Open Pit Mine Planning and Design, Two Volume Set & CD-ROM Pack, Third Edition, 3rd Edition

CHAPTER 16

The MicroMODEL V8.1 mine design software

16.1 INTRODUCTION

The MicroMODEL V8.1 program is a powerful, interactive, three-dimensional deposit

modeling and mine planning system. The system has been written by a team of experts who

have considerable experience in computer modeling and mine planning on a wide variety of

mineral deposits. The result is a versatile and easy to use package offering three-dimensional

deposit block modeling and open pit evaluation capabilities. There is a User’s Manual

comprised of two volumes (Volume I and Volume II) which is included with the software.

It has been found by experience, however, that the “New-User” requires a little extra help

in getting started. Once properly introduced to the software, the “New-User” can easily

learn the different features by reading the Manual.

Introduction to the software is via a small data set (Ariz_Cu) included as part of this book.

If the “New-User” is familiar with the menu-driven open pit design software “CSMine”

included in this book, then MicroMODEL should be very easy to learn. MicroMODEL

is the logical next step up from CSMine. You are encouraged to review the pit planning

concepts described in this book as you learn to use this new software.

You will be using a special Academic Version of the software prepared especially for

teaching. It has all of the features of the regular software with the exception that it will

only function when used with the six included sample projects. Also, only a single rock

type is allowed. If the model limits (origin, block size, extents), number of drill holes, or

number of sample intervals are changed in any way, the program will cease to function on

that project. Table 16.1 lists the parameters which cannot be changed for each of the six

available projects. The drill hole interval data has been pre-loaded for all of the projects,

and a surface topography grid has already been created.

The Academic Version provides a “soft way” to learn this very powerful tool. As the

student will find, this software is organized in the way that the planning engineer evaluates

an orebody and hence is engineer-friendly. The cost of the full software package is much

less than other commercial software packages intended for the same purpose. The CD

contains the program MicroMODEL8.1 and the required data files for runningthe six sample

projects.

1170

The MicroMODEL V8.1 mine design software 1171

Table 16.1. Demo project model parameters.

Project Origin Origin Origin Ncol Nrow Nlev Column Row Level Number Number

East North Elev Size Size Size DH Samples

MMDemo 3500 4300 2800 80 68 66 25 25 15 58 2397

Seam Demo 0 0 5900 57 53 30 100 100 10 17 51

Azul 69300 52140 3900 115 83 70 20 20 10 489 33878

Andina 4000 4300 2500 130 170 70 10 10 10 76 2099

Ariz_Cu 1200 4200 3500 40 30 30 50 50 25 40 2017

Norte_Cu 600 0 2000 210 160 103 10 10 10 144 22869

16.2 PROGRAM OVERVIEW

16.2.1 Introduction

MicroMODEL is comprised of several modules which assist the user in the analysis of

mineral deposits amenable to block modeling methods.

This software package enables the user to enter drill hole data, and then statistically

analyze and display this data. Next, a two-dimensional model of the surface topography is

built. Upon completion of the topographic model, a three-dimensional geologic model of

the deposit is constructed either from the drill hole information or digitized polygons. Drill

hole data are then composited, for statistical reasons. Next, the necessary grade models

are built as three-dimensional grids using polygonal, Inverse Distance to a Power, (IDP) or

kriging estimation methods.

Finally, the user can evaluate material within digitized polygons for contained volumes,

tonnages, grades and stripping ratios. A floating cone algorithm is available to aid in open

pit design.

The main modules within MicroMODEL are:

• Data Entry

• Surface Modeling

• Rock Modeling

• Drill Hole Compositing

• Grade Modeling

• Pit Generation and Reserves Evaluation

• File Management

• Grade Thickness Modeling

• Special Tools

• PolyMap Interface

The first six of these will be briefly discussed.

16.2.2 Data Entry Module overview

The Data Entry Module is invoked when the user needs to input, output, plot, statistically

analyze, or manipulate the sample drill hole database. A sample database is generally

comprised of drill hole information as it appears in the drill hole logs.

Prior to entering the drill hole data, the Project Information File must be established.

This file contains information that each program will need for execution such as model