Interactive compositing

The interactive compositing functions allow you to display, edit and report composited values for multiple intervals down a number of drillholes. The created intervals can be written to and read from a database interval table. If you plan to save the composites to the database then you should create a separate table for storing the composite details. This is because, where these composites are the result of interpretation, it is better to not mix them with actual measurements of the drill hole from the logging operation.

Note: Changes to composite intervals read from the database will only be reflected by the database table if Write composites to database is used after editing.

Compositing options

This function allows you to specify the database fields you wish to composite, the code to be allocated to newly created composites, the display properties of the composite interval as well as labels, optional weighting fields and thickness options.

To run this function: Choose Database > Composite > Setup options, or...

In the Function Chooser, type COMPOSITING OPTIONS, and press ENTER.

Fields on the Compositing options form

Field	Description
Composite fields
Hide off section composites	Check this box if you wish to hide composite intervals for holes from the current section.
Composite table	The table containing composite codes.
Composite field	The field containing composite codes. The styles set for this field will be used to colour the composite intervals.
Table	The database table containing the field to composite and display.
Field	The field to composite and display.
Dilute	Selecting or clearing this box defines how you want gaps that may exist in the samples down a drill hole to be treated. Selected: Treat missing samples as if the sample value were ZERO. This has the effect of diluting the average value of the samples which are composited into a single point value. Cleared: Ignore any missing samples. This has the effect of reporting a composite value which only includes the sampled sections of the drill hole.
Label position	The composited values can be displayed to the left or right of the drillhole.
Label alignment	The composited values can be displayed left aligned, right aligned or centred.
Label offset	The composited value will be offset from the hole by the distance specified.
Label decimals	The composited value will be displayed to the number of decimal places specified.
Display options
Minimum mining width	If the composites must meet a minimum length criteria, enter the minimum composite length here.
Extend smaller composites	Created composites that are smaller than the specified minimum must be extended uphole, downhole or equally in both directions. If there is enough room in the specified direction, the composite interval will be extended to the minimum distance. If there is not enough room (for example, if extending a composite uphole extends the composite to the collar position but it is still shorter than the minimum distance) then the composite will be extended as far as possible.
Marker symbol	The marker symbol to be displayed at either end of each composite interval. The marker can be displayed as a variety of hollow or solid triangles, squares, or circles represented by printed characters, such as (.) for a circle with a dot in the centre.
Size	The marker size is expressed in units, where one unit is equal to approximately 3% of the screen height.
Line pattern	The line pattern to use when drawing the composite intervals.
Default line thickness	The line thickness to use when drawing the composite intervals.
Default colour	The default colour to use for composite intervals (in the case where no composite table or composite field were entered on the Composite fields tab, or no style information exists for the code in question).
Table	Displays the database table containing the field to be composited. Display only, you can edit this on the Composite fields tab.
Field	The field to be composited. Display only, you can edit this on the Composite fields tab.
Cutoff level	It is possible to highlight calculated composite values above or below a cutoff grade. If you wish to highlight extreme values, specify the cutoff grade here.
Cutoff type	The cutoff can be a high bound (that is, you wish to highlight extremely high values) or a low bound (ie. you wish to highlight extremely low values).
Cutoff highlight	The colour to use to highlight the calculated composites beyond the specified cutoff value.
Use styles	Selected: The calculated composite values will be drawn using the styles defined for the selected field. Cleared: A single specified colour is used for calculated composite values.
Label colour	The colour to use for display of calculated composite labels for this field.
Font name	The font to use for this label.
Font size	Text sizes may be defined using a number of different methods. Each of the methods involves the use of a size and a units specifier eg. 0.03 sru.
Font units	sru: subscreen relative units - A percentage of the screen height. The text stays the same height as you zoom in. '0.02 sru' means 2 percent of the screen height. oru: object relative units - Expressed in the same units as the data. The text becomes larger and smaller as you zoom in and out.
Composite code labels
Display code labels	Selected: Displays the composite code next to each composite interval. Cleared: Composite codes are not displayed.
Position	The code labels can be displayed to the left or right of the drillhole.
Alignment	The code labels can be displayed left aligned, right aligned or centred.
Offset	The code labels will be offset from the hole by the distance specified.
Decimals	The code labels will be displayed to the number of specified decimal places.
Use styles	Selected: The code labels will be drawn using the styles defined for the selected field. Cleared: A single specified colour is used for code labels.
Colour	The colour to use for display of code labels.
Font name	The font to use for this label.
Font size	Text sizes may be defined using a number of different methods. Each of the methods involves the use of a size and a units specifier eg. 0.03 sru.
Font units	sru: subscreen relative units - A percentage of the screen height. The text stays the same height as you zoom in. '0.02 sru' means 2 percent of the screen height. oru: object relative units - Expressed in the same units as the data. The text becomes larger and smaller as you zoom in and out.
Optional weighting fields
Use weighting fields	If required, the calculation of the composited samples may be weighted by some other fields in addition to the length weighting which is already performed. Selected: Uses extra weighting fields. Cleared: Does not use extra weighting fields.
Table	Enter the name of the database table that contains the field to use for weighting.
Field	Enter the field name which is to be used to provide the additional weighting criteria for the creation of the composite intervals. Typically, additional weighting fields used would be specific gravity and/or recovery.
Default weight	Under some circumstances it is likely that no values may be available for the weighting field for some samples. The Default weight field permits a reasonable default value to be defined to cover this circumstance. The default value is used in preference to the stored value in the table when either a null value is present or when the value present is less than zero.
Thickness options
Display thickness options	Selected: The composite thickness is displayed as a label. If you select this box, all values are considered as apparent widths. Cleared: Composite thickness is not displayed.
Use true thickness calculations	Selected: The true composite thickness is calculated and displayed as a label. The true thickness calculation is dependent on the orientation of the data. If you select this box, the appropriate fields will be displayed to define the method of determining the dip and dip direction for the composited zone. Cleared: True composite thickness is not calculated or displayed.
Position	The thickness can be displayed to the left or right of the drillhole.
Alignment	The thickness can be displayed left aligned, right aligned or centred.
Offset	The thickness will be offset from the hole by the distance specified.
Decimals	The thickness will be displayed to the number of specified decimal places.
Colour	The colour to use to display thickness.
Font name	The font to use for the thickness label.
Font size	The size for the text used for the thickness label. The actual size displayed depends on both this field and the Font units field.
Font units	sru: subscreen relative units - A percentage of the screen height. The text stays the same height as you zoom in. '0.02 sru' means 2 percent of the screen height. oru: object relative units - Expressed in the same units as the data. The text becomes larger and smaller as you zoom in and out.

