GEOLOGICAL MODELING OF A MULTI-SEAM COAL DEPOSIT

with

SURPAC Software

May, 1997
Updated to Vision August 2001

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 1

CONTENTS

CONTENTS .......................................................................................................................................................... 2

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................ 3

PROJECT BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................... 3

INSTALLING FILES USED WITH THIS TUTORIAL.................................................................................. 4

CREATING AND LOADING A GEOLOGICAL DATABASE AND VIEWING DATA ............................ 5

EXTRACTING STRUCTURAL DATA FROM THE DATABASE ............................................................... 9

Exercise:....................................................................................................................................................... 13
EXTRACTING AND MANIPULATING QUALITY DATA FROM THE DATABASE ........................... 14
Exercise:....................................................................................................................................................... 16
CREATING A BLOCK MODEL OF THE AREA ......................................................................................... 17

ASSIGNING, CALCULATING, AND VIEWING STRUCTURAL VALUES IN THE MODEL ............. 22

Exercise:....................................................................................................................................................... 37
Exercise:....................................................................................................................................................... 38
Exercise:....................................................................................................................................................... 49
Exercise:....................................................................................................................................................... 50
Exercise:....................................................................................................................................................... 53
ASSIGNING THE QUANTITY OF COAL LOST DUE TO MINING PRACTICES ................................ 59
Exercise:....................................................................................................................................................... 59
Exercise:....................................................................................................................................................... 61
Exercise:....................................................................................................................................................... 62
ESTIMATING AND VIEWING QUALITY VALUES IN THE MODEL ................................................... 63
Exercise:....................................................................................................................................................... 63
Exercise:....................................................................................................................................................... 63
CONTOURING MODEL VALUES................................................................................................................. 69
Exercise:....................................................................................................................................................... 71
ASSIGNING BLOCK NUMBERS AND REPORTING................................................................................. 72
Exercise:....................................................................................................................................................... 78

Page 2 Coal Modelling Tutorial

INTRODUCTION

This tutorial outlines a procedure for modeling a multi-seam coal deposit with SURPAC. As is the case in most
of SURPAC, there is more than one way to perform the same task, and this tutorial demonstrates but one
method. Experience with the package will allow you to explore other methods. Prior to undertaking this
tutorial, the user should be familiar with the basic concepts of SURPAC and/or have taken an “Principles of
SURPAC” training course. It is also recommended that the user be familiar with the SURPAC geological
database, and the use of a text editor.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Campbell Valley Coal have just finished a drilling program on their Campbell Valley property, which is
approximately 2 kilometres east-west by 1.5 kilometres north-south. Drilling has intercepted two minable
seams in the region. They have been simply identified as the upper seam (US) and the lower seam (LS). A
regional syncline, plunging to the south at an average gradient of 3% has deformed both seams across the entire
property. Dendritic erosion has worn the area into hilly topography in the region. Both seams outcrop at
various locations across the property. Due to thick vegetation, the outcrop line has not been mapped, and must
be interpreted from drill hole structural contacts. The upper seam is approximately 0.5 to 1.0 meter thick, and is
relatively low in sulphur, but high in ash content. The lower seam is approximately 0.25 to 1.5 meters thick and
is higher in sulphur, but lower in ash. The lower seam also contains from 0 to 3 partings within the seam,
which must be mined separately. The upper seam does not contain any partings.

It has been determined that both seams must be mined simultaneously and blended to meet client quality
criteria. The extent of economically minable coal must be determined. Where both seams exist in a vertical
column of data, the strip ratio will be calculated as:

BCM waste above upper seam + BCM waste between upper and lower
Tonnes coal in upper seam + Tonnes coal in lower seam

In some locations, the upper seam has been entirely eroded away, and the strip ratio will be calculated as:
BCM waste above upper seam
Tonnes coal in lower seam

The strip ratio will then be contoured at a value of 10:1 to determine the economic pit limit.

The steps involved in performing this task are:

1) Installing the files used with this tutorial

2) Creating and loading a geological database and viewing data

3) Extracting and manipulating structural data from the database

4) Extracting and manipulating quality data from the database

5) Creating a block model of the area

6) Assigning, calculating, and viewing structural values in the model

7) Estimating and viewing quality values in the model

8) Contouring model values (such as a 10:1 strip ratio line)

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 3

INSTALLING FILES USED WITH THIS TUTORIAL

1. Create a directory called “coal” (using Windows Explorer)

2. Copy the file [Link] and [Link] from the diskette into that directory

3. Unzip the file [Link] into the coal directory

(at the DOS prompt, type: PKUNZIP COAL )

4. You should now have the following files:

[Link] [Link] CAMBELL_DBASE.TCL [Link]

[Link] [Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]

If you do not have all of these files, please contact your SURPAC support office.

Page 4 Coal Modelling Tutorial

CREATING AND LOADING A GEOLOGICAL DATABASE AND VIEWING DATA

The main purpose of this manual is to outline the procedure for modeling a multi-seam coal deposit with
SURPAC. Thus, there will not be a great amount of detail given to this portion of the manual. Please refer to
the SURPAC GEOLOGICAL DATABASE tutorial for a detailed explanation of creating and loading
databases.

To create and load a database called “Campbell”, we will run a macro.

Start up SURPAC, with no profile.

Change directory (by right clicking on the “Coal” directory, and selecting “Select as working directory” . This
directory should then be marked with a “tick”

At the main menu, press the (this replays a macro). Enter the following, and press APPLY:

[Link]

Press APPLY at each form.

At the “DEFINE ALL FIELDS FOR ALL TABLES” form, flip through the various tables by clicking on the
tab buttons at the top. The fields in the sample and geology tables are defined as illustrated below.

[Link] [Link]

Again, just press APPLY at each form until the macro finishes.

The database should now be loaded.

Use a text editor to view the file [Link]

There should be no errors. If there are any errors, please contact your SURPAC support office.

You may use VIEW TABLE ROW to view the contents of any or all tables.

When you are finished viewing the data, and before you leave the database, type GRAPHICS at the Function:
prompt.

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 5

Notice in the lower left corner of the graphics viewport that you are still connected to the database, see icon .

Put on the Toolbar for “Database” by right clicking in the grey area of the main toolbar.

From the Geological Database menu, select “DISPLY DRILLHOLE COLLARS” icon

At the next form, enter the field to display the drill hole names on the following form and press apply:

[Link]

At the next constraints form, press APPLY:

[Link]

Use the icon to plot a 2-D grid at a spacing of 100. You should then see all of the drill holes:

Page 6 Coal Modelling Tutorial

 [Link]
Recall the file [Link] (leave layer set to “main graphics layer”) – by clicking and dragging it into the
graphics environment. This file represents the topography of the area.

Use to hide string 1.

Use to plot markers on string 1. Note that string 1 represents spot heights.

Use to plot string 1000.

Use to go to a section view.

In planning ahead to use the INTERSECT DTMS function to create outcrop lines, we need a string (like string
1000) that is slightly larger than the main area, and below the elevation of all of the data of interest.

Under the Menu SURFACES – DTM FILE FUNCTIONS – CREATE DTM FROM A STRING FILE:
Fill in the form as follows:

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 7

 [Link]

Recall the file [Link], by clicking and dragging it into graphics. In order to replace a file on screen hold
. Leave all other settings at the default values.

