1. Using Statistical Interpolation to Build Block Models – Part II (Setting up Files and Coding Air Blocks)
Using MineSight®
©2007 Dr. B. C. Paul revisions 2009
(Note – The Screenshots contained in this show are operating views of the MineSight® computer programs and the steps suggested for operating include ideas taken from Minetec operating manuals, courses, publications, or technical support advice)

2. What Do I Have So Far
I have the earths surface in a 3D model that I made from a topo map
I’m going to use that surface to distinguish areas that are made up of air and have not mineral value from those that are made of rock and might have mineral value

3. What I Plan On Doing I will set up a block model
Minable reserves are represented by a series of millions of blocks with average grades and other properties
Kind of like a 3D pixel image
I will create a file to hold my block model
I will create a similar digital model of surface elevations
I will use that surface elevation model to code into each block of my block model what percentage of that block is made of rock.

4. My First Move
I will use MineSight Compass to set up the needed block model and digital surface image.

5. Start MineSight Compass
Left click On
MineSight
From the
Menu tabs
A menu
Drops down
Left click on
Compass

6. This is a Detour I’m getting a Dirty note about Not finding
A project file.
This commonly
Happens when
A project is
Being started
And when a
Project has been
Moved from
One computer
To another. (It
Looses track of
The project file)

7. If This Happens to You Read the Instructions – they Tell you what to
Do.
Then left click Ok

8. Compass Opens But Everything is Grayed Out

9. I’m Going to Look for the Simple Fix – MineSight has lost track of the Project File.
Left click file to
Drop down the
File menu
Move the curser
To open and
Left click

10. It Brings Up the Directory for Me to Find the Project File
If you are
Getting
Complaints
About no file10
(Project Control
File) or no
Prj file they
Will usually
Come up in
This view
You left click on
The file and
Then left click
open

11. I This Case There Really has been no Project File Created Yet so I Need to Do This
Yipes – no
File
Left click
Cancel so
We can
Create the
Needed file.

12. Now I Try to Create a New Project File
Left click file
To drop down
The menu
Put the curser
Above New
(new turns blue
And a side
Menu pops out)
Move the curser
Over project
And left click

13. Project Files are Initialized From Project Control Files – Called File 10s
The computer
Shows you
Everything that
Might be a file 10
And asks you to
Pick it
(This is the
Same thing that
Comes up if
MineSight has
Lost track of a
File 10)
Note I do see my
File 10. Put the
Curser on it and
Left click

14. Now Left Click On Open

15. Everything Comes to Life (not grayed out anymore) and Our Little Detour is Over.

16. Oh Where Were We – Oh Yes I Was Going to Create my Block Surface and Block Model Files (called files 13 and 15)
Left click on
The project
Tab
Then left click
On the open
Icon to open
File editor

17. Up Comes My Project File Editor Screen – I’m going to set up my digital surface – My file 13

18. Left Click On File and Pick New

19. Up Comes My Choice of What Type of File
Left click on
The 13-GSF
(I want to
Create a file
13 and GSF
Stands for
Gridded Surface
File)

20. The Computer Immediately Suggests the Minimum Things that Should be in a File 13
If I want
Other
Variables
I can click
On the
Boxes
And add
Them.
In my case
The
Suggestion
Is fine
So I left
Click the
Save icon

21. It Wants Me to Give the File a Name

22. About Naming Conventions
MineSight File names still have the old 6 characters before the dot limitation
The last 2 characters should be the numbers for the type of file
In this case I’m creating a file 13
The first 4 characters should be some sort of project name
Most people make the same 4 characters so all files associated with a particular package are obvious
If I used this convention I would name the file 15mt13 (since I picked 15 mt for my project with 15 meter bench heights when I started the project)

23. I Got a Warning About Reinitializing Files and Clicked Ok

24. Now I Get My Success Message About Setting Up My File 13
I’ll left click
Ok to
Acknowledge
I got the
message

25. I Peak at My Files with Explorer
Yup –
There is
A new
File 13

26. That Was Easy – Now Lets Set Up My File 15 Block Model
Click File New
And then
Left click on
15 3D
Block Model

27. It Wants to Know What Variables I’d Like in My Model

28. My First Variable Is Rock%
(I get 5 spaces to name my items)
I can choose what I want and my names
For me Rock% will be the % of each block that is made of rock
I must also enter minimum and maximum values and the precision I want.
My typing indicates all blocks are between 0% rock to 100% rock and that I
Will be satisfied with my data to the nearest whole percentage.

29. My Next Variable is Copper
I usually have an idea of my data range from peaking at samples. One
Normally sets the range wide enough to pick up all the values.
Precision can be very important for grade items – especially since copper
Grades are usually under 1% - if I pick the nearest whole percentage I
Will loose most of the variability range in my data – ie the block model
Will trunkate most of the valuable information.