Create composite

This function allows you to create a composite interval by selecting the two endpoints of the interval down a drillhole.

To run this function: Choose Database > Composite > Create, or...

In the Function Chooser, type CREATE COMPOSITE, and press ENTER.

Default composite code

Enter the code to be used for composite intervals created by this function.

Apply the form to display the prompt:
Select the first end of the composite to be created

Selecting a position on a drillhole places a marker on the drillhole showing the selected position. Another prompt is displayed:
Select the second end of the composite to be created

Selecting another position on the drillhole creates a composite interval between the first and second selected points. The function continues, allowing you to create multiple composite intervals down multiple drillholes.

Note that zero length composite intervals are not allowed. If you attempt to create a composite with zero length, the following message will be displayed:
Warning: Cannot create a zero length composite.
A common cause of this problem is having snap mode set to Point and selecting two points on the drillhole that snap to the same location, in which case another message will be displayed:
Warning: This could be a result of snap to point mode being on.

Graphically edit composite

This function allows you to graphically move a selected composite interval.

To run this function: Choose Database > Composite > Adjust length, or...

In the Function Chooser, type GRAPHICALLY EDIT COMPOSITE, and press ENTER.

A prompt is displayed:
Select and drag an end point of the composite of interest

Selecting an endpoint of a composite and dragging it up or down the drillhole moves the endpoint of the composite, dynamically updating the calculated composites.

Edit composite

This function allows you to edit the endpoints and code of a composite interval.

To run this function: Choose Database > Composite > Edit, or...

In the Function Chooser, type EDIT COMPOSITE, and press ENTER.

A prompt is displayed:
Select the composite of interest

Selecting a composite displays the Edit Composite form for the selected composite interval.

Fields on the Edit Composite form

Field	Description
Depth from	The minimum depth of the interval.
Depth to	The maximum depth of the interval.
Width	(Display only) The calculated width.
Code	Enter the code for this composite interval.
Composite Values
Name	(Display only) The field to be composited.
Value	(Display only) The composited value of the named field.

Select Apply to make the specified changes to the selected composite interval, or Cancel the form to leave the interval as it was when selected.

Graphically move composite

This function allows you to graphically move a selected composite interval.

To run this function: Choose Database > Composite > Move, or...

In the Function Chooser, type GRAPHICALLY MOVE COMPOSITE, and press ENTER.

Selecting an endpoint of a composite and dragging it up or down the drillhole moves the composite interval, dynamically updating the calculated composites.

Code composites

This function allows you to specify a code and apply it to a number of graphically selected composite intervals.

To run this function: Choose Database > Composite > Code, or...

In the Function Chooser, type CODE COMPOSITES, and press ENTER.

Enter the code to apply to the selected composite intervals.

Selecting a composite will change its code to the newly specified value.

The function continues, allowing you to apply the code to any number of graphically selected composite intervals.

