MineSight® in the Foreground

Variograms in MineSight® Data Analyst (MSDA)

MineSight® Data Analyst (MSDA) is a package In order to create a set of variograms, select Vario-
of statistical and geostatistical programs; roughly a gram from the Tools menu.
superset of the MineSight® M300 and M400 series. Once you select this option, a new panel (Vario-
It includes histograms, scatterplots, cumulative gram Parameters) pops up (Figure 2)
probability plots, variograms, Variogram 3-D mod-
eling, and custom (user-defined) reports. MSDA
supports all MineSight® drillhole, blasthole, and
block model files, as well as ODBC compliant data-
bases and text files.
This article discusses, in preliminary detail,
MSDA’s applications to variogram modeling in
MineSight® projects. Future articles will delve into the
many intricate details of MSDA.
Start MSDA and open a project. For the purposes
of this article, we will assume the project is using a
MineSight® composites file.
MSDA permits the user to display the filenames of
the project’s variograms, histograms, scatterplots, etc.,
for selection and viewing (Figure 1). These files, when
created, are displayed in the lower panel, under MSDA
Files. In this instance, we will only display Variograms
and, therefore, we will select this option only. Upon
selection, a check mark will be automatically placed
beside the word Variogram. Figure 2
A number of options are available in the Vario-
gram Parameters panel. Basic items such as Lag
distance, Number of lags, Tolerance, the data to
be modeled, etc., can be inserted where appropriate
in the General tab. By opening the drop-down list in
the box labeled Type, the desired type of variogram
to be built (Figure 3) can be selected. These variogram
choices include Normal, Covariance, Pairwise Rela-
tive, Relative (local mean), and Correlogram. The
item that will be controlling the variogram (TOTCU)
is selected from the drop-down list (Figure 3).
Figure 1 (continued on page 5)

4 November 2005

(Variograms in MineSight® Data Analyst (MSDA) continued from page 4)
Figure 3
The Filter tab (Figure 4) is where, for example, the
different rock types that will control the variograms
are specified. This window becomes active when the
Use Application Filter box is checked. A complete set
of variograms will be built using composites for each
specific set of rock types, i.e., for each line in the filters
box. If you are building 30 different variograms, i.e.,
30 different directions, and you specify five different
rock types, MSDA will build 150 variograms (30 for
each rock type). Each filter (line) contains the rock
type or types, a title suffix and a file suffix. When
MSDA creates the variograms for a given filter, it
selects composites of the specified rock type or types,
appends the title suffix to the main chart title, and
appends the file suffix to the variogram files.
Figure 4
November 2005
MineSight® in the Foreground
Basic information on variogram orientations is in
the Directions tab (Figure 5).
Figure 5
Details on azimuths, dips, and bandwidths are
specified in the Directions tab. In the example, the
initial variogram has an initial azimuth of zero and a
Window of 22.5 degrees. Variograms will be built at
45-degree azimuth increments in a total of four direc-
tions. Likewise, the initial dip is horizontal (0 degrees)
and varies at 30-degree increments for a total of four
steps. The search Window is +/- 15-degrees wide. The
bandwidths are activated by putting a check mark on
the corresponding box, then the appropriate band-
width can be added. The horizontal bandwidth in this
example is 60 feet; no vertical bandwidth was added
in this example.
There are options for coordinate rotation if they
become necessary to be applied to the variograms. The
Rotation type option includes several methods, some
of the most common options being GSLIB and MEDS.
The Title and labels tab, as its name implies, is
where the description of the variograms is entered
(Figure 6). Besides the title, labels for the X and Y axis
plus a description of the variogram can be added here.
(continued on page 6)
5
MineSight® in the Foreground

(Variograms in MineSight® Data Analyst (MSDA) continued from page 5)

The four buttons at the bottom of each of the tabs

in the Variogram Parameters panel have specific
meanings and can be activated from any of the tabs.
The Cancel button, obviously, cancels the operation
and returns the user to the start of the Variogram
operation without saving the entries made. The Done
button does the same thing as the Cancel button, but
saves the changes that were made to the contents of
the panels.
The Queue and Build Now buttons execute the
run provided the Variogram file(s) root name has
been specified (Figure 8) by the user (cu bhs in the
example).

Figure 6
The last tab, Options (Figure 7), has three addi-
tional parameters that can be activated by placing a
check mark on the corresponding boxes and entering
the project-related values. Implementation of these
options depend upon the needs of the project. Normal
variograms can be transformed to log using the equa-
tion shown on the first option. The second option is
used to bracket the values of the item for which the
variogram is being generated. The types of vario-
grams that can be normalized are Normal and Cova-
riance only, and can be specified in the third option
in the last panel. Finally, the boxes for Constant for
relative estimator, Minimum distance to accept Figure 8
pairs, and Consider vertical if within must be filled
appropriately. The Build Now button executes the run immedi-
ately while the Queue option saves the run for even-
tual execution.
Upon execution of the run, the variograms are built
and their file names appear in the lower-left window
of the main panel (Figure 9). Before proceeding it is
recommended to review the file-names and make
sure that all of the requested variograms plus two (at
the bottom of the list) are present. These last two var-
iograms are global variograms in all directions (e. g.,
cu bhs_global.var), and a global variogram (cu
bhs_hrz_global.var) in the horizontal direction.
(continued on page 7)

