Assessing grade domain of iron ore deposit using geostatistical modelling: A case study

Abstract

Conventional methods of ore deposit estimates are time consuming, whereas geostatistical methods provide quick and reliable estimates with minimum variance. Geostatistical tools, semi-variograms and kriging, have been used for estimation of grades of an iron ore deposit in the present study. In order to model the deposit and estimate grade, 4537 samples collected from 93 boreholes were used in the study. 3-D data have been converted to 2-D for analyzing the variation of Fe within the boreholes. For each borehole, the weighted mean of Fe grade and its coefficient of variation (CV) are calculated and further analysis is carried out for these two variables. Semi-variogram model suggests that the deposit extends over a zone of influence up to 700 m. Grade maps of kriged estimates reveal that the iron ore deposit is distributed in three distinct zones. © 2014 Geological Society of India.