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Spatial Modeling of Geometallurgical Properties: Techniques and a Case Study

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Abstract

High-resolution spatial numerical models of metallurgical properties constrained by geological controls and more extensively by measured grade and geomechanical properties constitute an important part of geometallurgy. Geostatistical and other numerical techniques are adapted and developed to construct these high-resolution models accounting for all available data. Important issues that must be addressed include unequal sampling of the metallurgical properties versus grade assays, measurements at different scale, and complex nonlinear averaging of many metallurgical parameters. This paper establishes techniques to address each of these issues with the required implementation details and also demonstrates geometallurgical mineral deposit characterization for a copper–molybdenum deposit in South America. High-resolution models of grades and comminution indices are constructed, checked, and are rigorously validated. The workflow demonstrated in this case study is applicable to many other deposit types.

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Acknowledgments

Many discussions on best practices in multivariate geostatistical modeling with Ryan Barnett and other colleagues at the Centre for Computational Geostatistics are gratefully acknowledged. The input of Bryan Rairdan, Rodrigo Marinho, the editor of Natural Resources Research, and three anonymous reviewers is also much appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mining and Petroleum Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, 3-133 NREF Bldg., Edmonton, AB, T6G 2W2, Canada

    Jared L. Deutsch, Clayton V. Deutsch & Jozef Szymanski

  2. Teck Resources Limited, Suite 3300, Bentall 5, 550 Burrard St., Vancouver, BC, V6C 0B3, Canada

    Kevin Palmer

  3. Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, 7-002 ECERF Bldg., Edmonton, AB, T6G 2V4, Canada

    Thomas H. Etsell

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  1. Jared L. Deutsch
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  2. Kevin Palmer
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  3. Clayton V. Deutsch
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Correspondence to Jared L. Deutsch.

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Deutsch, J.L., Palmer, K., Deutsch, C.V. et al. Spatial Modeling of Geometallurgical Properties: Techniques and a Case Study. Nat Resour Res 25, 161–181 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-015-9276-x

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