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Introduccion Minesight1 PDF
Introduccion Minesight1 PDF
for Geologists
Workbook
E004
Rev. B
Table of Contents
Page TOC-1
Table of Contents
Page TOC-2
Notes:
The objective of this workbook is to provide hands on training and experience with
the MineSight Operations software package. This workbook does not cover all the
capabilites of MineSight, but concentrates on typical mine geologists duties using a
given set of data.
Page Intro-1
Notes:
Select - highlight a menu list item, move the mouse over the menu item and click the
mouse.
Questions or Comments?
Note: if you have any questions or comments regarding this training documentation,
please contact the Mintec Documentation Specialist at (520) 795-3891 or via e-mail at
market@mintec.com.
Page Intro-2
MineSight Overview
MineSight Overview
Notes:
Learning Objectives
When you have completed this section, you will know:
A. The basic structure and organization of MineSight.
B. The capabilities of each MineSight module.
C. Ways to run MineSight programs.
What Is MineSight?
MineSight is a comprehensive software package for the mining industry containing
tools used for resource evaluation and analysis, mine modeling, mine planning and
design, and reserves estimation and reporting. MineSight has been designed to take raw
data from a standard source (drillholes, underground samples, blastholes, etc.) and
extend the information to the point where a production schedule is derived. The data
and operations on the data can be broken down into the following logical groups.
Digitized Data Operations
Digitized data is utilized in the evaluation of a project in many ways. It can be used to
define geologic information in section or plan, to define topography contours, to define
structural information, mine designs and other information that is important to evaluate
the ore body. Digitized data is used or derived in virtually every phase of a project from
drillhole data through production scheduling. Any digitized data can be triangulated and
viewed as a 3-D surface in MineSight.
Drillhole Data Operations
A variety of drillhole data can be stored in MineSight, including assays, lithology and
geology codes, quality parameters for coal, collar information (coordinates and hole
orientation), and down-the-hole survey data. Value and consistency checks can be
performed on the data before it is loaded into MineSight. After the data has been stored
in the system, it can be listed, updated, geostatistically and statistically analyzed, plotted
in plan or section and viewed in 3-D. Assay data can then be passed on to the next
logical section of MineSight which is compositing.
Compositing Operations
Composites are calculated by benches (for most base metal mines) or mineral seams
(for coal mines) to show the commodity of interest on a mining basis. Composites can
be either generated in MineSight or generated outside the system and imported.
Composite data can be listed, updated, geostatistically and statistically analyzed, plotted
in plan or section and viewed in 3-D. Composite data is passed on to the next phase of
MineSight, ore body modeling.
Modeling Operations
Within MineSight, deposits can be represented by a computer model of one of two
types. A 3-D block model (3DBM) is generally used to model base metal deposits, such
as porphyry copper or other non-layered deposits. A gridded seam model (GSM) is used
for layered deposits, such as coal or oil sands. In both models, the horizontal
components of a deposit are divided into blocks that are usually related to a production
unit. In a 3DBM, the deposit is also divided horizontally into benches, whereas in a
Part#: E004 Rev B
Page 1-1
MineSight Overview
Notes:
Page 1-2
Calculation and reporting of production for each period, including mill production
by ore type, mill head grades and waste
MineSight Overview
Notes:
Page 1-3
MINESIGHT OVERVIEW
Flow of Tasks
for a Standard
Mine Evaluation
Project
PCF
Drillhole Assays
Composites
Digitized Data
Mine Model
Digitize
Load
Edit
List
Dump
Plot
3-D Viewing
Pit Designs
Planning &
Scheduling
Page 1-4
Initialize
Update
List
Enter
Scan
Load
Edit
List
Dump
Rotate
Add Geology
Statistics
Variograms
Plot Collars
Plot Sections
Special Calculations
3-D Viewing and Interpretation
Load
Edit
List
Dump
Add Geology
Add Topography
Statistics
Variograms
Variogram Validation
Plot Sections
Plot Plans
Special Calculations
Sort
3-D Viewing and Interpretation
Initialize
Interpolate
Add Geology
Add topography
List
Edit
Statistics
Reserves
Special Calculations
Plot Sections
Plot Plans
Contour Plots
Sort
3-D Viewing & Solids Construction
Creat Pit Optimization Model
Run Pit Optimization
Pit Optimization Reserves
Pit Optimization Plots
Run Pit Design
Pit Design Reserves
Pit Design Plots
Reserves
3-D Views
Long Range
Short Range
MineSight Capacities
Drillholes
No limit to the number of drillholes; only limited by the total number of assays
in the system
MineSight Overview
Notes:
Composites
524,285 assay intervals per file
8,189 composites per drillhole
99 items per composite interval
Multiple composite files allowed (usually one is all that is required)
Geologic Model
3-D block model limit of 1000 columns, 1000 rows and 400 benches
Gridded seam model limit of 1000 columns, 1000 rows and 200 seams
99 items per block
Multiple model files allowed (usually one is all that is required)
Digitized Point Data
4,000 planes per file - either plan or section
20,000 features (digitized line segments) per plane
100,000 points per plane
99 features with the same code per plane and a unique sequence number
Multiple files allowed
Pit Optimization (Floating cone/Lerchs-Grossman programs)
600 row by 600 column equivalent (rows * columns < 360000)
Multiple files are allowed
Reserves
20 material classes
20 cutoff grades for each material class
10 metal grades
Multiple reserves files allowed
Slice Files for Interactive Planning and Scheduling
2,000,000 blocks containing one item (the number of blocks allowed drops as
the number of items per block rises)
Unlimited benches and sections
30 items per block
Page 1-5
MineSight Overview
Notes:
Page 1-6
Notes:
Learning Objectives
When you have completed this section, you will know:
A. The minimum data requirements for MineSight project initialization
B. How to initialize a MineSight PCF
C. How to initialize a MineSight Compass project
The MineSight PCF
To work with a Project in MineSight Compass, it is first necessary to have both a
Project Control File (PCF) and a MineSight Compass Project (*.prj file). A MineSight
Compass Project can be created from an existing PCF. If the project you're initializing
already has a PCF, you can run MineSight Compass from within the MineSight 3-D
interface, but if you do not yet have a PCF, you should run MineSight Compass as a
standalone program first to create it. To initialize a MineSight PCF, it is necessary that
you have determined the following project parameters:
the minimum and maximum values for easting, northing and elevation
To start MineSight Compass, run the program mscompass.exe from the winexe
directory, using a shortcut or from a command prompt; the splash screen allows you to
specify the project directory in which you want to create the MineSight Compass
project. If no project exists in this folder, the following message is displayed.
Page 2-1
Notes:
<Select OK, and MineSight Compass will start, displaying the MineSight Compass
interface, but with the tabs and windows grayed out. Select the File I New I PCF (if
there is neither a PCF nor a project) or New I Project (if there is already a PCF)>.
Page 2-2
Notes:
The second and final panel of the procedure accepts the minimum and maximum
Easting, Northing, and Elevation, along with the associated model block size in each
direction. Once this procedure is complete, the PCF is created in your project directory.
Page 2-3
Notes:
Page 2-4
Notes:
Learning Objective
When you have completed this section, you will know how to:
Navigation of the Project File Editor is through the menu, but several of the most
commonly used functions are also available through icons below the menu bar.
Page 3 -1
Notes:
Delete File
icon
To create a Project File other than File 11, <select File I New from the menu, or
click the New File icon, then select the desired Project File type from the popup list>.
In the example shown below, we are opting to initialize a new File 12, which stores the
DH collar information; a new File 12 should be created for each DH data set, and the
same File 12 can be used for both File 11 assay files and File 9 composite files.
Although the default File 12 items are adequate for most projects, it is possible to add
additional items to this collar data file such as Drillhole type or date. Once the items are
filled in, use File I Save or the Save File icon to create the new Project File. At this
point, we have initialized the foundation data files for a new project, so we are now
able to load in some DH data. As additional Project Files are required, we can create
them in the same way as the File 11 and File 12 were created. At this point, we will
close the MineSight Compass standalone program, and open the MineSight 3-D
interface.
Page 3-2
Notes:
Learning Objective
When you have completed this section, you will know how to:
A. Create a new MineSight 3-D project and import PCF limits.
B. Understand the various icons that appear in the Data Manager window.
C. Organize your project into folders.
D. List the four data types available in MineSight 3-D.
Creating a New MineSight Project
The most convenient method for opening a MineSight 3-D session is to create a
desktop shortcut to the executable. <Click right in an open area on your desktop, and
select New I Shortcut from the popup menu>. Use the Browse option to locate the
executable file ms3d.exe; this program will be found on the \winexe directory, either on
the root of your local machine, or on a network drive. You can also specify a Start in
directory and create a separate shortcut for each project directory you require, but its
often easier to select the appropriate directory from the startup screen. Once youve
created the shortcut, <double-click to start MineSight 3-D>.
The first screen to appear is the opening screen of MineSight 3-D; using the pulldown
window, you can select from the 15 most recently accessed project folders. If there is
not yet an existing MineSight 3-D Project, use the Browse button to locate the project
directory.
The first time MineSight 3-D is started in a specific project folder, the following
Page 4-1
Notes:
This creates a folder under the project folder called _msresources; all objects created
in your MineSight 3-D project are stored in subfolders of this project resource folder.
The next screen that appears allows you to set your new MineSight 3-D Project limits,
either through keyboard entry or by directly importing an existing PCF.
Since we have already created a PCF, well use that to create our new MineSight 3-D
Project; click the button Initialize from an existing PCF and select the PCF from the
File Selection Dialog. Note that the Project Limits are updated to the correct values, then
click OK. Now that the MineSight 3-D interface is up, lets examine the main windows
in the interface.
Page 4-2
Notes:
As shown in the illustration, there are three default windows in the MineSight 3-D
interface: the main MineSight window, the MineSight Viewer, and the Data Manager.
In addition, there is a Messenger window that appears with errors, warning or
instructions when appropriate, and a Query window that provides information when
called by the user.
Data Manager
The Data Manager lists all the objects in our MineSight 3-D project. These objects are
organized into folders. This is patterned after Windows NT Explorer. Only folders are
shown in the top half of the Data Manager window; folders and objects are shown in the
bottom half. Some default objects and folders are created when a project is initialized.
Notice that the Data Manager window floats on top of the Viewer. The Data Manager
can be closed so that the entire Viewer can be seen. You can open and close the Data
Manager window with the icon shown below. If the Data Manager is ever obscured by
another dialog, clicking this icon twice will bring it back to the top.
Page 4-3
Notes:
The Volumes and Backup tabs contain setup options for volume calculations and
project resource backup modes.
Page 4-4
Notes:
The two folders created underneath the New Resource Map folder are Items and
Materials. The Items folder will contain the color cutoffs for the various drillhole and
model items; as we have not yet created any color cutoff definitions, this folder is
empty. On project initialization, the Materials folder contains the minimum material
types for a MineSight project. Other material types are created automatically upon data
import, and you can create custom material types as required. No other type of objects
can be treated in either of these two folders.
Folder
Plot Legend
Drillhole View
Title Block
Plot Layout
Geometry Object
Linked Object
Gridset
MineSight Viewer
Model View
These buttons serve as filters. The default is to show all data types, but if you dont
want to see a particular data type listed in the Data Manager, then click on the
corresponding icon and those objects will be filtered out. Click on the icon again to
deactivate the filter.
Folders
Folders are used to organize data. They can be created within MineSight 3-D or from
outside the program. To create a new folder while in MineSight 3-D, <click
<unnamed> in the Data Manager window. Click right, then select New I Folder>.
The new folder will be created in the folder that is highlighted in the Data Manager.
MineSight 3-D will provide default names for all new folders and objects. For this
folder, <replace the default name with Training and click OK>. A new folder called
Training will appear in the Data Manager window. It is also possible to add folders from
outside of MineSight 3-D. To do this, first close down MineSight 3-D by clicking File I
Quit. Click Yes in response to Exit MineSight 3-D? and click No to Save project
map?>.
Now create a new folder in the _msresources directory called Composites. Bring
MineSight 3-D back up. The Composites folder will be shown in the Data Manager
window. This is possible because MineSight 3-D maps the Data Manager each time the
program starts up. The file structure is not kept in memory anywhere.
Page 4-5
Notes:
Page 4-6
Notes:
Learning Objective
Prior to this section, you must have initialized the project. In this section you will
learn:
A. How to import a DXF file with surface topography data.
B. How to manipulate the display properties of the imported data.
C. How to create a triangulated surface from the topography contours.
B. <Highlight folder TOPO, click right and choose Import I DXF File. Select the
file called surftopo.dxf from the file selection dialog>.
Page 5-1
Notes:
Page 5-2
Notes:
n
egr>.
You can also change the color individually for points, polylines, surfaces, and labels
for the same Geometry Object. To do this, you need to select the appropriate color
palette icon from the different tabs available. For example, to display the points in
yellow while showing the topography lines in green, <click the color palette icon under
the Polylines tab (to the right of the Show Nodes option). Select the desired color>.
<Change the Node type to an asterisk or an empty circle, and uncheck (toggle off) the
Show Lines option>. You should only see the yellow nodes. <To add elevation labels
to the nodes, select the Labels tab. Check (toggle on) the Show Node Elevations box.
Change the size to 5 and press the Tab key on your keyboard>.
To show line elevations, first <uncheck the Show Node Elevations box, then check
the Show Line Elevations box. Go back to the Polylines tab and uncheck the Show
Nodes box. Finally check the Show Lines option>. As an exercise, change the line type
to a dashed line in light blue.
Page 5-3
Notes:
Page 5-4
<Close the tri901 object, and save the Resource Map by clicking the Save icon in the
Data Manager. Save the Resource Map as topoloaded, and close all objects.>
Notes:
Page 5-5
Notes:
Page 5-6
Notes:
Learning Objective
When you have completed this section, you will be able to:
A. Import data directly from MineSight VBM files.
B. Change the properties of this data, such as display color.
C. View the data in MineSight 3-D .
Import VBMs
Create a new folder by <highlighting <unnamed>, clicking right and choosing New
I Folder. Name the folder Rock and click OK>. Create a folder within Rock called WE-Rock. To import the VBMs, <highlight folder W-E-Rock, click right and select
Import I VBM file. Select msop10.dat as the PCF and msop25.we as the VBM file>.
The next step is to select which features and which planes to import. This is done in
the VBM Import window, which comes up after you select a VBM file. <On the Planes
tab, click All Planes>. The list of planes on the right side of the window will all become
highlighted. <On the Features tab, highlight 11, 12 and 13. Click Apply, then close the
window>.
Repeat this process to import the alteration VBMs. <Create a new folder under
<unnamed> called Alteration. Create a folder within Alteration called W-EAlteration. Import Feature codes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of file msop25.we into folder W-E
Alteration. Select All planes>.
VBM Data
In the Data Manager, <click folder W-E-Rock> so that you see what is in the folder.
There should be three Geometry Objects 11, 12, and 13. These were created
automatically when the VBM was imported. The numbers correspond to the feature
code from MineSight and the Material Type. Notice one other object was created in
folder W-E-Rock. This is a Grid Set called msop25.we_gridset. This Grid Set has the
same orientation as the VBM data, and has a grid on each plane containing VBM
features. The grid set is named after the file from which the data was imported.
Similarly, folder W-E-Alteration should have five Geometry Objects; 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
It should also have a Grid Set called msop25.we_gridset. Notice that all the VBM
features are the same color. To change that, <highlight Geometry Objects 11, 12, and
13 in the Data Manager. Click right and click Properties>.
