Weeks 4th

TA3114 Mining Geostatistics

Concept and Calculation of

Experimental Variogram
Experimental variogram is calculated using a simple formula, i.e.
the difference of average between two sample points with a certain
distance.

The difference might be either <0 or >0, in order to situate that the
difference of average always be >0, then the calculation is based
on quadratic difference.

Delfiner defined that: the quadratic difference is assummed as

mathematical expectation of [Z(xi) Z(xi+h)], then the variogram is
defined as:
(h) = E[{Z(xi) Z(xi+h)}2]
= Var[Z(xi) Z(xi+h)]

where: (h) = variogram

Var = variance
From the previous function, practically the experimental variogram is
calculated using formula: h

x1 x2 x3 x4 x5
N
[
i
z ( x ) z ( x i+h )]2
2h
(h ) = i =1
Searching on pairs of data in experimental variogram
2N( h ) calculation

where: (h) = variogram for particular direction of distance h

h = 1d, 2d, 3d, 4d (d = average spacing of data points)
z(xi) = data value on point xi
z(xi+h) = data value on point separated by h from xi
N(h) = number of data pairs
As for example, Au grade (ppm) is known along the quartz vein with
sampling spacing (d) of 2 m in regular:

grade: 7 9 8 10 9 11 11 13 11 12 16 12 10 11 10 12 15 ppm

location: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Variogram values in each lag distance:
(2) =
(7 9 ) + (9 8 ) + (8 10 ) + (10 9 ) + ...... + (10 12 ) + (12 15 )
2 2 2 2 2 2
ppm
2

2 x16
= (4+1+4+1+4+0+4+4+1+16+16+4+1+1+4+9) / 216 = 74/32 = 2.31 ppm2
(4) = (1+1+1+1+4+4+0+1+25+0+36+1+0+1+25) / 215 = 101/30 = 3.36 ppm2
(6) = (9+0+9+1+16+0+1+9+1+4+25+4+4+16) / 214 = 99/28 = 3.54 ppm2
(8) = (4+4+9+9+4+1+25+1+1+1+25+0+16) / 213 = 100/26 = 3.85 ppm2
(10) = (16+4+25+1+9+25+1+9+0+4+16+9) / 212 = 119/24 = 4.96 ppm2
(12) = (16+16+9+4+49+1+1+4+1+0+1) / 211 = 102/22 = 4.64 ppm2
(14) = (25+4+16+25+9+1+0+9+1+9) / 210 = 99/20 = 4.95 ppm2
(16) = (16+9+64+4+1+0+1+1+16) / 29 = 112/18 = 6.22 ppm2
(18) = (25+49+16+0+4+1+1+4) / 28 = 100/16 = 6.25 ppm2
(20) = (81+9+4+1+1+1+16) / 27 = 113/14 = 8.07 ppm2
(22) = (25+1+9+0+9+16) / 26 = 60/12 = 5.00 ppm2
(24) = (9+4+4+4+36) / 25 = 57/10 = 5.70 ppm2
 Experimental variogram
8 Population variance Search Area

4 h
/2
2 /2
h

0
0 4 8 12 16 20 24
x0
Distance, h (m)

Experimental variogram and population Direction of variogram (), searching

variance (horizontal dotted line shows area with angle tolerance ( /2) and
value of 5,25 ppm2) distance tolerance (h h), modified
(h)
from David (1977)

1h 2h 3h 4h 5h 6h 7h h
The previous example of calculation was performed for the sample
pairs at distance h and direction 0o exactly, while practically in
general the sample pattern is not regular.

For the not regular sample pattern, we need to set a tolerance for
the sample pairs, and according to David (1977) there are terms of
angle tolerance ( /2) and distance tolerance (h h).

All sample points located in the searching area is defined with

angle tolerance ( /2) and distance tolerance (h h), then will
be assumed to be the sample points at distance h from x0 in the
such direction as shown in the previous figure.
Algorithm on the calculation of experimental variogram:
1. Each sample points will have opportunity to be the start point (head, xi). The other ones
(as tail) are calculated using the quadratic difference [z(xi) - z(xi+h)]2. The distance
between head (xi) and tail (xi+h) must be within the distance tolerance (h h) and
angle tolerance ( /2). If point xi+h is beyond the area within distance tolerance and
angle tolerance, then the quadratic difference is ignored. The same calculation is
performed for each point xi+h.
2. Next, for the same procedure in item no. 1, the other points also have the same
opportunity to be the head (xi).
3. For the procedures 1 and 2, we calculate the number of pairs N(h) which fulfil the
above requirements and also calculate the cumulative number of pairs for all quadratic
differences by [z(xi) - z(xi+h)]2. Using such formula, we can calculate the variogram
for number of pairs h = id.
4. Variogram for the next distance pairs of h (2d, 3d, 4d, ...etc.) is performed again
according to procedure 1 to 3. Finally we will obtain the variogram for each distance h.
5. Plot the graph of variogram where in the x axis is h, while in the y axis is variogram for
the relevant distance h.
Data format of Geo-EAS used in GSLIB and SGEMS

