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GEOVIA MineSched

Block Models

You add a block model to a scenario in GEOVIA MineSched by clicking Add in the Models pane. The types of block models you can choose are:

  • GEOVIA Surpac block models (.mdl)
  • GEOVIA GEMS block models (.gpr)
  • Datamine block models (.dm)
  • Maptek™ Vulcan block models (.bmf)
  • Model files imported from third-party products using the Surpac free block model (.fbm) format

When you have added a block model to a MineSched scenario, the name attributes of the model are displayed in the Model Detail pane.

Fields on the Model Detail Pane for Block Models

Field Description
Name

The name by which you refer to the model in MineSched.

The name is automatically populated from the file name. If you want to change the name, type a new name in this field.

Note: Reserved words cannot be used for the model Name. If the file name of the model is a reserved word, "_1" is appended to the automatically populated model name. If you type a reserved word for the Name, a warning message appears and the name reverts to the previous name.

File name Automatically populated with the file location of the block model you added.
Material class attribute

A list of attributes in the block model, from which you select the attribute that models the material class.

If you do not see any attributes in the list, click Extract from Model to update the list.

The attribute must be created in the block model before the model is added to MineSched, but it does not need to be populated with values for the blocks. You can assign material class values in MineSched. Assigning material class values in MineSched creates a record of the initial material classes assigned to the blocks.

The material class attribute can delineate between just ore and waste, or many types of ore and waste.

Notes:

  • If you have multiple material classes, they can be combined during reporting.
  • You can select real and float attributes for the material class attribute for only Datamine models.
Assign values...

Opens the Assign Material Class Values form to allow you to enter values for the material class attribute.

Note: MineSched cannot write back to Vulcan block models. If you are using a Vulcan block model, the Assign values... button is not available.

You must click Execute on the form to apply the assignments you set up in the form. Choosing Execute modifies and saves your block model.

Note: Adding constraints to the material class attributes is optional; you can leave the Constraint 1, Constraint 2, and Additional constraint file fields blank.

Columns in the Material class assignments data grid on the Assign Material Class Values form

Field Description
Assignments
Model value The value assigned to the blocks of the model.
= The operator being used. For the assignment, the only operator is equal to.
Grade attribute name

The attribute on which you want to base the material class assignment.

The attributes available in the list are the numeric attributes present in the block model.

Minimum value Blocks with this value or greater for the attribute are assigned to the material class.
Maximum value Blocks with this value or lower for the attribute are assigned to the material class.
Constraint 1
Attribute name Allows you to choose the first attribute you want to constrain by from the list of attributes available in the block model.
Operation

The relationship between the Attribute and the Value. Options are:

  • = : equal to
  • > : greater than
  • < : less than
  • >= : greater than or equal to
  • <= : less than or equal to
Value

The value that the attribute must be equal to, greater than, less than, greater than or equal to, or less than or equal to for the block to have the material class applied.

Constraint 2
Attribute name

Allows you to choose the second attribute you want to constrain by from the list of attributes available in the block model.

Note: If you include more than one constraint, only blocks that meet the criteria of both constraints are assigned the material class.

Operation

The relationship between the Attribute and the Value. Options are:

  • = : equal to
  • > : greater than
  • < : less than
  • >= : greater than or equal to
  • <= : less than or equal to
Value

The value that the attribute must be equal to, greater than, less than, greater than or equal to, or less than or equal to for the block to have the material class applied.

Additional constraint file

Allows you to browse for a constraints file that you want to use to constrain the material class assignment.

Defining an additional constraint file allows you to constrain by attributes that do not appear in the named attribute list for the block model. For example, you use a constraints file to constrain by elevation.

The Material class assignments grid in the Assign Material Class Values form also has the data grid functions to Insert, Delete, Create copy, Move up, Move down, and Show or hide comments.

Volume adjustment attribute

The attribute you want to use to act as a multiplier on the volume of each block in the block model.

You use this attribute to model reduction and dilution.

Note: If you do not want to use an attribute as a multiplier on the block volume, leave this field blank.

Specific gravity
Method

The method you want to use to calculate the specific gravity, or density, of each block in the block model.

The specific gravity is used to calculate the mass of each block.

  • Constant: All blocks have the same specific gravity. The Constant field becomes available for you to type the value for specific gravity for all blocks.
  • Attribute: The specific gravity varies depending on the material class, or from block to block, and is stored in an attribute of the block model. The Attribute field becomes available for you to select the attribute in the block model that contains the specific gravity values.

Note: In some model types the specific gravity can be applied to partial material classes within each block. In these model types, there is more than one specific gravity attribute for each block. You can assign multiple specific gravities in the Material classes data grid for each material class.

Constant The value for the specific gravity for all blocks in the block model.
Attribute The attribute that contains the specific gravity of each block in the block model.

See also