Deposit Modeling and Mine Planning System

MicroMODEL is a full-featured deposit modeling and mine planning system. The current version of MicroMODEL, version 6.0, runs under Windows-95/98/2000/NT. MicroMODEL is a low-cost alternative to the complicated, high-priced mine planning software systems that are available. It is easy to use, and offers most of the functionality of these other systems.

MicroMODEL software is specifically geared towards the Exploration and Evaluation stages of mineral property development. It contains modules for data entry, surface modeling, rock modeling, compositing, 3-D grade modeling or Seam modeling, open pit design, grade-thickness calculation, and file management. It is well suited for reconciliation studies comparing blasthole results to original block model values.  MicroMODEL is suitable for both hard-rock and industrial minerals deposits.

MicroMODEL was originally developed in 1984 by the consulting firm of Pincock, Allen &Holt, Inc (PAH). Martin & Associates has taken the original MicroMODEL and greatly enhanced the capabilities.

MicroMODEL Program Choices by Module

DATA ENTRY

1. Enter Project Information
2. Convert Multiple Text Files to Standard Input
3. Read in an Existing Drill Hole Database
4. Print Drill Hole Database
5. Database Editing
6. Plot Drill Hole Surface Locations
7. Plot Drill Hole Locations
8. Plot Drill Hole Sections
   1. Display Numeric Values
   2. Display Color Bars
   3. Display Histogram of Grade
9. Sample Frequency Analysis and Basic Statistics
10. Sample Cumulative Frequency Analysis
11. Sample Correlation Analysis
12. Sample Manipulation
13. Define Rocks/Seams

SURFACE MODELING

1. Digitize and Display Surface Data
2. Prepare Surface or Thickness Data
3. Display Prepared Surface or Thickness Data Points
4. Variogram Analysis
5. Surface or Thickness Modeling Presort
6. Surface or Thickness Modeling
   1. Polygonal
   2. Inverse Distance to Power
   3. Kriging
7. Graphical Display of Surface
   1. Plot Numeric Cell Elevations
   2. Plot Colored Elevation Ranges
   3. Plot Contour of Cell Elevations
8. Surface or Thickness File Manipulation
9. Create Rock Model from Surface Models
10. Change Name of Surface (Cone) Model
11. Change Name of Thickness Model
12. Create Triangulation Model of Surface or Thickness

ROCK MODELING

1. Create Rock Model from Sample Data
2. Digitize and Display Rock Polygons in Plan View or Section
3. Create/Update the Rock Model from Plan Polygons
4. Create/Update the Rock Model from Section Polygons
5. Create/Update the Rock Model from a Grade Model
6. Graphical Display of the Rock Model
   1. Plan View Plot
   2. Plot Cells in Section (Row/Column)
   3. Plot Angled Cell Section

COMPOSITING

1. Calculation of Composite Values
   1. Bench Compositing
   2. Down Hole Compositing
   3. Rock Unit Compositing
2. Convert Multiple Text Files to Standard Drill Hole Input
3. Read in an Existing Composited Drill Hole Database
4. Print Composited Drill Hole Database
5. Database Editing
6. Plot Drill Hole Surface Locations
7. Plot Drill Hole Bench Locations
8. Plot Composite Drill Hole Sections
9. Composite Frequency Analysis and Basic Statistics
10. Composite Cumulative Frequency Analysis
11. Composite Correlation Analysis
12. Composite Manipulation

GRADE MODELING

1. Polygonal Reserve Calculation
2. Polygonal Reserve Plotting
3. Variogram Analysis
4. Point Validation Presort
5. Point Validation
6. Grade Modeling Presort
7. Grade Modeling
   1. Polygonal
   2. Inverse Distance to Power
   3. Kriging
8. Model Frequency Analysis and Basic Statistics
9. Model Cumulative Frequency Analysis
10. Model Correlation Analysis
11. Graphical Display of Grade Model
    1. Plan View Plot
    2. Contour Values
    3. Perspective View of Values
    4. Plot Cells in Section (Row/Column)
    5. Plot Angled Cell Section
12. Model Manipulation

PIT GENERATION AND RESERVES EVALUATION

1. Initialize Pit Model
2. Enter Pit Generation Parameters
3. Digitize and Display Pit Design
4. Evaluate Digitized Pit Design
5. Update the Mined Out Rock Model
6. Plot the Computer Generated Pit
7. Inverse the Mined Out Pit Model
8. Graphical Display of the Mined Out Pit Model
9. Plot Digitized Contour Profile in Section
10. Interactive Scheduler

FLOATING CONE PIT DESIGN

1. Create Money Matrix
2. Floating Cone Pit Design
3. Calculate Cone Reserves
4. List Current Cone Pits
5. Contour Plot of Cone Pit
6. Cell Plot of Cone Pit Topography
7. Convert Current OPD Pit to a Cone
8. Create Cone for Running Geologic Reserves
9. Create Single Digit Printer Maps of Cone Phases
10. Change Name of Cone
11. Plot Cone Profiles in Section
12. Plot Exposed Cells in Plan View

FILE MANAGER

1. Edit Grid Values
2. Output an Existing MicroMODEL Grid
3. Read in an Existing External Grid
4. Create a Combined Plot
5. Enter Drillhole Class Names
6. Assign Drillhole Class to Each Drillhole
7. Set Drillhole Class Limits
8. Dump Drillhole Data in XYZ Format
9. Create Grade Range Annotation File
10. Export Multiple MicroMODEL Block Models to a File
11. Import Multiple MicroMODEL Block Models from a File

GRADE-THICKNESS CALCULATION

1. Calculate Grade Thickness
2. Triangulate Grade Thickness
3. Grade-Thickness Value Presort
4. Grade-Thickness Modeling
5. Graphical Display of Grade-Thickness
6. Create Grade-Thickness Model from a 3-D Grade Model

SPECIAL TOOLS

1. Move Grid Files from One Setup to Another
2. Calculate Reserves Based on Matrix
3. Adjust Rock Model Values for New Topography
4. Count Rock Codes in Blocks, Samples, or Composites
5. Create Rock Interval Information Coding File
6. Update Rock Interval Information Based on Coding File
7. Assign Reserve Classification Based on Triangulation
8. Calculate Waste Dump Volume from Digitized File
9. Check Drillhole Collars Against Topo Grid
10. Create X-Y-Z Data File from Seam Outcrop Locations

DIGITIZING PROGRAM INTERFACE

1. Define Slope Template File for Pit Design
2. Create Block Grade Display File for Pit Design
3. Write Cone Contours to POLY.CNT Compatible File
4. Prepare Files for PolyMap Waste Dump Design
5. Prepare Files for PolyMap Reserve Calculation