Mining Drilling Logic

Hi, kalai,

Can you post any examples (or a link to any?). Could be you can do a 3d representation with the Excel chart wizard.

Hi, John,

These are few co-ordinates related to assay datas, offcourse the assay details of the elements do exist.this is just an example of the 2d co-ordinates.Hope this gives an idea on what exactly i am refering to.

Cheers!!

Kalai

You could try Fracman. I'd be interested to hear if it's or relevance/use to your question.

There are a number of what are called 'mine modelling' or deposit modelling' programs out there.

The most expensive is gemcom, there is also borsurv.

www.gemcomsoftware.com/

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/JohnDavis/geobasys.htm

These are costly dongle protected programs. A lesser one is called rockware.

www.rockware.com/

They all look good but, as you say, a bit pricey. For a straightforward visual on 3D data for planes, it should be quite possible to write a simple program. It could crunch the numbers to give intersections/averages/output plots that look like a hemispherical projection etc. I'm not clued up on deposit modelling, but maybe some sort of self-build programme is possible ?

To "see" 3D you need the elevation, orientation, dip, and depth of the holes in addition to the collar coordinates. If elevation data is not available, estimate elevations off a topo map. From this data you can plot the x, y, and z coordinates of your assay data.

The low-tech solution is to plot the data on paper or mylar sections and plans.

The data can also be displayed as a 3d graph with assays as data point lables.

Better is to display in 3D drafting package such as AutoCAD. Sample intervals can be input as 3D Polyline segments with the assay values as attributes.

There are also any number of programs specifically designed to handle drilling data and seismic information.

If you already have a GIS program, the data can be entered and displayed as regular 3d points and lines with the assays as annotations.

Hi, kakai,

I had a play with Excel - and couldn't get much of a sensible 3d representation (having used your easting & northing data as X & Y, & added dummy Z data). Don't know if anyone else has tried this?

Don't know if you're 'up on' programming, but I'd be inclined to follow the suggestion Kris made in #6, and use a DIY approach. I know that re-inventing the wheel isn't always good use of time or resources, but you'd have to balance up how much it would cost to buy a 'wheel' compared with what you could do yourself.

Sorry I can't be more help.

John

For some quick and dirty 3D at a relatively reasonable price, check out PSIPlot from Poly Software. You can make up XYZ files and it will produce 3D surfaces and contour plots. Does a nice job. You can use Excel to prepare files and import those straight into PSIPlot, or do it all in PSIPlot.

Having done this sorta thing before, I realize that there is a key element you have left out. Each boring has a depth and an elevation at the top of the hole. That is your z value. Now, to obtain the correct elvevation is a little tricky but not complicated. Once a rock layer has been established, simply subtract depth from the top of the boring.