30. Enter Other Grade Variable I Believe I Will Need
(each block model is required to have a grade variable)
Mo is for my moly grade
Eq Cu allows me to come up with a single metal amount variable – EqCu
For what would a copper grade be to give a block the same value as
Coproducts Copper and Molybdenum

31. Last I’ll Add A Variable for Type of Ore
Many ore deposits have more than one type of ore – for example oxide
And sulfide
I could also a variable for type of rock since many deposits have more
Than one type of rock.

32. When I’m Done With My Variables I Will Left Click the Save Icon

33. Why Did I Pick Variables I Did
Some Blocks will be above the surface – Air
Some will be on the surface and will have tonnage – but not the whole block
Some blocks will be below the surface – they are all rock of some sort
This variable will help me track the tonnage and keep track of air blocks (which are not mined and yield no copper or moly)

34. My Grade Variables Cu will contain the copper grade I assign
I’ll assign it later using an interpolation routine
Mo will contain my moly grade
Cut-Offs for the mill in a pollymetalic deposit have to consider all the metals
We have been doing calculations for how many lbs of copper 1 pound of moly is worth
We will have the variable space saved for later use

35. Variable Requirements
Minesight actually requires us to initialize our block model with a topo%, a grade, and a type

36. Lets Save Our Initialized Block Model with a Name
I type in the
Name I choose
And left click
save

37. I Get Another Profound Success Announcement

38. Now I’ve got my file 13 and file 15 ready my next mission will be to code the percentage rock into the blocks in my block model.
MineSight’s ® file 13 contains a representation of the surface
We will take our surface and feed it to our file 13
We will then have the computer use that file 13 to determine which blocks are above or below that surface
Those above are 0% rock or pure air blocks
Those below are 100% rock
Those right on the surface may be a % between the two extremes

39. We Will Follow Several Steps
Routine needs a surface made up of blocks at certain heights
Kind of pixels each at a certain elevation
We create a “gridded surface file” with our surface geometry
We then have a code look at what % of each block is above or below the surface or what percent above or below.

40. We’ll Close Compass By Clicking on the Red X

41. I’m going to get that Gridded Surface File
I’ve prepared the file, but I actually still do not have data in it.
I’m going to prepare a view of the model
Then I’m going to put data into it
Then I’m going to display the gridded surface for inspection
Then I will use it to code the block model with % rock.

42. We are going to set up a Model View of Our File 13 (so we can code into it)
Need to highlight
The directory
Where this
“model view”
Will be stored.

43. Pick File / New / Model View
Highlighting File
Drops down the
Menu.
Highlighting New
Opens the side
Menu
Highlighting and
Clicking model
View sets up a
Model view

44. It Wants You To Name Your Model View
I named mine
Gridded
Surface
Then I will
Left click Ok

45. It Needs You to Say Which Project File is going to keep track of the View
Click on
Select PCF
(ie project
Control file)

46. You Get A Choice of Project Control Files
Project Control files are called file 10s – usually you will have one to choose from
Highlight it and then click open.

47. Now it Wants to Know Which Eligible file you want a visual off
You can choose
Between a
File 13
(a surface)
And a file 15
(a block model)
Since I’m trying
To get a surface
Ready I will
Highlight the
File 13 and click
Ok as it comes
To life.

48. My Model View Editor Comes On
I need to select
What to display.
(most file 13s only
Display topography
But a file 15 would
Provide a choice
The little blue icon
Will give you a
Proper list of
Eligible choices

49. When I Click the Blue List Box I Can See I Have Only One Choice – Click it.

50. I Can Do Some Color Adjusting for My Surface (This is a little detour)
Push the
Cutoffs Button

51. The Cutoffs Color Coding Menu Comes Up
I will set the
Color code
Intervals I want
(left click on
Intervals)

52. I’ll Type in My Chosen Intervals and Click Ok
(I hope I
Know the
Elevations
Of my own
Mine)

53. There Are My Intervals I’ll now Drag my Mouse Across them With the
Left key
Held down
To select
Them.

54. My Selection has turned blue

55. Go to Properties for the Selection
Left click the
Properties button

56. Go to Set Color By Range Tell it to Display faces Rather than
Wire frame
surface
Next hit
Set color by
range

57. Try Ok for the Default Color Range
Left click ok
Button.

58. You Can See the Color Codes You Will Have for Surface Elevations
I might try
Clicking Ok
To display
My file 13.

59. There is Just One Little Problem
I have my
File 13
Set up with
All the
Display
Parameters
But there
Is no data
In the file
13 yet.
(Yup that’s
Why we are
Looking at
A blank
Screen)

60. How Will I Remedy This?
I will select a geometry object that contains elevation data
Yup – I have my topo surface object available for that.
I’ll then tell the computer to use that object to assign elevations to the grid in my gridded surface model

61. Lets Get Back to Those Model View Properties
Right click
On the
Model view
To pop up
The menu
Then left
Click to
Pick
properties