Use icon to acquire a 3-D type image.

Use icon to turn lights on. Enter the following and press APPLY:

[Link]

Use the VIEW menu to familiarise yourself with the data. Try SECTION, then ORBIT/ROLL - ORBIT UP and
ORBIT RIGHT/LEFT. Select PREVIOUS, then try the VIEWER.

Once you are familiar with the data, exit graphics, icon .

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EXTRACTING STRUCTURAL DATA FROM THE DATABASE

Right click in grey area to get Menu for Geological Database.

We will now use the function ZONE THICKNESS to extract the floor of the upper seam.

Select EXTRACT - ZONE THICKNESS AND DEPTH, fill in the form as shown below, but before pressing
apply, click and HOLD DOWN the HELP button. Move up to FORM, then release.

Note that the help text describes what will be written to the output file:

D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6
Hole ID Coal Thickness Parting Depth of top of Depth of Number of
Thickness seam bottom of seam intercepts of coal

After you have read the help text, press APPLY.

[Link]

At the next form, enter the following and press APPLY:

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 9

 [Link]

If there were any limiting criteria we wished to apply for the extraction, this next form is where we would enter
it. Some examples of constraints are: “area = northpit”, or “y < 30000”.

We do not have any constraints, so at the next form, press APPLY:

[Link]

Recall the file US_FLOOR1.STR (click and drag). To remove other images from the graphics work space, use
icon

Hide strings, , Plot markers , and use to display Z values (this is on the Display/Hide Toolbar).

By closely examining the elevations, you should see a gentle synclinal structure, plunging to the south, but it is
not obvious. A DTM surface would show the structure better. When we create the DTM, note that string 1 is
the only string, and that it is to be used as a spot height string, as the lines connecting the points do not represent
any real feature, and should not be used as a breakline.

Use the CREATE DTM FROM STRING FILE (under SURFACE – DTM FILE FUNCTIONS) and enter the
following, and press APPLY:

Page 10 Coal Modelling Tutorial

 [Link]

Note that “Use descriptions” is set to “Y”. This will allow us to use the DTM for more than just structural floor
data.

Recall US_FLOOR1.DTM, replacing the current information with the DTM.

Use the render icon to achieve a 3-D view.

Select the COLOUR DTM BY FIELD icon . Enter the following, and press APPLY:

[Link]

You should now see the DTM coloured by elevation, with blue being lowest, and red highest.

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 11

When you recall a DTM, SURPAC also recalls the string file, so you can represent string data while viewing
the DTM.

Use to display all markers, then to display elevations.

The synclinal structure should now be more apparent.

In the VIEW MENU – DATA VIEW OPTIONS – VIEW SCALE FACTORS (icon ) to increase the vertical
exaggeration 10 times

Use the viewer to rotate the data.

When you are finished viewing the data, exit the viewer. To reset view use icon

Recall from the help text that the following information is written out to each point:

D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6
Hole ID Coal Thickness Parting Depth of top of Depth of Number of
Thickness seam bottom of seam intercepts of coal

Since we used descriptions when creating the DTM, we can use COLOUR DTM BY FIELD to show coal
thickness as by colours.

On a clear screen, use to hide DTM and to hide strings, display markers, and plot descriptions
on D2 (the seam thickness).

Use to Display the DTM (this will redraw the DTM after using Clear Screen).

Use COLOUR DTM BY FIELD in the same manner, but this time colour the DTM based on the D2 field:

[Link]

Try colouring it on D3 as well.

Page 12 Coal Modelling Tutorial

Exercise:

Use ZONE THICKNESS to create a file called LS_FLOOR1.STR that represents the floor of the lower seam
(remember the seam code for the lower seam is LS).

Create a DTM of it and use COLOUR DTM BY FIELD to display the structural floor values. Again, look for
the south-plunging syncline. This time try using TOGGLE DTM COLOUR SMOOTHING to “sharpen
up” the edges of the colours.

[Link]

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 13

EXTRACTING AND MANIPULATING QUALITY DATA FROM THE DATABASE

In the GEOLOGICAL DATABASE menu :

We will now extract quality data (ash, sulphur, moisture, etc.) from the database into string files.

From the main geological database menu, select COMPOSITE - BY GEOLOGICAL CONSTRAINTS. Enter
the following values and press APPLY:

Be certain to put in all

five of the following
fields to be composited
in this order:

[Link]

[Link]

At the next form, enter the following constraining the file to the Upper Seam (US) and press APPLY:

[Link]

Page 14 Coal Modelling Tutorial

Again, if there were any limiting criteria we wished to apply for the extraction, this next form is where we
would enter it. Some examples of constraints would be: “area = northpit”, or “y < 30000”.

We do not have any constraints, so at the next form, press APPLY:

[Link]

After SURPAC is finished processing, recall the file US_QUAL1.STR.

Hide strings , display markers, and display descriptions on D1 values.

Note the following data will was written to US_QUAL1.STR:

D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8
ash sulphur moisture calorific value density Hole_id depth_from depth_to

Use POINT PROPERTIES to identify a point, and view the description field values in the message
window.

[Link]

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 15

If you would like to, you may create a DTM of this file, and use COLOUR DTM BY FIELD on any
descriptive value to quickly view data trends.

Once you have finished viewing this data, exit graphics and return to the geological database menu.

Exercise:

Create a file called LS_QUAL1.STR which contains the same quality parameters IN THE SAME ORDER as
shown above, but for seam code LS. When you are done, stay in graphics. Plot a grid of 100 meters in both
directions

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CREATING A BLOCK MODEL OF THE AREA

We now have all the files necessary for creating a block model:

Upper Seam Lower Seam

Structural Data US_FLOOR1.STR LS_FLOOR1.STR
Quality Data US_QUAL1.STR LS_QUAL1.STR

You should now be in graphics viewing LS_QUAL1.STR as markers with a 100m grid drawn.

We will create a model that covers the data. The model will have the following extents:

[Link]

Recall the file [Link], by clicking and dragging the file into graphics. This will automatically bring it
into another layer, and once the rending icon has been used , the relative positions of the samples can be
observed in relation to the topography.

Note that the topo file entirely covers the area of the model we are going to create.

Clear graphics

We can no hide the geological database menus and toolbars, and display the BLOCK MODELLING toolbars
and menus by right clicking in the grey area at the top adjacent to the menu bars.

Your menu setup should look something like below:

Select OPEN BLOCK MODEL Enter the following and press APPLY:

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 17

 [Link]

Press APPLY at the next form:

[Link]

Enter the following values at the next form, read the text below, then APPLY:

[Link]

A couple of topics need to be covered here. SURPAC’s block model was originally intended to model
attributes in three dimensions. Thus, when used in that manner, each model should have a Z extent equal to the
Z extent of the area of interest. This is typically used when attribute values need to change with elevation. In a
thick coal seam, this method could be employed. However, for thinner coal seams, the method outlined in this
tutorial will provide a more accurate structural model. In this sense of the word, “thinner” is a relative term, but
could generally be applied to seams less than 5 meters, or seams where variability of a quality parameter within
a single seam is not a concern. To further clarify, this modeling method is to be employed after different plies

Page 18 Coal Modelling Tutorial

of a seam have been analysed, and an economic top and bottom of the seam have been determined. A geologic
code must then be loaded into the database for this interval. In this case, the code “US” or “LS” has been
loaded into the field SEAM in the table GEOLOGY.

