Block model New / Open

To create a new model, enter a name. When creating a new block model, the name should only consist of alphanumeric characters, and should start with an alphabetic character (a,b,c,...z). The name should not include spaces. Examples: mynewmodel, zone3west, testmodel_2008.

To open an existing model, use the file chooser or type the name of the model, including the file extension.

The following model types are supported:

• .dm Datamine block model.
• .bpr GEMS block model (optimised for horizontal needling in GEMS).
• .bpr2 GEMS block model (optimised for vertical needling in GEMS).
• .fbm Free Block Model.
  This is an extended Surpac block model which allows free sub-blocking in X, Y, or Z. This format is usually created for the purpose of importing centroids from another source, such as Datamine or Vulcan, which have different sub-blocking than the Surpac .mdl format.
• .res Whittle results file.
• .mod Whittle model file.
• .mdl Surpac block model.
  This is the standard Surpac block model format.

• Selected: The block model is constrained, and a portion of the block model, controlled by the settings in the constraint file, is loaded into Surpac.

For example, you could use this feature to create a new block model of all the blocks within a particular DTM where the grade is above a cut-off grade that you enter.

Note: You can constrain only regular Surpac models, not Datamine models, free block models, or models with irregular sub-blocking.

• Cleared: The block model is not constrained, and the entire block model is loaded into Surpac.

• min/max coords: Defines the size of the model using coordinates for the minimum and maximum values in the X, Y, and Z directions that you enter in fields on this form. This is the default setting.
• Origin coords/extents: Defines the size of the model as between and origin point and an extent point for the data. the names of the headings for the X, Y, and Z fields in this form change to Origin coordinates and Extent coordinates when you select this option.

The minimum, or origin, X, Y, and Z coordinates, and the maximum, or extent, X, Y, and Z coordinates, for the block model.

Note: If you select Get extents from string file, these fields will be filled using the data from the string file. You can modify these values manually.

• Selected: Records all functions that modify the block model (for example, fill functions). You can use this trail to recreate the block model if something goes wrong with the processing. See Audit Trail for more information.
• Cleared: The functions that modify the block model are not recorded.

The letter associated with the constraint. This is the same as the position of the Constraint values table.

You can use these letters to create a constraint expression in the Constraint combination field. For example, you might create constraint a, of constraint type BLOCK, which is defined as grade > 0.2, and constraint b, of constraint type DTM, which is defined as above contact.dtm.

The type of constraint you want to apply. Options are:

• CONSTRAINT: Blocks inside or outside of an existing constraint that is defined in a constraint file.
• 3DM: Blocks inside or outside of one or more closed, valid objects.
• BLOCK: Blocks with attribute values which match the expression that you specify.

Note: The BLOCK option is not available when you are creating a new block model by applying a constraint to an existing model (because you can use Lower and Upper in the Block model load form instead).

• DTM: Blocks above or below a surface.
• PLANE: Blocks above or below a plane defined by an equation.
• STRING: Blocks inside or outside of closed segments of one or more strings.
• X PLANE: Blocks greater than or less than a specified easting.
• Y PLANE: Blocks greater than or less than a specified northing.
• Z PLANE: Blocks greater than or less than a specified elevation.

The name and location of a constraint file that you have previously created and saved.

Note: This field is available only if you selected CONSTRAINT.

• Selected: Blocks within the constraint file, 3DM, or string are selected.
• Cleared: Blocks outside the constraint file, 3DM, or string are selected.

Note: This field is available only if you selected CONSTRAINT, 3DM, or STRING.

The name and location of the 3DM file you want to use to constrain the block model.

The 3DM must also be consistent. That is, trisolations cannot intersect each other or define a common or touching surface.

Note: This field is available only if you selected 3DM.

The ID range for the 3DM.

Note: This field is available only if you selected 3DM.

The objects in the 3DM that you want to use to constrain the block model. If you leave this field blank, all objects are used. All objects that you specify must be closed and they must be set to solid or void.

Note: This field is available only if you selected 3DM.

The trisolations of the objects in the 3DM that you want to use to constrain the block model. If you leave this field blank, all trisolations are used. All trisolations specified must be closed and be set to solid or void.

Note: This field is available only if you selected 3DM.

The name of the attribute, for example grade. The values that you select in the Attribute, Operand, and Value fields collectively define the constraint.

Note: This field is available only if you selected BLOCK.

The operator to apply to the field. Options are:

• = : equal to.
• != : does not equal.
• > : greater than.
• <= : less than or equal to.
• < : less than.
• >= : greater than or equal to.