<Click Set Color By Range>. Adjust the slider bars to the part of the spectrum that
you wish to use. <Click OK, then click OK on the Object Properties window>. Do the
same for Geometry Objects 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 in folder W-E-Alteration.
Note: Avoid using red or yellow as the color for any Geometry Objects. Red is the
color of selected data, and therefore has special meaning. Yellow is the color for
highlights.
Page 6-1
Notes:
Page 6-2
Notes:
Learning Objective
When you have completed this section, you will know:
A. How to initialize a MineSight VBM - File 25.
B. How to export data from MineSight 3-D directly into a VBM.
C. How to display/plot VBM data in MineSight 3-D and MineSight Compass.
The first step in this process is to open MineSight Compass. If youre already
working in MineSight 3-D, you can simply open MineSight Compass from the
MineSight menu. If you dont have MineSight 3-D open, you can type the
mscompass.exe command from your working directory (where the PCF - File 10
resides) at a command prompt. This brings up the MineSight Compass dialog; click on
the Project tab, and open the Project File Editor.
<From the menu, select File I New, and choose file type 25 - VBM from the popup
window (you could alternatively click the New File icon)>. This brings up the File 25
initialization dialog, which should be filled out as shown in the following display:
Page 7-1
Notes:
To create the new File 25, simply <save the file, using the Save icon or File I Save
from the project file editor menu>. VBM files can be given extensions that describe the
type of data they contain. Here we use the extension .hor to signify topography in a plan
view VBM. <Save the file as msop25.hor>.
Page 7-2
E.
Use the scroll down arrow (to the right of the Material Type field) to change the
Material Type to 901>. Remember, we are associating the new Material Type
901 with the existing Geometry Object 901, which contains what is going to be
our VBM data (VBM code 901).
F.
<To verify that the VBM code 901 is indeed going to be assigned, click the Material
Part #: E004 Rev. B
Notes:
G. Highlight Geometry Object 901, click right and select Export I VBM File.> The
Messages window will display No planes available for EXPORT. <This is because
the data imported from the DXF is 3-D data, and only 2-D data can be exported to
VBM. Select all the polylines in the viewer, and choose Polyline I Convert 3D to
2D. Use the grid set benches to convert the data to 2-D, and repeat the previous
step. Select PCF (msop10.dat) and VBM file (msop25.hor). Click OK.
H. On the Planes tab, click the All Planes button.
Go to the Export tab and click the Append option. Click Apply when done>. You will
receive the following message:
Page 7-3
Notes:
<Minimize your MineSight window and restore the MineSight Compass window>.
Displaying/Plotting VBM data in MineSight Compass and MineSight 3-D
To verify the data was successfully exported to the VBM, we will first use the VBM
Editor to display the data. Then, we will demonstrate the use of one of the MineSight
Compass plotting procedures to create a VBM plot. Finally, well produce a plot of the
VBM data using our Plot Layout in MineSight 3-D.
A. <Go to the Menu tab in MineSight Compass and select 13-VBM as the group you
are going to be working in.
B. In the same tab, select Edit as your Operations option.
C. Click Edit VBM data (p65002.dat). In the first panel, choose the VBM that contains
the data of interest (metr25.hor). Click the Right Arrow to move to the next panel.
On the second panel, the default values will be adequate. Click the Right Arrow
again to execute the program>.
The data exported into the VBM file will look similar to the following picture:
Page 7-4
Notes:
To verify the data received is the correct feature code, <click the Feature Query
button. Then, click any of the features (polylines/polygons) that you see in the graphics
window>. The feature code and plane number of the selected feature, are displayed at
the bottom of the M650ED window.
Plotting VBM data in MineSight Compass
This procedure plots one feature on a range of planes or multiple features on a range
of planes. It is used for pits or topography. Using the procedure outlined below, you will
plot a map of your topography.
Select Group Name = ALL
Operations Type = Plot
Procedure Desc. = Plot VBM Data - p65401.dat
Panel 1 Setup Plot Parameters
<Plot the VBM data using the PCF coordinate limits at a scale of 2000 with a grid
spacing of 500m>.
Panel 2 Extract VBM Data for Plotting
Since we only have topography data (feature code 901) in the VBM file at this time,
<select the option to plot one feature on multiple planes.
Part #: E004 Rev. B
Page 7-5
Notes:
MPLOT Window
<Select Preview/Create Metafile to view the plot on the screen. From the M122
Viewer, click X to Exit and go back to MPLOT Panel. Select Exit to Exit MPLOT
Panel>.
Page 7-6
Notes:
E. Check the box marked Name is the same as material name and select index from
the Material window dropdown list. Click OK.
F. Open the Viewer Properties dialog by double-clicking on Viewer1 in the Data
Manager. On the Grids tab, specify Lines and Labels as the type.
G. Open the Plot Layout and preview your plot>.
Page 7-7
Notes:
Page 7-8
Grid Sets
Grid Sets
Notes:
Learning Objective
When you have completed this section, you will be able to:
A. Change the display properties of a Grid Set.
B. Copy, rename, and remove grids in a Grid Set.
C. Create a non-orthogonal Grid Set, edit it, and change its orientation and size.
Grid Sets
Grid Sets are one of the four main types of data in the Data Manager.
Grid Sets are used:
for stepping through the data by limiting the visibility using Volume Clipping
to slice the data to give strings or markers in a new orientation for interpretation
Page 8-1
Grid Sets
Notes:
Another very useful option on this tab is Rename. This allows you to apply your own
naming convention to the planes in your grid set. For example, <highlight all the planes
in the planes list. Enter N for the Prefix, 4740 for the Start Value and 50 for the
Increment. Click Rename>. The planes list will change to reflect the new names.
Note: when you rename planes, it does not affect their position in space. This requires
the grid be moved, which we will look at later in this section. There is an option called
Use Distances which will add the northing of the plane onto the end of the name.
<Keep all the planes highlighted and click Use Default>. The names of the planes
will go back to the default naming convention. <Close the Object Properties window,
then close the Grid Set>.
Now lets look at how to manually create grid sets. <Highlight <unnamed>, click
right and select New I Folder. Name the folder Grids. Highlight folder Grids, click
right and select New I Grid Set. Name the Grid Set Benches and click OK>.
Page 8-2
Grid Sets
Notes:
Set up the Grid Create window, as shown in the following figure, and then click OK.
This will create a Grid Set with one plane on each bench.
Now <close Grid Set Benches by highlighting it in the Data Manager, clicking right
and selecting Close>. We will use this Grid Set later on in the course.
Exercise
Create another Grid Set in folder Grids called Test. It should be a non-orthogonal
Grid Set with 10 planes spaced 20 meters apart, using non-orthogonal plane interval.
Give it an azimuth of 135 and a dip of -90. We are going to use Grid Set Test to learn
how to move Grid Sets. To do this <highlight Test in the Data Manager window, click
right and select Edit>.
Part #: E004 Rev. B
Page 8-3
Grid Sets
Notes:
At the bottom of the Grid Set Editor window, look at the Rotate About... box. This is
a way to rotate your Grid Set. This option is only available when working with a nonorthogonal Grid Set. The Grid Set can be rotated about the normal or the major or minor
axis. To see the major and minor axes, <check the option at the top of the window to
Show Base and Axes>. The major axis is a solid line and the minor axis is a dotted line.
Once youve chosen an axis of rotation, <enter a rotation angle in the box and click
Apply>. Try rotating the Grid Set a few times.
Another option that is only available to non-orthogonal Grid Sets is setting the
Orientation by specifying an azimuth and dip.
The size of the Grid Set is controlled in the middle of the Grid Set Editor window.
Here you can set the length of the major and minor axes and the cell intervals as well.
Again, to see which are the major and minor axes, <check the option to Show Base and
Axes>. Try changing these parameters and see what happens.
When you change the length of the major and minor axes, the way the change is made
depends on the base point. To see where the base point is <check the option to Show
Base and Axes>. The position of the base point is specified in terms of percentage of the
axes. This is done in the Base Point area of the Grid Set Editor window. To see how the
base point effects the Grid Set, increase the size of the grid; note that the size increases
so that the base point stays in the same position based on the percentages of the axes.
Now adjust the basepoint to 50% of each axis. When this grids size is increased, the
base point position must stay at 50% of each axis. So although we started out with the
same grid in both cases, changing the position of the base point affected how the grid
was enlarged.
There are several ways to change the location of a Grid Set. One is to move the Grid
Page 8-4
Grid Sets
Notes:
Another way to move a Grid Set is with the Snap To button. This gives you six
choices. One is to Snap To-Coordinates. This allows you to enter in x, y, and z
coordinates for the base point. Again, the location of the base point will affect where the
Grid Set is placed. When you are finished experimenting with the properties of Grid Set
Test, close it.
In this next exercise, we will make use of Grid Sets oriented in different directions:
Horizontal, East-West, North-South, and N45E. This will help us visualize our data
from many different angles.
A. From the Data Manager, <highlight <unnamed>. Double click on Viewer 1 to
activate the Properties window of the current viewer>. You can also access the
current Viewer Properties dialog through the Viewer Properties icon.
B. To look at the current displayed data stepping through each plane, we will install
the newly created Grid Set (benches) to this viewer. <Click the Grid Set icon (the
icon showing a green grid, to the right of the option Installed Grid Set). Highlight
the benches file from the browser, and click OK to finish the installation>.
Page 8-5
Grid Sets
Notes:
C.
<Check the Volume Clipping option and change the current plane to Plan 2735.
Step through the planes using the left and right arrows> (shown to the right of
the Plane specification line) as follows:
At this point, we are still visualizing the data in 3-D. The Volume Clipping option
allows us to see the current plane (section), plus/minus half the distance between planes
by default. You can change the volume clipped by clicking the Clipping tab in the
Viewer Properties dialog, and selecting either the Equal or Unequal option, depending
on how you want to limit the amount of data displayed.
Exercise - East-West Sections
We will now create a new a Grid Set oriented East-West, and visualize the data in 2-D
and 3-D with volume clipping. The steps are as follows:
A. <Highlight the folder GRIDS. Click right and select New I Grid Set. Call this
new Grid Set E-W Sections.
B. Select EW as the Plane Orientation, and enter 50 for the number of planes and
plane interval.
C. Highlight <unnamed> in the Data Manager. Click right and select New I Viewer.
Name this viewer EW-Viewer.
D. Double click on the file called EW-Viewer to activate its properties. Go to Installed
Grid Set and click the Grid Set icon. Select E-W Sections and click OK.
E. Click the Volume Clipping option and click OK.
F. Go to the main MineSight window and click the 6th icon from the left, in the second
row of icons>. The function of this icon is to display the data in EW sections, as
you can see in the following display:
Page 8-6
Grid Sets
Notes:
G. <Highlight the Grid Set E-W Sections in the Data Manager, click right, and close
the Grid Set>. This will make the green Grid Set lines invisible, although the Grid
set remains attached to the Viewer.
Multiple Viewers
Now that we have two independent MineSight viewers, we can visualize the data in
the plan and East-West views by doing the following:
A. <Go to the Window menu of the main MineSight window and select Tile Windows.
B. Click anywhere inside the viewer called Viewer 1. Set the viewer Azimuth to 0 and
Dip to -90>. Alternatively, you can click the 5th icon from the left in the second
row of icons in the main MineSight window.
Notice that you can set the Azimuth and Dip of each viewer independently, as well as
their other properties. You can choose to change the viewers background color for
example, or install a different Grid Set to either viewer independently, without affecting
the other.
Page 8-7
Grid Sets
Notes:
The final Grid Set, looking from a plan view, should look like this:
Page 8-8
Grid Sets
Notes:
Now that you have defined the non-orthogonal planes, you can install this new Grid
Set (N45E) in Viewer 1, and step through the different sections. Do this as an exercise,
using Volume Clipping, and changing between 3-D mode and 2-D mode.
Page 8-9
Grid Sets
Notes:
Page 8-10
Notes:
Learning Objective
When you have completed this section, you will know how to:
A. Use some of the most common CAD functions available in MineSight for point/
polyline editing.
B.
C.
D.
Create
Add
Move
Move (locked Z)
Group Move
Adjust Elevation
Delete
Group Delete
Polyline:
Create
Create Planar
Append
Close
Join
Global Combine
Delete Segment
Page 9-1
Notes:
Split / Splice
Clip
Densify
Thin
Fillet
Smooth
Contour Surface
Line
Substring
Exercise
There are three modifications that need to be done to the topography contours
imported in the previous section. Each one of these modifications will require the use of
at least one of the CAD functions mentioned on the previous page.
Preparation of the data
A. In the Data Manager, <select the folder TOPO and highlight tri901. Click right
and select Close>.
B. <Highlight Geometry Object 901, click right and choose Select I All elements.
Click right in the viewer>, and the selected data will be displayed in red.
C. <Click the Viewer Properties icon and install the benches Grid Set. Change the
current plane to 2885 and check (toggle on) the Volume Clipping icon>.
Using the Polyline Close function
You will notice two polylines. The polyline with 449 points needs to be closed. Use
the Query icon to determine which polyline you need to edit.
A. <Go to the Polyline menu in the main MineSight window and select Close. Uncheck
(toggle off) the Entire Selection option in the Polyline Close window. Click the
desired polyline. Click Apply. Click right anywhere in the viewer area to end the
command.
B. Use the query function again to verify the polyline has become a polygon.
C. Save the changes by going to the Selection menu and choosing Save
andContinue.>
Page 9-2
Notes:
Alternatively, you could use the Save and Continue icon:
The final result should look like this:
Page 9-3
Notes:
C. <Click right anywhere on the viewer to end the Join command>. The resulting
polyline now has 172 points. The two original polylines had 78 and 94 points
respectively.
D. Click the Save Selection Edits and Continue icon, and turn off the nodes>.
Page 9-4
Notes:
Next, we need to delete the duplicate polyline; since it is coinciding with part of the
larger polygon and could cause problems in future operations, there is no need for it to
be there.
A. <Go to the Point menu and select Move (locked Z)>. At this stage, we want to
isolate the polyline so we can delete it, without taking a chance of making a
mistake and deleting the wrong polygon.
B. <Click on one of the points of the polyline segment, and drag it down a little.
Click right when done.
C. Now go to the Polyline menu and select the option to Delete Segment. Click the
polyline you wish to delete and click right anywhere on the viewer to end the
Delete Segment command>. Another way to accomplish this is to delete individual
points, using the Delete option under the Point menu.
D. <Go to the Selection menu and choose Save and Continue to save changes>.
Page 9-5
Notes:
Material Types
The material folder contains all materials for the current project. Each material has a
name, VBM Code, Model Code, Survey Code and Survey Type, which controls
triangulation. Every object imported or created in MineSight is assigned a material from
this list, to which materials can also be added.
Material types are important when exporting VBM or survey data, or coding the
model file with a solid. In the case of VBMs, the material code indicates the VBM
feature code associated with the data. In the case of survey data, the material code
indicates the survey code associated with the data. When coding the model file with a
solid, the material type indicates the value to place in the item specified.
Page 9-6
Notes:
Page 9-7
Notes:
Page 9-8
Notes:
Learning Objective
Prior to this section you must have initialized a MineSight project. When you have
completed this section, you will know:
A. The required format for loading DH data into MineSight.
B.
How to use the CONCSA program to convert your data to the required format.
C.
D.
Text Editor
Raw data
DH
data
log
Spreadsheet
Data base
ASCII
Data file
dat201.ia
Program
M201V1
Conversion program
CONCSA
MineSight
Assay File 11
MineSight
Survey File 12
Once the drillhole ASCII file is created, we will use the MineSight Compass interface
to run program M201V1 and load it into MineSight.
Page 10-1
Notes:
Collar line
2.
3.
4.
5.
