We recently spoke with Cheryl Holz, previously Resource Geologist at Anglo American’s Drayton mine in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia. Closed at the end of October 2016 due to depletion of available resources, the Drayton site was an open-cut thermal coal mine that produced an average of 3 million tonnes of thermal coal each year for export and domestic markets.
With 24 years of mining experience – and nearly the same number of years using GEOVIA Minex – Cheryl shares her top three features in Minex that have made her day-to-day job easier.
TCL Scripting
Because TCL scripts automate repetitive tasks, they make it easier for geologists to complete daily actions such as re-running models when new boreholes have been drilled, or generate the number of plots in their plans or sections. Using TCL scripts with set parameters will help build the model in less time. Often, resource estimation reports are also automated via TCL.
“I use Tool Command Language (TCL) scripting regularly, which is what my entire model is based on. The Drayton mine has a complex structure and when new data is produced, for instance boreholes or spot level data, the model needs to be generated again,” said Cheryl.
“Previously in Minex 4, I used macros to run my models, which I have since updated in the newest version of Minex.”
Rotation of Models in GUI
3D rotation and Dynamic Clipping in Minex help geologists visualize and validate their model in any direction and can be rotated clockwise or anti-clockwise. Exclusive to Minex is the 3D navigation dialog box which enables rotation in any direction and speed by using the slider shown below.
“I appreciate the ability to rotate objects and visualize my models in 3D on the screen for validation. Younger users may not appreciate this as much but when you’ve used Minex as long as I have, it’s a huge benefit!” says Cheryl.
Coal Washability Database
“Being able to have all of my Washability coal quality loaded into a database which is seamlessly integrated with my borehole database is extremely useful. It allows me to utilize the pieces of information from the Washability database (Quality database) such as the yields required for my borehole database, plotting and modelling,” says Cheryl.
The Minex Washability database is specifically designed to hold detailed analytical data from samples that are subdivided by techniques such as Sizing and Sink/Float coal data. Most of the coal at Drayton is washed to enhance its quality and most mines have a wash plant located in the pit head. Geologists are then able to predict the washed coal yields and quality well in advance to ensure the economic sale value of the coal.
Additionally, the Washability database has the following useful features:
- Flexible user-defined database structure, data loading and manipulative functions
- Comprehensive data selection capabilities
- Rapid and easy reporting of basic, raw, composite, washed composite and washed product data from coal quality database
- Easy transfer of selected data to the Minex database for interpretation and modelling
Thanks for sharing your tips with us Cheryl, and we wish you all the best for the future!
Watch our interview with Cheryl below.
