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Calculate Dip and DIP DIRECTION From Alpha Beta in MAP INFO

This document provides instructions for calculating dip and dip direction from alpha and beta core angles measured in drillhole data. It explains that the alpha/beta tool converts structural data defined by alpha and beta angles into dip and dip direction angles. The tool checks that the required fields are present and the angles are within the valid ranges before performing the conversion. The user selects the input and output fields and orientation conventions before applying the conversion.

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Conrad Alderton
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1K views5 pages

Calculate Dip and DIP DIRECTION From Alpha Beta in MAP INFO

This document provides instructions for calculating dip and dip direction from alpha and beta core angles measured in drillhole data. It explains that the alpha/beta tool converts structural data defined by alpha and beta angles into dip and dip direction angles. The tool checks that the required fields are present and the angles are within the valid ranges before performing the conversion. The user selects the input and output fields and orientation conventions before applying the conversion.

Uploaded by

Conrad Alderton
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Calculate Dip and DIP DIRECTION from alpha beta in MAP INFO

MELANIE TUNJUNG SARI

Use the DRILLHOLES>Analyze>Alpha/Beta tool to calculate the orientation of


discontinuities and geological structures from the alpha and beta core angles of the
discontinuity and the orientation of the drillhole at the location of the discontinuity.

Referring to the diagram below, the discontinuity surface forms an ellipse, referred to
as the “apical plane”, with apices at either end of the major axis of the ellipse.

The alpha angle is the acute angle of intersection between the apical plane and the
core axis measured along the major axis of the ellipse (BB’). The alpha angle is
always a positive angle between 0° and 90°.

The beta angle is measured clockwise looking in the direction of drilling (the right-
hand thumb rule) around the circumference of the core from the top-of-core or
bottom-of-core reference line (A) to the apex furthest from (B) or nearest to (B’) the
collar.
The measuring convention (bottom or top of core and nearest or furthest apex) must
be consistently applied on all drillholes. The diagram shows the furthest from
convention.

Measuring alpha and beta core orientation angles showing bottom-of-core reference
line (A) and apex furthest from collar (B).
Note:
Take care to ensure that the alpha and beta angles are measured as shown and
whether the reference line is scribed at the top or bottom of core. Practice does vary
—for example, the alpha is sometimes measured as the angle between the normal
to the apical plane and the core axis i.e. 90° – alpha.

Before alpha-beta structure data can be displayed on a drillhole trace, the file must
be converted into a standard structural data table with dip and dip direction fields.
The DRILLHOLES>Analyze>Alpha/Beta tool converts structural downhole data point
defined by alpha and beta angles into dip and dip direction angles. Before using this
tool check that:
 The structure table contains (at least) HoleID, Depth From, Depth To, Alpha,
and Beta fields. The field names in the structure table must match the
corresponding field names used in the project. For more information.
Additional fields in the input table are preserved
 The Depth From value must be equal to the Depth To value (forming a
surface of zero thickness, such as a joint or bedding plane) or greater than the
Depth To value (forming an infilled structure, such as a shear or fault). The
apical plane is defined at the midpoint of the from and to depths.
 The Alpha and Beta fields must be numeric. If present, Dip and Dip Direction
fields must be Float type
 The Alpha and Beta values have been measured according to the convention
defined above.
Note that zero alpha and beta values are valid and are treated as zero angles (not as
null values). When the file is processed, if zero values are detected, the number of
records with zero values is reported, and the user is asked to confirm before
proceeding to process the file.

Note :
If the data is imported in CSV format from a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, Excel
converts blank cells into zeroes. To preserve null values, enter –999 in all blank cells
before saving as a CSV
Null dip and dip direction values are output if:
 Either the alpha or beta value is null (-999),
 The alpha value is greater than 90 or less than zero
 The beta value is greater than 360 or less than zero
Workflow:
 Import alpha-beta structure data file as a TAB file.
 Load the structure table into the drillhole project from Structure tab on
Drillhole Project Setup dialog box (DRILLHOLES>Manage>Project
Manager>Modify). The project must contain at least the collars and survey
tables required to compute the drillhole trace. This associates the HoleID,
Depth From, and Depth To fields with other drillhole tables in the project.
 The structure data can then be displayed on drillhole sections using the
Structure display option.

To convert alpha-beta structure data into dip and dip direction :


 Open the structure TAB file containing alpha and beta values
 Select DRILLHOLES>Analyze>Alpha/Beta. The Convert Alpha/Beta Angles
dialog box is displayed
 In the Structure Table box, select the structure file
 Under Source Columns, select the Alpha Angle and Beta Angle fields from the
input file.
 Under Output Columns, if the structure table already contains dip and dip
direction fields (from a previous conversion, for example), select the Dip and
Dip Direction fields. Otherwise select <New Column> and, when prompted,
type the name of the new column
 Under Orientation Mark, choose if the reference line is marked at the bottom
(default) or top of core
 Under Beta Angle Measurement, choose if the beta angle is measured from
the apical plane point furthest from or nearest to the collar.
 Click Apply. When processing is complete, close the dialog box.

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