81-08
81-08
81-08
81-08
81-08
81-08
81-08
81-08
81-08
81-08
81-08
81-08
2936.80
0.00
3.00
6.00
9.00
12.00
15.00
18.00
27.00
31.00
40.00
81-09
81-09
81-09
81-09
81-09
81-09
81-09
81-09
81-09
81-09
81-09
81-09
81-09
81-09
81-09
81-09
81-09
81-09
81-09
81-09
81-09
81-09
81-09
81-09
81-09
81-09
3.00
6.00
9.00
12.00
15.00
18.00
27.00
31.00
40.00
43.00
2429.10
0.00
3.00
6.00
9.00
12.00
15.00
18.00
21.00
24.00
27.00
30.00
33.00
36.00
39.00
42.00
45.00
48.00
51.00
54.00
57.00
60.00
63.00
66.00
69.00
3.00
6.00
9.00
12.00
15.00
18.00
21.00
24.00
27.00
30.00
33.00
36.00
39.00
42.00
45.00
48.00
51.00
54.00
57.00
60.00
63.00
66.00
69.00
72.00
4914.80
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
9.00
4.00
9.00
3.00
4941.50
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
2645.60
0.0600
0.0600
0.0600
0.0700
0.0400
0.0700
0.1900
0.4200
0.3600
0.1900
2660.90
0.0900
0.0900
0.0500
0.0400
0.0900
0.0700
0.1100
0.0600
0.0700
0.1100
0.0900
0.0600
0.0900
0.0700
0.0700
0.0700
0.0600
0.0500
0.2000
0.1600
0.1100
0.0900
0.1100
0.1100
0.00
0.0000
0.0000
0.0440
0.0330
0.0220
0.0330
0.0330
0.0550
0.0330
0.0440
0.00
0.0110
0.0080
0.0110
0.0030
0.0190
0.0030
0.0030
0.0030
0.0030
0.0030
0.0030
0.0030
0.0030
0.0030
0.0030
0.0030
0.0030
0.0030
0.0030
0.0080
0.0030
0.0030
0.0030
0.0030
-90.00
43.00
1.0000
1.0000
1.0000
1.0000
1.0000
1.0000
1.0000
1.0000
1.0000
1.0000
-90.00
3.0000
3.0000
3.0000
3.0000
3.0000
3.0000
3.0000
3.0000
3.0000
3.0000
198.00
2.0000
2.0000
2.0000
2.0000
2.0000
2.0000
2.0000
2.0000
2.0000
2.0000
2.0000
2.0000
2.0000
2.0000
2.0000
2.0000
2.0000
2.0000
2.0000
2.0000
2.0000
2.0000
2.0000
2.0000
5.0000
5.0000
5.0000
5.0000
5.0000
5.0000
5.0000
5.0000
5.0000
5.0000
5.0000
5.0000
5.0000
5.0000
5.0000
5.0000
5.0000
5.0000
5.0000
5.0000
5.0000
5.0000
5.0000
5.0000
1. Collar Line
This is the standard information for the collar line. If your data is in another format,
please contact Mintec Technical Support for assistance.
Page 10-2
Notes:
The only difference between a survey and a collar line is that FROM, TO, and
LENGTH are entered instead of XC, YC and ZC. The exact same columns must be used
for both the collar data and the survey data lines. The successive survey intervals must
be continuous down the drillhole. The entire length of the drillhole should be covered
by survey intervals, even if there is no assay data for a given survey interval.
3. End of Surveys Line
Enter the DH-IDENT on this line. The remainder of the line is blank.
4. Assay Interval Lines
The data on the assay interval lines can be in any order and any format as long as the
DH-IDENT is first.
Page 10-3
Notes:
Item -AI- is optional. If it is not present in the ASCII file it will be calculated as the
difference between -TO- and FROM and stored in file 11. Items DH-IDENT, FROM,
and -TO- must be entered. Other items can be assay values, ratios, physical or
engineering parameters, geologic codes, lease codes, etc. Extra items can be specified
which are not part of the data to be stored in File 11. These extra items will be ignored
when data for each assay interval is stored in the MineSight data file.
Missing values are specified by entering data that is less than the minimum value for
the item, i.e., if the minimum value for Cu is 0.0, use -1.0 to specify a missing value.
Items that are specified in the MineSight data file, but are not input with M201V1,
will be treated as undefined values (-2). Geology codes can also be entered with
M201V1, or can be added later with M205V1.
5. Blank Line
Enter a blank line to end input, followed by a new collar line for the next drillhole.
CONCSA
Included with MineSight is a drillhole data conversion program called CONCSA.
This program will take a collar data file, a downhole survey data file, assay interval data
file, and up to four optional geologic interval data files, and merge all the information
into one file in the format required for the MineSight M201V1 program. In your project
directory you will find the following four files:
Lets use the program CONCSA to merge the information from these four files into
one file called DAT201.IA. Then, in the next section of this workbook, file DAT201.IA
will be used to load the drillhole data into MineSight. <In the MineSight Compass
interface, click on the Menu tab>. This Compass tab gives you access to a variety of
menu display and editing options, which your instructor will explore with you. The
procedure concsa.dat (Convert Collar, Survey, Assay Files) is found within Group 1Assays, and is a Data Convert operation. <Click on the procedure name in the menu,>
and the first panel will appear.
Panel 1 - INFORMATION FROM THE INPUT COLLAR FILE
This panel prompts you for the name of the file containing the collar location data,
along with the location of specific data in this file. The default input format is free field,
but a specific format can be specified if necessary. The column number refers to the
actual column number in the file, for example, the first column of data is column 1, the
second column of data is column 2, etc..
Page 10-4
Notes:
Page 10-5
Notes:
4. Precision - A numeric value whose magnitude specifies the least significant digit
to be maintained for the item. If a grade is significant to 1/1000th of a percent, then
Precision = 0.001. If precision is not explicitly specified, it is set to 1.0 by the
default. A precision of 1.0 indicates whole number precision.
5. Roundoff - Roundoff (automatically calculated) = Precision / 2.0 - 0.0001.
Alphanumeric strings are used for items such as drillhole labels and geologic codes.
These items must be assigned:
a Min. value of 0
a Max. value of 0
a Precision of -1.
The value or length of an alphanumeric item cannot exceed four characters. If you
need more than four characters for a string, you will have to define two or more items.
Alphanumeric items are restricted in use to plotting and listings with certain programs.
Initialize Files 11 and 12
The first two files usually used in MineSight are File 11, which contains the drillhole
assay data, and File 12, which contains the collar and downhole survey data. Before
these files can be used, they must be initialized, or set up with the items they will
contain. Well use the MineSight Compass project file editor to perform this task, so
<click on the Project tab in the MineSight Compass interface, and open the project file
editor with the file folder icon>. The project file editor will appear, and by default is set
up to create a new MineSight assay File 11. The required items are filled in with default
values, so change these values if appropriate for your data set. It is also necessary to
define any additional grade or code items that will be required for your project. The
illustration below shows the items and parameters used in the Mintec sample project; if
youre using different data, the desired items and associated parameters should be
entered instead.
Page 10-6
Notes:
Once the item names and definition parameters have been entered, create the file by
saving it; <click File I Save or simply click the diskette icon to bring up the file save
window. Enter a filename, using the project file naming convention;> in this case, the
filename structure is XXXX11.YYY, where XXXX is the 2 - 4 character project ID, and
YYY is the file extension.
Once the assay file is saved, its also necessary to create a survey File 12; <click File
I New or the new file icon, and select file type 12 - Survey from the dropdown list>. For
a basic project, it is not necessary to add any items to the file 12, since all of required
items are defaulted to adequate values. It is possible to add extra items to the survey file,
such as date, driller, drillhole type, etc. If desired, these extra items and their associated
parameters should be added to the project file editor prior to saving the File 12. Once
the File 11 and 12 have been created, the item names and parameters can be reviewed at
any time by opening the desired file in the project file editor dialog.
Checking the ASCII Drillhole File Prior to Loading
It is always a good idea to check your data for errors prior to loading it into
MineSight Files 11 and 12 . We have provided an option in our drillhole data loading
program (M201V1) that allows the user to first check the data for errors prior to loading
it. We will run this program twice; first, to check for errors, and second, to load the data
if no errors were found.
On the Menu tab in MineSight Compass, <select the group 1 - Assays and filter by
the Data Convert operation. Select the procedure Load ASCII DH Data (p20101.dat),
which runs the M201V1 program to load the ASCII data file into Files 11 and 12>.
Panel 1 - ASCII DRILLHOLE INPUT DATA FILE INFORMATION PANEL
This panel prompts you for the filename of your ASCII input file (dat201.ia in this
case), and provides an opportunity to select an input data format. The default input
format is a free field, so we can leave the rest of this panel blank.
Page 10-7
Notes:
When you close this window, the report file will be displayed, as shown below, giving
a more detailed description that includes the number of intervals loaded, collar
coordinates, and other information regarding the data to be loaded. Check the report file
carefully, and if necessary, correct any reported errors in the data file prior to actually
loading the data to the assay and survey files.
Once you have checked your data, run the procedure again, unchecking the box
marked Check Data Only (Do Not Store?) so the data will be loaded to the Files 11
and 12. We will check the data for correct loading in the next section.
Page 10-8
Notes:
Page 10-9
Notes:
Page 10-10
Importing in acQuire
Importing in acQuire
Learning Objective
When you have completed this section, you will know how to:
A.
B.
C.
Import Assays
D.
Export Results
Introduction
acQuire is a database interface which addresses problems associated with gathering, maintaining and using mining and
exploration data. It removes much of the cost and effort associated with storing data in a central repository while
retaining the advantages that this entails.
acQuire is designed to support the management and ownership of mining and exploration data. It does this by:
Providing a relational data model suitable for all mining and exploration data. The key advantages of this approach
are:
a) when you use a data model the database structure remains constant; and
b) validation is built-in to the underlying data model ensuring only valid source data is entered in your database.
Maintaining a single, valid data set. The problem of original data being overwritten by worked versions of the
same dataset is eliminated.
Reducing the loss of ancillary information. Related information such as results from check assays, tenement, grid
and drilling rig information can be stored with the primary data.
Enhanced reporting - including cross project reports. Many data processing systems are purpose built and hence
have reporting functionality specific to the application. Also, many data processors are project specific; collating
information across projects becomes difficult.
Enhancing data integrity in the long term. The use of a data model implies sustainable data integrity. Traditionally
the reliability of the data has been a function of the DBAs tenure.
Page 11-1
Importing in acQuire
Main
Menu
Form
Object icon
Import Object
icon
Workspace
Page 11-2
Importing in acQuire
ProjectCode=Merlot.
All forms that are opened when workspace filter is applied will have only data that is related to ProjectCode=Merlot.
The Workspace filters name should give you some indication of its function (they are defined and named by the
user). They can be applied when required.
Hole filter - Once a workspace filter has been applied, it is possible to apply a hole filter - all forms that are opened will
only have information about the selected HoleID.
Automatic requery can be set (Tools, Options, Workspace) so that forms that are open will automatically refresh as
the hole filter is changed.
Data Flow
The general data flow is in the following order:
1.
Import Drilling Information. You have received the latest diamond drilling data from site and you want to enter it
into acQuire.
2.
Create Sample Numbers. You want to create some sample names for the diamond holes, in readiness for the
analytical results.
3.
Importing Assays. The analytical results have arrived and you want to enter them into acQuire.
4.
Exporting Results. You want to export all the geochemical data that you have in your database into a spreadsheet.
2.
Use the import object or template to insert the source file into the database.
3.
To start:
1.
2.
Click onto the Collar import object in the Merlot folder. Right-click and select Open or double click very quickly to
open the object. Note that the Import Object may have many pages; the Collar Import Object here has two (Johnson
Rig and Merlot RC).
Page 11-3
Importing in acQuire
An import object is a manipulator of information between a source file (the collected data to be entered into the
database) and the database.In route, from the source to the database, an expression can be applied to the data to
change/check it. You can see the Collar import object (as with all import objects) has a:
Source - First row, which defines the fields from the Source file.
Expression - Second row, which defines the Expression that will be applied to the data in the source file before
it is imported.
Destination - Third row, which defines the field in the database that will receive the data.
4.
The Expression (an Excel-type query) can range in complexity. In the example, in column B, the ProjectCode is
set as a constant - Merlot. In column F, 50 is added to each of the East values.
5.
It is possible to construct very complex expressions. For example, you could test if in one of the columns in the
source file is NULL; if it is, do not enter any other data from that row. Another Expression could concatenate the
HoleID and the From to generate a series of unique sample numbers and so on.
You may like to see some more information about the type of expressions that you can apply. Go to Help,
Help acQuire, Index, expression, in an import object. At the bottom of the list of expressions there are
some good examples.
6.
Now all you need to do is to execute the function. <Right-click outside the grid area, and select Execute or select
Import I Execute on the main menu.>
7.
The Import - Execute dialog will open. We will be only using one of the sheets on the import object - Johnson rig.
Because there can be many sheets in an import object, it is possible to have numerous source files importing data
to numerous tables within the database in on one Execute. Each sheet can either be an import, an update or a check
to see if the source data is correct.
Page 11-4
Click to Execute
Importing in acQuire
8.
9.
When it is finished you will get a message that Data Import Ran Successfully. To view the data that you have just
imported:
Drillholes = TSD009, TSD011 and TSD012.
You may like to see how the source file is defined. <Outside the grid area of the Collar import object,
right-click and select Import Definition, Source file properties. You need to define the Data format
(comma, tab, space delimited, Micromine and so on) and then browse to the source file.
Once the source file is defined, you need to define the fields of the file. Select the Data section tab. If
the source file is comma delimited it is very easy to define the field names - fill in the Data starts on line
and Field names on line and then click Auto Fill.> Both the source file and the fields within that file
have been defined.
Page 11-5
Importing in acQuire
For files with Field Names defined in the source file, complete
these boxes and click Auto fill
10. In the Workspace tab <go to the Merlot folder and click on Drillholes. Right-click and select Open> and you will
be able to see all the drillholes that belong to the Merlot project (the form Drillholes has been filtered on ProjectCode
= Merlot).
Page 11-6
Importing in acQuire
Select Drillholes
Page 11-7
Importing in acQuire
Create the sample numbers for drillholes that were imported in the Import Drilling Information section.
2.
To start:
1.
<Go to Tools I Create Samples on the main menu.> The first dialog box will open. Here you will apply a filter
(Holes only from Project = Merlot) so that you can efficiently select the appropriate drillholes.
Page 11-8
<Click Next> to move onto the next dialog box - Order Holes.>
3.
Importing in acQuire
<Select the three new drillholes you just imported into the database: Select with the mouse in the left column, then
click the single arrow button to move them to the right column.
TSD009, TSD011 and TSD012.
Click Next> to move onto the next dialog box - Create Samples.
4.
Fill-in/select the following information for your new sample numbers, check or field duplicates and standard:
Page 11-9
Importing in acQuire
Sample Increment: 1
Frequency: 20
Interval Length: 2
No of Standards: 1
Sample Priority: 1
Sample Type: 2m
Frequency: 10
View the data that will be generated, as per our instructions - the Samples, Duplicates and Standards tabs. The data
has not been commited to the database at this stage.
In this exercise, the Create Samples tool has created entries to the Assay (Sample table), CheckAssay (CheckSample
table) and Despatch (DespatchSend table) region of your acQuire Data Model. It is a good idea to view the Model
to understand what has been achieved.
6.
If the information looks correct, <click Commit and the new samples will be entered into the database. Click
Cancel to exit the tool.>
Page 11-10
Importing in acQuire
To view the sample numbers you have entered into the database, <go to the Merlot, Assay folders in the Workspace
tab. Click on the Assay Group2 form. Right-click and select Open.
