Using Surfaces to Setup External Dilution in PCBC

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It’s Tip Tuesday! Today’s post comes from Lina Tcharnyi, one of our Development Consultants.

Using surfaces in GEOVIA PCBC™ allows external dilution to be added at the time of a slice file construction. Two or more surfaces are needed to define which slices in the slice file are considered dilution and to quantify dilution tonnages. External dilution can be divided into several components and used to model various types of external dilution such as pit failures, previously caved material, etc. It is assumed that the material between the surfaces is caved/broken, so a uniform density and grades values are assigned. The external dilution volume is defined by total draw cone volume bound by any two surfaces (contained in between the two surfaces).

Here are some helpful tips to get started with defining external dilution.

Create surfaces

1. Import surfaces. Or create surfaces by using GEMS surfaces tools.
2. Set bottom surface properties as follows:

    • It must be a Seam or Topo surface.  

Setting bottom surface properties in PCBC.

3. Set top surface properties as follows:

    • It must be a Seam or Topo surface.
    • Material below must be defined using a rock type (with caved density specified).
    • Name 3 must be set to “2” (next to bottom surface).
    • Grade elements can also be defined here (broken material grade or markers).

Setting top surface properties in PCBC.4. Optional third or fourth surface can also be added with the following properties:

    • It must be a Seam or Topo surface.
    • Material below must be defined using a rock type (with cave density specified).
    • Name 3 must be set to “1” (top-most surface).
    • Grade elements can also be defined here (broken material grade or markers).
Adding an optional third or fourth surface in PCBC.

Build slice file

1. Build slice file as normal.
2. Ensure surfaces are loaded at the time of building the slice file.
3. Ensure draw cones are tall enough to extend above the top-most surface.

Slice file built without loaded surfaces

1. Grades from the block model are assigned to slices between surfaces.
2. Draw cones extend their full height.

Adding an optional third or fourth surface in PCBC.

Slice file built with loaded surfaces

1. Grades from the top surfaces’ properties are assigned to slices between this surface and the surface right below.
2. Draw cones are trimmed by the top surface.

A slice file in PCBC - built with loaded surfaces.Click here for more PCBC Tips & Tricks.

Be sure to check back next Tuesday for more Product Tips & Tricks.


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