GRADE CONTROL

Why it matters and what good looks like

36 ways to extract
more value from your ore body

INCLUDING ANSWERS TO:

• Smarter workflows
• Faster decision making
• Better reconciliation
DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?
• More agile modelling
unreliable data, production
bottlenecks, sampling variability
losses, lack of analytical confidence,
stakeholder misunderstanding…
you are not alone. Read on to hear
our experts’ solutions.

Seequent, The Bentley Subsurface Company

CONTENTS
EXPERTS PANEL 3
WHY GOOD GRADE CONTROL MATTERS 4
DATA AND MODEL DELIVERING TOGETHER 11
DEEPER INSIDE THE SEEQUENT GRADE CONTROL SOLUTION 23
IN CONCLUSION 26

2
EXPERTS PANEL

Pieter Neethling Ryan Lee Tamson Oosthuizen Mike Stewart

Segment Director, Product Manager, Mining Project Manager Market Technical Domain Expert,
Mining Operations at Operations and Productions Analysis at Seequent Geology at Seequent
Seequent Geology at Seequent

Kathryn Gall Stephen Law Abe Whaanga

Technical Services Manager, Senior Technical Lead, Senior Mine Geologist at
Asia Pacific at Seequent Geology at Seequent Oceana Gold

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WHY GOOD GRADE CONTROL MATTERS
WHY GOOD GRADE CONTROL MATTERS

01. Your best chance to drive profit instead

of drifting into underperformance
When the exploration is done, and the ore excavated and brought to the surface, all your plans
for profitability hang on one last piece of the puzzle – how well do you really understand that ore
body you’ve pursued so hard to delineate and mine?

It’s the ultimate goal in the grade control process for any geologist. A detailed and dynamic
appreciation of its location, geometallurgical properties and quantity will increase profitability,
reduce costs and save time. But a less robust and out-of-date grasp of those key details could
derail everything at this critical final stage. Red faces. Difficult reports. Unhappy stakeholders.

So how do you drive a grade control process that maximises efficiency, reduces risk and gives you
a high degree of ore body insight and workflow excellence; something that will minimise ore loss
and transform your project?

Well, you do it like this…

02. Grade control is the last opportunity to

make a good decision before it’s all too late.
03.
Poor practices at this stage can send even the best ore body into underperformance. Together the
mine geologist and production engineer are responsible for getting the right material to the mill, and
this will impact how the mill performs, and ultimately mine profitability. They literally decide if the
operation will make a profit or a loss. Once that control decision – is it ore or is it waste – is made
and you’ve locked in all aspects of downstream performance, you’re stuck with it.
–Pieter Neethling, Segment Director Mining Operations
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WHY GOOD GRADE CONTROL MATTERS

04. Communication is an often-underestimated skill in grade control.

Nearly every change or decision a mine geologist makes will be implemented by someone else – frequently operators
and engineers. Therefore, enabling good lines and methods of communication can deliver a major improvement
in ensuring objectives are understood and aligned – a critical success factor and a valuable, often overlooked,
investment for your business.

05. Does any of this sound familiar?

Typical process challenges teams run into when trying to
extract the maximum value from their ore body
The reconciliations are poor. Reconciliation results are a
constant challenge, particularly when measurement points across
the mining process are giving you different answers. Where is the
06.
It’s too inefficient. Not only are you dealing with a mass of truth and why are the numbers not matching? Your reconciliation
data from different directions, but there’s an array of often isolated process cannot afford to be just a box ticking exercise. It has to
teams all making conflicting calls on it. This means lethargic and time- drive decisions to improve the mining process. Reconciliations need
consuming workflows, too many manual data handling decisions (and to happen faster to ensure confidence in the data integrity. ‘Click A key ingredient of Seequent software
the problem of human errors), plus the risk that you’re taking key of a button’ insights are needed to support agile decision making. Is
decisions on ‘uncooperative’ data, which is spread across numerous the model right or did we mine it wrong? Perhaps it was the mill?
operability is that data can be added
locations and systems, is hard to find or difficult to access. And you Why does the grade control model different to the resource model? at any time, at any point, throughout
may have little way of knowing what’s up to date or not. Is it the model or the sample? A robust reconciliation process can the workflow: no need to work in a
help an operation answer all these crucial questions and more. restricted, linear fashion. It’s an immersive
It’s too slow. Production is a high demand environment and
managing large volumes of complex data simply takes too long. The The pressure is relentless. Downstream KPIs potentially and reiterative process that lets you
dynamic, high-quality models that decision makers and downstream representing millions of dollars are waiting on the right call of what’s ore test hypotheses and highlight gaps,
stakeholders require fail to appear. and what’s waste. Colleagues are hanging on your decision in order to dynamically, as you go, and before they
refine or update the short term mine plan and send in the equipment. If
you can’t provide your analysis quickly enough, that’s tonnes of material
become an issue.
now snarled up in the process – with your name on it.
“I’ve always wanted a way so that you
“No one feels truly confident about the There’s a need to make complex data simple. could get to the end and just add in extra
decisions being made because so much Stakeholders need to be able to grasp the complexity of the site data without having to go all the way back
data, the implications it has and which of the various scenarios
time is spent wrangling the data instead offers the best economic possibilities. But doing that represents an
to the start. And that’s the main benefit
of getting meaningful analysis from it.” enormous challenge. Presentations need to be clear, with built in of using Leapfrog Edge, you can keep
visualisations, and a dynamic real-life image of what’s in the ground. working while you wait for the last bit
In short, only a concise, easy to grasp, 3D image of the subsurface
of data to come in, such as the last few
really does the job, it eliminates stakeholder misunderstanding and
Sampling variability losses. In the process of grade control, potentially avoids costly mistakes. channels for a single drive.”
many, many samples will be taken… But if they don’t faithfully –Abe Whaanga
represent the geology, the quality of your decision making will take Good workflow should work with us, not against Senior Mine Geologist, OceanaGold
a hit, with major losses as a result. Even with a large number of us. Data should feed effortlessly and consistency into corporate Seequent customer
samples, the data is still very sparse relative to the volume of rock workflows throughout the lifetime of the project, aiding decision
being mined. That means critical decisions are being made on a very making, not confounding it. It needs to sit safely in one place,
small sample. Establishing a good sampling regime is therefore crucial helping improve efficiency while being easily auditable so decisions
to ensure you are collecting data that is useful to guide decisions. can always be re-examined.

