Technical Tips from our consultants to you.
The aim of our TECH TIPS videos is to pass on the useful technical tips and advice that our consultants have gained over their years of working in the mining industry. Your mentors in a video!
TECH TIPS
Reconciling Ore Only
Author: Rayleen Hargreaves – Principal Consultant & Reconcilor Product Owner
BSc (Geology, Geophysics, Geochemistry), MAusIMM
TECH TIPS
Multi-element Resource Classification
Author: Julian Adridge – Principal Consultant – Geology – EMEAA
MSc Mining Geology (MCSM), MESci (Oxon), CGeol, FGS
Where there is significant economic contribution of elements / commodities OTHER than the primary commodity to the financial value of the deposit, the senior company geologist and CP / QP need to ensure there is sufficient confidence in all the different economic components.
Example 1: An Au deposit with economic Cu and Zn; the Au is fire-assayed and shows sufficient confidence to be modelled and classified as an Indicated Resource. The Cu and Zn has only been analysed in more recent drilling campaigns, and therefore has fewer than half the number of assayed samples in the Indicated Au zone. The spacing and sparsity of the Cu and Zn analyses mean that the same confidence in grade continuity cannot be applied as for the Au analyses.
Example 2: A hard-rock Li deposit with accessory Cs and Rb; the Li is assayed according to industry standard and shows sufficient confidence to be modelled and classified as an Indicated Resource. The Cs and Rb has been analysed in all samples using XRF, without check analyses at an umpire laboratory using an industry standard assay method.
The lower accuracy and precision (and unknown bias) of the Cs and Rb analyses mean that the same confidence in grade cannot be applied as for the Li analyses
In both of these examples, the contribution of the other commodities should not be reported as part of the overall resource statement, and should not be used as economic components during RPEEE / optimised pit shell modelling.
More Tech Tips videos coming soon!
Details about our consultants who have participated in these Tech Tips videos.
Julian Aldridge – Principal Consultant (Geology)
MSc Mining Geology (MCSM), MESci (Oxon), CGeol, FGS
Julian has more than 17 years of experience as a geologist in resource assessment / mineral exploration and project management of grassroots to feasibility stage projects. He is skilled in 3D modelling, resource assessment, QAQC assessment and data/statistical analysis. He is a Chartered Geologist (CGeol) with the Geological Society of London, a Member of the IOM3 (MIMMM) and acts as a CP/QP. Before working as a consultant, Julian spent 10 years as an exploration geologist, managing drill programmes, running geochemical sampling and geophysical programmes in multiple countries. He has an excellent practical knowledge of modern mapping, sampling and analysis techniques and has spent time working on remote sites and communicating in different cultures, allowing him to develop an excellent analysis and interpretation ability. Julian has an expert knowledge of genetic and descriptive metallogenic models.
Rayleen Hargreaves – Principal Consultant and Reconcilor Product Owner
BSc (Geology, Geophysics, Geochemistry), MAusIMM
Rayleen is a mining geologist with more than 25 years’ experience in the resource industry. Rayleen has been involved with onsite implementation and administration of Reconcilor for the past 15 years and has significant expertise in mine site reconciliation. Utilising her strong domain expertise, Rayleen is the Product Owner of Reconcilor, providing a leadership role within the Research and Development team, ensuring delivery of software features and functionality that meets the needs of key stakeholders. Rayleen has authored a number of published white papers on mine reconciliation and been a speaker on the Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro podcasts.
