22/11/2019

Geometallurgical block model based on

mineralogical-textural assemblages (MTA)
and geological fragmentation units (GFU)
M.Sc. Samuel Canchaya
General Manager SAMPLING OK SAC-Perú
University Professor at the: Univ. Nac. Ingeniería y Pontificia Univ. Católica Perú

Geometallurgical Block Model

(GMBM)

The Geometallurgical Block Model (GMBM) can be implemented in two ways:

1. Identifying and systematically analyzing the critical geometallurgical
variables and representing them into a block model
2. Carrying out a systematic geometallurgical logging of diamond drill
cores, identifying runs with different Mineralogical-Textural Assemblages
(MTA) and Geological Fragmentation Units (GFU), previously defined for
each ore deposit.

On Procemin-GEOMET 2017, the author presented and described option 1.

This paper contains guidelines for the realization of option 2, including a real
example.

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Flow sheet of the general procedure

3 cm

Au variogram GMBM
3 cm

MTA
0.2 m.
definition Geometallur- Geometallurg.
gical characteriz.
logging

“Cluster Analysis” GFU

Probabilistic Dendogram definition
characterization 2 m.

3 cm

General procedure

1. Statistical and geostatistical characterization of the data.

2. Multivariate statistical analysis (cluster analysis) to define
geochemical clusters (dendograms).
3. Correlation between geochemical clusters and the main
mineralogical and textural assemblages of the deposit.
4. Definition and selection of the most representative and
critical MTAs and GFUs.
5. Geometallurgical logging, meter by meter, recognizing
MTAs and GFUs throughout all diamond drill cores
belonging to the defined exploitation domain.
6. Geometallurgical modelling, which consists of assigning
the corresponding MTAs and GFUs to each estimation
block.

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Application example:
GMBM of HS Au epithermal deposit
 This procedure was developed successfully in a high
sulphidation epithermal gold deposit, located in the
southern extreme Andean zone of Peru. The modelled
domain corresponds to the production cut of the open
pit between years 2019 to 2023.
 The geometallurgical logging done corresponds to a
total of 14,838 meters of diamond drill cores.
 Nineteen MTAs were determined and composites of
about 100 kilos of the nine most important MTA types
were processed in cyanidation columns (2mX0.2 m) in
order to obtain the optimal metallurgical parameters
for gold extraction in each case.

rt DENDOGRAM
Dendrograma DDH-PQ - Checocollo
Fe-Sb-salt
-195.04Au rt
qzII-MX FeHOXs rt
S°
S°

rt
rt py
-96.70 FeHOXs
Similitud

rt
AURIFEROUS

EARLY-
1.65 CHALCOPHILIC
OXYPHILIC LITHOPHILIC
SULPHO
-SALTS

100.00
/t m N m m m % m m m ) ) ) ) ) m ) ) ) % % ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
_g pp pm pp p p pp Fe_ pp pp p p pm pm pm pm pmpp p m pm pmAl_ Na_ pp mppmppmp pmppmpp mppmppmppmppmpp mppmppmppmppmp pmppmppmppmppmp pmppm
Au g_ _p Bi_ Sb_ As _ Se_ T e_ Cu_ ( pn ( pn ( po (p i ( p n_ a ( pb ( pb (p ( r( ( ( r( ( ( ( ( ( ( r( ( ( ( ( i( f( r( ( ( (
H Ag W Z S C N MB R P Ce P La Nd S Th Eu Sm G d Dy Y E Ho Lu Tm Yb T H Z U Nb Ta
bhm bhm Elementos qz

bhm aln
qz
zir

aln qzII-MX
binheimita

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MTA Type Sub-type Au in Mineralogical-Textural Assemblages

Fe-HOXs M MX
f MX F FRs
M MX
j jar MX
F FRs
MTA-1 MORTAR
M MX
h hhm MX
F FRs
M MX
s Silica MX
F FRs
2 BX with RELICTIC SULFIDES
3 BX with EXPOSED SULFIDES
4 COMPETENT
5 VUGGY SILICA
6 SUB-COMPETENT
t Tufisitic
INCOM- a Sandy
MTA-7
PETENT g Gravel
o Others
8 OTHERS

Systematic geometallurgical
logging

Systematic register
(meter by meter) of:
MTA, GFU, density,
RQD, PLT, etc.