Delete composite

This function allows you to delete graphically selected composite intervals.

To run this function: Choose Database > Composite > Delete, or...

In the Function Chooser, type DELETE COMPOSITE, and press ENTER.

Selecting a composite interval deletes it. The function continues, allowing you to delete any number of graphically selected composite intervals.

Delete all composites

This function allows you to delete all the current composite intervals.

To run this function: Choose Database > Composite > Delete all, or...

In the Function Chooser, type DELETE ALL COMPOSITES, and press ENTER.

To delete all the current composite intervals, check the Delete all composites check box and Apply the form. Cancelling the form, or applying it without checking this check box will have no effect on composite intervals.

Read composites from database

This function lets you read a group of composite intervals from a database table.

To run this function: Choose Database > Composite > Read from database, or...

In the Function Chooser, type READ COMPOSITES, and press ENTER.

Fields on the Read Composites from Database form

Field	Description
Composite table	Select the database table containing the composite intervals of interest.
Composite field	Select the field in the table that contains the composite codes.
Load and Display Null Intervals	Check this box to load and display null intervals as well as composite intervals. Null intervals will be represented in red.
Zone selection method	If you choose `Multiple Zones' or `Zone From To', one of two forms is displayed to allow you to select geological zones to process. See Geological Zone Definition for details on completing these forms.

When the form is applied, each of the intervals in the table matching the zone selection criteria is loaded as a composite interval. The specified field is used to obtain the composite interval codes. Contiguous composite intervals with the same code are merged into a single composite interval. The composite intervals will be displayed on screen with the calculated composite values specified on the Compositing Options form.

Note that composite intervals currently in Graphics will be overwritten by composite intervals read from the database if there is any overlap.

Write composites to database

You use this function to write the current composites to a database table,

To run this function: Choose Database > Composite > Write to database, or...

In the Function Chooser, type WRITE COMPOSITES, and press ENTER.

Fields on the Write Composites to Databaseform

Field	Description
Composite table	Select the database table into which the current composite intervals will be written.
Composite field	Select the field in the table to which the composite codes will be written.
Composite Recording Method	You may wish to alter the compositing data that exists in the database prior to inserting any changes you have made. Various options are available which may be used to reflect the changes you have made in various ways. Some of these options will destroy existing data, it is important to understand what each function does before determining which method to use. The different methods of writing compositing data are described below: Append on screen data to database Any composites that exist on screen will be appended to any pre-existing data in the supplied database. Previous versions of Surpac operated like this by default. This method is non-destructive and will not remove existing database data. Note: Insertion of compositing data will fail if the data provided has the same primary key (Hole ID and Depth from) as any existing data in the database. Clear existing composites in displayed holes from database For each drillhole that is displayed in graphics, its compositing data will be removed from the database before insertion of on-screen data. Should drillholes be displayed without composites, any existing compositing data will be lost. Warning: This function is destructive and should be used with caution, backing up the original database is highly recommended. Flush all composites from database All existing compositing data in the database will be removed before insertion with no exceptions. Only the data onscreen, once written to the database, will exist. Warning: This function is destructive and should be used with caution, backing up the original database is highly recommended. Invalidate all composites in database For each drillhole that is displayed in graphics, its composites will be given a grade of NULL (Note: NOT zero). All other compositing data is maintained. Note: Insertion of compositing data will fail if the data provided has the same primary key (Hole ID and Depth from) as any existing data in the database. Warning: This function is destructive and should be used with caution, backing up the original database is highly recommended.

Field

Description

Composite table

Select the database table into which the current composite intervals will be written.

Composite field

Select the field in the table to which the composite codes will be written.

Composite Recording Method

You may wish to alter the compositing data that exists in the database prior to inserting any changes you have made. Various options are available which may be used to reflect the changes you have made in various ways. Some of these options will destroy existing data, it is important to understand what each function does before determining which method to use.

The different methods of writing compositing data are described below:

Append on screen data to database
Any composites that exist on screen will be appended to any pre-existing data in the supplied database. Previous versions of Surpac operated like this by default. This method is non-destructive and will not remove existing database data. Note: Insertion of compositing data will fail if the data provided has the same primary key (Hole ID and Depth from) as any existing data in the database.
Clear existing composites in displayed holes from database
For each drillhole that is displayed in graphics, its compositing data will be removed from the database before insertion of on-screen data. Should drillholes be displayed without composites, any existing compositing data will be lost. Warning: This function is destructive and should be used with caution, backing up the original database is highly recommended.
Flush all composites from database
All existing compositing data in the database will be removed before insertion with no exceptions. Only the data onscreen, once written to the database, will exist. Warning: This function is destructive and should be used with caution, backing up the original database is highly recommended.
Invalidate all composites in database
For each drillhole that is displayed in graphics, its composites will be given a grade of NULL (Note: NOT zero). All other compositing data is maintained. Note: Insertion of compositing data will fail if the data provided has the same primary key (Hole ID and Depth from) as any existing data in the database. Warning: This function is destructive and should be used with caution, backing up the original database is highly recommended.

