stope evaluations. Mapped structural measurements also feed into the larger-
scale Leapfrog structural model.

Drill Design
The entire diamond drilling process from exploration targeting and detailed planning to scheduling is
fully integrated through Deswik. Concept drill strings (polylines representing the planned drill hole
trace) are created for exploration targets or stope infill areas and attributed with a unique concept
fan ID and drill hole ID through a process map in CAD. Once scheduled, the drill strings are attributed
with planned start and finish dates and loaded into MDM where they are visible to all stakeholders
and available for 3D animation along with mine plans. This system allows transparency, easy
visualisation and ability to create forward-looking drill spacing models.
Several months prior to the planned drilling start date, mine geologists create detailed drill designs,
or Authorisations to Drill (ATDs) using the concept drill strings as a guide. The unique concept fan
ID is listed in the schedule and strings are loaded by the mine geologist to be carefully optimised to

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suit the target, existing drill coverage, other planned drill holes, development and drill platform
requirements.
The MDM workflow configuration includes all the required reference data, the template containing
the drill plan layouts and the required process map used to attribute the drill strings. Physical
attributes such as dip, azimuth, hole length and collar location shown on the drill plan are linked
directly to the drill string entities in the model space, eliminating the possibility for manual data entry
errors. The plan and section view plane definitions define the reference layers, filters and legends
for the images on the drill plan (e.g. survey strings, geological wireframe slices, planned stopes,
drive annotations and refuge chambers).
Once the process map is completed and a draft drill plan prepared, the workflow is checked into
MDM and progresses to a peer-review stage prior to being digitally approved. The approval of each
historic workflow is available in the workflow history in MDM for auditability. All current workflows
requiring peer-review are also visible through MDM.

Scheduling
The Deswik drilling schedule uses the Deswik.IS™ (Interactive Scheduler) module which links the
Gantt chart-based schedule with the 3D model space. This is an incredibly powerful tool for drill hole
scheduling, allowing visualisation of drilling targets in 3D along with other geological and mining
data. When drill holes are selected in the Deswik.Sched™ Gantt chart, they can be shown or
selected in the CAD model space and vice versa.
Tasks are created in the schedule from concept drill strings using the ‘Create Tunnels’ function. Once
in the schedule, derived tasks (azimuth changes and rig moves) and dependencies (e.g. linking hole-
to-hole on each fan and fan-to-fan on each drill program) are automatically created using set rules.
Fans are assigned to specific rigs and manually scheduled where the path of the rig is known (up to
12 months ahead). Beyond that, resource levelling is used to auto-assign rigs to drill programs based
on set priorities and constraint dates.
The ‘Maximum Concurrent Resources’ function in Deswik.Sched™ is used to define the number of
rigs allowed to work in each area, drill platform or drive at one time (e.g. due to ventilation, power,
or drill cuddy constraints).
Resource levelling allows different scenarios to be run for the longer-term drill plan based on the
number of rigs, rig availability, task rates, constraint dates etc.
One of the biggest advantages of having planned drill holes available in MDM is that new holes
created by geologists can be easily identified and imported directly to the drilling schedule. Planned
holes are attributed through the ATD process with the concept fan ID that was used to create them.
An automatic process identifies them for inclusion in the drill hole schedule using their unique fan ID
and drill hole ID and the old concept fans are replaced with the new optimised holes. This keeps the
schedule up-to-date and ensures that geologists, drill coordinators and drill contractors are all
referring to the same drill hole information and fan IDs.
Nightly batch processing updates the current depth attributes and status on the planned drill holes
in MDM from the acQuire™ drill hole database which is updated through e-plods. In turn, the
schedule reads the depths from MDM and is updated through Deswik.IS™ using the ‘Update Tunnel
Face Positions’ function for all current holes. This allows up-to-date tracking of drill hole progress,
allowing better planning and scheduling of future drill sites and fans.
The schedule is exported regularly directly from Deswik.Sched™ for incorporation into a Spotfire™
Compliance to Plan (C2P) dashboard.

Stope evaluation
When a stope is added or modified, it is interrogated against the block model and flagged using an
attribute for geology assessment to determine if drill spacing is adequate. Mine geologists then use
a workflow to check out the required stopes, perform an assessment and check back in with the
updated geology attributes. If drilling is required, the scheduled drilling is checked and the stope is
attributed with the relevant concept fan ID.