Returning to the form above, nominal values of 0 for the minimum and 1 for the extent of the model have been
entered. Actually, any two values could be used, but these values are easy to remember. Prior to estimating any
values for each block, such as ash, the Z value of the string file must be set to 0. This modelling technique is
applicable for near-horizontal strata, such as the seams in this tutorial. Where strata is steeply dipping, a true
three-dimensional model would be a better method of estimation.

Model resolution
The resolution is an exponential power of 2 with values from 2 to 512 ( 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, or 512 ).
In the example above, we have:

Number of blocks in northing = Y EXTENT / Y BLOCK SIZE = 1300 / 25 = 52 blocks

Number of blocks in easting = X EXTENT / X BLOCK SIZE = 2000 / 25 = 80 blocks

Number of blocks in elevation = Z EXTENT / Z BLOCK SIZE = 1 / 1 = 1 block

The maximum number of blocks in any dimension is 80.

The maximum number of blocks must “fit into” one of the exponential powers of two listed above. Thus, the
next number greater than 80 is 128.

If you are still uncertain as to which resolution you should use, select “2” and APPLY the form. An error
message will then appear in the message window that will tell you which resolution to use.
The next form allows you to check that you have selected the proper model extents and resolution.

Do not enter anything here, just verify that the information you have entered is correct, and press APPLY:

[Link]

You will now be presented with the block modeling main menu.

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 19

To check that the model was created in the correct area, click on the DISPLAY BLOCK MODEL icon .
(you will see a similar icon displayed on the bottom left hand corner of the graphics menu. This states that a
block model is connect to.

APPLY the following form:

[Link]

Because the area that we have defined is only taking up 80 of the 128 blocks in easting, and only 52 of the 128
blocks in northing, the model will draw in the lower left corner of the graphics viewport. One way of zooming
the view to the extent of the area of interest is to create and recall a string file that represents a rectangle equal
to the extent of the model. Such a file has already been prepared.

Recall the file [Link] into graphics. This is an outline of the extents of the block model. If we recall
LS_QUAL1.STR, we can see that all samples fall within the Block Model.

Alternatively, recall LS_QUAL1.STR into graphics. Draw the Block Model , and use the icon BLOCK
EDGE AND FACE VISIBILITY to turn the faces off.

Fill in the following form:

[Link]

You should then see the data falling inside the model exents.

Page 20 Coal Modelling Tutorial

 [Link]

Once you have seen that your model covers the correct area, we need to Save the model – under menu BLOCK
MODEL - SAVE. The Message window at the bottom of Graphics will give the information that the block
model has been saved.

If your model did not cover the same area as shown, exit SURPAC, delete [Link] from the COAL
directory, and go back to the beginning of this section, and recreate it.

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 21

ASSIGNING, CALCULATING, AND VIEWING STRUCTURAL VALUES IN THE MODEL

Any item we need to model, whether representing a physical feature or quality parameter, must be represented
in the model as an ATTRIBUTE.

For example, we need to have a value for topography in each block in the model.

Select ADD NEW BLOCK MODEL ATTRIBUTE icon , enter the following, and press APPLY:

[Link]

The attribute name entered must not contain any spaces.

The type of variable may be:

Character Any text value, including numbers (numeric operations are not allowed)
Real A floating point real number with approximately 15 digits of precision
requires 8 bytes of storage per block
Integer Any integer value (decimals not allowed)
Float A floating point real number with approximately 6 digits of precision
requires 4 bytes of storage per block

The variables we will be modeling are:

Elevation (topo, seam roof, seam floor) 900.00 to 1100.00

Structural geological data (thickness, bcm, tonnes, strip ratio) 0.00 to 50,000.00

Quality parameter data (ash, sulphur, moisture, calorific values, and relative density) 0.00 to 8000.00

Thus, FLOAT variables will suit our needs for all of these. As can be inferred from the table above, by using
FLOAT variables, the model will be approximately half the size of a model with REAL variables.

The background value is some arbitrary value that is to be assumed for blocks that have not received a value
from one of the FILL functions.

For topography, we will use a value of -1 to indicate that the block has not been assigned a value.

Note: Any data file which is to be used to calculate a value for an attribute by inverse distance weighting,
ordinary kriging, or indicator kriging must not contain negative values. Topography may contain negative
elevations, and if any of the estimation techniques just mentioned are to be used to obtain block values, a
constant should be added to ensure that all values are positive. If DTMs exist from which elevation values can
be assigned, as outlined later in the tutorial, a constant does not need to be added to the data.

Page 22 Coal Modelling Tutorial

[Link] covers the entire model area, so one way that we can set the topographic value for each block in
the model is to generate a string file that represents the centroid of each block, and use the function STRINGS
OVER DTM to obtain an elevation value for each point. Lastly, we will use the function NEAREST
NEIGHBOR in the block model to assign a topo value to each block.

The steps in assigning a values to blocks by use of a DTM are:

1) Use BLOCK MODEL – EXPORT – BLOCK CENTROIDS AND DIMENSIONS TO A STRING FILE to
generate a file of block centroids

2) Use SURFACES - DRAPE STRING OVER DTM to set the string file D1 value to the DTM Z value

3) Use BLOCK MODEL – ESTIMATION - NEAREST NEIGHBOR to assign the value from the DTM to the
attribute “TOPO”

From the block model menu, select EXPORT – BLOCK CENTROIDS AND DIMENSIONS TO A STRING
FILE. Fill in the form as shown, and press APPLY:

[Link]

We can now drape this string over the DTM of the topography, to get the correct z-elevations of the centroids.

The graphics environment should be cleared by clicking on the icon

Recall the DTM of the topography – [Link], by clicking and dragging it into graphics.
Recall the string file of the centroids [Link], by clicking and dragging it into graphics. We observe that
both string files are in different layers, numbered according to their string numbers. Rotate the image to
observe the file of the block centroids.

In the SURFACE menu – DRAPE STRING OVER DTM, click on String 1 that represents the block centroids.
NOTE: You must be in the layer associated with the string file that you want to drape over the DTM.

Fill in the following form – do not interpolate points.

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 23

 [Link]
You should now observe the string centroids pressed over the DTM.

Save the file, by clicking on icon Press APPLY at the next form:

[Link]

If we hide strings , display markers, and display Z elevation values.

We now should assign the value in the Z field to the D1 field. This can be done simply using STRING
MATHS.

Open the EDIT TOOLBAR , and click on the STRING MATHS icon and fill in the following form:

Page 24 Coal Modelling Tutorial

 [Link]

Display descriptions on the D1 field, and notice how it is set to the Z value of the topography.

Use POINT PROPERTIES to identify several points. Note that the Z value of all points is 0.5, the block
centroid value. If you draw the Block model, the string file will again lie inside the block model, with the Block
Centroid.

Make sure you save the file, using icon and overwriting the existing file.

