MN 321

SURFACE MINING METHODS

LECTURE 3: BLOCK MODELS

Dr. K. R Baruti
 INTRODUCTION
Basic to application of computer techniques for grade and tonnage
estimation is the visualization of the deposit as a collection of blocks
An ore-body model represents a reality constructed from predicted
information.
The blocks in the model are subsets of the overall model.
The ore body is divided into a set of blocks or small regularly shaped unit
volumes.
Each block is assigned an east coordinate, north coordinate and elevation
which locate it in space.
Block models enable mine planning engineers to effectively select the most
promising means of extracting the ore both physically and economically.
The idea is to divide the ore-body into smaller blocks which contain
information pertinent to the ore-body (block), such as:
• Mineralogy – grade, rock type and rock competence;
• Production;
• Financial;
• Metallurgical.
EXAMPLE OF A 3-D BLOCK MODEL
EXAMPLES OF BLOCK MODELS
For the purpose of mine planning only the whole blocks are considered
and a block represents 100 % of any characteristics.

For example, a given block can be considered to represent only one

rock type.

Block modeling is effectively done by means of computer

 REPRESENTATION
2 Dimension blocks
y

x
3 Dimension blocks

x
LOCATION OF BLOCK
Location of the blocks depends on the following factors;
• Overburden ore contact
• The interface between types of mineralization (oxides-sulfides)
• High grade-low grade zones

Thus,
The block can be completely in waste
The block can be completely in ore
Or sometimes it can contain ore and waste (mixed block)
Micro blocks are uniquely fixed in space with coordinates like (i, j, k)
e.g. (1,1,1)
k

i
 BLOCK SIZE

• It is necessary to determine block size before either geologic or

topographical data can be built.
• It is critical to analyse that the chosen block size adequately
describes the general geometry of the ore body and pertinent
geological features.
• Also the size should be such that it provides for accurate
definition of ore from waste considering sample density and
tonnage represented by mine plan is accurate.
The block height is established by the existing bench height in the mine but
block width is determined by the following parameters:

1. General geometry of the ore body

2. Size and shape of the geologic features that are going to be incorporated in
the model
3. Sample density and spacing (rule of thumb- the minimum size of a block
should not be less than ¼ of the average drill hole interval, say 50ft blocks
for a 200 ft drilling grid and 200 ft for an 800 ft drilling grid)
4. Shovel dimensions to ensure enough room for operating equipment
OPEN PIT SUPERIMPOSED IN THE BLOCK MODEL
 TYPES OF BLOCK MODELS
i) Regular Block Model
ii) Irregular block model
iii) Gridded seam model

i)Regular Block Model

Every single block has
the same size
Mainly used for
stratified deposits ie
alternative tabular
layers of mineral
material
ii) Irregular
block model
The microblock
has different
size
Common for
lens mineral
iii) Gridded seam model
Each of the grid point will have the depth of the seam and
height of seam
Interpolation is confined with geological boundaries.
TECHNIQUES USED TO ASSIGN
GRADES TO BLOCKS
The tonnage of each block can be easily found from the block volume (the
same for all blocks) and the tonnage factor (which may vary)
Two techniques plus geostatistic and krigging are used to assign grade,
• they are all based upon the application of the “sphere of influence”
concept in which grades are assigned to blocks by weighting the grade
of nearby blocks
• Variation in how the weighting factors are selected distinguish the three
methods.
Important assumptions
• Blocks are considered as point values rather than as volumes
• For the bench estimation, composite grades for that bench alone are
used
• All of the grades are assumed to belong to the same mineralization type
and are all useable in assigning grades to the blocks ie there are no
characteristics which eliminate certain values (change in mineralization),
formation, rock type, structural features.
RULES OR PRINCIPLES USED TO ASSIGN
BLOCK GRADE
The most common grade prediction techniques are;
1. The principle/rule –of-nearest points – assign each block
in the inventory the value of the nearest sample. Where
there are two or more samples equidistant from the
block centre the block is assigned the average value of
the samples.
2. The principle of gradual change – the grade of
blocks/samples in the mineral inventory change
gradually.
THE PRINCIPLE/RULE –OF-NEAREST POINTS