You will probably not see the new records when you open the form. <Go to Edit, Find (R30702)> to locate the
records in the form.
9.
You may need to sort your data on the two fields at some stage. For example, you might sort first on HoleID and
then on SampFrom.
Summary
You have now created the Sample Numbers and they have been stored in the database. The sample numbers of
TSD009, TSD011 and TSD012 are now ready to be associated with the analytical results (Import Assays).
Importing Assays
The Story So Far
The analytical results for the current diamond drillholes have arrived and you want to enter them into the database.
The Steps Will Be
1.
2.
3.
Page 11-11
Importing in acQuire
To start:
1.
2.
Click onto the SIF File Importing import object in the Merlot, Assay folder. Right-click and select Open or double
click very quickly to open the object.>
The import object consists of a number of sheets. Each sheet is a set of import instructions. You will execute them
all but, for the moment, open Original Sample Assays. This sheet is matching the assay results from the lab (the SIF
file) with the sample numbers that were generated for the drillholes using the Create Samples tool. When the
execution has been completed it will be entered into the database.
<Outside the grid area right-click and select Execute (or Import, Execute on the Main menu). Select Execute
now. When the import has finished you will get a message that Data Import Ran Successfully.> Read the report
to check that the final result was as per the instructions.
Page 11-12
Importing in acQuire
To view the analytical data that you have just imported, go to the Workspace tab and open the Assay Group 1 form
in the Merlot, Assay folder.
6.
You will need to make a cell in the SampleID column active and go to Edit, Find and type in the first SampleID for
the new drillholes.....R30702...to check if the lab data was imported correctly.>
Page 11-13
Importing in acQuire
7.
To make it easier to view your data, you may like to hide the columns that have no data. <To hide columns: first
click on the field name of the columns to hide - hold down the Ctrl key to select a group. Go to Column, Hide
Column.>
Note that you have imported both the numeric and the text information from the source file. The numeric
information resides in fields like Cu_AQ111_ppm (the element name, the suite name and the units all
incorporated in the field name) and the character information is in fields like Cu_AQ111_ppm_dsc. Following
this method of data collection, the original data has not been lost. You will also note that there are no analytical
results for TDS011 or TSD012. Check in the file from the laboratory, LANRN2000.sif - the results were not
sent.
Summary
This completes the process of Importing Assays. You now have analytical results in your database for:
TSD009
Finally, lets look at accessing the data: Exporting Results.
Exporting Results
The Story So Far
You would like to export all your geochemical data into a spreadsheet format file for a report. This Tutorial will
introduce you to some of the features of forms.
The Steps Will Be
1.
2.
To start:
1.
<At the Workspace tab select the form Rock Chips from the Merlot folder.>
In this section you will re-arrange the information to make it more practical. The steps will be:
2.
Freeze a column.
<Click on the field name of SampleID and with the left mouse button depressed, move across all the fields to
highlight them.>
Narrow fields
All fields can be narrowed or widened simultaneously if they are all selected. <Position the cursor over the
intersection of two field names and drag to make all columns wider or narrower. Double-click at the intersection of two
field names to narrow all columns to a minimum width.>
Page 11-14
Importing in acQuire
Page 11-15
Importing in acQuire
As you scroll left or right, the PointEast column has been frozen on the left
PointEast will be positioned to the left of the Form and will appear locked - PointEast will not disappear from view;
it will always be on the left of the form.
Move fields
<Highlight the column that you want to move by clicking of the field name. Click again on the field name of the column
and keep the mouse key down.> Your cursor will change into move mode. <With the mouse button depressed, move the
cursor to the new location. Release the mouse and the column will move to that location.>
3.
Export to a spreadsheet format. <While the form is still open, go to File I Export on the main menu. An Export
dialog box will appear. Select the Save in folder and fill in the File name. At Save as type: select Comma Delimited
Files (*.csv). CSV format files can be opened by spreadsheets. Fill in the File name and Save.>
You may like to save the new look of your geochemical data (columns narrower, column frozen and fields moved)
so that next time you select Rock Chip on the Workspace tab it will be opened with the same look and feel..
<Go to File, Save.> The form will be saved as an Acquire Form File (*.qfrm), in the folder that it appears in the
Workspace tab. If you want to save it to another file name or put it into another folder, <go to File, Save As.
Navigate to the folder that you require and define the name of the file.>
This process saves all the settings that you have implemented. It does not actually save the data - it saves the view
of the data. Next time that you open the Geochem96 form the data is retrieved from the database and displayed with
these settings.
Summary
You have now completed the basic acQuire function: Import Drilling Information, Create Sample Numbers, Import
Assays, and Export Results. <To exit acQuire go to File I Exit.>
Page 11-16
Notes:
Prior to this section you must have loaded the drillhole data to MineSight. In this
section, you will list the drillhole surveys and assays in report form. This is not a
required step for later work.
Learning Objective
When you have completed this section, you will know:
The list appears in the report file from the program. BE AWARE that the procedure
List Drillhole Data (p20341.dat) in the MineSight Compass menu system combines
these two programs into one procedure for your convenience. To run the procedure,
<click the Menu tab in MineSight Compass>; the procedure is in the group 1-Assays
and is a Report operation.
Panel 1 - LIST DRILLHOLE ASSAY AND/OR SURVEY DATA
In this panel, select whether to list the survey and/or assay data. You can list both in
the same run. The amount of data, based on the survey records, is also selected here.
The default behavior is to list data from all survey records.
Panel 2 - LIMITS FOR DATA SELECTION
This panel allows you to choose some options to limit the data reported. You can
specify a project with northings and eastings, or you can specify a boundary file,
limiting the data selection to either within or without the boundary.
Panel 3 - LABELS OF DRILLHOLE ITEMS FOR THIS RUN
In this panel, enter up to 30 assay file items in the order you would like them in the
report. The drillhole name will automatically be on the report without you requesting it.
Panel 4 - LABELS OF FILE 12 ITEMS FOR THIS RUN
This panel provides an option to enter collar/survey items to be listed on the assay
report. (Leave this panel blank for now.)
Page 12-1
Notes:
Page 12-2
Notes:
Exercise
Complete the following exercises for practice in producing different kinds of reports.
1. Using the procedure p20341.dat from the menu tab, produce a listing of all assays
with a TOTCU value of 0.30 or greater. Use all survey records, but dont print
collar data in the report.
2. Using the procedure p20341.dat from the menu tab, produce a listing of all sulfide
assays in drillhole SM-020.
Classical Statistics
A wide variety of classical statistics data can be generated in MineSight. Among the
statistical functions available for your use are:
Histograms
Correlations
Page 12-3
Notes:
Some difficulties that are encountered when applying classical statistical principles to
mineral projects include:
Mineral deposit data is generally spatially dependent; this is the main reason for
the development of geostatistics.
Different geologic zones may have different statistical populations, and mixing
data from different zones may produce incorrect analyses.
Different types of samples (e.g., drillhole assays and bulk samples) have different
volumes and should be kept separate for analysis.
Even when analyzing samples of equal size, variations in sample spacing can
skew classical statistics, often inferring unrealistic ore grades due to a higher
number of samples in high-grade areas.
Most of these difficulties can be addressed using geostatistical principles, which are
beyond the scope of this section of the workbook.
Notes:
The procedure produces two report files and a plot file; the first report gives a
tabulation of the number intervals and mean grade, reported by the user-specified
cutoffs. The plot file is a histogram using the parameters specified in the final panel of
the procedure. An example of the report and plot is displayed below.
Report File rpt401.la
Page 12-5
Notes:
Page 12-6
Notes:
Learning Objective
Prior to this section you must have loaded the drillhole data to MineSight. When you
have completed this section, you will know:
How to plot drillhole data in section and plan using MineSight 3-D plot layouts.
Since the DH View requires data from the File 11, it is necessary to first Select the
correct PCF; <click the Select PCF button and choose the appropriate file from the
selection dialog.
Select the correct DH data file (either File 11 or File 9), and the associated file 12 if
applicable. Click OK, then answer NO to the question Do you want to limit the items
available in this DH/BH view?>, bringing up the DH View Properties dialog, as shown
on the next page.
Page 13-1
Notes:
In the Drillhole View Properties Selection tab, <click the Select all button, then click
the Load Selection button at the loser left of the dialog tab>. The drillhole traces will
appear in the MineSight Viewer, and the color cutoffs window for the TOTCU item will
also appear. In the cutoff Intervals dialog, <enter the appropriate minimum, maximum
and increment values (e.g., for TOTCU, an appropriate range would be 0 to 2 with a 0.2
interval). Click OK and the interval bins are created; select the intervals by clicking
right in the list and choosing Select all, then click the Properties button. In the
Properties dialog, select Set color by range and click OK when the spectrum range is
set as desired. Click OK in the Object Properties dialog, then close the Color Cutoff
dialog;> the drillholes will now be displayed in the selected colors.
Now that your DH data is displayed in the MineSight Viewer, take some time to
familiarize yourself with the various display and data manipulation tools available
(azimuth and dip, zoom and pan controls, etc.) and demonstrated by your instructor.
Query and/or Edit Drillhole Data in MineSight 3-D
MineSight 3-D offers you the ability to query drillhole data within the display; a
related option also allows you access to the MineSight File 11 for editing values. To
access the DH data through a simple query, <click the query icon on the menu bar or
choose Tools I Query I Element from the MineSight 3-D menu, then click on an
interval of interest in the MineSight Viewer>. This will bring up the Query Drillhole
View window, which is a spreadsheet-like display of all the intervals in the specific
drillhole you selected, with the individual interval highlighted in yellow in the viewer
and blue in the spreadsheet dialog. Clicking a different interval in the viewer will
highlight that interval in the spreadsheet display, and selecting a different interval in the
spreadsheet will highlight the new interval in the viewer as well.
Page 13-2
Notes:
Page 13-3
Notes:
Page 13-4
Notes:
<Select the ODBC connection to the desired database, and then hit CONNECT.
Supply a user id and password to logon to the database.> For clients using Access
2000/MSDE, a user id of sa and a blank password may be required.
It will take a few seconds to make the connection. Once made, the dialog will show
Connected to.... There will be 7 tabs on the dialog.
Part #: E004 Rev. B
Page 14-1
Notes:
Select Holes
<Select this tab to select qualifying drillholes:
Select a Collar Form Definition.> Once selected, the available fields list will be
populated with all the fields from the selected form definition.
Applying a Filter
You will want to apply a filter so only the holes you are interested in will be retrieved
from the database. The more holes selected the longer the retrieval (and any subsequent
refreshes) will take, and the more sluggish the 3-D movements in the viewer.
To apply a filter, <click on the Filter button to bring up the filter dialog::>
At a minimum, you will want to filter by project. You can filter by any field in the
Page 14-2
Notes:
HOLEID LIKE D%
This would find only those drillholes beginning with a D.
If you need to filter on more than one condition, the + on the left side of the dialog
will add another row to the expressions on the right. The X will remove rows. If you
make changes to a filter, and need to apply it, use the triangle at the top left of the
dialog.
Assay Items
<Click on the Assay tab to select the assay items for the DH View.>
The first step is to select an Assay Form Definition. This will then show a list of
Available fields. <Select the fields you want to load by using the arrow buttons in the
middle of the dialog.>
You will likely need to filter. The acQuire data model can accommodate many types
of sample data - Original, composites, RQD and so on. Each type of sample can have
different intervals. To make sure you are getting what you want, you will need to filter
by SAMPLETYPE or PRIORITY. These fields are commonly used to differentiate
between different types of Assay data.
Part #: E004 Rev. B
Page 14-3
Notes:
<Select a Geology Form Definition so you have a list of items to select from.> This
dialog is similar to the preceding one for assays. There are two additional check boxes:
Combine overlapping intervals. This will combine intervals where all the data
is the same, so there is a less cluttered display.
Select only with Primary Code. Checking this on and selecting a Primary Code
will highlight only those fields with this Primary Code in the available fields list.
These can be selected by clicking on the > button.
Page 14-4
Notes:
The next set of options, to be considered with exploration drillhole data, is the desurveying options. These are found in the Survey tab.
There are a number of de-surveying options to calculate the position of the
drillholes in 3-D space. MineSight supports:
Fit Spline - will use a high order polynomial to generate a smooth curve from the
down hole survey points, a de-survey interval is required.
Back Calculation - simply assigns the survey azimuth and dip equidistant above
and below the measurement. This will produce straight line segments.
No Calculation - simply projects the measurement to the depth of the next survey
measurement in straight lines.
A de-survey interval is required when the Spline and Semi-tangent methods are
selected. This breaks the survey intervals down to a common interval used in these
calculations.
There is also an option to Always de-survey with assays to ensure a survey interval
never straddles an assay interval (which would be split by MineSight). Also very long
Part #: E004 Rev. B
Page 14-5
Notes:
Page 14-6
Composite Data
Composite Data
Notes:
Prior to this section, you must have loaded the drillhole data to MineSight. In this
section, you will calculate the drillhole composites. Following this, you can list, edit, or
display the data. You can also generate variograms and move on to mine modeling.
Learning Objective
When you have completed this section, you will know:
A. The definition of composites
B. The types of composites within MineSight
C. How to compute composites
D. How to display/plot composite data in MineSight
Composites
A. Provide a mining basis for modeling
B. Reduce the amount of data used
C. Provide uniform support for geostatistics
Types of Composites
There are three types of composites within MineSight:
A. Bench (with the 3-D model)
B. Seam (with the GSM)
C. Fixed length (for geostatistics)
How Composites Are Calculated
MineSight calculates either a vertical or horizontal composite. Vertical composites
are formed by calculating the average value of all assays between the toe and crest of
each bench. Only the portion of each assay inside the bench will be used. You can
weight the values of the assays to allow for different lengths or densities.
Horizontal composites are formed by breaking the drillhole into uniform lengths and
averaging the assays inside each length.
We need a way to decide if inclined drillholes should be treated as horizontal or
vertical composites. You can specify the angle where the changeover from vertical to
horizontal occurs with PAR4 in M501V1. If you dont enter a value, by default, the
program will calculate a value based on the size of your blocks. Your blocks are DX by
DY by DZ. As the default, we use just the front face (DX by DZ). Any drillhole
shallower than the diagonal on this face will be treated as a horizontal drillhole, and any
drillhole steeper is treated as a vertical drillhole.
The limiting angle decides which compositing method to use; where the limiting
angle is defined as the angle with an ARCTAN (DZ / DX) where DZ = PCF Bench
Height and DX = PCF Horizontal Block Size.
Page 15-1
Composite Data
Notes:
The vertical composite is formed by averaging the assays between the toe and crest
for each drillhole. In the example below, we have made each assay 2m in length and
had assay break at the toe and crest. The 10m bench has an average grade of 0.6.
You may have short composites at the top and bottom of drillholes, and wherever you
Page 15-2
Composite Data
Notes:
Page 15-3
Composite Data
Notes:
Page 15-4
Composite Data
Notes:
In the MineSight Compass Menu tab, under the Group Composites, Operation Data
Convert, choose the procedure p50501.dat (Add Codes to Composites).
Panel 1 - Add Drillhole Geologic Code to Composites
This panel allows you to specify the source of the Geologic codes; the codes can
either be loaded from an ASCII file or directly from a File 11. Check the box labeled
Access existing codes in File 11.
Panel 2 - Add Drillhole Geologic Code to Composites
Select the geologic items in Files 9 and 11 that apply to this run.
