ASSIGNMENT 1

MSMRE (CH# 3, Questions 2,3,4) + 5 & 6

Dawar Abbas
MS-MRE-03
Question 2:
Table 3.1 provides U3O8 data (%) for contiguous samples from eight drill holes (after Rivoirard,
1987). Construct a grade profile for any three consecutive drill holes and comment on the
continuity of both low and high grades (see also Fig. 7.9).
Assume that individual values are for 2-m samples and that the drill holes are vertical, collared
on a flat surface, spaced at 25-m intervals, and numbered consecutively across a mineralized
field of flatly dipping sandstone beds.
No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 No. 5 No. 6 No. 7 No. 8

0.79 0.09 0.10 0.62 1.13 0.08 0.12 0.16

0.19 0.09 0.94 0.52 1.32 0.08 0.12 0.16
0.51 0.09 0.10 0.27 2.13 0.00 1.52 0.16
0.56 0.83 0.53 0.35 2.82 0.08 0.62 0.18
1.26 0.16 0.10 0.28 0.62 0.08 0.12 0.42
1.14 0.09 0.10 0.30 2.35 0.08 0.12 0.16
2.47 0.09 0.97 5.46 19.17 0.06 0.12 0.1
5.86 0.82 0.45 25.47 1.81 0.08 0.12 0.45
26.89 1.14 3.16 0.15 9.06 0.08 0.12 0.16
24.07 6.52 5.41 0.15 10.98 0.08 0.12 0.16
20.59 0.24 50.43 0.15 12.05 0.08 0.12 0.16
10.30 0.09 11.17 0.15 3.66 2.10 0.12 0.16
5.31 0.20 0.23 0.88 6.76 0.98 0.12 0.16
57.94 0.09 0.20 0.99 3.37 3.53 0.12 0.16
26.04 0.09 0.33 0.15 0.23 9.63 0.12 0.16
22.34 1.82 0.10 0.56 1.74 20.33 0.12 0.16
11.52 0.09 0.19 0.53 0.21 12.11 0.12 0.16
42.79 0.09 0.22 4.51 0.17 4.17 0.12 0.16
1.50 18.07 0.20 0.25 2.57 1.25 0.12 2.17
9.89 38.72 1.14 0.15 2.68 0.08 0.12 0.23
2.33 27.98 1.04 0.15 0.92 0.69 0.94 0.16
0.67 3.93 0.10 5.00 1.94 0.08 5.60 0.16
1.48 5.81 0.10 4.54 0.17 0.08 0.82 0.16
0.15 0.65 0.10 1.64 0.17 0.19 1.40 0.16
0.42 0.09 0.10 0.15 0.17 0.08 6.77 0.26
0.82 0.09 0.10 0.15 0.17 0.20 18.26 3.36
1.48 0.09 0.10 0.15 0.17 0.30 11.14 1.43
4.72 0.09 0.10 0.15 0.17 0.56 4.82 5.00
6.57 0.09 0.10 0.15 0.17 0.69 3.98 17.88
3.31 0.09 0.10 0.15 0.17 0.08 1.67 1.79
4.13 1.43 0.25 3.04 0.17 0.08 1.42 1.36
11.31 0.32 0.10 9.57 0.17 0.08 0.23 11.84
12.48 0.09 0.10 6.67 0.17 0.08 1.61 1.73
7.68 5.19 0.10 5.95 0.17 0.08 1.58 0.23
12.17 1.74 0.10 0.96 0.17 0.08 1.96 0.53
0.59 0.09 0.10 5.66 0.17 0.08 3.72 0.16
0.15 1.52 0.57 0.58 0.17 0.08 9.16 0.16
1.04 12.20 0.55 0.15 0.17 0.08 3.09 0.16
1.05 2.19 0.10 0.15 0.17 0.08 0.49 0.16
1.73 1.28 0.10 0.15 0.17 0.08 0.12 0.16
1.98 0.21 0.96 0.15 0.17 0.08 0.12 0.16
3.54 0.09 1.08 0.59 0.17 0.71 0.12 0.16
Grade Profiles

Drill hole 1
100.00
0.00
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142

Dril Hole 2
50.00
0.00
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42

Drill hole 3
50.00
0.00
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42

Drill hole 4
50.00
0.00
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42

Dril hole 5
50.00

0.00
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42

Drill hole 6
50.00
0.00
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42

Drill hole 7
20.00
0.00
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42
 Drill hole 8
20.00
0.00
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42

All Drill holes Grade Profile

70.00

60.00

50.00

40.00

30.00

20.00

10.00

0.00
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42

Series1 Series2 Series3 Series4 Series5 Series6 Series7 Series8

Continuity
Vertical continuity:
High grade region is less continuous in vertical sequence. It appears from data the resource body
with grade greater than 20 encountered near 16-m depth and follows a gradational trend and has
a peak value of 56.89 at around 28-m depth of first drill hole. The number of peaks for grade
greater than 20 are three and 2nd and 3rd peak shows irregular trends (abrupt change in grade with
depth).
More or less the same pattern for vertical grade continuity for all 8 drill holes. That suggest there
is very low continuity for high grades (>20) appears for vertical grades.
For low grade continuity is followed by larger distances for vertical successions, and the same
pattern is present in all drill holes.
Horizontal continuity:
For the case grade greater than 5 a lateral continuity runs for ~50-m with a dipping angle around
4⁰.

~4-m
~4⁰

~50-m

From drill hole 1 - 3

Data suggest resource body with high grade continuity present in patches and with a dip angle
about 25 degree from drill hole 3-8.
For low grade high lateral grade continuity is present.