We are now ready to FILL THE BLOCK MODEL

Select ESTIMATAION - NEAREST NEIGHBOR, enter the following and press APPLY:

[Link]

This form tells SURPAC that the data comes from D1 in string 1 in the file [Link]:

At the next form, enter a maximum search radius and vertical search distance of 1, then APPLY:

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 25

 [Link]

If you are not prompted, it is a good time to save the Block Model . Press APPLY at the next form to save the
model:

[Link]

Next, we will want to view the results. We will be checking the model in this method many times.

Clear the Graphics Environment, using icon and use the icon to Display the Block Model.

If for some reason, the pink “faces are not evident, use icon to turn the faces on , so we are able to enquire
as to the Block Properties. The icon IDENTIFY BLOCK VALUES, the following report will be displayed.

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 [Link]

It is interesting to see a value one block at a time, but it is more meaningful to colour all blocks by a value.

Select COLOUR BLOCKS BY ATTRIBUTE icon . Enter the following, and press APPLY:

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 27

 [Link]

You should then see something like the following:

[Link]

Page 28 Coal Modelling Tutorial

The next step will be to assign roof and floor values to the model for each seam. We can use the same
technique as we employed here, but we will first need to look at the DTMs.

Recall [Link], replacing the current string file.

When it finished drawing, notice that it covers the entire extent of the model. Thus, all block centroids in
[Link] are directly over some triangle on the DTM. If we were to employ this method for the upper seam,
we need to ensure that the DTM covers the extent of the model.

Recall US_FLOOR1.DTM, replacing the current DTM file (hold down the Control & Shift buttons when
dragging this file into Graphics).

You should now see that this DTM does not cover the extent of the data:

[Link]

We need to assign structural values for the upper seam to all blocks, and we also need to define the line of
contact between the upper seam and the topography. In order to satisfy both of these requirements, we must
extend the DTM.

When you recall a DTM, SURPAC recalls the string file, which is what we need to work with.

Use the zoom out icon once, and HIDE THE LAYER containing the DTM of the Upper Seam.

Go to EDIT – LAYERS – PROPERTIES and fill in the following form.

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 29

Note that the visibility check box for US_FLOOR1.DTM is unchecked, making the layer invisible.

On the Block Model menu under DISPLAY – HIDE BLOCK MODEL. You should be left with a blank screen.

Recall the file [Link] using the icon into a layer called “model boundary”. Make sure the box
where there is an option to “Rescale Display” is left unchecked. This will prevent Surpac from zooming to the
layer extents.

Using the drop down box on the STATUS ITEMS toolbar, switch the active layer to UG_FLOOR1.DTM

[Link]

and display markers and hide the object . You will notice that since we reset the active layer to “main
graphics layer”, only the markers for this layer will be drawn.

What we need to do is create a set of points outside the perimeter of the model boundary, which will be saved
with the original upper seam intercepts. A DTM of the new data set will then be created, and intersected with
[Link] to obtain the outcrop line of the upper seam.

We will use string 2 to represent these new points.

On the main status bar, change the string number to 2:

[Link]

[Link]

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On the DISPLAY / HIDE menu or toolbar, use the DISPLAY POINT NUMBERS to plot all point
numbers. (Plotting numbers here is only for clarification of this tutorial.)

Using the CREATE menu or toolbar, use the function CREATE A POINT BETWEEN 2 POINTS where
the two points are selected and the third point is drawn by filling in the form as follows:

Select point 3, then point 13. Enter the following, and press APPLY:

[Link]

Use icon to display elevations of all points, including the new point on string 2 that you just created. You
will notice that the elevation of the new point created is calculated along an extension of the gradient from the
first point to the second point. The new point is created at a distance of 1000 meters from the first point
selected.

Again, the DISPLAY POINT NUMBERS to display all point numbers.

Select CREATE A POINT BETWEEN 2 POINTS and select point 11, then point 12. Enter the form as
before.

Select point 13, then 12, and use a distance of 1200.

Select point 2, then 18, and again use a distance of 1200.

Select point 11, then 20, and use a distance of 1500.

Select point 1, then 25, and use a distance of 1000

Select point 1, then 28, and use a distance of 1000

Select point 4, then 32, and use a distance of 1000

Select point 4, then 29, and use a distance of 1000

Select point 32, then 29, and use a distance of 700

Select point 43, then 37, and use a distance of 1000

Select point 40, then 35, and use a distance of 1000

Select point 43, then 36, and use a distance of 1000

Select point 10, then 30, and use a distance of 1000

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 31

Select point 36, then 30, and use a distance of 1500

Select point 45, then 10, and use a distance of 1000

On the E DIT Toolbar or Menubar, use SEGMENT CLOSE to close up string 2. Use icon to plot
elevations on all points.

Save strings 1 and 2 in the main graphics layer to US_FLOOR1.STR, overwriting the previous version.

Don’t worry about saving the DTM, we are about to recreate it right now.

On the SURFACES Menubar – DTM FILE FUNCTIONS - CREATE DTM FROM A STRING FILE, Fill in
the form as shown, and press APPLY:

[Link]

Click and drag the new DTM into graphics, and use Use COLOUR DTM BY FIELD on the Z field to see
the result.

Open the [Link] file, by dragging it into the Graphics area.

You should now be able to see the line of contact between the upper seam floor and the topography:

Page 32 Coal Modelling Tutorial

 [Link]

Using the SURFACES menu – DTM FILE FUNCTIONS – LINE OF INTERSECTION BETWEEN 2 DTMS,
enter the following and press APPLY:

[Link]
This will take a few minutes to process.

When it is done, recall the file US_OUTCROP1.STR, and plot strings.

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 33

You will notice that all segments are closed. This is because there was a continuous line of contact between the
two DTMs, due to string 1000 in [Link]. If you recall, string 1000 was set to an elevation lower than
anything in the entire data set.

You will notice that there are a couple of segments that are very small in area. Generally, if a segment is
smaller than a single block, it can be disregarded. If a centroid just happened to land inside a segment that had
an area less than the block (in our case, 625sq. m.), we would be overestimating the amount of minable coal.

In the EDIT Menu - select LAYER – CLEAN, enter the following, and APPLY:

[Link]

There are also some duplicate points (12 in this case) which could cause problems later on. The same form will
allow the removal of duplicate points in 3-D space. You can just press enter to recall the form. Fill in the
following:

Page 34 Coal Modelling Tutorial

 [Link]

Save the file as US_OUTCROP1.STR, overwriting the old version.

We will now set all strings clockwise, and then go back to graphics and set any “donut holes” to anticlockwise.

From the Menu FILE TOOLS – CHANGE STRING DIRECTIONS: Enter the following and press APPLY:

[Link]

After that has finished, return to graphics and recall US_OUTCROP1.STR You should see:

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 35

 Make
Anitclockwise

[Link]

Just right of the centre of the screen, you may see a small segment inside the larger one. This is an old pit that
was mined a few years previous, and needs to be excluded from calculations. To do this, that segment needs to
be anticlockwise.

On the EDIT Toolbar, then REVERSE ORDER OF POINTS IN A SEGMENT (don’t use STRING
REVERSE ), and select the segment one time. You should see that the segment is now anticlockwise in
the message window.

Save the file by overwriting the existing copy.