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Model scope: “cut” 2019-23

2019-21

2021-23

Geometallurgical Block Model of

Mineralogical-Textural Assemblages (MTA)

Blocks: 7.5 x 7.5 x 10 m

10

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Modelling geological fragmentation

units (GFU)
Similarly, seventeen different types of geological
fragmentation units (GFU) were defined.
 This definition is mainly based on: mechanic
competence, fracture type and fracture density,
texture, alteration type, point load test (PLT),
Rock quality designation (RQD), density, etc.
Considering GFUs will allow blasting optimization,
since currently: blasting mesh, charge types and
ignition relative times can be varied in every blast
hole, in such a way that fragmentation will be
optimized.

UGFs TYPE Sub-TYPE RQD r PLT Range

Geological Fragmentation
H H H High
Fe-HOXs Units (GFUs)
f M M M Medium
MX
L L L Low
H H H High
j jar MX M M M Medium
L L L Low
GFU-1 MORTAR
H H H High
h hhm MX M M M Medium
L L L Low
H H H High
s Silica MX M M M Medium
L L L Low
BX with RELICTIC SULFIDES
GFU-2/3 Same categories
BX with EXPOSED SULFIDES
COMPETENT
GFU-4/5 Same categories
VUGGY SILICA
GFU-6 SUB-COMPETENT Same categories
t Tuphysitic

INCOM- a Sandy
GFU-7 Same categories
PETENT g Gravel
o Others
GFU-8 OTHERS

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Geometallurgical Block Model of Geological

Fragmentation Units (GFUs)

Blocks: 7.5 x 7.5 x 10 m

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Intelligent Blasting
“Comminution begins with Blasting”

Best choice of
UGFs components and
their proportions

Blasting tests to optimize blasting parameters

Different blasting grids
depending on country
rock characteristics

Shahuindo (high sulfidation Au deposit in Cajamarca-Perú) is a pioneering

example of a project where blasting has been optimized, avoiding crushing
procedures. Cerro Verde has a specialized Fragmentation Area

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rt
MTA 1f
Au
rt
rt
GFU 1f
cz-II-MX

rt

2 cm

cz–II P3
P6
P5 C
HOXsFe B

P4
cz–II
hhm

MTA 2
GFU2
2 cm

py

py

rt

py

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MTA 3
GFU 3 py

py

2 cm

2 cm

HOXsFe

B
MTA 5
GFU 5 cv
cv

ats/rt
ats/rt
qz-II qz-II

cz-II
2 cm

A
B

goe
cz-II-
MX

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MTA 6
GFU 6
2 cm

qz-m

Fe-HOXs

qz-m

MTA 7a/GFU 7a
OXs-Fe

2 cm

czII

czII
OXs-Fe

czII

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Main economic benefits of MGBM

Blasting optimization Greater efficiency of shovels
and truckers loading Better mine planning
Big savings in Crushing

Blending optimization

Maximum economic
Optimal ore-waste
metal extraction
selection with lower cost

Heterogeneity

[5996] [6067] [5338]

[5306]

[5361]
[5284] [6076]

[5394]
[5390]
[5998]

[6004]
[6175]

[6007] [6011]

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Muestreo y QA/QC & Geoestadística & Geometalurgia

& Análisis Instrumental

www.sampling-ok.com
samplingok@gmail.com; canmoysa@gmail.com

Un agradecimiento especial para el “staff” de SOK: M. Zulueta, L. M.

Terrones, L. Dávila, M. Morales, A. Valdivia, K. Gómez, A. Pretell, B.
Grados, etc.; que realizó un notable trabajo de equipo, que es el ejemplo
que se presenta en este “paper”.

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