Live Stream: K-MINE Geology - New Stratified Block Model Review

My name is Anya, I'm a Business Development Manager at K-MINE. Today we have a different stream than usual. Previously, we showed high-level features of our models and use cases. If you're interested, feel free to check out our LinkedIn page and YouTube channel where we posted recordings of all the previous streams.

Today we're going to show you a specific feature that we're releasing inside of our Geology module in a couple of weeks. We're talking about stratified block model creation, or seam block model creation - different companies call it differently.

We have a special guest today - Pierre-Jean Lafleur, an independent consultant based in Canada, and Tatiana Nistenko, Senior Geologist at K-MINE, who will answer your questions at the end of the stream.

During over 25 years of operations, K-MINE has created various models for open pit and underground mining. The modular structure allows us to be available for any size of business, plus this way we can offer flexibility and opportunities for unlimited scale for each module. We aim to automate all processes as much as possible with our flexible scripting tools and our own graphic core.

Currently we cover open pit and underground mining with our 12 modules and customized add-ons. The existing functionality of the Geology module includes core exploration, wireframing, block modeling, and geostatistics - making it one of the most powerful solutions in our product.

When a user works with the Geology module, they go through several stages: creating a database, statistical analysis, interpretation of geological data, 3D modeling, and resources and reserves estimation.

Our system includes several classic and 3D methods to calculate reserves, including the nearest area method (Thiessen polygon method), geological blocks, vertical sections, statistical and geostatistical methods.

Any successful mine development starts with a reliable mineral resource estimation. The key factors that contribute to accuracy include relevant and high-quality data, competent geological interpretation, appropriate methodology for data interpretation, and adequate representation of deposit geometry, grade distribution, and its density.

When it comes to deposits that consist of multiple layers, like coal, the creation of a viable geological model is often so time-consuming that without the necessary tools, this process might take weeks if not months. This is especially true if you first need to create a wireframe model for each layer, and if the deposit consists of multiple coal layers, seam correlation requires a clear understanding of the data on plans, in sections, and in 3D.

To provide maximum convenience and efficiency when working with models of layered deposits, K-MINE created a new block model type - the seam block model. Unlike a regular block model, the size of blocks by the height (Z-axis) is variable. You can build and quickly update such block models with new operational exploration data on the go, which is why this method is so useful.

The main step in the seam block model creation process is to prepare a database correctly and assimilate the marker horizon and tectonic structure of the deposit.

First, we create a complete reference table based on the existing geological database. We input the chronological sequence of seams and, if required, we can index individual interlayers during the process of seam splitting.

Then we add interlayer intervals of enclosing rocks to our reference table. Each interlayer must have its own unique code, so when we add intervals we use a suffix or prefix in the name for overlying or underlying layers.

The filling-up process always starts with the collar table. When you click "Add Record," an ID is created automatically. For example, a new drill hole with ID 555 appears, and when we go to the detail table (survey and assay tables), the record appears with a connection between the primary table and unique number of intervals by ID.

You can also add data from properties of graphical objects directly to the database - for example, selecting point objects from technological samples. You set correspondence between fields in the database and properties of the objects (X, Y, Z coordinates) and add new rows for assay data such as ash content.

Data can also be imported from Excel files by selecting the required database in the connection list, then migrating collar, survey, and assay tables by dragging files to the field area and connecting Excel columns with database columns.

Users can sort and filter data in the database using drop-down lists or custom filters. You can filter data by depth range - in the object position field you indicate the location of created objects relative to the boundaries of the specified depth range, with options like top, middle, and bottom.

After setting the processing type and destination columns, object marks are created from the database containing the mark values of the seam roof or floor. Then you open the Layer Editor and select point objects to create a seam floor wireframe.

The new block shape is a prism with four points on the perimeter and one in the center at the base - 10 points plus a center point, giving 11 vertices total. Compared to the traditional cube-shaped block model that existed before in K-MINE, this block type helps visualize seam morphology with high precision. This is comparable to the HARP model approach used by other software in the market.

Once all layers of the mineral deposit and enclosing rock contour layers are defined, you need to set the marker surface where the seam model will be automatically created. Intervals of marker horizon intersections in the geological database serve as source data.

The seam sequence of the future model can be registered in two ways: creating the rock reference table when uploading data into the database, or changing the sequence of strata when creating the block model by dragging layers to the sequence field and saving it to the filter. This is convenient when you get new interlayers from new data.

To limit the construction area, you need to create a solid. For deposits with a simple tectonic structure, a technological boundary or license contour serves as the construction boundary. For deposits with plicative and disjunctive tectonic dislocations, faulting zones and topography wireframes serve as block boundaries.

Block solids and marker wireframes can be saved in the filter for later use. Each marker surface is automatically saved in the Layer Editor to the corresponding sub-layer with tectonic block number, and covers the entire simulated area.

The marker surface is usually taken as a seam with relatively similar geological structure and maximum variability - meaning it has the largest number of intersections along the drill holes.

When creating a seam block model, you specify block sizes by X and Y axes, as well as the minimum block size by Z-axis. Block sizes by Z-axis will range depending on the seam intersection thickness of each particular layer.

If you specify the minimum height as 0.5 meters, but one of the drill holes shows a coal bench thickness of only 0.3 meters, you may find a fault wash on the block model section. That's why it's important to analyze data areas before building a block model.

K-MINE automatically adds the "OX" suffix to all blocks located above the specified oxidation surface. The application also takes into consideration the daylight surface set by the wireframe. If necessary, you can cut model blocks with leaching zones, sanitary protection zones, and safety pillar surfaces by adding corresponding named zones.