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WHY GOOD GRADE CONTROL MATTERS

07. Currently, 3% of the world’s “Seequent offers the industry’s most

agile grade control modelling solution.
energy is consumed in the crushing and We provide rapid and dynamic, short
grinding of ore on mine sites 08. term model updates that make use of all
available data and enable in-the-moment
– So it’s a sustainability imperative to know your ore and decisions to be made.”
minimise the waste that is sent to the mill. –Ryan Lee, Product Manager Mining Operations and
Production Geology

09. What’s changed? Why has grade control become an

increasingly pressing issue for the mining industry?
Pieter Neethling
Segment Director Mining Operations

“The subsurface is incredibly complex with many constraints. We have to be able to hone in on “For any drill hole, pit, ‘face’, blast or stockpile sample,
unknowns, yet critical decisions must still be made in where the ore sits, what the impurities are, and the what’s important is getting that new data into a
the face of this uncertainty. geometallurgical and geotech characteristics that geological model and flowing that information through
impact on whether we can deliver on our needs. fast enough to influence the short-term mine plan and
“At the core of every grade control challenge is schedule.
knowing what the next blast and parcel of ore will
Stay profitable. Stay sustainable.
bring and how this compares with the mine plan. A “Imagine the impact of weaving all that crucial, freshly
well-defined delineation of ore and waste in a stope, “How can we best unearth a consistent, profitable available data into your geological model on the same
for example, is critical to ensure a more efficient product, sustainably and safely in the most cost- day – within hours even? How much more rapidly
and sustainable extraction. An added benefit is effective way – for now and the long term? could you respond, how more effective could your
that geotechnical engineers can review geological “Without an integrated workflow that incorporates decisions be, how more successful your pursuit of
discontinuities from the grade control model for mine all available data dynamically, we run the risk of safe and profitable extraction?”
safety purposes. misclassifying material and delaying decision-making
“We work in an industry that is volatile to market due to the lack of a complete picture.

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WHY GOOD GRADE CONTROL MATTERS

10. This job is getting harder…

Despite substantial exploration investment, the last decade has seen only around 25 new
major gold deposit discoveries, while ten a year was not uncommon before 2010. Those
25 discoveries, notes S&P Global, make up only 7% of all the gold discovered since 1990.

11. We’ve mined the ‘low hanging fruit’. 12.

Today’s resources are tougher to recover and
at lower grades. But there are solutions. “Today’s mining companies are
juggling multiple different challenges
“To mine into the future, the mining industry is investing in new The promise – and limits – of AI/ML and complexities in grade control.
technologies that will drive not only new resource discoveries,
but also allow for the economic recovery of ore at increasingly “However AI/ML applications are still impacted by the same There are many people involved
lower grades and with lower environmental impact. ‘sample theory’ that mine geologists grapple with every day. If throughout the whole process so for
you have a small amount of data and need to extrapolate that
“There are several positive industry trends in motion such as information across a disproportionally large scale, then as powerful mine geologists or excavation officers,
mine fleet electrification, which will lower the carbon footprint of as AI/ML is, it won’t be able to magically create new information. connecting this breadth of people
operations. The old adage of garbage in, garbage out remains true.
seamlessly and efficiently is vital for
“New Cloud technology allows geologists to have unprecedented “Material tracking of the block model, through all its many stages, is creating an informed understanding
levels of computer resources at their fingertips, allowing for a key step in ensuring a mine operation’s AI can truly create a self-
far faster insights. This includes better predictions of model learning operation – one that improves mill and mining processes, of the deposit and ensuring mining
uncertainty, with techniques that go beyond Kriging (such as but also better predicts future ore body knowledge based upon operations run smoothly.”
conditional simulation). historical mining performance. New blast holes and channel
samples alone cannot be the only data points that are used when Tamson Oosthuizen,
we have all of this other data that is not being fully utilised. Project Manager Market Analysis
“Mining is a very data rich environment; we “The block model is the glue that connects and reconciles future
are collecting increasingly large amounts of model predictions by AL/ML to the historical mined outcomes
ultimately leading to a more efficient mining process.
data every single shift.
“Whether it be new sensors, new drilling techniques
or increased automation, the key to progress is to “If your data is not in order, is sitting as files, or is
Drill rigs, mining fleets, survey equipment, etc. are all getting adopt a digital first approach and maximise where
smarter and IoT enabled, with the potential to collect data that to leverage new technology. Often it starts at the
not accessible via API, then your AI/ML processes
can empower better mining decisions. In this sea of data Artificial beginning – from data capture to storage, to model become ad-hoc and fall short of delivering
Intelligence and Machine Learning will shine. It will be able to outputs. Once you have that managed effectively maximum value in your mining process.”
view the data in many more dimensions than a human ever could, and in a standardised way, then you can automate
picking out trends and patterns that will offer new efficiencies. and leverage AI/ML. –Ryan Lee, Product Manager Mining Operations and Production Geology