Many procedures for composites are similar to the ones we have already used for
assays. The following examples show:
A. Listing composite data
B. Displaying composites in plan
C. Displaying both composites and assays in section
Listing Composite Data
In the MineSight Compass dialog, <click the Menu tab and select the Group 2 Composites and the Operation Report; select the procedure p50301.dat (List Composite
Data)>.
Panel 1 - Labels of Composite Data Items
This panel allows you to enter the items for the report; list the composite items REF#
TOTCU, MOLY, and ZONE. Include EAST, NORTH, ELEV. so you will know the
location of the composite.
Panel 2 Optional Data Selection for Composite List
This panel allows you to select a range of drillholes by their survey record numbers or
by their ID. Since we want to list all composites, well leave this panel blank.
Panel 3 Optional Data Selection for Composite List
This panel allows you to restrict the report to items within a certain range or to omit
those within a range. Again, we want to list all composite intervals, so well accept the
defaults.
Page 15-5
Composite Data
Notes:
Only a portion is displayed of the Report File RPT503.LA. Notice that ZONE has -2
values (for missing) because you have not assigned any values for this item yet.
Composite Data
Notes:
<From the MPLOT Panel Select Preview I Create Metafile to view the plot on the
screen. (From Viewer, Click on X to Exit & go back to MPLOT Panel.) Select Exit to
Exit MPLOT Panel>.
Page 15-7
Composite Data
Notes:
Exercise
Generate composite statistics for those composites that have ROCK = 12. Hint: this
can be done with a change to Panel 1.
Displaying Composite Data in MineSight
We will now show you how to import, and display composite data in MineSight 3-D.
Basically, the process of importing composite data is almost the same as the one you
follow to import assay data. The main difference is this time you will be importing a
MineSight Composite File 9 instead of an Assay File 11.
Lets display our composites in MineSight:
A. Highlight the folder Composites, click right and choose New I DH view I
MineSight. Call the new DH View TOTCU and click OK.
B. Select the PCF (msop10.dat) and click Open.
C. Select the composites file (File 09), along with its corresponding survey file (File
12) as shown in the following illustration; since our composite coordinates are
stored in a survey file, we will make sure this is specified in the second window.
Click OK.
Page 15-8
Composite Data
Notes:
D. Answer No to the question: Do you want to limit the items available in this DH/
BH view?.
E.
Click the Select All button and then Load Selection. You can move or minimize
the Drillhole View Properties window to better see what is displayed on the viewer.
F. Select the Intervals tab and click the Add Label button (+ icon).
G. Under Item Label Style, check the By cutoff coloring option. Change the label
size to 4.
H.
Select the Survey tab. Under the ID Label, check the Show ID in 3D option.
Change the label size to 8. Check the Start of hole position and click Apply>.
Activate the Drillhole View Properties window for TOTCU (Composites) and
select the Intervals tab. Click the Remove label button. Click Apply and then OK.
Step through the planes to see how the composites lie on each plane. If you wish to
plot this information, all you have to do is open the SET1 plot layout, select Print
I Preview, then Printer (or any of the available plotting languages in MineSight)>.
Page 15-9
Composite Data
Notes:
Install the EW-Sections Grid Set. Select 2-D mode by clicking the 2-D mode
button. You should be looking at section North 10700.00 +/- 25 meters.
C. Select the Intervals tab and click on the thick, black line representing the drillhole
line.
D. Click the right arrow in Move Label and click Apply>. What we are doing here, is
to have MineSight display the labels (composite value) on the left side of the
drillhole line.
E. Next, we will <add a strip to the composites display by going to the Strips tab and
then clicking the Add strip button.
F. Change the location of the strips to the left of the drillhole line and change the
interval line color to black. Click Apply and then OK>.
Next, we will open a drillhole TOTCU (Assays) view and display the labels and
histograms on the right hand side.
G. <From the Data Manager, go to the folder Assays and double click the drillhole
view TOTCU>. Notice the drillhole ID is displayed twice, and the assay labels are
a bit too small. We will change this in the Properties window of the Assays TOTCU
drillhole view.
H. <Double click the TOTCU (Assays) drillhole view (from the Data Manager), and
select the Intervals tab. Change the height of the label to 4 and set the 2-D label
offset factor to 0.0.
I. Select the Display tab and uncheck the option to Display Drillhole ID in 2D. Click
Apply.
J. Finally, select the Strips/Histograms tab and change the strip width to 25. Click
Apply and then OK>.
Step through the sections to see how your assays and composites are displayed. To
plot this information, <open your SET1 plot layout, select Print I Preview and choose
the section you wish to plot>.
Page 15-10
Notes:
Assumptions
Prior to this section, a sectional geological interpretation was performed, via a
digitizing table and MineSight, on what is considered the ore zone (cu > 0.2%) in this
deposit. Four EW sections were interpreted, and the resulting polygons were stored in a
VBM file with the EW orientation. This interpretation will ultimately be used to create a
solid body representing the ore zone.
Learning Objective
When you have completed this section you will know how to:
Link the polygons defining the plan interpretation to construct a solid defining
the mineralization zone
Page 16-1
Notes:
geological interpretation was done - in this case, four planes. Double click on the object
1701.vbm_gridset to see these planes.
7. Now <change the properties of the four green polygons by double clicking on
object 1701 (Data Manager). Change the general color to blue and check the Polygon
fill option under the Polylines tab>.
Create a new Geometry Object called orezone inside the folder called
PLANGEOL. Set this object in Edit mode to receive the data to be digitized.
Activate the properties of the viewer and install the Grid Set called Benches. <Click
the 3-D mode button.
Toggle ON the Volume Clipping box and change the current plane to Plan 2675.
On the Clipping tab, set the clipping option to equal a volume of 8 m +/-.
Toggle ON the Snap Edit grid to current plane in the Viewer Properties dialog
box. Select Snap I Plane Snap.>
To make sure you digitize exactly on a point, you need to activate the Point Snap
option under the Snap menu. <Unselect the Point Snap option when digitizing
between points. Select Polyline I Create Planar I Closed Polyline. Start
connecting the intersection points by digitizing on a clockwise direction in the
viewer>.
Page 16-2
If you click left and hold, a yellow line between the last point and the present
Notes:
The coordinates of the cursor position are reported at the bottom of the screen.
Use the Backspace key to delete the last digitized point.
Use Snaps, such as Point Snap or Line Snap, to help place points precisely on
the drillholes.
scalable cursor to project the interpretation out to a certain distance. For instance,
if the spacing between drilling sections is about 150 meters, then we will set the
scalable cursor with a radius of 75 meters to project half the distance between
sections.
Set the scalable cursor by going to Tools I Scalable cursor properties. Enter
the following information:
Horiz. Interval: 25
Horiz. Radius: 75
Vert. Interval: 25
Vert. Radius: 75
Go back to Tools I Show scalable cursor. Take a look at the following picture to
see how the digitized data should look:
Page 16-3
Notes:
From the Data Manager, <highlight the folder PLANGEOL. <Click right> and
select Import I MineSight 3-D Object. Select the file called orezonef.msr>.
The final interpretation should look like this:
Editing Polylines
When editing VBM features it is very important to make sure they remain twodimensional features. We used the Polyline I Create Planar option here, which
ensures this. However, if you use Polyline I Create, then it is very easy to accidentally
move points off the plane. To avoid this, edit VBM features while in 2-D mode.
Page 16-4
In order to edit polylines they must be selected. <Click the Selection icon, then draw
a box around the polyline> you wish to edit. The polyline will turn orange. Then <click
right> in the Viewer. The polyline will turn red. It is now ready to edit. To see the
individual points on the polyline, <click the Selection Nodes> icon.
Notes:
To move points on the polyline, <click Point I Move. Click the point you wish to
move and, without releasing the mouse button, drag the point to the desired location.
Click right> when finished. To add points, <click Point I Add. <Click the polyline>
and, without releasing the mouse button, drag the point to the desired location. Click
right> when finished.
To delete points,< click Point I Delete. Click the point you wish to delete. Click right
when finished>. Polyline I Densify and Smooth can be used to add points to a
polyline. Thin uses a user-specified angle to delete extra points and can also delete
duplicate points.
To edit portions of polylines, use the operations listed under Polyline I Substring.
The Element menu allows the entire polyline to be moved, rotated, scaled, and copied.
Remember to save as you edit. One way to save is with the Unselect icon, as we did
before. Another way is to <click Selection I Save Edits and Continue>. This saves
the edits and keeps the data in active Edit mode.
Undo, Redo, and the History List
In order to facilitate editing, MineSight 3-D has Undo and Redo commands available
from the icon bar. There is also a History List that allows you to access all edits
performed since the most recent Save or Save and Continue. All three of these features
are accessed through icons, and the Undo command is also found under the Selection
menu.
have performed multiple edits since the most recent Save, successive applications of
Undo will step back through the edits one by one.
To undo and unselect at the same time, <click Selection I Cancel Edits>. Again,
this will undo all edits since the last save, and take the data out of active Edit mode.
essentially the same as the Undo command, but steps forward through the list of edits.
In both cases, the Save or Save and Continue will clear the edit list, and neither Undo
nor Redo have any effect.
You can open the History List with its icon. All edits since the most recent Save are
listed, and if you wish to Undo or Redo multiple edits in one step, click on the desired
function, and the edits will be undone to that point, or redone, if they have been
previously undone. When you Save or Save and Continue, the History List is cleared.
Page 16-5
Notes:
Creating a Solid
Now that we have digitized all planes representing the mineralization zone, we are
going to link the polygons and construct a solid representation of the ore zone, but not
before we do a final check of the data we are going to use for creating the solid.
Polyline Check
Set the viewer properties to 3-D mode without clipping. If the polylines are properly
prepared, linking is much easier. It does take some time to prepare the polylines, but
fixing the links takes more time. <Select the polylines by clicking the Selection icon and
drawing a box around the polylines>. They will turn orange. <Click right> in the
Viewer. This will turn the polylines red. They are now in active Edit mode.
Close polylines
First, all the polylines must be closed. If you created the polylines with the Edit
function - Polyline I Create I Closed Polyline, then all of your polylines are
automatically closed. Otherwise, you need to make sure they are closed.
One easy way to see whether the polylines are closed is to change the properties of the
object so that Polygon fill on the Polylines tab is checked. All closed polylines will fill
with color. Any open polylines will look the same as before. To close a polyline, make
sure it is selected then <click Polyline I Close>.
Check Polyline Direction
Next, make sure the polylines were digitized clockwise. To do this, click Polyline I
Redefine Direction. Small blue arrows will appear on the polylines. You can make
these arrows larger by increasing the arrow size in the Redefine window.
The easiest way to make sure all the polylines are clockwise is to <uncheck Reverse
Directions Only in the Redefine window. Then, click Apply to Entire Selection, which
will set the direction of all polygons to clockwise by default. Click right in the viewer to
finish and close the dialog>.
Densify Polylines
Next, we want to be sure the polylines have enough points to link successfully.
Generally, you want a similar number of points on each polyline , with the points evenly
spaced. Since we have already taken care of this step when we used the Smooth option
while digitizing the polylines, it is not necessary to do it over again for this exercise.
However, if you wanted to change the densifying parameters, you could do so by
selecting the Polyline I Densify function and make the appropriate changes there. To
get rid of any possible duplicate, use the Thin operation. <Click Polyline I Thin. In the
Thin Strings window, check Duplicate Points Only and Entire Selection. Click Preview>
to see what is going to change first, and then Apply the changes. <Click right to finish
and close the dialog>.
Check Polyline Endpoints
Finally, we have to make sure all the endpoints are in a similar location on each of the
polylines. This is because the endpoints are the basis for linking. To do this, <select the
menu function Polylines I Redefine I All Endpoints>. If you click anywhere in the
Viewer, the endpoints will move toward the mouse click. Place the endpoints on similar
positions on all the strings. <Click right to finish>. Hint: Zoom out a few times and then
click on any of the four corners inside the viewer to where you want the endpoints to be
aligned to - note where the mouse pointer is located in the picture below.
Page 16-6
Notes:
This unacceptable link is due to the polylines being digitized in opposite directions.
Page 16-7
Notes:
Notice there are different LINK options in the Linker Tool. The first two,
Link and Partial Link, are generally used when the contours to be linked are
not regular shaped. This means that from one section to another, the polygons
are not really alike in shape. These two options allow you to do a more detailed
linking. The Quick and Auto Link are faster, more automatic ways of linking.
Contrary to the first two ways mentioned above, these two are generally applied
when the polygons to be linked are regular in shape. In this exercise, we will
use at least three of the options available.
6. When linking the rest of the contours up to the last two, first <toggle off the Close
First End option, then proceed by clicking the Quick Link button, followed by
selection of the contours to be linked. Select about 20 consecutive contours by single
clicking on each of the contours you want linked . When done, click Apply>.
7. Use the Auto Link option to connect some of the contours. To do this, <click the
Auto Link button, then draw a box in the viewer to enclose those contours you want
linked. See the picture below: Click right and then Apply> to see the result.
8. Continue linking the remaining contours until you get to the last two. At this point,
<toggle ON the Close Second End option in the Linker window, and then perform
the linking as done previously>. When you are done linking, <toggle Off the Close
Second End, Show Substrings, and Show Strong nodes options>. The complete solid
should look like the following picture:
Page 16-8
Notes:
To redo a link, you have to delete it, then re-link it. To delete a link, <click
Delete Link I Node, then click on the link>. The link will turn yellow. If you
clicked on the wrong link, just click on the right one and it will become
highlighted. When the correct link is highlighted, <click right>.
When you redo a link, the old strong nodes will be used unless you delete them.
Delete a strong node the same way you delete a link.
When all links have been completed, <select Surface I Self-intersecting
Faces I Check and Surface I Openings I Check> to see if each link is okay.
There should be openings at each end. Any other openings, or any selfintersections, are a reason to delete and redo the link. When you are satisfied with
all the links, <close the Link Editor window. Answer No to the question Merge
Links?>
9. <Go to the Selection menu and select Save. Close the Geometry Object called
orezonef>.
Fixing Solids
If any openings or self-intersecting triangles exist, they have to be fixed before the
solids can be used for coding, or volume and reserves computations.
Next, we are going to make a copy of the object oresolid. The original object will
contain the unmerged links, and the copy will have the merged product. We will
Part #: E004 Rev B
Page 16-9
Notes:
<Open the Model View ZONE from the Data Manager. Then activate its properties
and go to the Geometry tab. Click the Select button and choose the object Copy (1) of
oresolid from the browser.
Close the Model View Editor window and the solid>.
Page 16-10
Notes:
Learning Objective
When you have completed this section, you will be able to:
A. Prepare polyline data for linking.
B. Create a 3-D solid from a series of closed polygons using the link editor.
C. Correct data to avoid self-intersections and openings in linked objects.
D. Verify the reliability of the resulting solid(s).
Polyline Preparation
If the polylines are properly prepared, linking is much easier. It does take some time
to prepare the polylines, but fixing the links takes much more time.
<Create a new folder under rock called plan rock and import object plan111.msr to
this folder.> Verify that it has material 11 associated with it. <Set the properties of
material 11 to a global color of purple. Change to 3-D mode without clipping>.
<Select the polylines by clicking the Selection icon and drawing a box around the
polylines>. They will turn orange. <Click right in the Viewer>. This will turn the
polylines red. They are now in active edit mode.
After selecting the polylines+, take a look at the MineSight Message window. Every
time a selection is finished, a message appears describing the data that was selected.
Here, polylines are open, polygons are closed.
Close polylines
First, all the polylines must be closed. If you created the polylines with Polyline I
Create I Closed Polyline, then all of your polylines are automatically closed.