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Batch processing
Batch processing is a powerful tool which allows workflows and processes to be automated through
a server or a computer on the network.
Workflows through MDM can be created, progressed or completed without user input using tools
provided as part of the software installation. External process maps can be created and configured
to perform automated functions on the data once a workflow is checked out. Just as a user would
click through the steps in a normal process map in CAD, the External process map runs through a
series of functions but without user input. Any required document settings must be defined in the in
the template and/or External process map. It is possible to use the embedded macro functions to
perform customised tasks, such as reading in data from external files or looping through certain
design entities.
It is anticipated that many more use cases will become apparent in the future. Currently, the following
workflows are performed nightly:
Bulk exports of data from MDM for use in other software packages. During the export, it is
possible to specify a transformation if data is required in a different grid system.
Check-out of all approved planned drill holes to update the status and current depth from the
drillhole database in acQuire™. Once a hole is commenced or completed, the planned hole
is attributed and coloured accordingly. This allows easy visualisation of current and remaining
planned drill holes and automatic updating of the drill hole status and completion percentage
in the schedule.
Nightly interrogation of approved development against the block model, for assigning
development grade.
Other possible applications of batch processing for geology include:
Automated import of block model inputs and related wireframes into MDM (e.g. grade shells,
resource category wireframes) following block model updates. These files are generally quite
large and take some time to import.
Automated completion of ‘Stage 3’ workflows in MDM. This stage is completed following
peer-review / approval of data and usually involves a simple status or layer change.

OUTCOMES
The following specific outcomes have been achieved.

Underground geological mapping

Greatly increased accuracy and quality control of structural data measurements since
orientations are correctly measured in 3D space at the time of creation.
Manual re-work and the risk of transcription errors are eliminated.
Geological information is available in 3D underground allowing targeted mapping and
validation of existing models and interpretations.
Ability to standardise attributes data for all geological products, from point observations
mapped underground to ‘published’ wireframes, leading to a highly transparent, quality range
of products. Moreover, the ability to query and filter attributes and visualise data in 3D allows
more efficient and effective geological interpretation and zones of geotechnical interest to be
easily identified.
Up-to-date information to achieve safe mapping underground including hazard zones,
ventilation, barricades and refuge chamber locations.
Captured data is available immediately to anyone with MDM access once workflows are
finalised enabling strong collaboration between teams.

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Diamond drilling and scheduling
Increased transparency in MDM for current and future drill holes allows greater team
collaboration and better planning and decision-making.
Resource levelling allows the ability to easily run different scenarios for the longer-term drill
plan based on different strategic plans for mining or resource conversion.
Having concept drill strings available in 3D allows easy visualisation and communication of
drill targets.
Ability to animate the drill plan along with the mine plan in 3D assists with highlighting any
potential interactions and allows better forward-planning of drill sites.

Integration with Mine Planning

Geological products are published in a central location ensuring up-to-date interpretations
are used by all stakeholders including geotechnical, mine planning and mine design
engineers.
Standardised stope evaluation processes ensure drilling required for stopes is communicated
and scheduled with sufficient lead time to production dates.

Batch processing
Repetitive tasks are automated, reducing processing time while improving data quality and
repeatability and allowing more time for geologists to focus on high-value adding work.

CONCLUSIONS
Standardising geological data and products in a unified 3D platform has proven significantly valuable
to promoting stakeholder engagement, enabling greater transparency and collaboration between
planning teams and increased ability to communicate geological and geotechnical risk and
opportunity.
The Olympic Dam mine geology transformation journey resulted in significant recurring cost savings
to the business through an estimated time saving of four full-time equivalent geologists, allowing
reprioritisation of time with a stronger focus on high value-adding geological work including
interpretation, analysis, modelling and strategic planning. Moreover, the revised systems and
processes are underpinned by the Olympic Dam mining geology value chain, promoting data capture
at the appropriate scale and resolution required to build quality 3D geological models.
The Mine Geology team is now working towards the first fully integrated, live 3D geological model of
Olympic Dam (Taylor et al (in-press) – in this volume).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to thank the management of BHP Olympic Dam for permission to publish this
paper. Many geologists have contributed to the evolution of the geological understanding of the
deposit and its geological setting; they are acknowledged.
Steve Belohlawek is acknowledged for leading the Deswik transition at Olympic Dam and providing
immense support and guidance to the geology team throughout the process. Steve’s endless
passion and pursuit for technical excellence and standardised workflows were essential to the
resultant success of this journey.
The MDM Team led by Alex Hatt (Yang Zhu, Will Cook, Yifei (Faye) Xu and Michael Sustar) for their
dedication in setting up and maintaining the MDM configuration and providing tremendous support
for teams across the entire site.
The Mine Geology team for their persistence and resilience during the period of rapid, dynamic
change to all systems and processes and providing feedback to drive continuous improvement.
Michelle Smith (Senior Database Geologist) for setting up the tools required for integration of
planned holes with acQuire™ and advice on workflow logic.

Mining Geology 2019 / Perth, WA, 25-26 November 2019 407

The Scheduling team (Glen Elliot, Phil Conway, Sylvia Yang, Liam Alford and Mark Lucas) for input
and guidance with development of the interactive diamond drill schedule.
Ryan O’Donnell for his work on setting up the Spotfire™ C2P dashboard.
Numerous Deswik staff for their timely responses to support tickets, especially Nick Anderson, Monte
Hague and Ben Williams for assistance and discussions throughout various aspects of the Deswik
transformation.

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