Note: This field is available only if you selected BLOCK.

The value against which to perform the operand on the attribute value to constrain the block model.

Note: This field is available only if you selected BLOCK.

The name and location of the DTM file that you want to use to constrain the block model. Only the blocks of the block model that are within the boundary string of the DTM are affected by the constraint.

Notes:

• To use a DTM as a constraint, the DTM must be created by CREATE DTM.
• This field is available only if you selected DTM.

• Selected: Blocks above the DTM, plane, X plane, Y plane, or Z plane are selected.
• Cleared: Blocks below the DTM, plane, X plane, Y plane, or Z plane are selected.

For a DTM created on the XY plane, the portion of a block model that is considered above the DTM is the portion physically above the DTM.

For DTMs created on other planes, the portion of a block model that is considered above the DTM is the portion lying in the 'towards' direction of the plane (along the section's Z-axis away towards your viewpoint). For example, if a DTM was created using the active plane and the active plane was:

• a vertical plane resulting from VERTICAL SECTION LOOKING EAST, then the 'towards' direction is to the West. The portion of the block model that is to the West of the DTM will be considered above the DTM .
• a vertical plane resulting from VERTICAL SECTION LOOKING WEST, then the 'towards' direction is to the East. The portion of the block model that is to the East of the DTM will be considered above the DTM.
• a vertical plane resulting from VERTICAL SECTION LOOKING NORTH, then the 'towards' direction is to the South. The portion of the block model that is to the South of the DTM will be considered above the DTM .
• a vertical plane resulting from VERTICAL SECTION LOOKING SOUTH, then the 'towards' direction is to the North. The portion of the block model that is to the North of the DTM will be considered above the DTM.

Note: This field is available only if you selected DTM, PLANE, X PLANE, Y PLANE, and Z PLANE.

The object number for the DTM that you want to use to constrain the block model. if you leave this field blank, the first object is used.

Note: This field is available only if you selected DTM.

The trisolation number for the DTM that you want to use to constrain the block model. If you leave this field blank, the first trisolation is used.

Note: This field is available only if you selected DTM.

The equation of the plane used to constrain the block model.

Note: This field is available only if you selected PLANE.

The name and location of the string file that you want to use to constrain the block model.

Note: This field is available only if you selected STRING.

The ID range of the string file.

Note: This field is available only if you selected STRING.

The direction in which to extend the string file. Options are; X, Y, and Z.

Note: This field is available only if you selected STRING.

The lower extent to extend the string file. If you leave this field blank, the coordinates of the minimum point of the block model, in the direction specified, are used.

Note: This field is available only if you selected STRING.

The upper extent to extend the string file. If you leave this field blank, the coordinates of the maximum point of the block model, in the direction specified, are used.

Note: This field is available only if you selected STRING.

The range of strings in the string file that you want to use to constrain the block model. If you leave this field blank, all strings are used. All strings must be closed.

Note: This field is available only if you selected STRING.

The range of segments in the string file that you want to use to constrain the block model. If you leave this field blank, all segments are used. All segments must be closed.

Note: This field is available only if you selected STRING.

This specification is for a plane normal to the X axis and is defined by the x coordinate of the plane.

Note: This field is available only if you selected X PLANE.

This specification is for a plane normal to the Y axis and is defined by the y coordinate of the plane.

Note: This field is available only if you selected X PLANE.

This specification is for a plane normal to the Z axis and is defined by the z coordinate of the plane.

Note: This field is available only if you selected X PLANE.

• Selected: Blocks that have any part assessed as being in the constraint are kept.
• Cleared: Only blocks that have a centroid that meets the criteria of the constraints are kept.

Caution: If you keep blocks partially in the constraint and use the block model report, without using a volume adjustment factor, you will overestimate your resource.

Note: The Keep blocks partially in the constraint option is not available when you are creating a new block model by applying a constraint to an existing model.

The boolean expression you use to combine the constraints that appear in the Constraint values table. The two boolean operators you can use are AND and OR. You identify the constraints to combine using the letter it is assigned in the Constraint name, for example, a AND b. Another example is a OR b OR c.

If you leave Constraint combination empty, all constraints are combined using the AND operator.

The name and location of the file to save the constraints you have set up. If you ran the New constraint file command or you want to save the constraints to a file, you must specify a file name. The constraints file effectively contains a list of blocks that matched the constraint at the time when you created the constraint.