Otherwise, you need to make sure they are closed. An easy way to see whether the
polylines are closed is to change the properties of the object so that Polygon fill on the
Polylines tab is checked. All closed polylines will fill with color. Any open polylines
will look the same as before.
To close a polyline, make sure it is selected then <click on Polyline I Close. Check
Entire Selection and click Apply. Click right to finish>. When you are done closing
polylines, turn Polygon fill off for object Plan 111.
Check Polyline Direction
Next, make sure the polylines were digitized clockwise. To do this, <select the
polygons and click Polyline I Redefine I Direction>. Little blue arrows will appear
on the polylines. You can make these arrows larger by increasing the arrow size in the
Redefine window. You may need to go to 3-D mode with Volume clipping to see only a
few at a time.
The easiest way to make sure all the polylines are clockwise is to <uncheck Reverse
Directions Only in the Redefine window. Then, click Apply to Entire Selection>, which
will set the direction of all polygons to clockwise by default. <Click right in the viewer
to finish and close the dialog.
Page 17-1
Notes:
Linking
Create a folder in Rock called 3-D Rock. Create a new Geometry Object in 3-D Rock
called 11Solid, with a material type of 11. Highlight 11Solid. <Click right and choose
Edit>. This allows the object to accept new data.
Make sure all the polylines are selected. Now go into 3-D mode, <using Grid Set
Benches. Check the box in the Viewer Properties window for Volume clipping. Choose
plane 2030. On the Clipping tab, set the volume clipping to unequal. Set the volume +
to 15.1 and the volume - to 7.50>. With these settings, you are limiting how many
unlinked polylines you see, while allowing a view of the linked solid as you create it.
This helps you to see which strings to choose for linking. <Click the Link Editor icon>.
Notice that the Link Editor icon remains inactive if no polylines are selected.
<Check Close First End. Query the two strings you see, to find the one at 2030>.
This will be the first contour of your solid. <Click Link. Click the first contour. It will
turn yellow. Then click the second contour>, and it will turn blue. If you click right, the
contour will preview the link using the endpoints as the only guidelines. For very similar
contours, this may be fine. But, for more complex data, you have to add strong nodes.
Strong nodes are guidelines that help in the linking process. To add these, <click the
first (yellow) contour then click a corresponding place on the second (blue) contour>. A
yellow line will appear, connecting the two contours. Add a couple of strong nodes.
When youve finished adding strong nodes, <click right> and the link will appear. This
is just a preview. <If the link looks good, click Apply. If not, click Cancel and begin
again.
Page 17-2
Notes:
<After applying each link, check the link for self-intersecting triangles. Do this by
clicking Surface I Self-Intersecting Faces I Check.> Any self-intersecting
triangles will be highlighted in yellow and reported in the MineSight Messages window.
<To fix a link with self-intersecting triangles, delete the link and redo it. This is done
by clicking Delete Link/Node in the Link Editor and clicking on the link. The link will
become highlighted. Click right to delete.
When redoing the link, check the strong node pairs and try adding more pairs.
Uncheck Close First End and continue linking up to plane 2315.>
Subdividing Polygons
On plan 2330, there are two contours. The contour on plane 2315 must be subdivided
to allow it to be linked with the two contours. <Choose Subdivide polygon to do this.
Select the contour on plane 2315 as the one to subdivide.
Digitize a division string, including eight to ten points, in the area in which you want
the string subdivided.> Avoid making any sharp corners in the polygons, but you can
add as many points as needed between the edges of the polygon.
There are now three possibilities for linking: the original polygon, and the two
substrings. <Link the smaller substring to the small polygon on plane 2330, and the
other substring to the large polygon on plane 2330.> The results will be a bifurcation,
joining the single polygon to the two polygons above it.
<Continue linking to plane 2435.> At this point, the two polygons merge back into
one. This situation is handled similarly to the previous bifurcation:
A. Subdivide the polygon on plane 2435.
B. Link each half to one of the two polygons on plane 2420.
C. Select the original polygon on plane 2435 to link with the polygon on plane
2450.
It is much easier to redo links at this stage than to wait until later, so if any links look
bad then redo them now. To redo a link, you have to delete it then re-link it. <To delete
a link, click Delete Link/Node, then click on the link. The link will turn yellow. If you
clicked on the wrong link, just click on the right one and it will become highlighted.
When the correct link is highlighted, click right.>
When you redo a link, the old strong nodes will be used unless you delete them.
Delete a strong node the same way you delete a link. If you have bad links, make sure
the polyline preparation was completed. This is the most common cause of bad links. If
the polylines are okay, then add strong nodes to try to create a better link.
Checking and fixing the individual links is easier than checking and fixing the
merged solid. After completing all the links, check them as described in the Fixing
Solids section on page 4.
<When you get to the last two contours, check Close Second End.> These two
options are the easiest way to close the ends of the solid. However, you can use the
Page 17-3
Notes:
B.
C. Use Surface I Self-Intersecting Faces I Check to verify that all the links are
OK.
<When you are satisfied with all the links, after checking each link or selfintersections and other problems, close the Link Editor window. Answer No to the
question Merge Solids? and create a copy of 11solid in the 3-D folder.>
Checking the Solid
<Double click on Material 11 in the Data Manager window to bring up the
Properties window. On the Surfaces tab, uncheck Show Lines and check Show Faces.
Set its global color the same as the drillhole intervals with Rock=11. Unselect the
contours and close object 11 in folder W-E-Rock.>
There are two things to check for in solids. The first is openings. <To check for this,
click Surface I Openings I Check. Then click on the solid.> Any openings will be
highlighted in yellow and reported in the MineSight Messages window.
The other thing we need to check for is self-intersecting triangles. <To do this, click
Surface I Self-Intersecting Faces I Check. Then click on the solid.> Any selfintersecting triangles will be highlighted and reported in the MineSight Messages
window.
Fixing Solids
If any openings or self-intersecting triangles exist, they have to be fixed before the
solids can be used. Openings have two common causes. First, if you didnt use Close
First End or Close Second End when linking, to close the ends of the solid, you will
get openings. <In this case, select the end contour and click Surface I Triangulate
Surface-Inside Polyline Boundary. Then click on the contour. Bring up the Link
Editor window again and click Merge Links.>
The other common cause of openings is not merging the links. In this case, each link
will be separate. So when you check for openings, it will only check one link at a time
and both ends of the link will be open. All you need to do is bring the Link Editor
window up and click on Merge Links.
Self-intersecting triangles are a little more difficult. These generally result from
problems with the polylines. <Check all the things listed in the preparation section first.
Then redo the link.> However, since you have already merged the links, redoing the link
is a little different.
<Start by selecting the solid.> Make sure it is the solid that is selected, not the VBMs.
Now we have to delete the existing link. One way to do this is <click Point I Group
Delete. Draw boxes around the points you want to delete.> Points on the solid are
located where VBM contours were. <When all the points are chosen, click right.> This
will delete two links, one on either side of where the VBM feature was.
<The other way to delete a link is by clicking Surface I Delete Face. Then select all
the faces in the link you want to delete. Click right.
Page 17-4
Notes:
Make sure you click Merge Links after redoing the links.
To redo the link is still the best way to fix self-intersecting faces problem but a new
option is to split the sefl-intersecting faces. To do this select the solid and shoose
Surfaces I Self-intersecting faces I Split.
Any time you change a solid, always recheck it for openings and self-intersecting
triangles.
When you have completed 11solid, highlight the folder Plan Rock and import the
MineSight 3-D object plan12.msr. Highlight the folder 3-D Rock and import the
MineSight 3-D object 12solid.msr. Open the object 12solid.. View object 12Solid in 3-D
mode without clipping. Find the opening in 12solid using Surface I Check for
Openings. Leave the highlights visible.> We will use an alternate method to close this
opening.
Dissipating an opening to a point
Follow these steps to dissipate an opening to a point.
1.
2.
Open object plan12 in folder Plan Rock. Select the string that matches the
highlights. Then turn highlights off.
3.
Turn Point snap on. Choose Edit Grid I Snap to 3 Points. Snap it to the edges
of the polygon that defines the opening. Choose Edit grid I Edit. Enter a value
of 15 in the box labeled, Move along normal, then select Apply. The direction it
moves should be away from the series of polylines in object plan12. Once you
have the edit grid in the right location, change the grid length to 25 and the grid
size to 5 meters along both axes. Select Apply. Close the Edit Grid window.
4.
Put object 12solid from folder 3D Rock into Edit mode. Set its properties to view
it as a wireframe.
5.
6.
7.
If your surface does not get created where you like it, you can save the polygons,
select surface 12 solid, and use Point I Delete to delete the point and all associated
faces. Try again from step 3, first saving the surface and putting the polylines in
Plan12 back into selection mode.
8.
Once you have a good surface, bring up the linker again and choose Merge links,
to merge the new surface with the rest of 12solid. Check 12 solid for openings
again to make sure you closed it.
Page 17-5
Notes:
Partial Link
Next we will create a solid for alteration type 3. <Close everything that is open and
open Geometry Object 3 in folder W-E-Alteration. Prepare these polylines and create
Geometry Object 3Solid in folder 3D-Alterations to store the solid in. Put it in Edit
mode.>
Notice that the solid we create will have a pant-leg look where one large feature splits
into two small features. We can use partial link to link them.
<To link the bottom half of the large polyline to the next polyline, begin by clicking
Partial Link in the Link Editor window. Next click on the points on the large polyline
where you want to divide it.>
The segment of the polyline you selected will become highlighted and MineSight
will ask you if this is the correct segment.
Now MineSight is expecting you to specify only a segment of the next polyline.
<What you need to do is, click on the top of this polyline twice.> This picks the same
point for the start and end of the segment. You will not be asked if this is the correct
segment in this case.
<Now go ahead and add strong node pairs and finish the link as normal.
Page 17-6
Notes:
Exercise
Prepare and link the alteration type 1, 4 and 5 polylines.
Page 17-7
Notes:
Page 17-8
Notes:
Learning Objective
When you have completed this section, you will be able to:
A.
B. Use the Intersector Tool to create a solid from the intersection of surfaces with a
solid
C. Calculate the volume of the resulting solid
D. Create surfaces from drill hole data.
Page 18-1
Notes:
In the Extrude/Expand window, enter 100 as the extrude distance, and -90 as the
dip. Toggle ON the Connect polylines and Extrude Along checkboxes.
D. For the first extrusion, also toggle ON Close Ends Against, then click Apply.
E.
Uncheck the box to Close Ends Against, then continue to click Apply until the
new surface extrudes through the bottom of 417surface.
F.
Then check the box to Close Ends Along, and click Apply one more time.
Click right to exit the extrude tool and close the extrude window. Unselect the VBM
string and select the extrusion. The easiest way to do this is, highlight Geometry Object
extrusion in the Data Manager, click right and click on Select I All Elements. Click
Surface I Merge Selected.> This takes the individual extrusions and combines them
into one solid. <Unselect the extrusion and change properties to unselect lines and
select surfaces. Also close the object 603 in folder Owners.>
Using the Intersector Tool to Obtain Desired Solid
<Create a new Geometry Object called Solid in folder Surfaces. Open this Geometry
Object and put it in Edit mode.
Select the solid object for editing, then click Surface I Clip Surfaces and Solids.
Choose the two surfaces as the boundaries and select the extruded solid for editing. Use
the blue surface icon to choose objects from the viewer. Select the Remove Outside
button under Results, and check the box to close solids against boundaries. Click on
Preview. The part of the extruded solid between the two surfaces should be highlighted.
Send the results to the open edit object by checking the appropriate box on the Options
tab. If the correct section is highlighted, click Apply.
Close Geometry Objects surf-geo301, 417surface and extrusion. Change the
properties of object Solid in folder Surface so that the edges are off and the faces are
on.>
Compute Volume
<Choose Surface I Compute Volume I Solid Volume. Click on the solid in the
viewer. The volume will appear in the Viewer and will also be reported in the MineSight
Messages window. If it does not appear in the viewer, choose File I Project Settings I
Volumes, and check the box to Display Results in Viewer, then recompute the volume.
Close the solid.>
Alternative Method to Compute the Volume Between Surfaces
If all you want is the volume between two surfaces, given a boundary polygon, there
is an easier way to calculate it without the need to create a surface.
A. <Close all objects except these three:
Surf_geo301 in folder surfaces
603 in folder Owners
Page 18-2
Notes:
Click on object 603 in the viewer to select it as the limiting polygon, and then
click right.
F.
2.
Create a new drillhole view called GEO in folder Assays. Choose PCF geol10.dat.
Choose assay file geol11.dat and survey file geol12.dat. Select display item GEO
and set its cutoffs to 200 to 700 with an increment of 25.
Select and load all the holes. Since this data is centered in a different area than
the MSOP project, you will have to highlight object GEO, click right for the
menu and choose target to bring it into view.
3.
On the Points tab of the Drillhole View Properties window, choose the option for
the Top Occurrence. Choose item GEO and set its integer value to 301. Then
click the Generate button.> An Open a geometry file window will come up.
<Choose folder 301 and name the new object geo301.> This object will be set
into Edit mode, and markers of the first occurrence of GEO=301 will be stored
in it.
4.
<Close drill hole view GEO in folder Assays. In folder 301, create a new object
called surf_geo301 and put it in Edit mode. Now select all elements in object
GEO301. Choose Surface I Triangulate Surface I With Selection in Plan.
Send the results to the open edit object. Then Save the selection and close geo301
in folder Assays.> The new surface reflects the top of GEO = 301.
<In folder 301, make a copy of object surf_geo301: Choose Edit I Copy, then
Edit I Paste, from the top menu of the data manager. Open the new object,
bring up its properties, and change its name to solid301. Put solid301 into Edit
mode. Then close object surf_geo301.>
2.
To create the floor of the solid, we can make a copy of the top surface. <Select
solid301. Choose Tools I Point Editor.> The Point Editor window will appear,
but all functions will be greyed out.
Page 18-3
Notes:
<Choose Element I Copy. Check the Entire selection box. Select a count of 1,
then click on any point on solid301 to use it as a reference node.> Now the Point
Editor is activated, and the relative x, y and z options are checked.
<Enter -20 in the relative z window, and then select Apply. This will create a new
surface, 20 m. down from the original, in object solid301. Click right when done,
then Save the selection.
4.
Choose Surface IOpenings I Check and click on the top surface in solid301.
Then click on the bottom surface.> This should create highlights all around the
edges of each surface. <Click right when done to remove the rectangular blue
markers.
5.
Choose Tools I Utility Markers I Copy to Edit Object.> This will copy the
highlights to two polylines in object solid301. <Then click the icon to clear all
markers.
6.
Highlight object solid301, click right and choose Select I Polylines I All, then
click right. To verify that your selection was made, briefly choose Selection I
Show Only Selection. Choose Polyline Close I Entire Selection I Apply
to ensure that both polylines are closed. Then uncheck this option.
7.
Choose Tools I Linker and link the two polylines, leaving ends open. Use the
link option, and be sure to press Apply. Merge shells on Exit. Then Save the
selection.>
Page 18-4
Manipulating Surfaces
Manipulating Surfaces
Notes:
Learning Objectives
When you have finished this section, you will be able to:
A. use the Intersect Solids tool
B. create various surface combinations with the Intersect Surfaces Tool
C. become familiar with the Object Contents Browser
D. clip solids and surfaces against each other
E. patch holes in solids and surfaces automatically, and
F. repair duplicate and self-intersecting faces
Page 19-1
Manipulating Surfaces
Notes:
Page 19-2
Manipulating Surfaces
Notes:
Page 19-3
Manipulating Surfaces
Notes:
Fill Surface (diff) - this option patches the portion of the Secondary surface
which is above the Primary surface into the Primary surface, deleting that portion
of the Primary surface which is below the Secondary surface.