Zn Data in Sediments
6
X (Easting)
Y (Northing)
Z (Elevation)
Zn grade
Rock Type
Material Type
35982.60 50120.71 2487.57 0.0569 640 6
34739.02 50380.46 3038.71 0.0042 630 6
34736.43 50390.63 3038.93 0.0023 630 6
34732.73 50405.16 3039.24 0.0067 630 6
34729.03 50419.70 3039.55 0.0036 630 6
34725.58 50433.26 3039.84 0.0031 630 6
34950.69 49645.27 3023.56 0.0095 622 6
34948.38 49658.56 3023.02 0.0095 622 6
34945.80 49673.32 3022.39 0.0154 622 6
34943.29 49688.09 3021.72 0.0062 640 6
34941.51 49698.68 3021.21 0.0009 640 6
35047.64 49676.07 2734.72 0.0005 630 6
35049.44 49686.23 2723.83 0.0054 667 6
Parameter file in the calculation of 3D experimental variogram using GAMV (in
GSLIB)
Parameters for GAMV
*******************

START OF PARAMETERS:
../data/grasberg-zn-pb.dat -file with data
1 2 3 -columns for X, Y, Z coordinates
1 4 -number of variables, column numbers
0 1.0e21 -trimming limits
zn-dirvar.out -file for variogram output
30 -number of lags
75 -lag separation distance
37.5 -lag tolerance
5 -number of directions
0 22.5 2500 0.0 0.0 0.0 -azm, atol, bandh, dip, dtol, bandv
45 22.5 2500 0.0 0.0 0.0 -azm, atol, bandh, dip, dtol, bandv
90 22.5 2500 0.0 0.0 0.0 -azm, atol, bandh, dip, dtol, bandv
135 22.5 2500 0.0 0.0 0.0 -azm, atol, bandh, dip, dtol, bandv
0 0.00 0.00 90 45 300 -azm, atol, bandh, dip, dtol, bandv
0 -standardize sills? (0=no, 1=yes)
1 -number of variograms
1 1 1 -tail var., head var., variogram type
Parameter file in the calculation of horizontal variogram using GAMV (in GSLIB)

Parameters for GAMV

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

START OF PARAMETERS:
../data/grasberg-zn-pb.dat -file with data
1 2 3 -columns for X, Y, Z coordinates
1 4 -number of variables, column numbers
0 1.0e21 -trimming limits
zn-dirhorvar.out -file for variogram output
20 -number of lags
200 -lag separation distance
100 -lag tolerance
4 -number of directions
0 22.5 4000 0.0 0.0 50 -azm, atol, bandh, dip, dtol, bandv
45 22.5 4000 0.0 0.0 50 -azm, atol, bandh, dip, dtol, bandv
90 22.5 4000 0.0 0.0 50 -azm, atol, bandh, dip, dtol, bandv
135 22.5 4000 0.0 0.0 50 -azm, atol, bandh, dip, dtol, bandv
0 -standardize sills? (0=no, 1=yes)
1 -number of variograms
1 1 1 -tail var., head var., variogram type
Parameter file in the calculation of vertical variogram using GAMV (in GSLIB)

Parameters for GAMV

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

START OF PARAMETERS:
../data/grasberg-zn-pb.dat -file with data
1 2 3 -columns for X, Y, Z coordinates
1 4 -number of variables, column numbers
0 1.0e21 -trimming limits
zn-vertvar.out -file for variogram output
250 -number of lags
15 -lag separation distance
7.5 -lag tolerance
1 -number of directions
0 0.00 0.00 90 45 2000 -azm, atol, bandh, dip, dtol, bandv
0 -standardize sills? (0=no, 1=yes)
1 -number of variograms
1 1 1 -tail var., head var., variogram type
Parameter file in the calculation of 3D omnidirectional variogram using GAMV
(in GSLIB)

