GEOLOGICAL DATABASE

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OBJECTIVES
To become familiar with Surpacs Geological Database module.
To learn about the minimum requirements for a geological database.
To learn to import data into a database from AS!! te"t files.
To cut section through drillhole data and create plots.
FILES USED
#iles used in this lab e"ercise are found in the following folder$
C:\GEOLOGICAL_DATABASE.LAB\
DISCUSSION
The Geological Database module in Surpac is one of the most important set of tools %ou can
learn. Drillhole data are the starting point of all mining pro&ects and constitute the basis on which
feasibilit% studies and ore reser'e estimations are done. A geological database consists of a
number of tables( each of which contains a different )ind of data. *ach table contains a number
of fields of data. *ach table will ha'e man% records with each record containing the data fields.
Surpac require + mandator% tables$ collar and sur'e%.
The information stored in the collar table describes the location of the drill hole collar( the
ma"imum depth of the hole and whether a linear or cur'ed hole trace is to be calculated when
retrie'ing the hole. ,ptional collar data ma% also be stored for each drill hole. #or e"ample( date
drilled( t%pe of drill hole or pro&ect name. The mandator% fields in a collar table are$
hole-id
%
"
.
ma"-depth
hole-path
The sur'e% table stores the drill hole sur'e% information used to calculate the drill hole trace
coordinates. /andator% fields include( downhole depth at which the sur'e% was ta)en( the dip
and the a.imuth of the hole. #or a 'ertical hole( which has not been sur'e%ed( the depth would
be the same as the ma"-depth field in the collar table( the dip as 091 and the a.imuth as .ero.
The %( " and . fields are used to store the calculated coordinates of each sur'e%. ,ptional fields
for this table ma% include other information ta)en at the sur'e% point e.g.( core orientation. The
mandator% fields in a sur'e% table are$
hole-id
depth
dip
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a.imuth
Aside from the mandator% tables( optional tables ma% be added and used to store such data as
geolog% and assa%s. There are 2 different t%pes of optional tables that can be added to a
database$
1. inter'al
+. point
2. discreet
The inter'al tables require the depth at the start of the inter'al and the depth at the end of the
inter'al( called the depth-from and depth-to fields respecti'el%. The point tables require onl% the
depth where the sample was ta)en( called the depth-to field. A sample identifier field is defined
for inter'al tables but this field is not a )e% field and so does not require data if not a'ailable. The
%( " and . fields are used to store the calculated coordinates of the sample depths. The discrete
sample tables are used for storing data for a point( which has a unique samp-id. All that is
required for this is the samp-id and its position in space i.e.( its 3( 4 and 5 coordinates. The
discrete sample table is ideall% suited for storing and later processing geochemical soil samples.
The following diagram shows some of a t%pical geological section from the Geological Database
module in Surpac$
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ASSIGNMENT
1. Add an inter'al table called 6geolog%7 with an optional field called 6litholog%7 to the
6surpac7 database.
+. Add an inter'al table called 6sample7 with an optional field called 6gold7 to the 6surpac7
database.
2. !mport geolog% and sample data into the database from the files geolog%.t"t and
samples.t"t( respecti'el%.
8. reate and plot *09 sections starting at :1+1; to :<11; in steps of 81m.
!. reate colour displa% st%les for the litholog% and assa%s.
!!. Displa% lithological codes on the right0hand side.
!!!. Displa% assa%s on the left0hand side.
!=. Displa% colour0filled bar graphs of the gold assa%s on the left0hand side and
offset them >m.
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USEFUL TOOLBAR ICONS
GEOLOGICAL DATABASE
,pen Database
lose Database
Drillhole Displa% St%les
Displa% Drillholes
omplete une"tended hole
?re'ious Section
;e"t Section
@e'erse =iew Direction
5oom ?lane
@efresh Drillholes
!dentif% Drillhole
*dit Drillhole
*nd Section /ode
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PROCEDURE
1. Add an interval tale !alled "#e$l$#%& 'it( an $)ti$nal *ield !alled "lit($l$#%& t$
t(e "+,r)a!& dataa+e.
a. #irst %ou must connect to the drillhole database. To do this simpl% clic) and drag
the file 6surpac.ddb7 from the ;a'igator to the 'iewport. 3ou will see in the
Status Aar an item appear with the database icon and the name 6surpac7. This
means %ou ha'e successfull% connected to the database.
. #rom the Database menu choose Database( Administration( reate table.
!. #ill the subsequent forms as follows$
-. Add an interval tale !alled "+a.)le& 'it( an $)ti$nal *ield !alled "#$ld& t$ t(e
"+,r)a!& dataa+e.
a. /a)e sure %ou are connected to the drillhole database. See step 1.a.
. #rom the Database menu choose Database, Administration, Create table.