62. In the Editor I Will Click the Geometry Tab so I can pick my Geometry Object

63. Then I’ll Left Click the Red Box to “Find that Object”

64. I Get the Geometry Set Editor Screen
The boxes
Up in the
Corner
Allow me
To pick
Objects
Or files.
I’m going
To try to
Pick my
Topo
Surface
Object.
(use red
Dot box)

65. I Get A Box of Selection Tools
The most
Important
Are the
Red box
(pick it from
The data
Manager list)
And the blue
Worm – pick
From the
Screen
(it’s a little
More
Unpredictable
And my
Object is off)

66. Now I Get a Data Manager-Like List that Includes my Topo Surface Object
I left click
On my
Topo
Surface
(it turns
Blue)
Then I left
Click Ok

67. Now My Pick Tools Box Says I’ve Got Something
Some times I
Would want
To try to pick
Additional
Objects – not
This time
Though

68. I’ll Left Click on the Surface I picked and then I will Left Click Ok

69. I’ve Now Got My Self A Set of Geometry Objects
If I am
Going to
Use the
Set
A lot I
Have
Some
Options to
Name and
Save
Down here
Otherwise I will click Ok

70. When I Click Ok It Tells Me I Have Changed the Current Geometry Set.
It asks me
If that is
Ok.
I sure hope
I’ve been
Doing
Something
So I will
Click Yes

71. Now I Have Myself a Geometry Set to Use for setting elevation on my gridded surface.
Yes its
Called
Unnamed
Since I
Declined
To name it.
Note now that I have an
Option to Grid something
(The grid button is no
Longer grayed out)
I’ll left click grid.

72. It Takes Me Right to the Grid Surface Tab

73. Now I Need to Say Where I Want the Data Put in My File 13
I will pick
The variable
In the
File 13 I
Want it to
Go to
(I can pull
Down a list
With the
Blue box)
In this case
That was
Profound
Cause there
Is only one
variable
Look Grid is Alive
Now!

74. Now I’m Ready to Go I Click Grid I can see Something Happened Now I’ll
Click Ok to
Let it know
I’m happy

75. The Mystery of those Bottom Boxes
Apply means – yes I like this. Keep my work but don’t close the box because I want to do more
Canel means – Yipes I screwed up – get rid of that before someone sees what I did.
Ok means – Yes I like this. Close the dialog box and lets move on.

76. With the Dialog Box Closed I Can See My Lovely Surface!

77. I Will Now Use This Gridded Surface to Code my Air and Rock Blocks
Start up
MineSight ®
Compass

78. On Compass Make Sure We Are On the Menu Tab
Make Sure the Group
And operations are set
To show you everything
Click on Description
To have it alphabetize
By description
(make it easier to find
The procedure we
Want)

79. Click on Add Topo % to Model
The routine will code the rock % into the block model

80. It Needs the Variable Names in Your File 13 and File 15 Block Model
I Can Click on
The down arrow
To variables
Available in my
File 13 Gridded
Surface File.

81. Ok for a One Variable File 13 Picking the Variable Name Isn’t Too Stimulating
Left Click on
Topog

82. At Least Saying Which Variable in My Block Model to Use has More Choices
I will use
Rock% to
Receive the
info

83. Now Click Go

84. The Coding Routine Begins to Execute

85. It Tells Me It Finished and Invites Me to Press Any Key to Continue

86. I Close Out of MineSight Compass Only to Find I’ve Got a Block Model I Can’t See

87. I’m Going to Create A Model View So I Can See What I Have

88. I’ll Name My Model View and Click Ok
(Yup – this
Is looking
A bit like
What we
Did for our
File 13
Display)

89. Oh Yes We Pick Our PCF File

90. There is Only One So This Will Be Tough (not)

91. Pick the Block Model as the Thing to Display

92. In Model View Editor (which comes up)
Make sure you
Have the
Display tab
Then pick the
Variable Rock%
To display

93. Lets Set the Display Range
Click on the
Range tab
(Unless you
Have tons of
Memory and
A very fast
Processor –
Don’t try to
Display
Everything at
once.)
The default
Display is the
Whole top
level

94. I’ll Use Those Slide Boxes to Set 1/4th of the Model from Top to Bottom

95. Well There My Display Box
Of course
Its all gray
Because I
Have no
Range or
Color coding
Bet that’s
Why its
Showing me
The cut-off
Colors box.

96. Click on Intervals and Fill in the Interval Data I Want.

97. Drag Over My Range and Click Properties

98. The Object Properties Dialog Box Opens
Make sure I
Have the
General Tab
Then left click
Set color by
Range.

99. The Color Range Box Opens
I’ll except
The
Default
Without
Using those
Slider boxes
I’ll just
Click ok.

100. Oh Ya! 0% rock is Above the Surface 100% rock is Below And mixed %
Is right on
The surface

101. I Can Turn Off My Gridded Surface and Admire the Block Model I’m Starting to Get
Of course it
Would be
Real handy
To have
Some ore
Grades in
There too.
(Stay tuned
For the next
Episode)