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WHY GOOD GRADE CONTROL MATTERS

13. How Seequent products unite to create

a complete grade control modelling solution
Seequent have compelling grade control modelling workflows for open pit and underground mining. When used as
standalone products, our existing suite of Leapfrog Geo, Leapfrog Edge, MX Deposit, Imago and Seequent Central will
improve a mine geologist’s knowledge of the deposit.

However, when integrated these products come together to create an extremely powerful and versatile workflow
solution that can help manage this entire process and share it with a range of stakeholders.

A perfectly dovetailed partner to Geo,

Build high quality and effortless data collection Be ready when situations change quickly.
Leapfrog Edge is a core part of Seequent’s
and management. They are the key to an efficient operation Whatever models you’re working with need to be able to
that minimises the chance for error. update fast, as even working a few hours in the past can be
entire grade control modelling solution. This
enough to chip away at an ore body’s performance. invaluable estimation extension ensures the
smoothest and most productive workflow. With
it, any changes to the geological model will
MX Deposit manages all your sites samples and drilling data. dynamically update the grade control model.
Intuitive, simple and collaborative, it frees you to focus on Leapfrog Geo. The world’s market leading geological
Enabling you to work with data using highly
gathering the best quality data and making it rapidly available modelling software. An advanced, implicit modelling engine
bypasses the need for time-consuming wireframes and
visual tools, such as domained estimation with
to all your teams – rather than wasting time coercing the
system to do what you want it to do. quickly extracts the maximum insights from the data you boundary analysis, variable orientation, resource
have. Models are dynamic so when new data is added, your reporting, variography and block interrogation.
understanding of the ore body always remains up-to-date. Intuitive, flexible workflows and uncluttered
workspaces accelerate the resource modelling
Enable agile decision making by helping your
learning curve. Hand off block models easily to
teams - onsite or remote –work together seamlessly with
‘democratised’ data that is available to anyone, anywhere, Get more from your image information. It can be other teams in common industry file formats.
whenever they need it. vital to understand the geology, yet is often one of the
most overlooked and underused resources in the grade
control process.
Central brings all your data together in a tracked and
managed, centralised auditable environment. With its web
visualisation capability, you can open and view 3D models Imago transforms the image capturing process making it
directly from just a web browser. Public scenes enable easier and faster to seamlessly integrate image data with
important 3D information to be shared with mine stakeholders the user’s geological and modelling tools of choice. Instant
or the public at the click of a button – with no licence access to images – from a data bank no longer limitedby
required. Easily established alerts and notifications keep random manual naming and filing – provides rich information
everyone up to date with the latest data. Even the excavator to support interpretation and modelling.
driver can check in to Central on his smart device.

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WHY GOOD GRADE CONTROL MATTERS

14.
Good data management allows OceanaGold “If I can generate 10 models,
Waihi to reduce grade control model I can try different things and look
turnaround time from around a week to a day.
at the outliers. I can examine nine
This reduces the time from ore development
different scenarios and pick the best
to stoping, and brings benefits of up to
one. Rather than just tell the business

$100,000
‘surprise we’ve lost 10,000 ounces’,
we can say ‘look, we’ve got an idea
that we’re going to lose around 8,000
per stope panel . and explain why, and that means other
teams and managers can then make
So says Abe Whaanga, OceanaGold’s senior decisions accordingly.”
mine geologist.

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DATA AND MODEL DELIVERING TOGETHER
DATA AND MODEL DELIVERING TOGETHER – COLLECTING THE DATA

15. COLLECTING THE DATA

Mike Stewart
Technical Domain Expert,
Geology at Seequent

Mine geologists will collect a vast range of data from a wide number of sources. It needs to be gathered at
a high quality, frequent intervals and be managed well in order to build an accurate picture of the location,
quantity and quality of the ore.