Figure 7

6 November 2005

(Variograms in MineSight® Data Analyst (MSDA) continued from page 6)
Figure 9
A variogram filename such as cu bhs_90_
30.var consists of a root (cu bhs) chosen by the user,
the azimuth (90), its dip (30) and the file extension
var. This is the file naming convention used in MSDA.
Clicking on the Open button after highlighting one
of the variograms, will bring up a panel where addi-
tional information on the selected variogram, as well
as access to its related information, is made available
to the user (Figure 10). In the first tab (Chart) the
Auto-Fit button was depressed to fit a model to the
variogram (red line).
Figure 10
The parametersfor the variogram model can be
modified manually by dragging the markers on the
curve, or by keying parameters into the dialog at the
upper right corner. When you modify the model by
dragging the markers, MSDA instantly updates the
parameters in the dialog, and vice versa. MSDA sup-
ports models with up to three structures.
November 2005
MineSight® in the Foreground
One can also build a best fit model by simply click-
ing on the Auto-Fit button. A number of options are
available, such as tolerance, weight by number of
points, and so on.
Specific information pertaining to each data
point can be readily accessed and viewed by
placing the arrow of the mouse directly over any
desired data point. This shows such basic items as
the lag range, the value, number of pairs, average
distance, drift, mean grade, and standard deviation
for the point selected.
The Global Stats tab (Figure 11) displays the basic
statistics of the variogram. The panel is self-explana-
tory; however, it is important to note the number of
samples in the data source vs. the number of actual
valid samples used in the run. It also shows the exact
boundaries of the volume of sampled material cov-
ered by the variogram.
Figure 11
The Lag Stats tab shows a summary of the var-
iogram (Figure 12). It is a summary that includes
the range, number of pairs, distance, drift, etc.,
of the variogram. The corresponding mean of the
pairs involved as well as its standard deviation are
also shown.
(continued on page 8)
7
MineSight® in the Foreground

(Variograms in MineSight® Data Analyst (MSDA) continued from page 7)

Figure 12
Detailed variogram modeling options can be
started from the main panel with the command Tools
| Variogram 3D Modeling. The available variograms
will be displayed as in Figure 13.
If there are no variograms, they have to be high-
lighted in the project directory (use Microsoft® Win-
dows Explorer), then dragged and dropped into the
File area.
Figure 14
The variogram contours can now be viewed on
any plane by selecting the Rose tab in the variogram
panel. This shows the trends of the mineralization
represented by the variograms on that plane. The
properties of the points, contour lines, etc., can be
modified and tailored to the user’s specifications.

Figure 15
Figure 13
The variogram contours can also be individual-
Users can drag one or more variograms from their
ized for report or presentation purposes. Figure 16
MSDA project into the 3D Modeler’s list at the lower
shows an example. A variety of other modifications,
right corner. To automatically fit a 3-D variogram
as well as printing or exporting to a bitmap, can be
model to this collection of variograms, select Auto-
implemented using the icons in the Toolbar.
Fit from the 3D Model menu. As with the Auto-Fit
tool for the individual variograms discussed earlier, (continued on page 9)
several options are available such as tolerance, weight
by number of points, and so on. However, the default
values typically work well.

8 November 2005
 MineSight® in the Foreground

(Variograms in MineSight® Data Analyst (MSDA) continued from page 8)

Figure 16
The orientation of the various structures of the
variogram model can also be displayed in plan and
cross-sections (Figure 17). To access this option, use
the command 3D Model | Display Structures on
Planes. In this example, there is only one variogram Figure 17
structure. Therefore, there are no displays in the There are many more helpful options that were not
second and third structures. Also, because we gen- covered in this article about variography in MSDA.
erated only the horizontal variograms and set the Additional descriptions of the tools related to vario-
verical range to a small distance, EW and NS section gram modeling, as well as to other MSDA options,
views are displaying flat ellipses with no dip. will be published in future newsletters.

Call for Papers Call for Photographs of Mines—

23rd Annual Mintec, Inc. Seminar
Technical Papers—You are invited to submit an abstract
of a proposed paper for presentation at the 23rd Annual
Mintec Seminar, March 20-24, 2006 at the Sheraton
Tucson Hotel & Suites, Tucson, AZ. Consider any applica-
tion of MineSight® to a mining problem of general interest
to the attendees. Presentations should be from 5 to 20
minutes in length.
Deadlines—Receipt of Abstracts - January 16, 2006
Receipt of final presentation files - March 12, 2006
Please make note on your registration form that you are a
presenter.
Submit your abstracts, in Microsoft® Word format, approx-
imately 300 words, with the following information:
Tilte, Subject, and Keyword We need photopraphs of your mine for our 2006 calendar. This
Name(s), Tilte(s), Address(es), and Telephone Number(s) is a great way to showcase the special features of your mine.
of all authors. Submit photographs of your mining operation to Robert Ash-
Address questions /abstracts to: baugh at Robert.A@mintec.com. High resolution, sharp focused
Fred Fest, Mintec, Inc. digital files at 300 dpi are preferred. Sharp focused prints can
Telephone: 520.795.3891 Fax: 520.325.2568 be sent to Mintec, Inc., 3544 E. Ft. Lowell Rd., Tucson, AZ 85716
E-mail: Fred.F@mintec.com USA. Attn: R. Ashbaugh. Prints will not be returned.

November 2005 9