Using Statistical Interpolation to Build Block Models – Part I(Introduction to MineSight® and importing and creating surfaces)

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)

What and Why of Block Models

Today’s mine planning software represents ore bodies as three dimensional digital models made of uniformly sized blocks Blocks have the grade and other

characteristics average for the corresponding material believed to be in the field.

We need to use statistical techniques to project our sample information onto the Block Model

Leading Mine Planning Software Programs

MineSight® – (master of the open pit metal mine) Probably most overall advanced and

complete Vulcan Gemcon/Mincom Carlson

Really an autocad add on for graphics and design

Where Do You Start With a Project

Probably have a set of topographic maps Probably autocad digitized and

therefore importable to MineSight® Probably have collections of drill

hole data Again we’ll assume in computer form

Getting Started with MineSight®

Pull up MineSight® on the Start / All Programs

Look forMineSight®3D

Don’t Panic that Billy Doesn’t Know Mintec (tell it to run)

Browse to Find Your Starting Folders(have topo and drill hole data in)

Commentary Many of the 3D graphics features have a very windows

like feel to them Some of the routines run on data files run like old MSdos

and unix batch files Distinctly non-point and click flavor

Very specialized software – lacks base for a Microsoft windows It will crash easier than some of the one size fits all

programs you have encountered Doesn’t hurt to periodically save your work Program tries to save in a crash but don’t bet your sanity on it.

Routines can be quirky and demand exact sequences to avoid unexpected results.

Needs Project Dimensions to Begin(so it asks you for the info it needs)

Needs to know whether you are in metric or imperial units

Also needs to know what coordinate limits youWill be using.

Requires an Early Commitment on Block Size

Please note your project limits should be evenly divisible byYour block size!

Your Starter Set has the area and block size already input

This is Where Your Work on Equipment Sizes and Bench Heights Come In

The Z dimension is your planned bench height Needs to correspond to a mining height

X and Y dimensions are usually similar to yield a near cubical block

Enter your data and click ok This creates a project control file that

sets the parameters for your project.

What is MineSight®?

MineSight® is a suite of 3 programs A 3D graphics program called MineSight® A suite of operations that can be performed

on data – called compass A suite of data analysis programs

MineSight® development started with first computer routines in the 1970’s and list has grown since Collection includes everything from old

fortran routines to python program language routines

Getting Our First Good Look at MineSight®

Viewers are the Areas Where 3D Images and Views are displayed.

Data Manager is Sort of a Windows Exploring for your project folders and files

The First Task We Are Going to Do Is to Bring in our Topographic Map

When we make a block model we will have to be able to distinguish which blocks are air and which ones are rock We can’t do that without knowing

where the surface is. We remember our topography is in

a common DXF autocad type file Most topo maps are now available in

this format

Set Up to Import DXF File

Point at theMain folder andLeft click the mouse(it turns blue –Meaning it has beenPicked)

Click File on the Menu in the Data Manager to Drop Down a menu

Tell the Program to Import a DXF file

Point theCurser atImport – noClick required –A side menuPops out.Move the curserOver DXF –It turns blueNow left click.

Choose the DXF File to Import

This is a toughChoice sinceThere is onlyone

The Layer Selection Box Opens

DXF files followThe AutocadConvention ofPutting differentThings onDifferent overlyingLayers(The menu hereAlso offers usChances toManipulateCoordinates which we are not concerned about here)

Pick the Layers to Load

Point at the layersAnd left click –They will turn blue.(If you want toSelect more thanOne hold controlAnd left clickAdditional layers –Old windows trick)

Then point and leftClick load selected layers

Oh Cool – Look What Appeared in My Viewer Window!!!

When I haveThe rightLayers in(worked for meFirst try) thenLeft click theX to close theLayer selectionBox.

