MINING SOFTWARE
bulk sampling began in 2013 and commercial
mining commenced in 2014.
Fire Creek uses cut and fill and long hole
stoping mining methods. Both methods require
narrow mining dimensions to minimise dilution
and maximise ore recovery. The behaviour and
development of the veins at Fire Creek can be
complex, therefore detailed geological modelling
is required to optimise success.
In an effort to build a better model of the
deposit, geologists review historic core logs and
photos. As with many projects, geologists’
interpretations of drill core vary and logging data
is often inconsistent through different
generations.
Fire Creek is no exception. The geology team
has spent significant time sifting through historic
core photos and re-analysing core logs. To
facilitate this work, the geology team needed a
way to incorporate diamond drill core photos that
illustrate lithology, alteration and the various
styles of mineralisation alongside the geological
data within Maptek Vulcan.
Using Vulcan fundamentals learned on the job,
brainstorming sessions during a Maptek site
visit, and skills newly acquired during a lava
scripting course, the geology team was able to
turn this concept into reality.
A custom lava script was built off existing
Vulcan functionality to enable users to display
images of core boxes directly down the drill trace.
At the macro scale, geologists are able to view
the differences in lithology, rock conditions, and
alteration throughout multiple holes on drill fans
and in three dimensions. “It takes time up front
to set up the naming convention and then roll out
the new process to make sure the photos are
actually usable. But once the leg work is done,
being able to spin the drillholes around with the
photos loaded, adds a whole new dimension to
how we use our data,” commented mine
geologist Eric Hobbs.
The output allows the team to quickly review,
correct, and test broader interpretations,
providing a better understanding of the ore
system, which results in improved models.
With computing enhancements delivered in
Vulcan 10 and higher, the team is able to review
the image registrations, assay data, and other
geological information. Geologists can zoom out
to view broader alteration and lithology
differences between holes, or zoom in to the full
resolution of the photo to look at individual vein
textures and characteristics.
“When I am flagging a new drillhole, I load
the vein and lithology triangulations alongside
the core photos. I can see exactly what the
intercepts look like in relation to the
surrounding drillholes and data,” said Hobbs. “I
can quickly view the core photos for multiple
drillholes from the same drill fan and see how
the vein behaves along strike, changes in
elevation, lithology and so on. I can then make a
confident judgement on how to flag that
intercept and adjust our lithology triangulations
on the fly,” he concluded.
The biggest benefit to the mine site is an
increased confidence and understanding of the
deposit. They are able to build and update
geological models significantly faster than
previously. This leads to more consistent
logging data, allowing for faster target
recognition for surface and underground drilling
programs, and ultimately results in better
ore/waste calls from the ore control geologists.
Through ‘out of the box thinking’ and lava
scripting training, Klondex geologists have
created a step change in the level of
understanding of the Fire Creek deposit.
Geomorphic reclamation using
Carlson Natural Regrade
A recent article detailed a geomorphic-based
process of mining reclamation carried out at the
El Machorro mine in Spain (at the edge of the
Alto Tajo Natural Park, East Central Spain), which
utilised the GeoFluv™ method within Carlson
Natural Regrade software. It was used to design
small watersheds as part of the mining
reclamation topographical solution. In addition to
detailing the design and reclamation with Natural
Regrade, the paper also describes their
monitoring of the site for five years (2012–2017)
and the positive results following the
reclamation. Highlights include:
n A geomorphic reclamation (GR) process –
designing, building and monitoring– is
described
n After adjustments to grading errors, the
reclaimed area has high landform stability.
n GR performed as an efficient alternative to
traditional mining reclamation.
“The procedure included: (i) finding a suitable
reference area with stable landforms and
acquiring inputs from them; (ii) designing two
first-order stream water sheds; (iii) building the
planned landscape; and (iv) monitoring the
hydrological and erosive – sedimentary response
of the reclaimed watersheds. This process is in
itself a contribution to global advancement of
reclamation best practices, because there are
very few geomorphic-based mining reclamation
examples, and even fewer that include their
multi-annual monitoring. Sediment yields were
obtained comparing Digital Elevation Models
(DEM) acquired by Total Station (TS), Terrestrial
Laser Scanning (TLS), differential Global
Positioning System (GPS) and topographic
reconstructions (interpretations). An H-flume
with turbidity and water pressure sensors
allowed quantifying runoff and suspended
sediment. Sediment yield progressively
decreased with time attaining a current low
value (4.02 Mg ha- 1 yr- 1 ). Water discharge and
suspended sediment concentration have also
decreased with time. Initially, high sediment
yield values were obtained. They are interpreted
as being triggered by grading errors that
deviated from the design, so that runoff
adjusted construction irregularities during that
period by erosion and sedimentation. After
those adjustments, the reclamation surface
became more reflective of the design and the
resulting surface remained very ‘stable’. The
deduction is that the geomorphic-based
reclamation has re-established an approximate
steady-state or dynamic equilibrium, where
hydrological and erosive – sedimentary
The Lithium Industry and Chile’s Role
Author: Gustavo
Lagos Cruz-Coke
Professor Gustavo Lagos has been a direct witness as well as a permanent and
meticulous chronicler of this enthralling history that today is at an inflection point.
Lagos is –almost certainly– the Chilean professional who has most studied
and written about the lithium resources of our country, their characteristics,
opportunities and restrictions.
Absolutely
up-to-date
DOWNLOADABLE
EDITION:
Price: US$ 40 + VAT
SALES: Cristián Valdivieso cvaldivieso@editec.cl
68 International Mining | FEBRUARY 2018
+56 2 2757 4259