We would now like to add a CONSTRAINT to the Block Model.

Make sure the Block model is connect, by checking the Block model icon in displayed on the “Status Display”
in the lower Left corner. If not click and drag the Block Model file into the Graphics workspace to connect the
Model.

First of all DISPLAY BLOCK MODEL

On the BLOCK MODEL Menu or Toolbar, select ADD NEW GRAPHICAL CONSTRAINT CONSTRAINTS
. Enter the following and APPLY:

Page 36 Coal Modelling Tutorial

 [Link]

Don’t forget to give it the extent of “Z”, and a constraint name of “upper”.

You should then see only those blocks whose centroids fell inside the string.

NOTE: If there are problems, the “donut” type strings may not be reversed or there may be duplicate points on
a string. Go to the function CLEAN LAYER and check the string file is in good condition.

[Link]

Exercise:

Perform the same set of steps for the lower seam:

1) Recall LS_FLOOR1.DTM into graphics

2) Recall [Link] into a different layer
3) Use CREATE POINT BETWEEN 2 POINTS to extrapolate points beyond the limit of the model

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 37

4) Save the file and create a DTM of it
5) Use LINE OF INTERSECTION BETWEEN 2 INTERSECT DTMs to find the line of contact with
[Link] (call it LS_OUTCROP1.STR)
6) Remove any segments less than 625 sq. meters (the area of one 25m x 25m block)
7) Set string directions – Remember to create ANTICLOCKWISE strings that like within the clockwise strings.
The icon SEGMENT PROPERTIES can be used to enquire as to the status of a segment
8) Create a constraint called “LOWER” that contains all blocks inside LS_OUTCROP1.STR

The result should be something similar to:

[Link]

Exercise:

Now we need to use the same technique as we did for the topography to assign values to the model for the
seams of the two floors:

1) Overlay a string representing block centroids onto the DTM of the seam floor
2) Add an attribute to the model for seam floor
3) Use BM NEAREST NEIGHBOR to assign values to the model

Recall the file [Link] into Graphics.

If we hide strings , display markers, We can use IDENTIFY POINT to determine the values of any
point.

Recall that we assigned the topo value to the D1 field. We will assign:

D2 = upper seam floor D3 = lower seam floor

In Menubar SURFACES – DTM FILE FUNCTIONS - DRAPE STRINGS OVER A DTM, enter the
following, and press APPLY:

Page 38 Coal Modelling Tutorial

 [Link]

Press APPLY at the next two form, then enter the data as shown on the second form and APPLY:

[Link]

[Link]

We will add a few attributes to the model for some of the structural data we will be modelling.

On the BLOCK MODELLING Menu, making sure the Block Model is connected (check STATUS DISPLAY),
ADD NEW BLOCK MODEL ATTRIBUTE , enter the following, and press APPLY:

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 39

 [Link]

Now we will assign the upper seam elevation values from [Link] to the attribute US_FLOOR.

On the BLOCK MODEL Menu – ESTIMATION - NEAREST NEIGHBOR, we will use the string file [Link]
to fill the attribute of “us_floor” . Fill in the following form and APPLY:

[Link]

Remember the data is in D2 field.

At the next form, set the search radius and maximum vertical search to 1. Also, since we are only interested in
assigning a value where the seam actually exists (eg, inside the constraint LOWER), set CONSTRAIN
INTERPOLATION to “Y”.

Page 40 Coal Modelling Tutorial

 [Link]

At the next form, enter the constraint as shown and APPLY:

[Link]

NOTE: This time we use the constraint file that we saved and not the constraint based on the string file.

Display the model .

IDENTIFY BLOCK VALUES , then click on any block. APPLY this form, and you will be asked to select
another block. Click on several blocks. You will notice that some blocks have a value for us_floor of “-1”.
These blocks are outside the constraint “upper”.

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 41

If the Block model is not yet constrained to only the Upper Seam, select ADD NEW GRAPHICAL
CONSTRAINT , and add a constraint of : INSIDE CONSTRAINT UPPER

To remove constraints use to REMOVE ALL GRAPHICAL CONSTRAINTS and to REMOVE LAST
GRAPHICAL CONSTRAINT.

Use COLOUR BLOCKS BY ATTRIBUTE to colour US_FLOOR by the range of 1020,1100,10.

Recall the file US_FLOOR1.STR, using Replace and Rescale Display “N”.

We can hide strings , display markers, and display Z elevation values.

Viewing the data in this manner could be helpful for planning additional drill holes. For example, the northwest
region could probably use some more drilling to raise one’s confidence in estimates of structural values in the
area.

It is possible to EDIT THE ATTRIBUTES FOR ONE BLOCK. Found under the Block Model Menu –
ATTRIBUTES.

A view of the upper seam floor elevation and sample values.

[Link]

Page 42 Coal Modelling Tutorial

Use icon IDENTIFY POINT to inquire the values of a few points on the string file. Recall that these files
came from ZONE THICKNESS, and contain:

D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6
Hole ID Coal Thickness Parting Depth of top of Depth of Number of
Thickness seam bottom of seam intercepts of coal

We will now estimate a value for the thickness of the upper seam using D2 in US_FLOOR1.STR.

We will use the Block Modelling menu – ESTIMATON - INVERSE DISTANCE.

Generally speaking, an inverse distance squared estimate with an isotropic (non-directional) search will provide
an adequate estimate for most data sets for the novice geostatistician. There are entire courses dedicated to
geostatistics, and the user is referred to outside documentation in that area.

At the first form, we will define the string file which contains the data (us_floor1.str) and the D field that has
the data of interest (D2). Further we will define the attribute into which the estimation should be undertaken.

There is a facility to put in the distance to nearest sample, average distances the number of samples used. These
attributes can be entered on the fly. However, enter the following and APPLY:

[Link]

At the next form we will be using a very large search ellipse, so enter the following and press APPLY:

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 43

 [Link]

We will want to make an estimate only in the constraint “upper”. Enter the following and APPLY:

[Link]

Page 44 Coal Modelling Tutorial

The values presented on these two forms will probably satisfy the needs of the novice geostatistician. A full
course in geostatistics is recommended to fully comprehend the ramifications of the values entered on these
forms. For assistance with any field, as on any form in SURPAC, position the cursor with the arrow keys or
click on the field, then click once on the HELP button.

Enter a constraint of INSIDE CONSTRAINT upper, and APPLY:

[Link]

Press APPLY at the next form:

[Link]

Firstly we can hide the current constraints using to REMOVE LAST GRAPHICAL CONSTRAINT, and
then we can IDENTIFY BLOCK VALUES to review block values of the upper seam floor and the
thickness. We may want to ADD NEW GRAPHICAL CONSTRAINT , constraining the image using file
[Link].

Next, we will calculate a value for the seam roof by adding these two values.

We will also calculate the depth of overburden for the upper seam as topo - us_roof.

Both of these calculations can be done simultaneously, as the same constraint is going to be used. However, the
order is important, and the topographical height of the seam roof should be calculated prior to it being used to
calculate the thickness of the overburden.