Grade control is an essential part of the mining process, because the metal being extracted from the ground
is never constant. Grade control data must be collected and available in a timely fashion so it can inform and
be integrated into the mining plan (or it’s all too late…). Leapfrog, MX Deposit and Imago efficiently enable
data collection and integration between drill planning, logging and mapping, sampling and sample dispatch, and
assaying and QA/QC.

While the primary differentiating skill of mine geologists is geological training and knowledge, the expertise
required of them extends well beyond geology into subjects that include the applied sciences of sampling theory
and practice, as well as geostatistics and estimation; the concepts of misclassification, support and selectivity;
dilution and ore loss; and mining considerations such as mining methods, rill angles, selectivity, direction,
equipment, etc. Then there are geometallurgical considerations and their impact on processing; the economic
considerations that underly the definition of ‘ore’, and last but not least, communication - core to all mining
geological activities. All of these play into the mine geologists demand for and approach to collecting data.

The purpose of a resource model is to estimate the location,

quantity and characteristics of ore at a scale suitable for The mine geologist’s overall objective is to
planning a mine. Resource models are used as the basis
for making both capital investment decisions (mining fleet, extract the maximum value possible from
processing plant, etc), and for developing annual operational the ore body, and to ensure that the mine
budgets. In order for a mine to deliver to a budget, it is
invariably necessary to collect further data and produce a delivers to budget.
short-term grade control model, better to define the location
and character of ore prior to mining selection.

The role of the mine geologist is to plan and manage all aspects of this final definition of the ore body ahead of
mining; to shepherd the ore materials through the mining and milling process; and to reconcile final production
against the predictions from resource and ore-control.

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DATA AND MODEL DELIVERING TOGETHER – COLLECTING THE DATA

16. Collecting in the field

Drilling and Sampling • Sample spacing (blast holes are much closer spaced than capacity to serve up images where and when required;
dedicated sample drilling) and a rapidly developing capability for machine learning
Management of sample drilling programs is a core activity for
• Timing (blast holes are only drilled immediately prior to blasting augmentation of images.
mine geologists, involving:
and excavation, necessitating rapid laboratory turn-around to
MX Deposit is a rapidly growing, cloud-hosted database and
• Budgeting and logistical planning avoid delays. RC sampling is increasingly being used to improve
field logging tool that works seamlessly with Leapfrog. It
• Planning of drilling campaigns (method, locations, length, short term models some benches ahead of production, and to
can be scaled up and down depending on field requirements,
sampling methods) influence short term mine plans and schedules.
provide an affordable world-class database solution that
• Timing and scheduling of drilling campaigns (within short Although it is usually considered an either/or choice, there is eliminates the need for expensive servers/hardware.
term mining schedules) no reason that both approaches cannot be harnessed.
The seamless integration of MX Deposit and Imago data into
• Supervision of physical sampling activities
Downhole geophysics has long been used in some deposit Leapfrog software means geology can be easily dynamically
• Sample data management (sample dispatch, entry to updated and images visualised in the context of your model.
types – for example gamma and density logs are routinely
database, assay receipt)
used in coal and iron ore for establishing seam/stratigraphic
• Assay laboratory management (QA sample insertion, real- correlations. Historically, this was gathered in campaigns post
time QC, acceptance testing, reviews) drilling, but new tools are being developed that allow collection
at the time of drilling, while the rig is over the hole.
In underground mines, the mine-geologist often works with
resource geologists to plan infill drilling (usually diamond or
underground RC) ahead of development. Very close cooperation
and good relationships are required with the mining department
And increasingly, monitoring information from drilling rigs, such
as penetration rates, bit wear, and vibration, are being used to
create proxies for ore properties.
17.
to ensure that drilling is prioritised and scheduled within general
mining activities.
One of the great advantages to using a
Logging and Mapping combination of MX Deposit, Imago and
In open pit mines, sample drilling may be carried out independent
of blasting or may piggy-back off the percussion drilling used for
There is a rapid trend away from manual core and chip logging Leapfrog, is that you can easily achieve
to automated categorisation based on imagery and machine
blasting. There are benefits and drawbacks to both approaches, learning. Many different imaging techniques are being brought an effective balance between soft
which must be weighed up: to bear – from visible spectrum photographs (cheap and geological data (such as mapping and
readily available), to broad spectrum scanning.
• Costs (the drilling costs of blast hole sampling are nil) logging info) and hard assay.
• Sampling quality (blast hole sampling is notoriously prone to Imago provides a powerful set of tools for capture of digital
bias and contamination) images from all types of samples; cloud storage and retrieval

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DATA AND MODEL DELIVERING TOGETHER – COLLECTING THE DATA

18. Advances in high resolution imagery

In underground mines, the exposures of geology created as access drives are developed
provide invaluable information to refine and improve geological models. Historically this has
been captured by geologists visiting the face during the development cycle, sketching their
observations and collecting samples. But converting manual observations into digital inputs
was always an onerous process.

