Problem for Kriging Estimation

500 mN

There are 4 drillholes of x1, x2, x3, and x4 which located randomly in the middle of regular
grid where the grid spacing is 100100 m (see figure). Those drillholes were derived from
exploration of primary Au deposit. The Au grades for each known points are: z(x1) = 10
ppm, z(x2) = 20 ppm, z(x3) = 5 ppm, and z(x4) = 15 ppm. If the variogram model for Au
grades distribution is Spherical Model with range = 200 m, nugget variance (C0) = 5 ppm2,
and sill (C) = 25 ppm2, then:

400

x4

300

x3
V
?

200

x2

100

x1

100

200

300

400

500 mE

1. Please estimate the Au grade for Block V or z(V)* by using Ordinary Block Kriging,
by assuming the searching radius for estimation is 250 m from the central of Block V!
The average variogram between data points and estimated block are:
x1 ,V 25 ppm2

x3 ,V 20 ppm2

x2 ,V 30 ppm2

x4 ,V 30 ppm2

2. Please calculate kriging variance from the estimation result! The average variogram
within block is: V ,V 15 ppm2
. Also calculate the relative standard deviation of
estimation (error) on Block V! Note: relative to the estimated grade in Block V.
3. Please compare the estimated grade of Au in Block V by using conventional estimation
methods such as IDS and NNP with searching radius of estimation is 250 m from the
central of Block V!
4. Please compare the result of block kriging estimation by using Ordinary Point Kriging
to estimate the point located in the central of Block V (named x0)! Please also calculate
its kriging variance and relative standard deviation!

Solution for Kriging Estimation

Variogram model for Spherical with nested structure of: nugget effect (C0) = 5 ppm2, sill
(C) = 25 ppm2, range (a) = 200 m, the formula is:
3 h h 3
(h ) C 0 C
3 for h a
2a 2a

C 0 C for h a
0 for h 0

Then the data used for estimation are only z(x1), z(x2), and z(x3) due to the constraint on
searching neighborhood 250 m, consequently the z(x4) is not used for estimation.
n

i1

i1

Estimator formula: z(V)* i zx i for block kriging or z(x 0 )* i zx i for point kriging

1. Ordinary Block Kriging System:

. x , x x , V
n

i1

1
i1

We could expand the formula above as follow:

1 x 1 , x 1 2 x 1 , x 2 3 x 1 , x 3 x 1 , V

(1)

1 x 2 , x 1 2 x 2 , x 2 3 x 2 , x 3 x 2 , V

(2)

1 x 3 , x 1 2 x 3 , x 2 3 x 3 , x 3 x 3 , V

(3)

(4)

0 1

Our task is to find 1, 2, 3, Z(V)*, and . To solve the equation we need to calculate the
variogram between point to point using the formula and condition in item (a) above.
The distance x1 to x2 = x2 to x1 = 316.23 m or h > a, so (xi, xj) = C0 + C
The distance x1 to x3 = x3 to x1 = 223.61 m or h > a, so (xi, xj) = C0 + C
The distance x2 to x3 = x3 to x2 = 223.61 m or h > a, so (xi, xj) = C0 + C

Then the solution is:

1 0 2 30 3 30 25

(1)

130 2 0 3 30 30

(2)

130 2 30 3 0 20

(3)

(4)

0 1

Subtracting (2) from (1) then:

301 - 302 = 5
1 = 0.167 + 2

(5)

Subtracting (2) from (3) then:

-302 + 303 = 10
3 = 0.333 + 2

(6)

Substituting (5) and (6) to (4) then:

0.167 + 2 + 2 + 0.333 + 2 = 1
32 = 0.5
2 = 0.167
1 = 0.167 + 0.167 = 0.334
3 = 1 - 1 - 2 = 0.499
Finally: z(V)* = 1.z(x1) + 2.z(x2) + 3.z(x3)
= (0.334 10) + (0.167 20) + (0.499 5)
= 9.175 ppm Au

1. Kriging Variance is given as:

Block kriging variance:
n

V, V i . x i , V
2
K

i1

To solve the equation, we need to calculate , Lagrange multiplier from the kriging system
in item (b):
(1): 302 303 25 then = 5.02
2 = -15 + 5.02 + (0.334 25) + (0.167 30) + (0.499 20)
= 13.36 ppm2
To calculate relative error or relative kriging standard deviation in block V:

(V )* 13.36 3.65 ppm

(V ) *relative

(V ) *
z (V ) *

100%

3.65
100% 39.84 %
9.175

2. Estimation in V or x0 using NNP (Nearest Neighborhood Point) and IDS (Inverse

Distance Square):
NNP z(V)* = z(x0)* = z(x3) = 5 ppm Au
IDS z(V)* = z(x0)* = [(z(x1) / (hx1-x0)2) + (z(x2) / (hx2-x0)2) + (z(x3) / (hx3-x0)2)] /
[1 / (hx1-x0)2) + (1 / (hx2-x0)2) + (1 / (hx3-x0)2)]
= [(10 / (141.42)2) + (20 / (200)2) + (5 / (100)2)] /
[(1 / (141.42)2) + (1 / (200)2) + (1 / (100)2)
= 8.57 ppm Au

3. Ordinary Point Kriging System:

. x , x x , x
n

i1

1
i1

We could expand the formula above as follow:

1 x 1 , x 1 2 x 1 , x 2 3 x 1 , x 3 x 1 , x 0

(1)

1 x 2 , x 1 2 x 2 , x 2 3 x 2 , x 3 x 2 , x 0

(2)

1 x 3 , x 1 2 x 3 , x 2 3 x 3 , x 3 x 3 , x 0

(3)

(4)

0 1

Our task is to find 1, 2, 3, Z(x0)*, and . To solve the equation we need to calculate the
variogram between point to point using the formula and condition in item (a) above. So the
solution is:

1 0 2 30 3 30 27.10

(1)

130 2 0 3 30 30

(2)

130 2 30 3 0 22.19

(3)

(4)

0 1

Subtracting (2) from (1) then:

301 - 302 = 2.9
1 = 0.097 + 2

(5)

Subtracting (2) from (3) then:

-302 + 303 = 7.81
3 = 0.260 + 2

(6)

Substituting (5) and (6) to (4) then:

0.097 + 2 + 2 + 0.260 + 2 = 1
32 = 0.643
2 = 0.214
1 = 0.097 + 0.214 = 0.311
3 = 1 - 1 - 2 = 1 0.311 0.214 = 0.475
Finally: z(x0)* = 1.z(x1) + 2.z(x2) + 3.z(x3)
= (0.311 10) + (0.214 20) + (0.475 5)

= 9.765 ppm Au
Point kriging variance:
n

K2 i . x i , x 0
i1

To solve the equation, we need to calculate , Lagrange multiplier from the kriging system
in item (b):
(1): 302 303 27.10 then = 6.43
2(x0)* = 6.43 + (0.311 27.10) + (0.214 30) + (0.475 22.19)
= 31.82 ppm2
To calculate relative error or relative kriging standard deviation in point x0:

( x0 )* 31.82 5.64 ppm

( x0 ) *relative

( x0 ) *
z ( x0 ) *

100%

5.64
100% 57.77 %
9.765

Conclusion:
1. Estimated value of point kriging > block kriging > IDS > NNP
2. Estimated value of block kriging IDS
3. Standard deviation of error of block kriging < point kriging