Select BLOCK MATHS icon or under the BLOCK MODEL – ATTRIBUTES – MATHS menu, enter the
following and APPLY:

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 45

 [Link]

Enter the constraint as INSIDE CONSTRAINT UPPER and press APPLY:

[Link]

Use IDENTIFY BLOCK VALUES , to review Block Values

Use COLOUR BLOCKS BY ATTRIBUTE to colour US_BURDEN range of 0,100,10, enter the
following, and press APPLY:

Page 46 Coal Modelling Tutorial

 [Link]

You will see most blocks coloured blue, green, or yellow, but some will remain pink.

[Link]

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 47

Use IDENTIFY BLOCK VALUES , then click on one of these pink blocks. You will see that, for these
blocks, the calculated value of US_ROOF is slightly higher than the topography, thereby giving a negative
burden value. We will remedy the situation by telling SURPAC, “where US_ROOF > TOPO, set the
US_ROOF value equal to the topo value” and similar statements for US_THICK and US_BURDEN.

[Link]

Using BLOCK MATHS , Enter the following expressions and press APPLY.

[Link]

Inside the constraint of UPPER.

Page 48 Coal Modelling Tutorial

Note the use of the “double i - f ” spelling of the word IF. Literally translated, these statements say:

VARIABLE STATEMENT TRANSLATION

IF us_roof is greater than topo, THEN
set us_roof to the value of topo
us_roof iif(us_roof>topo,topo,us_roof) ELSE
leave us_roof as it was

IF us_roof is greater than or equal to topo, THEN

set us_burden to zero
us_burden iif(us_roof>=topo,0,us_burden) ELSE
leave us_burden as it was

IF us_roof is greater than or equal to topo, THEN

us_thick = topo - us_floor
us_thick iif(us_roof>=topo,topo-us_floor,us_thick) ELSE
leave us_thick as it was

Use IDENTIFY BLOCK VALUES to review block values.

Set the constraint ADD NEW GRAPHICAL CONSTRAINT , INSIDE CONSTRAINT UPPER.

Use COLOUR BLOCKS BY ATTRIBUTE to colour blocks based on US_BURDEN. You should not see
any more pink blocks (where US_BURDEN was negative). You have now finished modeling the structural
values for the upper seam.

Exercise:

Model the lower seam in the same manner. Remember to use the constraint LOWER in all steps.

1) Use SURFACES – DTM FILE FUNCTIONS - DRAPE STRINGS OVER A DTM to set D3 field of
[Link] equal to the Z of LS_FLOOR1.DTM.

2) Add the following attributes to the model (all are “float” type of variables, background value = -1):

LS_ROOF LS_FLOOR LS_THICK

3) Use NEAREST NEIGHBOR to assign a value to LS_FLOOR from D3 of [Link]

4) Use INVERSE DISTANCE to estimate values for LS_THICK

5) View the model in graphics, and colour blocks based on LS_FLOOR, then on LS_THICK

As mentioned previously, the lower seam contains up to three partings within the seam. Because of this, the
calculation of the lower seam roof will be different than for the upper seam.

US_FLOOR1.STR and LS_FLOOR1.STR were created from ZONE THICKNESS, and contain:

D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6
Hole ID Coal Thickness Parting Depth of top of Depth of Number of
Thickness seam bottom of seam intercepts of coal

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 49

In order to calculate the elevation of the lower seam roof, we must first calculate coal thickness and parting
thickness, then add them both to the lower seam floor:

We have previously created and estimated values for the coal thickness with an attribute called LS_THICK.

Exercise:

1) Add the attribute LS_PARTING_THICK to the model (“float” type, background value = -1)

2) Use INVERSE DISTANCE to estimate values for LS_PARTING_THICK from the D3 field of string 1 of
[Link] (remember to use INSIDE CONSTRAINT LOWER) - this is quite a long calculation.

3) Use BLOCK MATHS to calculate:

LS_ROOF = LS_FLOOR+LS_THICK+LS_PARTING_THICK

4) View the model in graphics, and colour blocks based on LS_ROOF, then on LS_PARTING_THICK

*****************************************************************************************
*

We will now calculate the burden for the lower seam. This burden calculation will be different than for the
upper seam, as there are two regions which must be considered:

1) INSIDE CONSTRAINT UPPER

(where both seams are present)

2) INSIDE CONSTRAINT LOWER, but NOT INSIDE CONSTRAINT UPPER

(where only the lower seam is present)

For region 1 (INSIDE CONSTRAINT UPPER),

LS_BURDEN = US_FLOOR - LS_ROOF

Return to the BLOCK MODEL menu, ADD NEW BLOCK MODEL ATTRIBUTE “LS_BURDEN”.
Select BLOCK MATHS , and enter the following:

[Link]

Page 50 Coal Modelling Tutorial

At the next form, enter “INSIDE CONSTRAINT UPPER”, and press APPLY:

[Link]

Now we will calculate the lower seam burden thickness where only the lower seam is present:

Select BLOCK MATHS , and enter the following:

[Link]

At the next form, enter “INSIDE CONSTRAINT UPPER”, then on the next line, enter “NOT INSIDE
CONSTRAINT LOWER”. Make sure you save this new constraint with a name of “NO_UPPER”.

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 51

 [Link]

Use IDENTIFY BLOCK VALUES to review block values.

Set the constraint to INSIDE CONSTRAINT LOWER.

Use COLOUR BLOCKS BY ATTRIBUTE to colour blocks based on LS_BURDEN. You may see some
pink blocks. This is where LS_ROOF was above TOPO, and thus, LS_BURDEN was negative.

Page 52 Coal Modelling Tutorial

Exercise:

1) Use BLOCK MATHS with IF-THEN-ELSE statements to set the following:

(remember to use INSIDE CONSTRAINT LOWER)

lower seam roof equal to topo where the lower seam roof is higher than the topo

lower seam burden equal to zero where the lower seam roof is greater than or equal to topo

lower seam thickness equal to (lower seam thickness - (lower seam floor - topo)) where the
lower seam roof is greater than or equal to topo

2) In graphics, check to ensure that no negative burden values are present inside the constraint “lower”

*****************************************************************************************
*

The last structural item to be calculated is the number of partings. This is important for two reasons:

1) For each parting that is mined, an average of 2cm of coal is lost.

2) Productivity is adversely affected by partings, and is inversely proportional to the number of partings. We
will want to know where these areas of lower productivity are for scheduling.

As mentioned before, the lower seam is the only seam which contains partings.

LS_FLOOR1.STR was created using ZONE THICKNESS, and contains:

D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6
Hole ID Coal Thickness Parting Depth of top of Depth of Number of
Thickness seam bottom of seam intercepts of coal

Recall LS_FLOOR1.STR into graphics.

We can hide strings , display markers, for string 1, and plot description field for field D6 on string
1.

The number of partings will be one less than this number. We will use STRING MATHS to subtract one from
this number to convert D6 to number of partings.

We will be using the function NEAREST NEIGHBOR to assign values of number of partings to the model.

Recall that the model exists between Z=0 and Z=1. LS_FLOOR1.STR has Z values of 950 to1050. For
NEAREST NEIGHBOR to work correctly, the Z value of LS_FLOOR1.STR must be set to some value
between 0 and 1.

GRAPHICS STRING MATHS can be used for both of these tasks.