Thankfully, new techniques are rapidly emerging for the capture of high-resolution
imagery and textures from faces. These images can be recorded by machinery operators
as part of the development cycle, which provides improved safety, creates less disruption to
operations, and frees up geological resources. The resultant imagery provides an objective
record, available to multiple users, that can be applied for multiple purposes, such as
geological and geotechnical assessment.

In open pits, it is generally far more difficult to capture geological information from outcrop,
as the broken nature of the rock surfaces and safety considerations about rock fall and
machinery make close visual inspection increasingly difficult. Moreover, in the types of
deposit mined by open pit, grade and lithological relationships are usually more gradational.
However, for underground, imagery is increasingly being used as a primary data source.

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DATA AND MODEL DELIVERING TOGETHER – CREATING THE MODEL

19. CREATING THE MODEL

Even the best data can struggle to be useful unless it’s incorporated into a dynamic, easy to
understand and constantly updated geological model. 3D modelling gives teams an enhanced
geological understanding of the ore body, enabling them to make better, clearer and faster
decisions around what’s ore and what’s waste. The speed at which data can be incorporated is
Ryan Lee a huge benefit at the grade control stage, offering teams a virtually continuous view of the site.
Product Manager, Mining Incorporating data into the geological model daily is the route to a truly agile response.
Operations and Production
Geology, Seequent

20. CREATING THE MODEL

Trust in your data is vital. Being sceptical of A robust data management process allows for Leapfrog
your assay results can lead to model doubt and to maximise the use of the available information more
overreliance on other more subjective methods such
TRUST ROBUST efficiently, which enables the geologist to spend more
as visual control or gut feel about what is ore and time on geological interpretation and less time on data
what is waste. If you cannot trust the data that the admin tasks. Leapfrog allows you to have multiple sample
model is based on, then you won’t have confidence databases so you can connect to all the sources you
in your model. However, there is a balance to be need to produce the best grade control model possible.
struck between hard empirical assay values and Whether that is for exploration drilling, blast holes, grab
the geologist’s knowledge. Over reliance on assay samples, channel samples – bring it all in to one place
data alone limits the geologist expert guidance and and feed that information into the geological model.
knowledge of the deposit and its geological controls.
SPEED
Often it is this expertise and insight that suffers
when models cannot be updated fast enough to
meet the production schedule.
When it comes to grade control speed is paramount.
You need dynamic modelling to get more time back in
your day, but of-course you still need to be in control
of the model with the ability to influence the result

21.
by using explicit polyline or structural disc edits for
example. Leapfrog Geo is the market leader in rapid
geological modelling and allows mining companies
to rapidly update geology and grade models in
“A grade control model that disregards the geological controls will never minutes, while also giving you full transparency and
control. Importantly, it’s not a black box that provides
be optimal. Leapfrog allows you to blend this hard and soft data to create an answer with no way to understand how that
an accurate model encompassing both the grade control geologist’s interpretation was made.
inherent knowledge while honouring the hard assay data.”

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DATA AND MODEL DELIVERING TOGETHER – CREATING THE MODEL

22.
CREATING THE MODEL

They key to rapid model updates is to work with only the Don’t let the modelling process fall behind that of the
relevant data. Apply query filters so you’re not using all RELEVANCE UP TO DATE mining process. When this happens you don’t have enough
those 10,000 drillholes when you only need to update a time to make considered decisions, and corners will be cut.
specific area. It becomes even more important when you When you are updating the model daily you are able to make
get to the block model. If you are working with a grade better future predictions, otherwise you are in the past and
control model across the full extent of your operation, then not maximising value. New models change and offer up new
you are updating many more blocks than is necessary. hypotheses that can be shared with mine planning to inform
Restrict the update to the area of interest which may be the short-term plan and the cycle continues.
1000 blocks out of a 10,000,000 model. This will ensure
your grade control updates are blazing fast and enable agile Model updates on a weekly or monthly basis mean this
grade control that can happen daily. process cannot happen as it’s already too late. You could be
BLOCK MODELS drilling extra meters of grade control drilling that may not be
necessary, but if you had already updated the model from
the last hole then you would have a good understanding on
when you have sufficient data.

The powerful block model calculations of Leapfrog Edge allow for

advanced material classifications to be created from a range of
different contributing factors. You ore/waste can be as simple as cut-
off grades or as complex as sites need.

Leapfrog Edge is an exceptionally dynamic estimation package that

enables rapid estimates, with sophisticated data interrogation tools
so you can get down the bottom of exactly why that block has a
particular grade. The EDA exploratory data analysis of Leapfrog Edge
is a visual experience, you can see in 3D, and well as 2D the data of
interest helping you get a deep understanding of your data. Right
from drill hole composites through to block model swath plots.

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DATA AND MODEL DELIVERING TOGETHER – CREATING THE MODEL

CASE STUDY

23.
Mine geologists at BHP Olympic Dam are building rapid
implicit models across multiple variables from an integrated
data set of logged and assay data.

To adopt a more agile modelling process they have removed

the core logging backlog completely for production drilling,
updating the model as they log so that more effective end-
of-hole decisions can be made.