Fill Surface (union) - this option returns the topmost combined surface, or the
maximum of both the Primary and Secondary surfaces.
Fill Surface (int) - this option returns the topmost combined surface, in the area
where the Primary and Secondary surfaces overlap.
Cut Surface (diff) - this option patches the portion of the Secondary surface
which is below the Primary surface into the Primary surface, deleting that portion
of the Primary surface which is above the Secondary surface.
Cut Surface (union) - this option returns the bottom most combined surface, or
the minimum of both the Primary and Secondary surfaces.
Cut Surface (int) - this option returns the bottom most combined surface, in the
area where the Primary and Secondary surfaces overlap.
Patch Surface (diff) - this option patches the Secondary surface into the Primary
surface, deleting that portion of the Primary surface which is overlapped by the
Secondary surface.
Patch Surface (union) - this option patches the portion of the Secondary surface
which is internal to the Primary surface (viewed in plan) into the Primary surface,
deleting that portion of the Primary surface which is overlapped by the Secondary
surface.
Experiment with some of the options. Note that quite different results can be obtained
from the same two surfaces if their definitions as Primary and Secondary are reversed.
Page 19-4
Manipulating Surfaces
Notes:
Page 19-5
Manipulating Surfaces
Notes:
Solids
The Intersect Surfaces tool can also generate solids from the intersection of two
surfaces; either a Cut Surface or a Fill Surface can be created. The solids generated from
the two current surfaces are displayed and described below. Note that a vertical surface
between the two surfaces is generated if the surfaces do not completely intersect.
Page 19-6
Manipulating Surfaces
Notes:
One of the most common usages for the Fill and Cut Solid option is to generate solids
in order to determine the volume of the solid; the following exercise demonstrates this
usage.
Exercise: Cut and Fill Solids
Step 1 <Create two new Geometry Objects in folder Surfaces, called Cut and Fill.
Step 2 Store the results of the cut solid operation to object cut and the results of the
fill solid operation to object fill.> Recall that an object must be in Edit mode
to store new data inside it. When you click Apply, you will be able to choose
an object in which to store the results. Whichever object you select, it will be
placed in Edit mode.
Step 3 <Choose Surface I Compute Volume I Solid Volume. Click on one of
the two new solids. Note the volume in the Message window.
Primary Surfaces/Secondary Surfaces
The Primary and Secondary Surfaces options in the intersect Surfaces tool are
complementary to each other. These options each generate six different possible
surfaces, which are described and displayed below.
Page 19-7
Manipulating Surfaces
Notes:
Page 19-8
Manipulating Surfaces
Notes:
Page 19-9
Manipulating Surfaces
Notes:
Page 19-10
Manipulating Surfaces
Notes:
Lines of Intersection
The Lines of Intersection option generates polylines at the junction of the defined
Primary and Secondary surfaces. This function generates the same results, no matter
which surface is defined as Primary or Secondary.
Page 19-11
Manipulating Surfaces
Notes:
Create a new Geometry Object; accept the default name (Geometry1) and material
type (Geometry) for the new object, and put it in Edit mode.
2.
3.
Choose the Clip Surfaces and Solids tool from the Surfaces menu. Select the
solid data as the solid to be clipped by clicking in the Viewer; click right to end
the selection.
There are two tabs in the Clip Surfaces and Solids dialog, the General tab and the
Options tab. The General tab allows you to select the type of results you desire and
specify the boundary or boundaries to use for clipping. There are four options for
results: Remove inside (or inside/above), Remove outside (or outside/below), Remove
coplanar, and Split at boundaries. The checkbox allows you to specify that the resulting
portions of the original solids be closed against the boundary. If using an open surface
for clipping, check the box to extrude open surface to solid, which refers to the
boundary surface, and toggles the Results between inside-outside and inside/aboveoutside/below. Finally, the General tab has a checkbox so you can clip all selected data;
the default behavior requires that the data to be clipped be selected individually by
clicking with the mouse.
The Options tab in the Clip Surfaces and Solids dialog provides four advanced
options for handling of the clipped data or the boundary; the upper section of this tab
affects the manner in which the input data is handled. The first option, Orient Boundary
(polygon/surface) by Edit Grid, will re-orient the boundary object to the orientation of
the selected Edit Grid. The default behavior is to orient the boundary horizontally, no
matter the orientation of the boundary polyline/surface itself. This option has no effect if
the clipping boundary is a closed solid.
The next option, Clip each element separately (if elements to be clipped overlap), will
treat each surface separately if the surfaces actually overlap, returning a separate
element for each source element. If the box is left unchecked, the overlapping surfaces
are combined before clipping, and will be returned as a single element.
In the lower section of the Options tab, there are two options for the output from the
tool. The first checkbox, Explode results (Maximize number of elements), will produce
each resulting surface or solid that is independent in space as a separate element. If this
box is left unchecked, all elements output from the same Object are merged into a single
surface/solid.
The second output option allows you to have the output sent to the Open Edit Object,
leaving the original data intact. If this box is left unchecked, the source data will be
altered as specified by the rest of the options in the tool, and the original data will be
lost. Some of the various options are displayed below; try these and other options to
become familiar with this powerful tool.
Lets look at a couple of options using a polyline as a clipping boundary on a seam
surface; the data is shown (starting on the next page), with the solid selected for
clipping, and the polyline specified as the clipping boundary.
Page 19-12
Manipulating Surfaces
Notes:
If we perform this function without closing the solids against the boundary, the results
will be just the upper and lower surface of the seam, as shown below.
If we perform the same operation, but opt to close the solids against the boundary by
clicking the checkbox, the result will be a closed solid, as shown in the next figure.
Page 19-13
Manipulating Surfaces
Notes:
Another powerful option in this tool is the ability to re-orient the clipping polygon/
surface to an Edit Grid. Well use the same two objects as the previous example to
demonstrate this feature, with the addition of a non-orthogonal Edit Grid.
Now, well perform the same function, closing the solid against the boundary, but this
time the boundary will be projected towards the solid in a direction perpendicular to
the Edit Grid, as shown on the next page. This option also works when using a surface
as the boundary.
Page 19-14
Manipulating Surfaces
Notes:
Page 19-15
Manipulating Surfaces
Notes:
Page 19-16
Notes:
When you have completed this section, you will be able to extrude a solid from a
polyline, and verify its integrity.
Page 20-1
Notes:
Page 20-2
Notes:
In this section you will initialize the mine model. This is required before you can add
grades, geology, or topography to the mine model.
Learning Objective
When you have completed this section you will know:
A. The required model items and their default values
B. How to initialize the model
Model Items
Decide which items you want to store for each block in your block model in the same
manner that you chose which items to use for the assays and composites.
Types of items that are useful to store are:
Rock codes
Grades
Estimation variance
Ownership codes
The MineSight mine model was designed with the consideration that all information
which may be needed to describe any block is stored together for each block of the
model. Therefore each block should contain at least one grade value, the percent of the
block below the surface topography and a type code to be used to classify material in
reserve calculations.
Carefully consider what items are needed to adequately define the deposit and what
should be their value range. Doing this can save you a lot of time and effort later on.
When the model is initialized, it has every item value in every block preset. These
values will be changed as you interpolate grade, add geology, or add topography. The
initialization gives you the opportunity to preset the item values to your choices. The
following list gives you some practical suggestions for default values.
Grades
Initialize to zero
Topography
Initialize to 100%
Rock Types
Percent Mined
Initialize to zero
Page 21-1
Notes:
Rock code
TOPO
Topo code
GRADE
Grade items
NCOMP
EQUIV
Equivalent grade
DIST
CONF
If youre using the Mintec sample project for training, fill out the project file editor
dialog as shown above; if youre using other data for training, appropriate item names
and values should be used.
Page 21-2
Notes:
Page 21-3
Notes:
Additional model display options and
functions are explored in more detail in the
MineSight for Modelers Training Course.
<Click the X on the dialog title bar to close>.
Page 21-4
Notes:
Prior to this section you must have initialized the model and loaded your digitized
topography to a VBM file. In this section you will transfer the topography from the
VBM to the mine model. This can be done before or after grade interpolation, but it
must be done before reserve calculations or pit designs.
Learning Objective
In this section you will learn how to:
initialize File 13 (Gridded Surface File),
grid the topography and load it to the Surface File (File 13),
and assign TOPO% values to the block model.
Topography
Topography is usually digitized from a map, loaded into a VBM file and then
transferred to the Surface File (File 13). In the absence of a topo map, other methods
can be used. One would be to manually code the average elevation of each surface
block and enter that into File 13. Another method would be to use the elevations of the
drillhole collars within MineSight to interpolate a surface for File 13.
The elevation of a contour line is the plane reference number for the VBM.
Topography is generally digitized so that uphill is to the right, air is to the left.
Normally, the toe elevation of the topography is digitized so that there can be
interaction between the digitized topography and a digitized or generated pit design.
Loading Topography
The procedure shown in this section will convert the digitized topography to a surface
grid and then transfer that grid to the block model. If the menu sequence shown here is
used, File 13 will accurately reflect your VBM data. If you have generated File 13 by
other ways (or you have modified the file), print or plot a map of File 13 to verify the
data before adding the topography to the 3-D block model.
To add topography to the model:
1. Initialize the 2-D Surface Model.
2. Build a DTM from the VBM contours and use the DTM to determine gridded
values.
3. Load the gridded data to File 13.
4. Display the File 13 item, TOPOG, for verification.
Initializing the 2D Model File
To add topography to the model, we again use the project file editor (MineSight
Compass Project tab). Initialize the new File 13 by <selecting File I New from the
menu and picking File 13 from the dropdown. Fill in the desired items, along with their
respective minimum, maximum and precisions>. Initial values for the various items can
also be specified.
Page 22-1
Notes:
Notes:
Page 22-3
Notes:
Page 22-4
Notes:
When you have completed this section, you will be able to:
A. Assign model codes based on closed solids.
B. Code the model from multiple solids at the same time.
C. Verify the model results in the model view.
D. Set material priorities.
Description
In this exercise we are going to use solids 11Solid, 12Solid and 13Solid to code File
15 model item ROCKS. We have to take care in coding with these solids since 13solid
encloses the others. To make sure the model is coded correctly, we will code with one
solid at a time.
Before we begin coding, lets check that our solids have the correct material type.
Remember the material type controls the value given to the item we code.
Page 23-1
Notes:
Click on the Code Model button. We are going to code using the option Code Item
based on % solid in block. Choose ROCKS as the item to receive the code. We are
going to code a block if it is 50% inside the solid on a whole block basis. We are also
resetting the item before coding and checking the box to code the entire model. When
this is all set up, <click the Code button.>
When the coding is complete, go back to the Geometry tab and change the selected
Geometry Object to 12Solid. To do this, <select 12Solid just like you selected 13Solid
before. Click the Select button, highlight 12Solid and click OK.> The selected geometry
will change from 13Solid to 12Solid.
Next, back on the Code Model tab, <uncheck the Reset all chosen model items
before coding.> This way we will not erase the coding we just did. Only what is inside
12Solid will be changed. <Click Code.>
Finally, change the selected Geometry Object to 11Solid and code again. Now that we
have coded with all three solids, section through the model to check that it was coded
correctly.
Page 23-2
Notes:
Page 23-3
Notes:
2.
3.
On the Geometry tab, select folder 3DRock. All open objects in this folder will be
shown in the Selected Geometry Objects window.
4.
On the Code Model tab, uncheck the box to Reset the model item before coding,
to retain those blocks which have been coded from 13solid and which are outside
11solid and 12solid.
5.
To make sure that all blocks in 11solid or 12solid are coded, code if blocks are >
40% inside the solid.
6.
Click Code.>
Page 23-4
2.
Leave model view ROCKS open, and set it to view a bench that all three solids
intersect.
3.
Choose Edit Grid I Snap to Plane, and click on the model view.
4.
Choose Edit Grid I Volume Controller. Set the volume width to 10 and the
volume clipping to equal. Then select Apply.
5.
Verify that the coding is as desired. Close the volume controller when done.>
Notes:
Coding Options
There are a few options that can be useful when coding. First is the block partial
percentage. This is set by default to 1%, meaning that if only 1% of the model block is
inside the solid, the block will be coded.
A related option is the resolution used to calculate these percentages. This is found
under File I Project Settings. On the Volumes tab, there is an option for subcell
count. The higher the subcell count the more accurate the percentages will be. However,
increasing the subcell count does increase the calculation time required to code the
model. The subcell count needs to be a multiple of the project size in each dimension
for the most accurate results.
There is also an option to reset the model item before coding. This option clears out
all previous coding of the selected model item. This does not effect any other model
items.
The part of the model that will be coded can also be specified. By default only the
portion of the model which is being displayed will be coded. If you want to code the
entire model, you must check the option to Code Entire Model. If you get an error that
you are running out of virtual memory when you try to code, it is a good idea to code
your model in pieces. This can happen when coding with large solids, coding with
several solids at a time, or coding very large models especially those with small blocks.
Page 23-5
Notes:
Page 23-6
Notes:
Page 23-7
Notes:
Page 23-8
Model Interpolation
Model Interpolation
Notes:
Prior to this section you calculated and sorted the composites. You initialized the
mine model and added any necessary geology. In this section you can use inverse
distance weighting to add grades to the mine model. This is required before displaying
the model, calculating reserves or creating pit designs.
Learning Objective
In this section you will learn:
Types of Interpolations
There are several methods of interpolation provided to you.
Polygonal assignment
Relative elevations
Trend plane
Gradients
Kriging
Interpolation Controls
There is a large range of methods for controlling the interpolation available.
IDW Interpolation
On the MineSight CompassMenu tab and <select the Group 3D Deposit Modeling,
and the Operation Calculation; from the procedure list, select the procedure p62001 IDW Interpolation.> Fill out the panels as described.
Page 24-1
Model Interpolation
Notes:
Exercise
Rerun for Rock Type 12. Change search distances and use option omit. Change the
following panels:
Panel 1 - M620V1/V2 IDW Search Parameters
<Change the filename extensions for both the run and report files to id2>.
Page 24-2
Model Interpolation
Notes:
Ordinary Kriging
Ordinary kriging is an estimator designed primarily for the local estimation of block
grades as a linear combination of the available data in or near the block, such that the
estimate is unbiased and has minimum variance. It is a method that is often associated
with the acronym B.L.U.E. for best linear unbiased estimator. Ordinary kriging is
linear because its estimates are weighted linear combinations of the available data,
unbiased since the sum of the weights is 1, and best because it aims at minimizing the
variance of errors.
The conventional estimation methods, such as inverse distance weighting method, are
also linear and theoretically unbiased. Therefore, the distinguishing feature of ordinary
kriging from the conventional linear estimation methods is its aim of minimizing the
error variance.
Spherical
Linear
Exponential
On the MineSight CompassMenu tab, <select the Group 3D Deposit Modeling, and
the Operation Calculation; from the procedure list, select procedure p62401.dat Ordinary Kriging>. Fill out the panels as described.
Page 24-3
Model Interpolation
Notes:
Page 24-4
Model Interpolation
Notes:
Exercise
Repeat calculations for Rock Type 12. Change search distances and angles as you
did for IDW.
Page 24-5
Model Interpolation
Notes:
Page 24-6
Notes:
Learning Objectives
The main objective of this section is to explore the different options for displaying the
block model in MineSight 3-D. After completing this section you will know how to:
A. Create gradeshells of mineralized zone
B. Display models views in different display styles
C. Display a set of N-S sections of mineralized zone
D. How to plot plan maps of the mine model in MineSight
E. How to plot section maps of the mine model in MineSight
Gradeshells
A gradeshell is a solid representation of a code or real value retrieved directly from
the block model. It is intended to give an indication of where the blocks with certain
geologic code or grade values are located in your model. Gradeshells can be created for
a grade item between a minimum and maximum value and can be further limited by a
secondary item, for example, a topo%, or geology code. A gradeshell is created
primarily for visualization purposes and not for volume or reserves calculations.
