Computer-based reserve estimation and grade control: practitioners' views

CIM Bulletin, Vol. 83, No. 942, 1990

N. Champigny and P.H. Grimley, The Coopers & Lybrand Consulting Group, Toronto, Ontario

Fourteen companies (Appendix) representing senior mining organizations in Canada were canvassed in order to assess: (1) the current usage and trends, and (2) the usefulness of computer applications in ore reserve estimation and grade control. The results of the questionnaire suggest that: computers are unsurprisingly, predominant in the mining industry for calculating reserves and performing grade control; time and cost savings are realized;  computer-based approaches are applicable to underground situations; geological information is incorporated to the computerization process; and computer usage does not hinder the collaboration of geologist and mining engineer. A clear need is identified for case histories comparing computer-calculated ore reserves and actual production data.

Keywords: Computer applications, Grade control, Ore reserve estimations