With the latest data coming in as drilling happen, the

model needs to be updated quickly and this is done via
spatially constraining the model with 150m buffers around
active drilling using query filers. This provides a rapid and
streamlined workflow that can be completed by mine
geologists in accordance with daily production duties. The
live-implicit model is then exported for use in the field while
logging and for core checks at each shift change.

This process has enabled a great step-

change improvement in geological drilling
effectiveness, reducing the over and under
drilling of ore ore-waste boundaries.

This saving on wasted meters being drilled is important

when you consider they are drilling upwards of 175 km’s of
diamond core a year and any savings in time and money at
this step in the grade control process quickly adds up.

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DATA AND MODEL DELIVERING TOGETHER – MONITORING THE DATA

24. MONITORING THE DATA

Once a 3D model is created, you need to get it out there so teams can collaborate,
comment, and monitor daily production performance. This is particularly critical for
Kathryn Gall the miners, engineers and geologists involved in operational planning, but there will
Technical Services Manager, be a wider set of stakeholders too, who need to be in the loop to make or understand
APAC, Seequent decisions, and report back to the business. The model is particularly important to
the mine engineer to create and design a mine plan to extract the ore. By having
a dynamically up to date model, they can be agile in their mining approach and
confidently generate interim models that allow adjacent teams to run scenarios even
before a current drive is completed. But that means constant, attentive monitoring.

25. One big process where everything counts

The grade control process should be looked at as a wholistic system; a process of maximising value and
reducing risk. From data collection and model updates, to ensuring mining is happening according to the dig
plan, to reconciliation reporting… it’s all one large and crucially important process.

Seequent Central assists that process by providing a mechanism for clear communication. Projects and
models can be shared, offering easier collaboration between teams, with decisions made faster and more
confidently. Everyone in the team knows when the model was last updated, who updated it, and what stage
the project is in.

OUR TIP

26.
Central’s facility for different user permissions on projects allows all stakeholders to have a place, from the Owners/
Connectors of projects to Public Scene users. Use it to give them read-only, easy access to models through a web
address, and they can find which version is the latest and access it simply. You’ll also be improving your organisation’s
peer review system, as well as enabling senior staff members to mentor more effectively, (not to mention getting more
value from your company’s global experts as they review and audit your models).

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DATA AND MODEL DELIVERING TOGETHER – MONITORING THE DATA

Keeping the model

constantly updated
Due to the nature of most deposits being variable, close
Bringing everyone together
to take a view
27.
geological understanding is needed to ensure optimum grade,
minimal dilution and maximum mining recovery. Grade and Central brings together mining teams wherever they may be; Maintaining a timeline –
geological modelling should be an iterative process as models at the site itself, across cities, countries or remote regional
are required to be constantly updated to deliver ore at the
a when, where and why of every model
areas. This means all critical project and geological data
quality and rate demanded by your targets. can be visualised, tracked and managed from a centralised, Each project stored in Central contains powerful metadata
Leapfrog’s dynamic updating allows for daily, weekly or auditable environment. Teams can work together, and allowing teams to easily navigate a complete timeline of grade
monthly updates where possible as further drilling, sampling simultaneously keep the ore control model updated daily. and geological models through its many stages.
and mapping is conducted, driving appropriate estimation Teams and stakeholders can be assured that new insights Teams can better understand the history of when and why
strategies and mining. The updated 3D models created within into the ore body uncovered through the grade control decisions were made, view past annotations and conversations,
Leapfrog can be backed up and shared via Central. process are shared and used to inform decisions. Project de- and visually compare versions of the model. Mine geologists
This enables teams to collaborate, comment, monitor daily duplication allows for faster upload and download of projects can be assured they...
production performance, communicate to miners, engineers via Central, reducing the headache of working with zipped
and geologists involved in operational planning, and report back files or navigating complex file storages on a network drive. • are working on the latest version of the model
to the business. Few stages in the mining process have a more • have a better understanding of significant
compelling need for a powerful, integrated workflow solution. changes in the geology
• know where ore has been added/lost compared
to the original resource model
Sharing the work out • are conscious of stopes added or removed
through the grade control updates
Each project’s metadata (Project Stage and Branch) can Avoiding constant redesigns and • are aware whether development is on target
be taken advantage of, thus allowing organisations to divide
work between team members, mining areas and disciplines,
dropped productivity
or to test alternative theories in interpretation.
Mine engineers rely on well-informed and accurate grade Enabling easy access –
By utilising Branches, Central allows for team members to and geological models. This helps ensure that engineers can see it all on just a web browser
share working theories. By utilising the Project Stage, in- accurately predict the metal content, report correct tonnes
progress models can be accessed while waiting on the final and grades, and be confident in their design. Central’s web visualisation capability allows mine geologists
assays to be returned. By having dynamically up-to-date and their stakeholders to open and view 3D models directly
working models of the ore, mine engineers can be agile Decisions made on old models that don’t incorporate
the latest data and understanding, result in constant re- from just a web browser.
in their mining approach and confidently generate interim
models that allow adjacent teams to run scenarios before a designing and reduced productivity. Central provides a way Public Scenes enable important 3D information to be shared
current drive is completed. for mine engineers to easily access model information that is with mine stakeholders or the public at the click of a button
particularly important for them to create and design a mine – with no licence required. Easily established alerts and
plan to extract the ore. notifications keep everyone up to date with the latest data.
Your models can be peer reviewed by colleagues or global
experts within your company during the process, and before
mining commences when it’s too late.
OUR TIP