This is polygon method/approach

• Grade of a polygon is assigned based on the closed grade of the block with the
closed distance
• If the close distance is greater than that of a certain value R, no value is
assigned
• If the block centre is at equidistant from two or more known grades, an average
value is assigned
• Figure 3.54 shows polygonal interpolation to the composite values shown as
level 5140 in Figure 3.45
• If a block contains a hole, it is assigned that value
• Blocks without hole are assigned the value of the nearest hole within a 250 ft
radius
• For blocks having centres outside of this radius a value of zero has been
assigned
• The shaded area has been interpolated as mineralization > or = 0.6 % Cu
• Accumulation of blocks with projected grades > or= 0.6 % is calculated as
2.033,778 st at an average grade of 0.9%
POLYGON METHODS
Grades remain constant over a
region extending halfway to the
adjacent hole
As the boundary between blocks
is crossed, the grade drops that
in the adjacent region
The grade at a point was
determined only by the closet
grade and none other.
 THE PRINCIPLE OF GRADUAL CHANGE/ CONSTANT DISTANCE
WEIGHTING TECHNIQUES
It is a method that allows all of the
surrounding grades to influence
grade estimation at a point. For
example see Figure 3.55 and Figure
3.56
 Calculations of expected grades at points a, b and c

1. Inverse distance weighting 2. Inverse distance squared (IDS)

technique weighting formula
EXAMPLE 1
Figure 3.60 shows an
inverse distance
squared (m =2)
computer evaluation
of the 5140.
The rule used for the
simulation are :
• Radius of influence
= 250 ft
• M=2
• Angular exclusion
angle = 18 degrees
The accumulation of
blocks > or = 0.6% is
calculated to be
2,003,000 st at an
average grade of
0.91% Cu
GENERAL FORMULA
 EXAMPLE 2
The estimation technique consists of computing an estimated value
for each unsampled block based on the assay values of the
surrounding drill holes.

This method is flexible and requires the selection and assessment

of input options which affect the interpolation results, these
include:
• Block size,
• Maximum number of nearest holes
• Distance of influence,
• Prescribed minimum angle of separation
• Rock type
THE EFFECT OF ROCK TYPE AND STRUCTURE
 CAL..

Drill holes 1 & 8 are excluded because they are beyond 300m
maximum area of influence set in this example. Drill hole 10 is
excluded because an input constraint restricting the maximum
number of nearest holes has been exceeded and drill hole 11
because rock type D has been assumed to be less favorable as a
host for ore grade mineralization than rock type C. Drill hole 3 and 5
are excluded because angles G5-B-G4 and G3-B-G9 are less than the
prescribed minimum angle of separation.
The remaining five holes composite assays are used to calculate the
block grade using linear weighting in first calculation and a second
degree weighting in the second calculations. As the degree of
weighting increases , the grade assignment to the block becomes
more dependent on the value o the nearest sample. The distance
weighting can be varied within the same ore body model, for
example, linear weighting for blocks of one rock type, second order
for another etc.
 CAL.

The choice of the grade assignment technique or the weighting to be used is

critical. The decision can be made by tabulating representative data from mined
portions of the ore body and comparing them to the predicted results
First calculation
B = G2/d2 +G6/d6 + G9/d9 + G7/d7 + G4/d4
1/d2 +1/d6 + 1/d9 + 1/d7 + 1/d4
B = 0.5/200 + 0.5/200 + 0.7/150 + 1.0/250 +0.9/100
1/200 + 1/200 + 1/150 + 1/250 + 1/100
B = 0.74%
Second calculation
B= G2/d22 +G6/d62 + G9/d92 + G7/d72 + G4/d42
1/d22 +1/d62 + 1/d92 + 1/d72 + 1/d42

B= 0.5/2002 + 0.5/2002 + 0.7/1502 + 1.0/2502 +0.9/1002

1/2002 + 1/2002 + 1/1502 + 1/2502 + 1/1002

B=0.77%
BLOCK MODEL DATABASE
• Each block will have been given a grade of its own
• Identification of the block
• The grade given in each block will have different minerals
eg Cu, Au etc
• Treatment properties can be assigned in each block eg
leaching or conventional method of recovery
• The block economic value
GEOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC MODELS
The geological models: are simply attempt to describe the
distribution and types of mineral within the areas investigated.
The model can be expanded as new information is added, but will
not change as a result of changing mining method or market
conditions for the minerals involved.
An economic model: is built up by assigning a net value to every
block in the geological model. The net value of a block is obtained
by subtracting the mining and processing costs from the market
price of its contained products. By using various mining methods,
assuming changing costs and prices difference. Economic
models can be generated from the same geologic model. The
mineable ore reserves, ie the part of the mineral deposit that can
be exploited at a profit, can then be determined by appraising the
economic model or models.
BLOCK ECONOMIC VALUE (BEV)
The basic data required for development of the economic model
include the selling price of the products, mining and post mining
costs, taxes, depreciation associated with replacement of the capital
and metallurgical characteristics.
The financial data can be derived from the cost sheets, depreciation
schedules and other financial documents.
The metallurgical characteristics usually are based on operating
experiences and or mill tests related to the particular ore types

Economic model can be determined as follow:

(BEV) = I – DC – IC
Characterize each block by
Income (I): from saleable
Direct cost (DCt): drilling cost, blasting, loading cost and
transporting cost, materially cost like ore and waste
Indirect cost (ICt): eg GM salary, depreciation for machinery
Block Economic Value can be defined as BEV= Ii – DCi
However, Profit (or Loss) = ∑BEV – ICt
Each block can have:

• positive BEV
• negative BEV
• zero BEV
depending on the quantity and quality of minerals in that
block
BEV..
V = 1000(pad/100) - k
1000 is a factor for obtaining kg of metal from one tonne of ore
V = 10pad-k
Where p = price expressed in terms of kg of saleable product
a = total recovery along the production chain, mill,
smelter, refinery
d = grade of ore in %
k = ore cost in $ /tonne ore
EXAMPLE 3
Find the value (recoverable value) per tonne of Cu ore with a
grade of 1.5 % Cu under the following conditions:
Mill recovery = 80 %
Smelter efficient = 97.5 %
Refinery efficiency = 99.8 %
Total cost for value (total cost for recovery value) =$13
Copper selling price = $2750 /tonne Cu
(Solution V = $19.09/tonne)
EXAMPLE 4

Determine the total value of the saleable products associated with a block
of 38,000 tonnes as shown below:

ore value grade % recovery Qantity unit price $ value per tone $
Cu 7.00% 85 5.95 1 5.95
MoS2 0.03% 70 0.21 3 0.63
Au 0.003oz/t 55 0.0016oz 35 0.056
Ag 0.08oz/t 70 0.056oz 1.35 0.076
Total value per tone 6.712
SAMPLE CALCULATIONS
For Cu
(0.7/100) x1000 x 0.85 = 5.95
5.95 x 1.0 = 5.95
For Au
(0.003x55/100) = 0.00165
0.00165 x 35 = 0.05775
Total block value of 38,000 tonnes will be 38,000 x 6.71 = $
255,056.00
The costs assigned to block of potential ore are determined by
evaluating the mining costs, which vary with the location in the mine,
plus the extractive and selling costs. These costs reflect operating
expenses, depreciations and overhead for example;

Mining cost per tonne = $1.25

Processing cost per tonne = $3.50
____________________________
Total cost per tonne = $4.75
Total cost = 38,000 * 4.75 = $180,500
The difference between total value $255,056 and $180,500 cost is the
money available to support stripping
EXAMPLE 5

A vertical section of an open pit showing the distribution of grade of Cu in %

0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.0

0.0 0.2 0.5 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.2 0.1 0.1
0.0 0.2 0.5 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.2 0.1 0.1
0.0 0.2 0.5 0.6 0.8 0.5 0.2 0.1 0.0
0.0 0.2 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.5 0.2 0.1 0.0
The net value - % copper graph is given by the following relation:
NV=5*(% Cu)-2 in 000 of money units per tonne of copper ore
Use the above equation, calculate the net value for each block of
the section. Present your result in a suitable tabular form. Each
block has the dimension of 15m*15m*15m
Block economic value = tonnage per block * NV
Tonnage factor = 0.3m3/T
NV = 5*0.0 – 2 = -2*1000
NV = 5*0.1 – 2 = -1.5*1000
NV = 5*0.2 – 2 = -1.0*1000
NV = 5*0.5 – 2 = 0.5*1000
NV = 5*0.6 – 2 = 1.0*1000
NV = 5*0.7 – 2 = 1.5*1000
NV = 5*0.8 – 2 = 2.0*1000

Tonnage/ block = 15*15*15/0.3=11250

For NV = -2
BEV = 15*15*15*(-2.0)*1000/0.3
For NV = -1.5
BEV = 15*15*15*(-1.5)*1000/0.3
For NV = -1.0
15*15*15*(-1.0)*1000/0.3
…………….. until
For NV =2.0*1000,
BEV = 15*15*15*2.0*1000/0.3
= 22.5*10^6
-1500 -1500 -1000 -1000 -1000 -1000 -1000 -1500 -2000

-2000 -1000 500 1500 1500 1500 -1000 -1500 -1500

-2000 -1000 500 2000 2000 200 -1000 -1500 -1500

-2000 -1000 500 1000 2000 500 -1000 -1500 -2000

-2000 -1000 500 1000 1500 500 -1000 -1500 -2000

NV

Cut off Cu
grade %
EXERCISE
Use Example 4 develop NV-Grade curve

Tutorial
See Tutorial 3
 5. REFERENCES
1. Hustrulid, W. and Kuchta, M. (2006) Open Pit Mine : Planning and
Design: Fundamentals., London: Taylor and Francis.
2. Kennedy, B. A. (1990) Surface Mining. 2nd edition. Baltimore
Maryland: Port City press Inc. From Section 1.1 to 1.5
3. Wright, E. A. (1990) Open Pit Mine Design Models: An introduction
with Fortran 77 programs, Trans Tech Publications, Germany