“Making the most of what’s left”
Education and Training Brochure
ADVANCED MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATION
Understanding of sampling distributions and their statistical properties is essential in translating models based
on widely spaced data to a scale suitable for decision making. In the mining context, exploration and feasibility
study data is often widely spaced and does not have the detail to derive accurate models of ore and waste for
use in economic evaluation, Go/No-Go decision making and budgeting for the next stage of project
development.
Initial decisions to proceed and budget for the next stage of evaluation are taken at the geological model or
Inferred Mineral Resource stage which may have very wide sample spacing (boreholes). Where data of
acceptable quality are available for early stage projects, statistical methods exist to estimate the global
characteristics of the mineral distribution. One of these characteristics is the quantity or proportion of material
above specified economic cut-offs. These techniques cannot locate the exact positions of “ore” and “waste” but
only give an indication of expected quantities within the specified limits. The methods presented in this course
are all used to assess both geological properties and risk in mining projects.
This course is part of a series of technical training and professional development courses for Mineral Resource
specialists in a mining environment. Although much of the content is general to the mineral resource industry,
it provides delegates who are already competent in Resource Estimation with the opportunity to enhance their
estimation techniques.
Although several advanced techniques and case studies are presented during the course, it is not possible to
present all advanced estimation methods adequately in a one-week course. This course is designed for global
exposure and will have variable content depending on the local mining environment. Normally Statistical
Sampling, Advanced Linear Regression with either UC or IK and Conditional Simulation using one variable.
Key Learning Objectives
➢ Statistical Sampling, Variance and “Support”
• Recognizing different sampling distribution
• Practical implications of the Central Limit Theorem and sample size (support) on
o Estimates of the mean
o Estimation variance - understanding of s2/N
o Problem of mixing multiple populations
o Non-normal distributions
o Accuracy of estimate and sample quantity
o Size and compositing of analytical samples-assays and density
o Variogram lags and smoothing
o Exploration vs grade control drilling
o Block models
• Basic functional understanding the relationship between different volume components in a estimation
and their variances- population variance, within sample/block variance vs between sample/block
variance
“Making the most of what’s left”
Education and Training Brochure
• Using concepts of constant mean and volume/ variance relationships to calculate possible change in
shape of a distribution for different sample support (Change of Support)
• Calculation of change of grade/tonnage profiles using different support models with and without the
information effect.
➢ Indicator Estimation
• Understand when Indicator estimation is useful and where it should be avoided.
• Setting thresholds
• Calculation variograms for indicators
• Setup, Run and Interpret a simple Indicator Estimation
➢ Conditional Simulation
• Basic understanding of Markov Chain sampling
• Basic understanding of the Monte Carlo Methods
• Use of appropriate terminology when describing inputs, methods and results.
• Set up, run and present a simple Sequential Gaussian Simulation
• Basic understanding of interpretation and uses of Conditional Simulation in a mining context.
NOTE: The concepts presented in this course are complex, not intuitive and generally take many years, a lot of
repetition and a lot of interaction with colleagues in the same field to gain competence. Participants
should not expect to demonstrate competence at the end of the course rather they should be able to
demonstrate an awareness of vocabulary, concepts, basic workflows, software help manuals and how
to ask for help/guidance/information or be able to do a literature search for information on concepts
and methods by using the correct terminology.
Experience Required of Trainees
• This course assumes that the delegates have a good understanding of basic estimation methods such
as nearest neighbour, inverse distance and linear regression (Kriging).
• The concepts and examples used in this course assume that the delegates have several years’ experience
in Mineral Resource estimation at grade control, mine evaluation or exploration stages.
• Exploration geologists should have exposure to grade control/mine planning requirements for mineral
resource models.
• It is assumed that Delegates are competent in the use of and have access to :
o Suitable commercial geological modelling/mineral resource estimation software (Datamine,
Surpac, Vulcan, Isatis etc)
o General use software, Microsoft Word, Excel and Power Point for analysis and Presentations and
some exercises.
Technical requirements for the course
• Hardware
o Computers for each participant (64-bit with enough memory and a good graphics card if using
geology modelling software)
“Making the most of what’s left”
Education and Training Brochure
o Participants will need a mouse - touch pads are too slow and there will be a lot of copy/paste in
some exercises.
• Software
o Appropriate software will be provided by DEKA Dynamics but participants may use their own
software if it has the necessary subroutines to carry out the exercises.
o Ghost Script/Ghost View- a version that is known to work with GSLIB will be supplied by Deka in
advance as some corporate IT systems don’t allow user installation-need admin rights.
o E-Z Kriging to be supplied by us
o Geology modelling software with block modelling display and basic statistics is useful to display
results
o Internet Browsers - Both Internet Explorer (the old one not Edge) and Chrome- required for some
online simulation software
o Java - required for some simulation software used with Internet Explorer.
o Microsoft Excel (required for some exercises) - other spreadsheet software may not work well
with the exercises.
o Microsoft Word, PowerPoint or equivalent
o Adobe Acrobat Reader - to access some documentation
o “Snip Tool” or similar for screen copies
“Making the most of what’s left”
Education and Training Brochure
OUR AREAS OF EXPERTISE
As a provider of focused professional assistance to the international mining community, across multiple
commodities, we ensure clients benefit from our expertise, in-depth knowledge and problem-solving abilities,
covering the project life cycle from early stage exploration, through mine development and operations to
eventual mine closure. Our services cover, amongst others, the following areas:
➢ Education, Training and Secondment
DEKA Dynamics provides standard or customised training using client processes and data, secondment to
supplement and maintain operational efficiency, and professional mentoring programs, all aimed at improving,
supporting and safeguarding mine operations. In addition, our team are ready to step in to help clients during
periods where assistance is required, through ad hoc, short- and/or medium-terms placement.
➢ Technical and Operational Consulting Services
As a source of highly skilled, competent and knowledgeable technical staff for all aspects and levels within the
mining domain, DEKA Dynamics provides clients with sound technical advice and practical solutions, be it on a
task-by-task or project-by-project basis. We also assist with matters of corporate governance, establishment of
management systems and processes, and guidance on investment decisions through feasibility studies, due
diligence reporting, peer reviews and risk assessment.
➢ Technical and Operational Systems Support
DEKA Dynamics assists clients to strategise, select, implement and sustain technological solutions to enhance
and improve mining production. Once systems are operational, DEKA Dynamics continues to assist by ensuring
that the data is correctly captured, analysed and disseminated to all relevant stakeholders. Post implementation
care is provided to ensure systems are embedded, maintained, and used to their full potential.
➢ Health and Safety
DEKA Dynamics provides a suite of Training and Assessment applications that are precisely calibrated to enable
clients to guide and measure safety training effectiveness and the safety practices of their workforce, highlighting
the gaps. The agile training platform utilises photo-realistic scenarios as well as unique 360/180 degree
transitioning panoramas taken from within your workplace to highlight potential hazards. That means this suite
of applications is fully customised to the specific learning requirements of your business, such as; Safety training,
Interactive Safety Induction & Refresher Training, Hazard Perception & Fatal Risk Training, Supervision & Safety
Leadership Training, Wellbeing Awareness & Assessment and Interactive Panoramic Training Technology.