~48-m

~25⁰

~100-m
Question 3:

Figure 2.1 is a geologic plan of the surface pit, Endako molybdenum mine, central British Columbia (after Kimura et
al., 1976). Assuming this level to be representative of the deposit, comment on geologic and value continuity models
for the deposit.

The picture represents a bird eye view of the porphyry type molybdenum mine, that has a
moderately disturbed porphyry crystallization in veins and dykes of granite, aplite, quartz
mozonite and basalt that was present at the area before porphyry crystallization took place.
The country rocks have been intruded with magma with high silica content in porphyry type
volcanism. After crystallization of magma the zone was subjected to compression and trans-
pression types deformation could have took place and the original geometry of the area changed
that caused lateral vein continuity discontinuous. By restoring the geology to original
crystallization pattern, we can easily make a connected network of veins.
Question 5:
Consider a 100-m (northerly) by 30-m horizontal zone of vertical, sheeted veins striking N–S.
Individual veins are 2–4 cm wide, can be traced for 20–30 m along the strike, and are spaced at
10–15 cm intervals across strike. Three lines of samples have been taken across strike: 25, 50,
and 75 m north of the south boundary. Each line crosses the entire 30-m width of the deposit and
is composed of six contiguous 5-m samples.

(a) Comment on the quality of the sampling plan, assuming it to be an early stage evaluation.
(b) The grade estimation problem is two-dimensional at this stage. How would you
arrange an array of 5 × 10 m2 blocks for estimation? Why?
(c) Categorize the blocks in your array into several groups of relative quality of estimate.

75-m
100-m

50-m

25-m

a) In dykes and veins chemical composition varies in vertical direction, for horizontal
extension it is more or less uniform. Chemical composition suggests the chemical
continuity of the deposit in horizontal spread.
Geological setting may suggest the strike slip movement of block as veins are present in
discontinuous manners rather connected to each other. For chemical composition test this
pattern of sampling is suitable. If the veins are of random length varying between 20—
30-m then sampling will be unbiased and would represent the better representation of the
grade of deposit.
But for strike slip movement one line may hit completely barren place in block as we
have selected one line at 25-m from south, if the dykes present there have length of 20-m
 and a separation of >5-m. for this scenario this sampling would be underestimation for
ore grade.

For strike slip case:

Case Vein length G1 L1 L2 L3
1 30 3.33 0-30 33.3-63.6 66.6-96.6
2 25 8.33 0-25 33.3-58.3 66.6-91.6
3 20 13.33 0-20 33.3-53.3 66.6-86.6

Case Vein length G1 L1 L2 L3

1 30 3.33 3.3-33.3 36.6-66.6 70-100
2 25 8.33 8.33-33.3 41.6-66.6 75-100
3 20 13.33 13.33-33.3 46.6-66.6 80-100

RANGE for maximum probability to hit all veins.

1st Line 13.33-20
2ND Line 46.6-53.3
RD
3 Line 80-86.6

b) As area of study/ evaluation has dimensions 30*100- m2 and is more continuous along
strike of veins, it is suitable to get a clear picture of mineral content in small blocks for
ease of excavation and keeping economical parameters in mind, by divided the block area
into arrays. To arrange an array of 5*10- m2 we consider a SMU/ block of 5-m along
eastern extension and 10-m along strike of veins.
The previous picture with 3 lines across the strike of veins can give a reasonable estimate
or picture of ore grade, but to get more precise results and for mine planning we define a
SMU that in this case would be reasonable for 5 * 10- m2.

c) Only the blocks with strike slip area would differ from the adjacent blocks. Blocks
without discontinuity will contain higher grade of ore, and those with strike slip
conditions or discontinuities with low grade.
Question 5:
Case 1: Oblique to Strike but strata is not dipping (Dip angle = 0).

45⁰
Strike

45⁰ X
Length= L

True Thickness = x
Core detected length = L
Angle= α

X=L sin α
Case 2: Oblique to Strike and strata is dipping (Dip angle = α).

Strike
α
L β
X

L= Drilling Length
X= True Thickness
α = dipping angle of strata
β = oblique angle of drilling

X = L sin (β-α)

Question 6:

Calculate the average grade given the following

– The laterite (L) has an in-situ density of 1.25 g/cm3,
– The decomposed serpentinite (ZS) has an in-situ density of 1.0
g/cm3.

L = 1250 kg/m3
ZS = 1000 kg/m3
 Pit B

Pit A
10-m
10-m
12.5-m
12.5-m
12.5-m
12.5-m 1.2% Ni
4-m L
1.2% Ni
4-m
L 1.2% Ni
3-m
ZS
1.2% Ni
4-m ZS

Average Density =
For pit A = As depth is equal for both densities so average density would be simple average.
Average Density Pit A = (1.25 + 1)/ 2 = 1.125g/cm3
For pit B = weighted average with depth
Average Density Pit B = (4*1.25 + 3*1)/ (4 + 3) = 1.143g/cm3

Average Grade =
For pit A = ((4*1.25*1.2) + (4*1*2.9)) / 4*1.25 + 4*1 = 1.9555%
For pit B = ((4*1.25*1.1) + (3*1*3.5)) / 4*1.25 + 3*1 = 2.00%

Average Grade =
A Depth = 8-m B Depth = 7-m
Simple Average= (1.955 + 2)/2 = 1.9777%
Meter % method = 25-m
(8*1.9555 + 7*2)/ 8+7 = 1.9762%
1.955%
Percentage Method = 2.00%

(Meter% + 1.9555 + 2.00) / 3 = 1.9772%