To create a gradeshell, do the following:
1. <Create a new folder called GRADESHELLS under (unnamed).
2. Highlight GRADESHELLS, click right and select New I Model View. Call this
model view GALTRA.
3.
From the Item Selection icon select ALTRA as the primary display item. Then
change the 3-D display type to Gradeshell.
4.
Next go to the Gradeshell tab and select ZONE as the Gradeshell primary item.
Toggle on the item is an integer/code value option and enter the minimum and
maximum values of >=1.000 and <2.000.
5.
Before we begin to compute the gradeshell, make sure you have the entire range
of levels, rows, and columns exposed under the Range tab. Click Apply.
6. Open the Geometry Object 1SOLID under alteration\3D alteration, and compare
it with the gradeshell you just created>.
Page 25-1
Notes:
If you close the Model View, the gradeshell will not be saved. If you wish to save
the gradeshell permanently, click the Save gradeshell button under the Gradeshell
tab, and select or enter the name for the Geometry Object where you want to store
the resulting gradeshell.
7.
<Click Save Gradeshell and highlight the folder GRADESHELLS. Enter gshell
of ALTRA1 for the name of the Geometry Object to store the gradeshell. Click
OK. Click OK on the MineSight Model View Editor> to close the window.
A gradeshell can also be limited in levels, rows, and columns if it is desired. All
you need to do is adjust the volume controllers under the Range tab of the
MineSight Model View Editor.
<Open the model view called CUID under the MODELS folder. Activate its
properties by double clicking on the object called CUID.
2.
Go to the Range tab and adjust the range of levels by moving the left and right
controllers. Show level 28, rows 29 to 86, and columns 56 to 119. Click on
APPLY>.
Note: any changes you make to the range of visible data can automatically be
updated in the viewer as you make them by having the immediate viewer refresh
option toggled on.
Page 25-2
<Under the Display tab, change the 3-D display style to 3-D block. Click Apply.
Answer Yes to the notice window>.
4.
You can change the percent of the block that is displayed in the viewer by going
to the Option tab and adjusting the x, y, and/or z Block size (percent).
Notes:
Note: This option does not change the actual block size of your model. It only
allows you to limit the percent of the actual block that is displayed in the viewer.
5. Block values can also be displayed when you are displaying the model in 2-D
mode. This function is available under the Options tab as well. <Attach the gridset
benches to the viewer,set the viewer to 2-D mode and set the current plane at
2555.
On the Range tab, adjust the 2-D display limits to show all levels and rows and
columns to show the interpolated area.
6. Go back to the Options tab and click the Item selection icon to select ALTRA as
the item whose text or values we want to display. Then change the number of
decimals to zero.
7. Change the model properties by going back to the Display tab and clicking the
Model properties button. Once the Object Properties window appears, change
the label color (paint palette icon) to black, and size to 2. Press the Tab key after
entering the label size. Zoom into the viewer to verify the values for the item
ALTRA.>
Note: you can display up to three text items, and have full control over the
placement of the labels using the Horizontal and Vertical Offset fields.
<Click on the 3-D icon to automatically change the viewer to 3-D mode>.
8.
<Go back to the Display tab and change the display style to Contours. Then
change it to Filled polygons. Experiment with the rest of the styles and see the
difference. Close the model view when you are finished>.
<In the MODELS folder, create a new model view called NS-CUID.
2.
3. Under the Range tab, set the 3-D display limits to all levels, all rows, and column
Part #: E004 Rev. B
Page 25-3
Notes:
4. Open the model view called CUID, and change the 3-D display style to Contours.
Adjust the range of rows and columns to display an entire level.
5. Step through the N-S sections by using the left and right arrows to the right of the
columns range control bar>. Alternatively, we can create an N-S grid set to display
the model in section with N-S orientation. <Close the two model views displayed
on the viewer.
6.
Create a Grid Set called N-S sections under the GRIDS folder. Choose the N-S
plane orientation. Enter 40 for the number of planes and 75 for the plane interval.
7.
Activate the Viewer Properties window and install the new N-S sections Grid Set.
Set the current plane to East 2950 and click the 2D mode button. Click Apply and
then OK.
Open the NS-CUID model view. Step through the sections by using the left/right
arrows in the upper-right corner of the main MineSight window, where the current
plane is displayed. You can use the 2-D/3-D icons in the second icons row to
conveniently change the display mode from 2-D to 3-D or vice versa>.
Page 25-4
1.
<Open the model view CUID under the models folder. Use min=0, max=2,
increment=0.2 for the intervals. Use the complete range of colors.
2.
Set the viewer in 2-D mode using the benches gridset and change the current
plane to 2555.
Part #: E004 Rev. B
Notes:
Next, go to the Display tab and click the Model Properties button. An Object
Properties window should pop up in the viewer. Click the Labels tab. Change the
label color to black, and the size to 2. Press the Tab key after entering the label
size>.
You will now see the actual block values for the items CUID, ROCKS, and
ALTRA.
The blocks are color-filled based on the Primary display item. In this case, they
are based on the colors specified for CUID. You can easily change the Primary
display item in the MineSight Model View Editor to see the color-coded blocks
based on the item of your particular interest. The order and position in which the
block values are displayed can also be altered to meet your requirements. Again,
this is done under the Options tab of the Model View Editor.
5. Now make those blocks that have a CUID<0.2 invisible. <Under the Options tab,
check Limit by and select the item CUID; enter 0.2 as the minimum value and 2
as the maximum value.
6.
Go back to the Data Manager and open the Geometry Object called 11solid
(under folder rock\3D rock) and the composites drillhole view.
7. To see the block outlines, go to the Display tab and change the Display in sectional
views style to Filled Polygons. Click Apply and close the Model View Editor
window.
Page 25-5
Notes:
From the Data Manager, go to the PLOTS folder and open up the plot layout
called SET1.
9.
Click the Print button and select Preview. Select the plan on elevation 2555 and
click OK>. Remember that you can always modify the cutoff colors, label size,
plot scale, and so on, thus allowing you to tailor the plots to meet your particular
requirements. When the plot is ready, you have the option to send it directly to
the printer/plotter, or create deferred plots in HPGL, HPGL2, or PostScript
languages.
10. <Close the Plot Layout window. Save your work by going to the File menu (main
MineSight window) and selecting Save.>
Notes:
Page 25-7
Notes:
4.
Page 25-8
<Open the plot layout called SET1. Click the Print button and select Preview. Click OK>.
MineSight will automatically display the current section in your viewer.
You can change the text in the Title block to indicate what you are really plotting, or
create a new one specifically for this plot.
Notes:
Page 25-9
Notes:
Page 25-10
Model Statistics/Reserves
Model Statistics/Reserves
Notes:
Prior to this section, you must have added the grades, topography, and necessary
geology into the mine model. In this section, you can summarize the mine model data
with frequency distributions. This is not required for later work.
Learning Objective
When you have completed this section, you will know:
A. How to calculate tonnages above a cutoff with program M608V1
B. How to produce a histogram, and
C. How to create a more detailed reserve report with program MTRES
To calculate initial reserves from the block model, use MineSight program M608V1;
the procedure for running this program is found on the Menu tab of the MineSight
Compass dialog within the Group Statistics, under the Operation Calculation.
The reserves calculated in this section are the tons and grade above a cutoff. The
topographic values you added to the mine model are used to give you an accurate
reserve report. For different specific gravities, use the run file that is created and run
each rock type separately.
The menu system procedure has been designed to give you the quickest level of
reserves. With the run files, you can customize the run to give reserves by bench, rock
type or any other subset you want. For example, in the menu system, 20 intervals are
selected (for plotting purposes). The interval size you choose will be based on the cutoff
grades you wish to show. If you choose 0.1, for example, you will get a report for
blocks above 0.0, above 0.1, above 0.2, etc., up to 1.9. If you prefer a special cutoff
value (such as 0.13), then select 0.13 as your interval size. You will still get 20 intervals
of 0.13 difference (just ignore the rest). You can also edit the run file to change the
number of intervals.
Panel 1 - 3-D Model Data Statistical Analysis
This panel is used to specify the file on which you wish to calculate reserves; for this
example, <select File 15 (3D Block Model).>
Panel 2 - 3-D Model Data Statistical Analysis
This panel is used to specify the item(s) to be used for the analysis; well examine the
items CUID and MOLY. In order to increase the accuracy of the calculation, we also
want to <weight the blocks by the TOPO percent, using a weighting factor of 0.01.>
Panel 3 - 3-D Model Data Statistical Analysis
This panel allows us to define the characteristics of the data set being analyzed. For
this example, well start the histogram at zero, using a 0.1 frequency class interval size.
<Set the minimum value for the base item equal to 0.01 to eliminate zero-value blocks
from the analysis.> Note that a report file extension is required as well.
Panel 4 - Optional Data Selection for Model Statistics
This panel allows you to limit the data used for analysis, based on the values of other
items in the model. In addition, youre able to enter a multiplier for calculating tonnage
by cutoff. <Enter 24 as the multiplier for resource calculation.> This is the
Kilotonnage/block for our project.
Part #: E004 Rev. B
Page 26-1
Model Statistics/Reserves
Notes:
Page 26-2
Model Statistics/Reserves
Notes:
MPLOT Panel
<Select the option Preview/Create Metafile to view the plot on the screen.>
Page 26-3
Model Statistics/Reserves
Notes:
PITRES.DAT
To create a more detailed reserves report, we will make use of procedure
PITRES.DAT. PITRES.DAT is used to determine the reserves of open pit metals
projects. These reserves can be generated from a Pit Optimization or other pit design,
from polygons properly stored in a VBM, from external partials files (e.g., from IGP or
MineSight, or from rectangular boundaries specified on the Panel requesting the easting,
northing, and elevation boundaries. In this exercise, we will use a block partials file
generated in MineSight from the solid representing the mineralization zone in our
project. This partials file contains information about the percentage of each block that is
intersecting the solid. This information creates a more accurate reserves calculation,
since only the percent of the block inside the solid is applied to the final calculation and
not the entire block.
1.
< In MineSight 3-D, open the CUID model view and the Geometry Object called
11solid under folder rock\3D rock. Make sure your viewer is in 3-D mode.
2.
Go to the Surface menu (main MineSight window) and select Generate Partials.
3.
Click the icon with the blue ribbon in the Generate Partials window, and select
the solid from the viewer (single left click on the solid).
4.
Go to Options and click the Model View icon. Select CUID from the file browser
and click OK.
5.
Make sure the partials filename is mspart.out in the Generate Partials window.
Click Apply. Verify that this file exists in your directory.
6.
Minimize the MineSight 3-D window and go back to the MineSight Compass
dialog. On the Menu tab, select the Group 7 - Pit Optimization and the Operation
Report. Open the procedure pitres.dat (Report 3DBM Reserves).>
Model Statistics/Reserves
Notes:
Page 26-5
Model Statistics/Reserves
Notes:
Page 26-6
Model Calculations
In this section you will calculate block values for items EQCU and CONF, and store
them in the model.
Model Calculations
Notes:
Learning Objective
In this section you will learn:
Model Calculations
Model Calculations allow you to calculate values for an item based on the values of
other items in the same block. The program used in this example, (M612RP) allows you
a great deal of flexibility, with up to 30 calculations possible per run. <In the MineSight
Compass dialog, click the Menu tab, and select the Group 5a - 3D Modeling and the
Operation Calculation. From the procedure list, choose the procedure p61201 [UserCalcs - (Model)].>
Panel 1 - Mine Model/Surface File Data Items to be Used
This panel is used to specify which model is to be used and the number of levels,
rows, and columns (use defaults to specify the entire model).
Panel 2 - All Mine Model/Surface File Data Items to be Used
In this panel, we specify the model items which will be either used as source or
calculated values to store. For blocks with ROCKS value between 11 and 13, we will
calculate EQCU values from values stored for CUID and MOLY, so we need to specify
these four items.
Panel 3 - Optional Data Selection for M612RP Calculations
To restrict the EQCU calculations to blocks with ROCKS value between 11 and 13
only, well Range on ROCKS values 11 to 13.
Panel 4 - Define Special Project Calculations for M612RP
In this panel the EQCU calculation is defined and the item in the model (EQCU)
where the result is to be stored is specified. For our project, EQCU will be calculated as
a grade where the MOLY values are converted to their equivalency in terms of copper
from a revenue-generating point of view (EQCU = CUIDW + MOLY * 8). Note that
additional calculations (up to 30 total) are available by checking the box at the bottom
of the panel.
Panel 5 - Optional Storage of Items Back into Model File
This panel is used to specify the items which are to receive the results of the
calculations.
Exercise
Model item CONF will be used to store a numeric code to categorize a block as
proven ore (CONF=1), probable ore (CONF=2), possible ore (CONF=3) or waste
(CONF=4). The block-by-block categorization will be based on the distance to the
closest composite (DIST) and the block value of ROCKS.
Page 27-1
Model Calculations
Notes:
Page 27-2
Notes:
ITEM
Minimum
Maximum
Precision
Oro
10
.01
Plata
30
.01
Value
-500
5000
To initialize the new file, save it as metr15.new;> the next step is to transfer the data
from the existing model to the new model file. To check that the desired items have
been added to the new model file, <choose File I Open from the project file editor
menu. Select the new model file from the dropdown, and verify the addition of the new
items.
Page 28-1
Notes:
Page 28-2
Notes:
Learning Objective
When you have completed this section, you will be able to:
A. Slice solids to create VBM features in any orientation
B. Edit the resulting VBM features
C. View the features, plane by plane
Preparation
<Open objects 3solid, 4solid, and 5solid in folder 3D-Alteration. Unload anything
else in the Viewer. In the Properties window of each solid, verify that each has an
appropriate material and associated VBM code. Set materials 3, 4, and 5 to have
different default colors.
Create a folder called Plan-Alteration within folder Alteration.>
Slicing the Solids
<Highlight the folder Plan-Alteration, click right and select Slice View. From the
File Selector, choose the Grid Set Benches. Click OK. When the slicing has completed
close all the solids.>
Viewing the Data
You can see that one new Geometry Object was created in folder Plan-Alteration for
each material type.
<Change the Azimuth to 0 and the Dip to -90. Click the Viewer Properties icon.
Attach Grid Set Benches and go to 2-D mode. Then step though the levels and view the
VBM features on each level.>
Note: the VBM features will need editing before they can be linked, or used to code
the model.
Contour Surface
There is another way to slice solids and surfaces without using a Grid Set. This is the
Contour Surface operation. This is very quick and easy, but it is done one solid (or
surface) at a time.
<Close everything that is open, change to 3-D mode and open object 4solid in folder
3D-Alteration.
In folder Plan-alteration create a new Geometry Object called 4Contour. Assign it
material 4. Put 4Contour into active Edit mode. Now click Polyline I Contour
Surface.> The Contour Surface window will appear. All that is required is a start and
end elevation and an increment. There is also a smoothing option that works very well.
We want to slice from 2000 to 2960 with an increment of 15m. When that is set up,
<click on the blue surface icon in the Contour Surface window. Then click 4solid in the
viewer. Select Apply.> The contouring will proceed as soon as you click on the solid.
The only disadvantage of Contour Surface is that it only contours horizontally.
<Close all open objects when you have finished.>
Page 29-1
Notes:
Page 29-2