Load drillholes to database
The drill holes which have been loaded from a string file and possibly labelled and interpolated using the labelling and interpolating functions provided, must be loaded into a drill hole database to permit further use of the grade control system. This function provides a convenient method of doing this.
To run this function: Choose Design > Grade control > Load numbered holes into database, or...
This function loads the collar table with the drill hole collar coordinates, the survey table is loaded with the down hole survey details and a nominated interval table is loaded with the down hole sample details.
Some time after the drill hole details are loaded into the database with this function, the sample assay data will become available. This data can then be loaded and merged using the LOAD DATABASE function available in the Geological Database module.
The interval table is loaded with the hole_id, depth_from, depth_to and samp_id. The hole_id is obtained from the D1 field of each of the points to be loaded. The depth_from and depth_to are obtained by entering a depth range for the samples on a later form. The samp_id is generated automatically from the hole_id and one of two different numerical sequences for creating sample numbers down the drill holes.
The two numerical sequence methods are known as:
- increment from 1
This method is very simple and assumes that the sample numbers start at one for each new drill hole. The sample ID is constructed by joining the drill hole ID, an "_" character and the sample number together. For example the first sample in the hole A100 would have a sample ID of A100_1, the second would be A100_2, etc.
- define start sample
This method is suitable for use in many of the open cut mining operations throughout Australia. You will be required to enter the sample number of the first sample in each drill hole. Sample numbers for subsequent samples in a hole will be determined by successively incrementing this number. You can also have some alpha prefix if required and you can choose from having sample numbers with or without leading zeros.
If you have not already selected a drill hole database into which the drill hole data is to be loaded you must do so now. The SELECT DATABASE form is now displayed if you are not already connected to a database.
Database Name
Enter the name of the drill hole database into which the drill hole data is to be loaded. The database must already exist before you use this function.
Choose Apply to display the DEFINE LOG FILE FOR DRILL HOLES TO THE DATABASE form.
Define the log file to be created
Location, ID number
Enter the Location and ID number to define the log file which will be created to record details of any errors which may occur during loading the drill hole details to the database tables.
Sample ID method
Choose the method for creating sample IDs for the samples which will be loaded into the interval table.
Using the browser select either the "increment from 1" method or the "define start sample" method.
The next three inputs are only required if you choose the define start sample" method for determining sample IDs.
Prefix
Enter the value for the alpha-numeric suffix which is to be used in the creation of the drill hole IDs. If you have no need for an alpha-numeric prefix then leave this input blank.
Number length
This input has particular significance if you plan to use leading zeros in the numeric part of the hole ID. It also has significance even when not using leading zeros especially in the instance when the number length is too small for the numbers which are required. For example, the number length may be defined as 3 but the number required for a hole ID is for example 3276, in this case the number part of the hole ID will appear as "***" due to a field overflow.
When using leading zeros however, the number is right aligned in a field of the width specified by this input and leading characters which would normally be blank are filled with zeros. For example,
Number length = 5 ID number =
456
Numeric part of hole ID = "00456"
Leading Zeros
Enter Y if you wish to use leading zeros for the numeric part of the hole ID otherwise enter N. The reason for using leading zeros is to have the drill holes sorted in the database in a different order to what you get without leading zeros. Below is an example intended to demonstrate the different sorted order which will result when leading zeros are used for hole IDs.
| Leading zeros | No leading zeros |
|---|---|
| 01 | 1 |
| 02 | 10 |
| 05 | 15 |
| 08 | 2 |
| 10 | 20 |
| 15 | 25 |
| 20 | 5 |
| 25 | 8 |
The reason for this difference is that the hole IDs are in fact a sequence of characters and not numbers. Therefore to produce satisfactory results it is necessary to use leading zeros.
Table for saving samples
Enter the name of the interval table into which the down hole sample details are to be loaded. The database table name chosen here must have the following fields: Hole_id, Samp_id, depth_from and depth_to.
Complete the DEFINE LOG FILE FOR DRILL HOLES TO THE DATABASE and choose Apply to display the LOAD GRADE CONTROL HOLES TO DATABASE form.
Define the string range to be loaded
Enter the range of strings which are to loaded into the database. All drill holes (i.e. points) in this string range will be loaded into the database. Each of these holes are assumed to have the same characteristics, that is, they have the same azimuth, dip, depth, number of samples and the same sample intervals.
Define the drill hole survey details
Azimuth
Enter the Azimuth value which is to be used for this string range.
Dip
Enter the dip value which is to be used for this string range. The convention for dips is that -90 is vertically down and +90 is vertically up.
Depth Range
Enter the depth range to define the number and spacing of the samples for this string range. An example of a valid depth range is ``2,10,2'' which means that all drill holes in this string range will have the following details loaded into the specified interval table:
| depth_from | depth_to |
| 0.0 | 2.0 |
| 2.0 | 4.0 |
| 4.0 | 6.0 |
| 6.0 | 8.0 |
| 8.0 | 10.0 |
Note:The first sample is assumed to start at the drill hole collar and so there is no need to enter "0" at the start of the range.
Complete the LOAD GRADE CONTROL HOLES TO DATABASE form and choose Apply to proceed to the next step in loading the grade control holes to the database. If you are using the "increment from 1" method for assigning sample IDs then the loading of the data into the database tables will commence immediately. If you are using the "define start sample" method for assigning the sample IDs then the START SAMPLE FOR DRILL HOLES form will be displayed.
The drill hole ID for all of the drill holes which are to be loaded are displayed in a scrolling region with input fields available to let you enter the starting sample number for each drill hole.
Complete the START SAMPLE FOR DRILL HOLES form and choose Apply to commence loading the data into the various tables in the database.
Each of the points in the string range specified has its details loaded into the collar, survey and specified interval table of the database.
Into the collar table is loaded:
| hole_id | The hole id which is taken from the description field. |
| y | The y value of the point. |
| x | The x value of the point. |
| z | The z value of the point. |
| hole_path | 'linear' is loaded in this field. |
| max_depth | The maximum depth from the Depth Range input. |
Into the survey table is loaded:
| hole_id | The hole id which is taken from the description field. |
| depth | The maximum depth from the Depth Range input. |
| dip | The dip value which was entered. |
| azimuth | The azimuth value which was entered. |
Into the specified interval table is loaded:
| hole_id | The hole id which is taken from the description field. |
| samp_id | The sample ID as determined using the method previously selected for assigning sample IDs. |
| depth_from | The depth at the top of the sample. |
| depth_to | The depth at the bottom of the sample. |
All other fields in each of the tables described above are loaded with blanks for character fields and zero for integer and real fields.
Blank Hole ID at point nnn - Ignoring it You have not labelled this drill hole. The point has been ignored.