MINERAL EXPLORATION
throughout the grid until full coverage has happened.
Recent application and success have been
demonstrated by GRUPO Mexico in Mexico and
Sol Gold in Ecuador. In Chile, a large area of 3 km
x 7 km was imaged providing spectacular results
for the IP and resistivity to depths of 800 m and
for the deep MT resistivity which clearly
highlighted the root of the porphyry system.
Minestis ensures consistency in
mineral resource estimation
The search for productivity improvements is
pervasive in the mining industry and MRE
software is no stranger to the quest for speed
seen in all operational processes. But that quest,
whilst valid and sound, should not come at the
price of quality, optimality or consistency in the
manner information is treated, argues Geovariances.
Minestis is an integrated Mineral Resource
Estimation solution that ensures consistency all
along the estimation workflow:
n Consistency between geological modelling
and resource estimation thanks to a fully
integrated approach. “Minestis reconciles in a
dynamic way the geological model and the
geostatistical block model.” – Institut des
Sciences de la Terre, Sénégal.
n Consistency between original data values and
their normal score transforms. While benefitting
from variographic analysis in the gaussian space
(where the impact of outliers is greatly reduced,
and the underlying variographic structure better
revealed), users will only access the variogram
in the real space for easier understanding and
utilisation. Minestis navigates to and fro in a
totally transparent manner for users, allowing
them to implement change of support, kriging,
uniform conditioning and simulations in record
time, all this with very few mouse clicks.
“Minestis has given us the opportunity to
explore the value of Recoverable Resource
Estimates, specifically via Conditional
Simulations, across a variety of industrial
minerals. The structured workflow approach and
tailored support from Geovariances has made
these techniques accessible to a broad range of
users and increased their use,” says global
industrial minerals group Imerys.
n Consistency when reporting resources. Once
the estimation process is over, all results end
up within a coherent single report combining
local and global resources, over the whole
deposit, a specific domain and/or a group of
domains, for the support size of choice (block
or panel), for a given mineral or several
correlated minerals, for the cut-off list of
choice, computed using any given
methodology, kriging, uniform conditioning
and/or simulations.
“This ensures robust estimates are produced
fast with no alteration of the level of confidence
which can be put on the resources,” says
Geovariances.
Esri GIS solutions help Alamos
There’s no denying the fact that the business of
mining exploration and extraction is inherently
spatial. This has led to mining companies
extensively using geographic information system
(GIS) solutions for mapping and analytics to
enhance their mining potential.
Esri’s ArcGIS platform supports high volume
data management, exploration targeting,
calculating a site’s mineral potential, improving
field work, 3D modelling for mine safety and
advanced visualisation, among others. “It
enhances information sharing and
communication, maximises processing efficiency
and improves decision-making, thereby leading
to operational excellence and financial success.”
Alamos Gold is a Canada-based mining
company that Esri states has proven the value of
ArcGIS. Founded in 2003, the company is
engaged in the acquisition, exploration,
development and extraction of precious metals. It
began commercial gold production at its first
mine in Sonora, Mexico in 2006. Since then, the
company has quickly grown into an intermediate
gold producer with many operating mines plus a
number of exploration sites and development
projects in the USA, Canada, Mexico and Turkey.
Its worth in the capital markets has grown from
$3 million to $3 billion.
Visit us at SME,
booth #2203.
Technology & Innovations
That Revolve Around You
At GIW we don’t just manufacture pumps, we deliver total slurry system
solutions to your industry everyday. That’s because everything we do
revolves around supporting you. We are dedicated to making your job
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See what a world of difference partnering with GIW can do for you.
GIW Industries, Inc. (A KSB Company) · www.giwindustries.com
FEBRUARY 2018 | International Mining 37