28.
By using interim models, engineers are able to create different scenarios about scheduling and planning.
If you are partially through a drive, an interim model can be provided to the production engineers to start
designing. Once the drive is complete and all data is available, then validate the earlier part of the model
and complete a final update. This helps you get a little bit ahead of the mine schedule.
19
DATA AND MODEL DELIVERING TOGETHER – MONITORING THE DATA

29. Your best chance to drive profit instead

of drifting into underperformance
What to ask yourself when sharing geological models with stakeholders:
• Is this the correct and latest version of the model? (You don’t want stakeholders
making decisions based on the wrong model, or an old one.)
• Is the model up to date with all the latest information (mapping, resource
development, drilling, channel or blast sampling)?
• Has the model been validated?
• Are there any significant changes in the geology?
• Have stopes been added or removed by grade control updates?
• Was development on target for the final ore?
• Do different rock types require different blasting/explosive parameters?
• Are there any deleterious elements, such as fine grained sulphides or asbestiform?

30. Danger signs. Question your monitoring process if…

(a) the software is dictating the workflow rather than you, (b) collaboration is a
struggle, and (c) updating the model is so difficult it’s only done once or twice a year.

OUR TIP
Dynamically linked branches. Separate Leapfrog Projects for geological modelling and the grade control

31. estimates means they can be worked on in parallel, but linked through Central. A user can review and update a
geological model, then publish to Central. Then, in the grade control model, they refresh the linked geological
model, and the grade estimates re-run.

20
DATA AND MODEL DELIVERING TOGETHER – RECONCILIATION

32. RECONCILIATION
Once the ore has been extracted, it’s important that compliance to the mine
plan is then quickly and accurately measured. Even the best grade control
system will fail if the mine is not being properly operated to plan. While the
grade control model might have the benefit of a rich data set collected as part
Stephen Law
Senior Technical Lead Geology,
of the production process, this is less likely to be the case for the resource
Seequent model. Tracking the performance of the resource model against the grade
control model is therefore vital to give everyone the confidence that all is going
to plan, and to fix problems early if they are not.

33. Understanding reconciliation measurements

and the insights they represent
Reconciliation is the comparison between estimated and measured values of tonnage, grade and metal content at
different points in the mine value chain. A standard framework of ratios for reconciliation (F Series Factors) was
developed in 2006 by Harry Parker and these have been used as an industry standard since then.

• The F1 factor compares short term ore control models to depleted reserves models and measures the accuracy
of orebody geometry/knowledge and modifying factors applied to generate ore reserves. It may also be used to
check and calibrate the selectivity of the mineral resource.

• The F2 factor relates received at the mill (and measured by the mill) data to the delivered to the mill production
tonnages, grade, and metal content. It enables a check on ore loss and planned or unplanned dilution entering the
ore stream between ore control and the mill.

• The F3 factor is F1×F2 and enables a comparison of a mine’s ability to recover the tonnage, grade and metal
content estimated in ore reserves (Parker, 2012).

21
DATA AND MODEL DELIVERING TOGETHER – RECONCILIATION

34. Making 35. Key benefits of a Seequent

reconciliation work powered reconciliation workflow
Together Leapfrog Geo, Leapfrog Edge and
Seequent Central provide a workflow for WHAT’S GOOD: Dynamic Updating
reconciliation that enables a focus on model-to-
model comparison between the Reserve model and Rather than being an afterthought, reconciliation now becomes part of the iterative
the Grade Control model (F1). We can also start geological modelling and grade control estimation process. Daily, weekly, or monthly
looking at some of the components that feed into updates are possible as further information is obtained. New data causing changes
the F2 factors. i.e., visualization and quantification to the geology model automatically links to the underlying grade control model, and
of ore loss and mining dilution.
any embedded reconciliation reports will also update dynamically.
Reconciliation could also show that production is
exceeding predictions, and this may mean the grade
control process, the mine plan and the revenues WHAT’S GOOD: Improved Productivity
are all suboptimal. Reconciliation is a continual
process, and one that when used properly allows for Production is a high demand environment and a simple, easy to use process
operations to strive for increasingly reliable business is needed to deliver high quality models to decision makers and downstream
plans, improved reporting and become a more
profitable business.
stakeholders. Projects and models can be shared, offering easier collaboration
between teams and decision makers who require access to the reconciliation results.
A robust reconciliation system takes time to develop The sharing can be enabled via Seequent Central either via direct connection to
and implement initially and must continue to evolve Leapfrog Geo or via a web browser function for explaining results to management.
with time. The best systems are those where all the
stakeholders in the ultimate outcome are involved
in the design and accept responsibility for the
validity of their component inputs. Output from the WHAT’S GOOD: Improved Communication
reconciliation process can be utilised to fine-tune all
aspects of an operation once the underlying issues The reconciliation process should be looked at as part of a wholistic system. From
leading to a particular result are understood. data collection, model updates to ensuring mining according to the extraction
plan, and to reconciliation reporting, it’s one large and crucially important process.
Seequent can help throughout. Calculations embedded within the block model show
a continuously updated overview of dilution and ore loss that can be communicated
to the planning team.