The Import Procedure Created It’s Own File in Which to Place The Data

It namedThe fileAfter a layerIn the DXFfile

Actually We are about to see an inconsistency in MineSight

Sometimes MineSight routines require you to get files ready for the output

Sometimes MineSight creates them for you In this case MineSight created the file

for us. Now lets work with one where it won’t

You Can Rotate and Turn the View by holding the Left and Right Mouse Button and Moving the Mouse

If you hold down theScroll knob and theLeft key you canZoom in and out

If you hold down theScroll knob and theRight Key you canPan back and forthAnd up and down

3 D Modeling and Surfaces I can use my topography to build a 3 D

model for my surface It’s a nice visualization I will also use it as a basis later when I build my

block model or design my optimum final pit.

I start by telling computer what to use to make the surface (my topography obviously)

I’ll tell the computer to lay out points on the topo lines and then triangulate a wire frame from them

I’ll convert the wireframe into solid surface

My Immediate Tasks

Create a new file for my surface Put that surface file into edit mode

so I can put my triangulated surface into it.

Select the Directory Where I Will Put My New File

Point andLeft click

Create My New Surface Object(nothing in it yet)

Click file to dropThe menu

Point to new toActivate pop-outMenu.

Point toGeometry objectAnd left click.

I Named My new File / Object Topo Surface

Left click ok afterNaming theObject.

Getting Ready to Put My New Object into Edit Mode

Left click my newObject(it turns blue)

Right Click to Pop-Up a Menu

On the menuPoint to andLeft click edit toPut it in editMode.

Note that the Open Edit Box has now moved to Our Topo Surface (That’s where the stuff we do will go).

What Next?

Now I’m going to use the topo lines and create a wireframe triangulated surface.

Now Select The Topo to Create A Surface

Highlight Topo(the file the importedData went into)

Right Click to Bring upMenu

Choose Select

On the side menuChoose all elementsBy left clicking.

The Stuff that has been selected to work with turns red!

Go to Surface on the Menu Tabs

Point theCurser toTriangulateSurface(a side menuPops out)

Point to withSelection andLeft click

A MineSight Mercy Box Pops Up

Old versions ofMineSight would sendThe results to theOpen edit object(If you forgot to openThe right object forEditing you sent yourResults someplaceYou didn’t want them)

Improved versionAsks you to confirmWhere you want theWork to go. – LetsYou pick the rightObject.Since I never make a mistake I’ll confirm my

Open edit object as the destination and left click OK.

It Creates a Wire-Frame Surface

We Can Make A Regular Surface (Here is How!)

Right Click Topo SurfaceTo pull up a menu

Pick Properties

Switch to a surface instead of wire-frame

It starts outWith theRadio buttonFor Wire FrameOnly

Left click onThe faces onlyRadio button

Then click OK

On the general tab

Now I See A Triangulated Surface Instead

Lets Consider some Clean Up

I probably don’t need to see the topo lines anymore Lets Turn them off

Lets Smooth out those triangulated faces a bit.

The Topo Lines are in the Topo File

Click on theSave Edit Button

(It is a veryStrange lookingSave buttonCompared toWindows)

Another reasonTo do this isThat our topoLines are stillSelected(they are red)If we try toClose ourSelected lines we work with MineSight could be upset.

Now Highlight Topo and Right Click It to Bring up a Menu – Pick Close

Note that this is a good reason for keeping objects is separate files so they canBe turned off and on with ease.

Woopy – Now They Are Gone

Now Lets Smooth That SurfaceSelect theTopography object

Right Click it for aMenu

Select Properties

The Object Properties Window Comes Up

Left click on theTab at the topThat saysSurfaces

Note the Smooth Shading Option on the Surfaces Tab Screen

Go ahead and check for smooth surfaces and then click Ok

Now Isn’t That Smooth Surface Impressive?

Ok – I Agree – Blue is a Strange Color for Mountains

HighlightTopo Surface

Right Click forA menu

Choose Properties

Go Back to Surface

Note We Have A Color Control Area and Pallet

This Color Pallet Works Like What You Are Familiar With

I think I will go for a brown

Click Ok

I Got My Color Change

If I’m happyI will now okMy way outOf properties

And Now I Have My Surface in My Choice of Colors