Select EDIT, then STRING MATHS. Click on string 1, enter the following, and press APPLY:

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 53

 [Link]

We can hide strings , display markers, for string 1, and plot description field for field D6 on string
1.

D6 now represents the number of partings.

Save only string 1 to a new file called [Link] and exit graphics.

This can be done by filling in the form as follows:

[Link]

NOTE: The string range to save is specified as 1.

On the block modelling menu, select ADD NEW BLOCK MODEL ATTRIBUTE . Enter the following, and
press APPLY:

Page 54 Coal Modelling Tutorial

 [Link]

Now select ESTIMATION - NEAREST NEIGHBOR. Enter the following at the next two forms and APPLY
each:

[Link]

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 55

 [Link]

When it is finished, and colour the model by number of partings. Recall [Link], hide strings,
displaplot markers, and plot D6 values. You should see:

[Link]
Use IDENTIFY BLOCK VALUES to review block values. Click on several blocks where there are zero
partings. You will probably find a few blocks where the number of partings is zero, yet the parting thickness is
greater than zero.

This is due to the fact that NEAREST NEIGHBOR was used to model the number of partings, and INVERSE
DISTANCE was used to model the parting thickness. Thus, if a block is 30 meters away from a sample with

Page 56 Coal Modelling Tutorial

zero partings and a parting thickness of zero, but 31 meters away from a sample with one parting, and a parting
thickness of 0.5, the number of partings will be zero, but the parting thickness will be somewhere around 0.25.

We will now set the parting thickness to zero where the number of partings is zero. Because we will be doing
more calculations where there are partings, we will make a constraint called PARTINGS.

Select ADD NEW GRAPHICAL CONSTRAINT , enter the following, and press APPLY:

[Link]

In the Block Modelling Menu – ESTIMATION - ASSIGN VALUE, enter the following at the next forms, and
APPLY each one:

[Link]

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 57

 [Link]

APPLY the “SAVE MODEL” form, and use IDENTIFY BLOCK VALUES to review block values in
graphics.

Page 58 Coal Modelling Tutorial

ASSIGNING THE QUANTITY OF COAL LOST DUE TO MINING PRACTICES

The next portion of this tutorial will deal with modelling the quantity of coal lost due to mining practices.
Based on their previous experience, Campbell Valley Coal assumes the following losses:

1) Upper seam - 0.02m lost during cleaning of the seam roof

0.01m lost during mining of the seam floor

1) 2) Lower seam - 0.02m lost during cleaning of the seam roof

0.01m lost during mining of the seam floor
0.02m lost during mining of any parting

For this, we will need the following attributes:

US_WASTED_COAL LS_WASTED_COAL
US_MINABLE_COAL LS_MINABLE_COAL

Exercise:

1) Add the four attributes listed above to the model. Use type = float and background value = -1

2) Use ASSIGN VALUE to set the value of US_WASTED_COAL to 0.03

(use INSIDE CONSTRAINT UPPER)

3) Use BLOCK MATHS to calculate:

US_MINABLE_COAL = US_THICK - US_WASTED_COAL
(use INSIDE CONSTRAINT UPPER)

4) Use BLOCK MATHS to calculate:

LS_WASTED_COAL = (LS_NO_OF_PARTINGS * 0.02) + 0.03
(use INSIDE CONSTRAINT LOWER)

5) Use BLOCK MATHS to calculate:

LS_MINABLE_COAL = LS_THICK - LS_WASTED_COAL
(use INSIDE CONSTRAINT LOWER)

Campbell Valley Coal has decided that any coal less than 0.2 meters thick is too thin to be mined, and will be
taken as waste. View the model INSIDE CONSTRAINT LOWER in graphics. Colour
US_MINABLE_COAL on the range 0;0.2;999. You should then see:

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 59

 [Link]

You will notice that several blocks fall into this category. We can easily exclude these blocks from the
constraint upper, but they will then to be added to the constraint no_upper. When this happens, the lower seam
burden will then need to be re-calculated for the constraint no_upper.

Select ADD NEW GRAPHICAL CONSTRAINT , enter the following, and press APPLY:

[Link]

APPLY the next form to overwrite the previous constraint:

[Link]

Page 60 Coal Modelling Tutorial

Use ADD NEW GRAPHICAL CONSTRAINT , to add these blocks to the constraint NO_UPPER:

[Link]

Apply the next form to overwrite the existing copy of NO_UPPER.CON.

Use BLOCK MATHS , to recalculate LS_BURDEN

[Link]

On the next form, use INSIDE CONSTRAINT UPPER.

Exercise:

Check the lower seam to see if there are any blocks where LS_MINABLE_COAL < 0.2

If there are, reset the constraint LOWER to exclude those blocks.

If there are no blocks where LS_MINABLE_COAL < 0.2, there is nothing to do.

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 61

The next step in modelling structural data is to calculate the following:

US_BURDEN_BCM Bank Cubic Meters of waste to be removed to expose the upper seam
US_COAL_TONNES Tonnes of minable coal in the upper seam
US_STRIP_RATIO US_BURDEN_BCM / US_COAL_TONNES

LS_BURDEN_BCM Bank Cubic Meters of waste to be removed to expose the lower seam
LS_COAL_TONNES Tonnes of minable coal in the lower seam
LS_STRIP_RATIO LS_BURDEN_BCM / LS_COAL_TONNES

TOTAL_STRIP_RATIO (INSIDE CONSTRAINT UPPER)

US_BURDEN_BCM + LS_BURDEN_BCM
US_COAL_TONNES + LS_COAL_TONNES

(INSIDE CONSTRAINT NO_UPPER)

LS_STRIP_RATIO

Exercise:

1) Add the seven attributes to the model, again using type = float and background value = -1

2) Using BLOCK MATHS, calculate:

US_BURDEN_BCM = (US_BURDEN+US_WASTED_COAL) * 25 * 25
(INSIDE CONSTRAINT UPPER)

LS_BURDEN_BCM = (LS_BURDEN+LS_WASTED_COAL) * 25 * 25
(INSIDE CONSTRAINT LOWER)

To calculate the remaining values, we will first need a value for relative density for each seam.

Page 62 Coal Modelling Tutorial

ESTIMATING AND VIEWING QUALITY VALUES IN THE MODEL

Recall the file US_QUAL1.STR . Hide strings , display markers, for string 1, and display description
field for D1 field.

Remember that when we created the file, we extracted the data in this order:

[Link]

Thus, in the file US_QUAL1.STR, D1 is ash, D2 is sulphur, D3 is moisture, D4 is calorific value, and D5 is
relative density. D6 represents the sample length, D7 the hole name, D8 the depth from, and D9 the depth to in
the hole for the interval containing the seam.

Use display description field f to display values for D2, then D3, then D4, then D5, then D6, and lastly
D7.

Use to display Z values. These values represent the actual elevations of the midpoint of the seam. For
modelling purposes, we need to set the elevation to zero.

Exercise:

Use EDIT Toolbar - STRING MATHS to set the Z value of the string to zero. Save the file with the same
name, overwriting the existing file.

We will use INVERSE DISTANCE to estimate a value for each of these quality parameters.

Exercise:

Add the following attributes to the model, using type = float and background value = -1 for all.