22
DEEPER INSIDE THE SEEQUENT GRADE CONTROL SOLUTION
DEEPER INSIDE THE SEEQUENT GRADE CONTROL SOLUTION

36.
Step 1:
Model faster
Rapidly analyse and explore alternative geological interpretations using

8 steps to a
Leapfrog’s advanced implicit modelling engine. It’s exceptionally speedy
at constructing geological models, where other software can be delayed
by manual processes, or fail to include all the data.

more productive
grade control Step 2:
process Test more often
Seamless integration between all Seequent tools allows geologists to
test, test and test again, without the hiccups created when competing
(and how Seequent products applications refuse to ‘play nice’. Other experts can input data easily and
remotely. Teams can revisit an older version of a model, branch out a
can get you there) different interpretation based on new information, and quickly arrive at
an improved geological understanding and better business model.

MAKE IT EASIER FOR YOUR STAKEHOLDERS TO Step 3:

UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU’RE DOING Communicate more frequently
Communicate 3D models with a wider set of stakeholders Share projects and models at the pace demanded by your business
using Central’s simple web visualiser - useable by anyone, rather than the speed dictated by your software. Use Central to enable
without specialist technical expertise. Easy to grant easy collaboration for everyone on the team, and ensure they are all
permission, while still keeping your models secure, and no working from the same single source of truth.
need to buy more software licences.

Step 4:
Update constantly
Manual wireframing can be a time-consuming process within some
applications, but with Leapfrog, manual interpretation is not needed for
model updates to occur.
Simply import the latest ore control data and a dynamically updated
model is dynamically generated, ready for your teams to take prompt
action to preserve maximum productivity.
24
DEEPER INSIDE THE SEEQUENT GRADE CONTROL SOLUTION

BROADEN YOUR LIST OF POTENTIAL PARTNERS Step 5:

Seequent already numbers acQuire, Minerva, Kore Free your data
Geosystems, Rockmass, Rock Mapper, Minalyze and Deswik Seequent’s open APIs and partner ecosystem keep ideas and
among its many partners, with more to come. Forming new information flowing freely. Your data won’t be locked into a proprietary
partnerships and improving existing integration are key format that denies you the critical interoperability your business might
strategies for us. We believe it gives our customers a major rely on in the future.
advantage, and an opportunity to share thinking with some
of the best in the business.

Step 6:
Drive productivity
Leapfrog’s implicit modelling allows geologists to build models directly
from the data, by-passing the need for lengthy wireframing. This means
your geologists can focus on analysis and evaluation – using an intuitive
and quick-to-learn interface - rather than wasting time wrestling with
data processing and software manipulation.

Step 7:
Reconcile accurately
Reconciliation issues can thwart downstream decision making, raise
costs and lower profits, and are often related to a lack of orebody
knowledge. By evaluating the planned and as built solids onto Leapfrog’s
block model calculations engine, it becomes far easier to track
compliance against mine plan, including the financial impact of any
values gained or lost.

Step 8:
Boost sustainability
The speed with which Seequent’s grade control offering can incorporate
data back into the geological model can have significant impact on your
pursuit of sustainability. New information can be seen in the same day,
even within hours, allowing for agile decision making that reduces waste
and the energy spent on it.

25
IN CONCLUSION
As we’ve established in this eBook, the extraction phase of mining is critical to
the success of any operation. In many ways, the realisation of every effort that’s
gone before, from exploration onwards, hangs on getting this final stage right.
To find out more about
Geologists are the custodians of the ore body, and have a crucial role in defining
what to mine and where. how Seequent can help
They must bring a wide range of skills to play in order to maximise an ore body’s
you mine your ore body
value. To do that they need well designed, flexible technology, coupled with in the most effective way
robust processes to support their endeavours. Increasingly, AI and automation
are being used to augment and improve manual steps in these processes.
possible, while reducing
waste, saving time and
Just as importantly, they must be able to communicate the value their geological
knowledge and ore body characterisation brings to the mine, and do it swiftly boosting profitability…
and securely, to a wide range of stakeholders, in order to improve decision
making and minimise hidden losses.

That’s why at Seequent we continue to push the technology envelope in pursuit Contact us
of better Grade Control. We work closely with mining operations to gain a
deeper understanding of their challenges and we constantly develop new and Via our website enquiries
profound ways to communicate and reduce ore body uncertainty and risk.

I hope this eBook has been useful and planted some ideas for improving your
own Grade Control processes.

Pieter Neethling,
Segment Director, Mining Operations, Seequent.

26
A better understanding of the earth
creates a better world for all

seequent.com

Seequent, The Bentley Subsurface Company