Mining & Mineral Exploration
Mineral Resource Estimation
A programme in estimating mineral resources from drilling data, at two levels. The foundation level covers the estimation chain: data validation, geological interpretation and domaining, compositing, statistical analysis, variography, the block model, kriging, validation and classification. The advanced level covers change of support, recoverable resources, conditional simulation and reconciliation with production.
Overview
About the programme
Duration
Two levels, basic and advanced, 5 days each
Delivery
Training venue · At the organisation's premises
Language
Arabic or English
Objectives
Training outcomes
- Validate the drilling database and evaluate the quality assurance and quality control programme: certified reference materials, blanks and duplicates.
- Build estimation domains from the geological interpretation, composite the samples and treat high grades.
- Calculate and model variograms, and set search parameters through kriging neighbourhood analysis.
- Build the block model, estimate grades by ordinary kriging and inverse distance, and validate the model.
- Classify resources into confidence categories and report them at a cut-off grade with grade-tonnage curves.
- Apply conditional simulation and recoverable resource methods and quantify uncertainty at the advanced level.
Content
What the programme covers
Basic level: 5 days
- The drilling database, its validation, and quality assurance and quality control.
- Bulk density and how it is measured.
- Geological interpretation and building 3D domains and surfaces.
- Compositing, exploratory data analysis and high-grade treatment.
- Variography and kriging neighbourhood analysis.
- The block model and estimation by ordinary kriging and inverse distance.
- Validation: visual comparison, swath plots and global means.
- Classification, reporting and grade-tonnage curves.
Advanced level: 5 days
- Change of support and the effect of the selective mining unit size on recovered tonnage and grade.
- Multiple indicator kriging and uniform conditioning.
- Conditional simulation by sequential Gaussian simulation, and quantifying uncertainty.
- Using simulation in resource classification and risk assessment.
- Reconciliation of the model with production, and reviewing estimates prepared by others.
Who it is for
Target audience
Geologists, mining engineers, mine geologists and resource analysts, and exploration geologists moving into resource estimation.
Method
Delivery method
Computer exercises on a complete drilling data set at each level, following every step of the estimate. The programme can run on the estimation software available to the organisation and on its own data, by agreement before delivery. Delivered in Arabic or English.
Questions
FAQ
How does it differ from Geostatistical Concepts and Interpolation Methods?
The geostatistics programme is general to the geosciences and covers variograms and kriging for mapping. This programme is specific to mineral deposits and covers the whole estimation chain: drilling data quality assurance, domaining, the block model, classification and reporting.
Is the foundation level required before the advanced level?
Yes, or equivalent practical experience in building block models and estimating by kriging.
Can we use our own data?
Yes, by agreement on the data and estimation software before delivery, with attention to data confidentiality within the group of participants.
A programme tailored to your organisation
The duration and topics of the programme are adjusted to the organisation's needs, and it is delivered at its site, in a training hall arranged by the Center, or virtually.