Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 2001-4
Integration of assay and cross-hole tomographic data in orebody modelling: Joint geostatistical simulation and application at Mount Isa mine,Queensland
An extended conditional indicator simulation method is described that can be used to integrate cross-hole tomographic data with traditional diamond drill-hole assay data. The non-parametric, stochastic simulation algorithm allows modelling based on the ‘hard’ assay data while ‘soft’ tomographic data are used where appropriate, having regard to their quality or accuracy and compatibility with the assay data. The technique is demonstrated through an application at Mount Isa copper mine, Queensland, Australia, where it was used to integrate cross-hole conductivity data obtained by the radio imaging method into orebody modelling on the basis of Cu assay data. Modelling based on the direct integration of diverse data is a promising and powerful tool for advanced orebody modelling.
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