PREPARED BY: JAMIESON WOOLFLOTT
Pre and syn-mineralisation structures frequently control mineralisation, but those structural controls can be obscured by post-mineralisation deformation. Linear estimation techniques such as ordinary kriging rely on accurate quantification of the spatial variance of mineralisation.
Unfolding in Studio RM can be used to transform the co-ordinates of sample data from their original, orthogonal X, Y and Z co-ordinates into a non-orthogonal unfolded co-ordinate system to enable better quantification of the pre-deformational spatial variance of mineralisation for the purposes of variography and grade interpolation. Unfolding is most effective for orebodies where mineralisation is along folded strata or other geological units bounded by a sub-parallel surface or surfaces, i.e the hanging wall and foot walls of a dyke or vein.
Advanced Estimation (COKRIG) in Studio RM supersedes ESTIMA but prior to v2.2, unfolding was exclusive to ESTIMA. In v2.2 COKRIG gives users the ability to use unfolding while taking advantage of COKRIG’s enhanced features.
The following steps outline the process:
1. Have samples and wireframe for the geological domain which is to be unfolded (Ensure the wireframes to be used are clean and verified prior to unfolding)
2. Run the Unfold Wizard at Model > Unfold > Unfold.
3. Define the unfolded co-ordinate system by following the Unfold wizard. Read more about how to use the wizard in the Studio RM help files at Unfold Wizard.
4. View and validate the unfolding strings and unfolded samples in the 3D window.
5. Conduct variography on samples within unfolded co-ordinate system.
6. Run the COKRIG process from the Advanced Estimation wizard at Estimate > Interpolate > Advanced.
In Studio RM 2.2 the option now exists under the Select Samples tab to Use Unfolding. This will reveal a context sensitive Unfolding tab where the unfolding parameters can be entered.
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