Parameters for GAMV

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

START OF PARAMETERS:
../data/Zn_Sediments.txt -file with data
1 2 3 -columns for X, Y, Z coordinates
1 4 -number of variables, column numbers
0 1.0e21 -trimming limits
zn-sed-omnihorvar.out -file for variogram output
30 -number of lags
100 -lag separation distance
50 -lag tolerance
1 -number of directions
0 90 3000 0 0 100 -azm, atol, bandh, dip, dtol, bandv
0 -standardize sills? (0=no, 1=yes)
1 -number of variograms
1 1 1 -tail var., head var., variogram type
Parameters
used in the
calculation of
3D
experimental
variogram
using SGeMS
3D variogram of Zn grade using SGeMS
2D variogram of Sulphur in N-S direction using Surfer 8.0
2D variogram of Sulphur in NE-SW direction using Surfer 8.0
2D variogram of Sulphur in E-W direction using Surfer 8.0
2D variogram of Sulphur in NW-SE direction using Surfer 8.0
2D omnidirectional variogram (whole direction) of Sulphur using Surfer 8.0
Some example of experimental
variogram of Pb-Zn grades
 Zn grade (%)

1000 m
 Experimental variogram of Pb >0.005% in GIC
0.03
Vertical direction
N-S direction
0.025 NE-SW direction
E-W direction
NW-SE direction

0.02
Variogram

0.015

0.01

0.005

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Distance (m)
 Omnidirectional variogram of Pb >0.005% in GIC
0.014

0.012

0.01

0.008
Variogram

0.006

0.004

0.002

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Distance (m)
 Experimental variogram of Pb <0.005% in GIC
-6
1.5 10
Vertical direction
N-S direction
NE-SW direction
E-W direction
NW-SE direction
-6
1 10
Variogram

-7
5 10

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Distance (m)
 3D omnidirectional variogram of Pb <0.005% in GIC
-6
1.4 10
Vertical direction
-6 Horizontal direction
1.2 10

-6
1 10

-7
8 10
Variogram

-7
6 10

-7
4 10

-7
2 10

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Distance (m)
 Experimental variogram of Zn >0.01% in GIC
0.16
Vertical direction
0.14 N-S direction
NE-SW direction
E-W direction
0.12 NW-SE direction

0.1
Variogram

0.08

0.06

0.04

0.02

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Distance (m)
 Omnidirectional variogram of Zn >0.01% in GIC
0.08

0.07

0.06

0.05
Variogram

0.04

0.03

0.02

0.01

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Distance (m)
 Experimental variogram of Zn <0.01% in GIC
-6
8 10
Vertical direction
-6
7 10 N-S direction
NE-SW direction
E-W direction
-6 NW-SE direction
6 10

-6
5 10
Variogram

-6
4 10

-6
3 10

-6
2 10

-6
1 10

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Distance (m)
 3D omnidirectional variogram of Zn <0.01% in GIC
-6
5 10
Vertical direction
Horizontal direction
-6
4 10

-6
3 10
Variogram

-6
2 10

-6
1 10

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Distance (m)
 Experimental variogram of Pb in HSZ
0.6
Vertical variogram
N-S direction
0.5 NE-SW direction
E-W direction
NW-SE direction

0.4
Variogram

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Distance (m)
 Omnidirectional variogram of Pb in HSZ
0.25

0.2

0.15
Variogram

0.1

0.05

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Distance (m)
 Experimental variogram of Zn in HSZ
1.2
Vertical direction
N-S direction
NE-SW direction
1
E-W direction
NW-SE direction

0.8
Variogram

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Distance (m)
 Omnidirectional variogram of Zn in HSZ
1

0.8

0.6
Variogram

0.4

0.2

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Distance (m)
 Experimental variogram of Pb in Sediments
0.4
Vertical direction
0.35 N-S direction
NE-SW direction
E-W direction
0.3 NW-SE direction

0.25
Variogram

0.2

0.15

0.1

0.05

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Distance (m)
 Omnidirectional variogram of Pb in Sediments
0.14

0.12

0.1

0.08
Variogram

0.06

0.04

0.02

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Distance (m)
 Experimental variogram of Zn in Sediments
1
Vertical direction
N-S direction
NE-SW direction
0.8 E-W direction
NW-SE direction

0.6
Variogram

0.4

0.2

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Distance (m)
 Omnidirectional variogram of Zn in Sediments
0.3

0.25

0.2
Variogram

0.15

0.1

0.05

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Distance (m)