If the deposit has tectonic dislocations, the marker surface should be created separately for each tectonic block. Before creating a block model with complex tectonic structure, you need to create boundaries for each tectonic block and perform interpolation data analysis of elevation marks within the wireframe of each block.

For rare exploration networks or when operational data is needed, additional points can be used: seam roof or floor intersections in underground workings, excavator bucket measurements, bench sketches, lines of seam elongation to daylight surface, and seam floor isolines in plan.

You can create geological sections in any direction with real-time section visualization by the block model, including dynamic line shifting of the section by orthogonal planes.

The seam block model functionality helps create models of horizontal and shallow-dipping deposits fast and correctly, even when complicated by tectonic dislocations. The simulation can be used not only on seam deposits but also for narrow vein deposits.

Users can display individual coal seams or block distributions by grade, fault zones, or leaching zones with advanced visualization functionality.

On the seam block model, you can get reports on area, volume, tonnage, average cut-off grades, and thicknesses. The calculation functionality allows you to visualize required deposit sections and individual seams for calculation using property-based tasks.

In this example, the deposit has a complex geological structure - a centroclinal fold with a flank slope angle from 10 to 60 degrees. The structure is divided by faults into separate blocks with fault shifting spans up to 150-200 meters, and a rock shear zone up to 100 meters wide.

The lithological composition is typical for coal-bearing sedimentations - alterations of sandstones, carbon-bearing rocks, and coals. There are over 15 productive coal seams on the sections alternating with enclosing rocks.

In K-MINE, users can add physical and mechanical properties of rocks into the database for calculating rock mass stability. Pit wall stability depends on lithological composition, degree of fracturing, rock jointing, water-bearing conditions, rock slope angles, and weakened zones caused by disjunctive faults and weathering zones.

You can calculate volume, tonnage of specified sections, and average content of indicators. Reports can be exported to PDF, Excel, XML, or CSV formats. During content interpolation, you can limit the number of core samples and drill holes, specify the number of core samples or drill holes for each block calculation, and limit the extrapolation radius for searching core samples in peripheral zones of the model.

Reserves and resources can be recalculated with quality parameters including minimum seam thickness, maximum permissible overburden rock thickness, ash content, plasticity properties, and weathering depth.

As with all K-MINE models, you can transfer geological model data to other modules - surveying, scheduling, open pit design, and stability analysis - along with print-ready graphic documentation with customizable templates.

The problem is that the geological model is very demanding, and block modeling is not really designed to model geology. The block model approach was created to help mine planning. In the case of stratified deposits, narrow veins, or thin beds like coal, a regular grid block model often has only a part of the block intersected by a seam, or blocks large enough to contain two different seams.

Determining the right block size is complicated. Even if you can manage it with a standard 3D block model, the representation of the shape is difficult. A combination of wireframes that are as detailed as what K-MINE showed, together with a block model useful for mine planning, is difficult to achieve - clients are often not satisfied with the end result because of shape accuracy issues.

You can do one or the other, but very rarely both at the same time - a shape that's visually attractive and accurate from a geological point of view, and at the same time useful for mine planning and scheduling with proper tonnage and grade information.

Every software tries to resolve this problem using different approaches. My experience is that K-MINE is highly productive - it increases productivity many folds. The integration of the seam model in the block model with their methodology is very interesting. It probably matches what the market is expecting.

Complex scenarios like thrust faults with seam repetitions remain challenging in most software. Leapfrog is one of the best for managing geological shapes, but it has no tools for mine planning. So there's always something lagging somewhere.

K-MINE's approach combines shape and volume - the information is useful for mine planning directly in scheduling. It provides a good representation of geology, and the productivity gains are significant. The whole philosophy behind K-MINE is to provide tools that deliver quick solutions.

A quick solution in K-MINE does not mean the software is easy to use. If you have a good piece of software, you need a very experienced and serious user who will learn it, because K-MINE provides solutions more advanced than software that doesn't require that level of expertise.

The integration that K-MINE has across its software package is unique and very important. K-MINE covers a lot of ground - for example, it has a module for ventilation, which other companies have debated adding. The ability to work across geology, mine planning, ventilation, and infrastructure without jumping between applications saves significant time.

However, the weakness of integration is ensuring individual modules are as powerful as standalone alternatives. K-MINE is well-positioned with this new seam block model tool and their general approach. Productivity is what it's all about - a chain is never stronger than the weakest link, so integration must spread effort across all modules.

Q: Is K-MINE able to do both explicit and implicit modeling?

We currently have explicit modeling. Implicit modeling is in the development stage. The seam block model is constructed using the inverse distance weighted method, and the cubic block model is created based on explicit modeling. If anyone is interested in trying the implicit modeling feature while it's in development, please message us.

Q: Is it possible to use a simple database such as Excel or Access with K-MINE?

Yes, you can import Excel documents directly into the K-MINE database.

Q: How is the quality of the plotting using the print processing integrated in K-MINE?

Using the print processing integrated in K-MINE, you can create any format of templates for printing.

Q: Is there a way to link a local Access database to K-MINE, or can I import an Excel file containing my data?

There is no direct connection with Access databases. It is possible to import data from tables, though it's necessary to maintain a certain structure of the database including reference tables.

Q: Is K-MINE eligible for open source coding?

No, K-MINE is not open source software. It is not possible to contribute to the codebase externally.

If you're interested in trying the stratified block model functionality, please contact us at hello@kmine.com.