Apply the form to write the composite intervals to the database table or Cancel the form to cancel the function.

Note that the calculated composite values are not written to the database. Only the composite codes are written for the composite intervals. When the composite intervals are written to the database, the intervals which were previously read by using Read composites from database are blanked prior to the new intervals being written. This is necessary so that the deletion of intervals will be reflected in the database.

Certain actions are performed when saving the composite intervals to the database table to ensure that the integrity of data which may already exist in the table is maintained. The actions taken will depend upon how many existing samples for the drillhole exist within the depth_from and depth_to values for each composite interval. There are a number of different cases to be explained. Each of these cases is described in detail below:

No existing samples overlap with the new composite interval.
In this case one new record is entered into the table with the depth_from and depth_to values of the composite interval and the composite code is saved to the nominated field. Any other fields in the table will have blanks or zeros stored for character and numeric fields respectively. Because of this you should ensure that the fields in the table will permit the entry of nulls. When the new samples are created, the only field which will have a value defined is the field to which the composite code is being saved.
Existing samples overlap the new composite interval.
Any existing samples which overlap with the new composite intervals will be split so that the existing intervals no longer overlap with the new intervals. In addition a new record will be inserted if an overlap between the existing and new intervals exists at the top of the interval, and a new record will also be inserted if an overlap between the existing and new intervals exists at the bottom of the interval. These new intervals will have values saved to any optional fields to ensure that the integrity and contiguity of any existing intervals is maintained.
Existing samples contained within the new composite interval.
Any existing samples which are completely included by a composite interval will have the composite code stored in the appropriate field and no further changes will be made to the existing sample.

Report

This function produces a report listing the currently displayed composite fields in a table ordered by drillhole and depth. The report allows optionally grouping by composite code. To create a formatted report suitable for printing,

To run this function: Choose Database > Composite > Report, or...

In the Function Chooser, type REPORT COMPOSITES, and press ENTER.

Field	Description
Report File Name	Enter the report file name.
Report File Format	Enter the report file format, the report will be output to a file with the specified report file name and the extension appropriate for the format.
Group By Composite Code	If this box is checked, the composites will be output grouped by code and ordered by drillhole and depth, otherwise the composites will simply be output ordered by drillhole and depth. For example, if you have two composite codes, high grade and low grade, the two possible reports would look something like the following:

Field

Description

Report File Name

Enter the report file name.

Report File Format

Enter the report file format, the report will be output to a file with the specified report file name and the extension appropriate for the format.

Group By Composite Code

If this box is checked, the composites will be output grouped by code and ordered by drillhole and depth, otherwise the composites will simply be output ordered by drillhole and depth.

For example, if you have two composite codes, high grade and low grade, the two possible reports would look something like the following:

Grouped By Composite Code (Check the box)

Code: high grade
hole id	depth from	depth to	ag	pb	zn
RC001	50.43	70.45	4.01	6.31	3.43
	80.33	92.21	4.65	8.51	3.48
	102.43	111.97	3.45	6.87	9.49
	140.43	150.11	2.31	3.31	4.54
RC002	51.43	72.45	6.31	3.48	3.45
	81.33	94.21	8.51	9.49	2.31
	103.43	112.97	6.87	4.54	6.31

Code: low grade

hole id	depth from	depth to	ag	pb	zn
RC001	150.43	170.45	1.01	2.31	1.43
	180.33	192.21	1.65	2.51	1.18
	202.43	211.97	1.45	2.87	2.49
	250.43	260.57	1.31	1.31	1.54
RC002	151.43	172.45	1.31	1.48	1.45
	181.33	194.21	1.51	2.49	1.31
	203.43	212.97	1.87	1.54	2.31

Ungrouped (Leave the box unchecked)

hole id	depth from	depth to	ag	pb	zn
RC001	50.43	70.45	4.01	6.31	3.43
	80.33	92.21	4.65	8.51	3.48
	102.43	111.97	3.45	6.87	9.49
	140.43	150.11	2.31	3.31	4.54
	150.43	170.45	1.01	2.31	1.43
	180.33	192.21	1.65	2.51	1.18
	202.43	211.97	1.45	2.87	2.49
	250.43	260.57	1.31	1.31	1.54
RC002	51.43	72.45	6.31	3.48	3.45
	81.33	94.21	8.51	9.49	2.31
	103.43	112.97	6.87	4.54	6.31
	151.43	172.45	1.31	1.48	1.45
	181.33	194.21	1.51	2.49	1.31
	203.43	212.97	1.87	1.54	2.31