US_ASH LS_ASH
US_SULPHUR LS_SULPHUR
US_MOISTURE LS_MOISTURE
US_CALORIFIC_VALUE LS_CALORIFIC_VALUE
US_RELATIVE_DENSITY LS_RELATIVE_DENSITY

We will now estimate values for each of these attributes using ESTIMATION – INVERSE DISTANCE.

Surpac tools allow multiple attributes to be estimated during a single run. Go through the following procedure
for the Upper Seam and then repeat the procedure for the Lower Seam.

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 63

 [Link]

At the next forms, enter the following and press APPLY:

[Link]

Page 64 Coal Modelling Tutorial

 [Link]

Enter a constraint of INSIDE CONSTRAINT UPPER and APPLY:

[Link]

APPLY the next form:

[Link]

View the model and the string file (plot D1 values) in graphics. Colour by Attribute US_ASH on the interval
0,30,5.

Use constraint UPPER. You should see something like this:

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 65

 [Link]

Repeat the process for the Lower seams. The process may take longer as there are more samples involved in the
estimation.

Use IDENTIFY BLOCK VALUES to review block values. You should now have values for all quality
parameters within the respective constraints:

[Link]

Page 66 Coal Modelling Tutorial

Now that we have a value for relative density for both seams, we can calculate values for:

US_COAL_TONNES
US_STRIP_RATIO
LS_COAL_TONNES
LS_STRIP_RATIO
TOTAL_STRIP_RATIO

Using the BLOCK MATHS function and INSIDE CONSTRAINT UPPER, enter the following.

[Link]

Use IDENTIFY BLOCK VALUES to review block values calculated.

[Link]

Use the constraint INSIDE CONSTRAINT LOWER.

Use IDENTIFY BLOCK VALUES to review block values calculated.

The last attribute to calculate is TOTAL_STRIP RATIO. Select BLOCK MATHS function, enter the
following, and APPLY:

[Link]

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 67

Use the constraint INSIDE CONSTRAINT UPPER.

Then calculate the strip ratio where only the lower seam is present. Select BLOCK MATHS function and
enter the following, and APPLY:

[Link]

Use the constraint INSIDE CONSTRAINT NO_UPPER.

Use IDENTIFY BLOCK VALUES to review block values calculated.

Use COLOUR BLOCKS BY ATTRIBUTE to colour by each of the following attributes using a range of
0,30,5:

US_STRIP_RATIO
LS_STRIP_RATIO
TOTAL_STRIP_RATIO

Page 68 Coal Modelling Tutorial

CONTOURING MODEL VALUES

Although it is possible to view any model value in graphics by COLOUR ATTRIBUTE, an actual contour line
is often more helpful. Contours can be obtained from the model by:

1) EXPORTING BLOCK CENTROIDS TO A STRING REPORT to generate a string file with the desired
variables
2) Creating a DTM of the file
3) Using CONTOUR EXTRACT to extract the desired contour

Making sure you are connected to [Link] on the BLOCK MODEL MENU – EXPORT – BLOCK
CENTROIDS AND DIMENSIONS TO A STRING FILE, Fill out the form as shown, and press APPLY:

[Link]

Recall file BM_VALUES1.STR. Hide strings , display markers, then zoom in 4 or 5 times. Display
description field for D1 fields and then D2.

Create a DTM of BM_VALUES1.STR. Fill in the form as shown:

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 69

 [Link]

Under the CONTOUR menu - Select DTM TOOLS – CONTOUR DTM FILE, fill in the forms as shown, and
APPLY each one:

[Link]

[Link]

Page 70 Coal Modelling Tutorial

 [Link]

Recall the file into graphics. Draw the block model, and colour on the attribute US_STRIP_RATIO with a
range of 0;10;999.

Exercise:

Create a file called TOTAL_RATIO10.STR that represents the 10:1 strip ratio line for the block model attribute
TOTAL_STRIP_RATIO.

Coal Modelling Tutorial Page 71

ASSIGNING BLOCK NUMBERS AND REPORTING

It is often helpful to have a unique number for each block, and to report tonnes and quality parameters on a
block by block basis.

We will use the file BM_VALUES1.STR to help us create a block number.

Recall BM_VALUES1.STR into graphics, hide strings and display markers , and window in on the
lower left corner of the data so that you see about 10 or 20 centroids.

We will use the block northings and eastings to come up with a block number.

Use EDIT Toolbar - STRING MATHS to set D1 equal to the northing and D2 to the easting:
(Note the syntax: D1 = ‘y’ and D2 = ‘x’ )

[Link]

Display description field for D1 fields and then D2. These are the northings and eastings of the block
centroids.

What we want to do is to get D1 = 0 and D2 = 0 for the lower left corner. Use STRING MATHS :

[Link]

Display description field for D1 fields and then D2.

Now we want to divide the D1 and D2 values by the block size. Again use STRING MATHS :

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 [Link]

Display description field for D1 fields and then D2.

Next we want to add one to all values. Use STRING MATHS:

[Link]

Display description field for D1 fields and then D2.

Now multiply D1 by 100 with STRING MATHS:

[Link]

Display description field for D1 fields and then D2.

Now add D2 to D1 with STRING MATHS:

[Link]

Display description field for D1 fields and then D2. These will be used as the block numbers.

Save the file as BLK_NUM1.STR

Using the BLOCK MODELLING Menu / Toolbar, select the ADD NEW BLOCK MODEL ATTRIBUTE
function. Enter the following, and press APPLY:

[Link]

Select ESTIMATION - NEAREST NEIGHBOR. Fill in the following forms as shown and APPLY each one:

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 [Link]

[Link]

Check the values using IDENTIFY BLOCK VALUES

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Note that the lower left block is 101, and the upper right block is 5280.

******************************************************************************

We will now report values for the entire resource, then block by block.

only those blocks that fall in the following categories will be reported:

1) UPPER SEAM where US_STRIP_RATIO < 10 or TOTAL_STRIP_RATIO < 10.

2) LOWER SEAM where TOTAL_STRIP_RATIO < 10

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Clear all constraints , then use ADD NEW GRAPHICAL CONSTRAINT to define the upper seam
blocks that are minable:

[Link]

Use COLOUR BLOCKS BY ATTRIBUTE to colour the blocks on US_STRIP_RATIO with range
0;10;999.

You should now see something like the following:

[Link]

Note that although some of the blocks are not economically minable using only the upper seam strip ratio, when
both seams are mined, they become minable.

We will only generate two reports for the blocks displayed.:

1) Total tonnes
2) A block-by-block breakdown of values

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Select CREATE BLOCK MODEL GRADE AND TONNAGE REPORT . Initially create a format form as
illustrated below. This can be used for all reports with the same format. Enter the data as shown, and press
APPLY.

Picture [Link]

[Link]

Select BLOCK MODEL REPORT again, create a different format file and then enter the data as shown, and
APPLY.

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 [Link]

[Link]

Exercise:

1) Create a constraint called MINABLE_LS which contains those blocks that meet the following criteria:

INSIDE CONSTRAINT LOWER

< BLOCK TOTAL_STRIP_RATIO 10

2) Generate a total tonnage report, and a block-by-block report for the lower seam data.

3) Generate a block-by-block report that contains both upper and lower seam data

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