!. #ill the subsequent forms as follows$
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/. I.)$rt #e$l$#% and +a.)le data int$ t(e dataa+e *r$. t(e *ile+ #e$l$#%.t0t and
+a.)le+.t0t1 re+)e!tivel%.
a. /a)e sure %ou are connected to the drillhole database. See step 1.a.
. #rom the Database menu( choose Database, Import data and fill the subsequent
forms as follows$
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!. #rom the Database menu( choose Database, Import data and fill the subsequent
form as follows$
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2. Create and )l$t E34 +e!ti$n+ +tartin# at 51-6N t$ 5766N in +te)+ $* 26..
a. #rom the Database menu( choose Display, Drillholes.
. #ill the subsequent form as follows$
!. #rom the Database menu( choose Sections, Define.
d. #ill the subsequent form as follows$
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e. This will create section starting on :1+1;( e'er% 81m. ;otice in the status bar
the current drillhole section is displa%ed. To switch to other sections choose
Previous section C D, and Next section C D from the Database, Sections
menu. ;ow %ou will need to displa% certain information along the hole traces. !n
order to do this %ou will need to define the displa% st%les.
I. Create !$l$,r di+)la% +t%le+ *$r t(e lit($l$#% and a++a%+.
*. #rom the Database menu( choose Display, Drillhole display styles.
#. !n the subsequent form( e"pand the geology folder to find the lithology field.
(. @ight0hand clic) on the lithology field and choose Get field codes from the
conte"t menu$
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i. This will add AEE : unique lithological codes to the list. *"pand the lithology
folder.
8. #or each of the : lithological codes select( on the right0hand side( a different
colour Cgraphics F plottingD. #or e"ample$
B Red
IN Green
MU Bl,e
9V1 :ell$'
S- Oran#e
S; C%an
ST Ma#enta
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<. Aefore appl%ing the form( e"pand the sample folder to find the gold field.
l. @ight0hand clic) on the gold field and choose Get min max range from the
conte"t menu$
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M$di*%
!$l$,r+ $*
ea!(
lit($l$#i!al
!$de (ere
All ,ni=,e
lit($l$#i!al
!$de+
.. This will add one grade range( which consists of the minimum and ma"imum
'alues found in the gold field. This is &ust to pro'ide %ou with a reference of the
range of 'alues currentl% a'ailable in that field.
n. #rom the first range created( on the right hand side( change the !rom "alue and
#o "alue to 6 and -( respecti'el%.
$. hoose a colour for this particular grade range.
). @ight0hand clic) again on the gold field and choose Add ne$ style from the
conte"t menu. This will add a new range below the pre'iousl% added range.
=. ,n the right0hand side( change the !rom "alue and #o "alue to - and 2(
respecti'el%.
r. hoose a colour for this particular grade range.
+. ontinue adding grade ranges in increments of - until %ou reach 16. #or
e"ample$
63- C%an
-32 Oran#e
237 :ell$'
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73> Bl,e
>316 Red
t. Appl% the form to sa'e the st%les changes.
II. Di+)la% lit($l$#i!al !$de+ $n t(e ri#(t3(and +ide.
,. #rom the Database menu( choose Display, Drillholes.
v. #ill the different tabs on the subsequent form as follows$
III. Di+)la% a++a%+ $n t(e le*t3(and +ide.
'. #rom the Database menu( choose Display, Drillholes.
0. #ill the subsequent form as follows$
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IV. Di+)la% !$l$,r3*illed ar #ra)(+ $* t(e #$ld a++a%+ $n t(e le*t3(and +ide
and $**+et t(e. ?..
%. #rom the Database menu( choose Display, Drillholes.
@. #ill the subsequent form as follows$
aa. #inall%( to create plots from each of the sections %ou will need to prepare the
section on screen using the abo'e steps to achie'e the loo) %ou desire. Then(
clic) the Autoplot C D button from the toolbar.
. #ill the subsequent form as follows. ;ote that 'alues for the scales will be
different on %our machine depending on the section and the .oom factor$
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!!. Gpon appl%ing the pre'ious form( a dashed bo" will appear centered around %our
data in the graphics 'iewport. This bo" represents the paper %ou'e chosen.
The prompting message as)s %ou to 6/o'e/@otate selection bo". Appl% to
continue. Assist )e% to rescale bo".7. 9ith the left mouse button clic) and drag
to mo'e the bo". 9ith the right mouse button clic) and drag to rotate the bo"
about the lower( left corner. Hitting the #1 )e% Cassist )e%D will rescale the 'iew if
%ou'e mo'e the bo" partl% outside the current 'iew. Hitting the #+ )e% Cappl%D
will appl% the changes %ou'e made. Iust hit the #+ )e% to appl% and continue.
dd. #ill the subsequent form as follows$
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ee. ,nce Surpac has finished processing the plot it will let %ou )now with a message
in the message window at the bottom of the screen$ 6Pr$!e++in# *ini+(ed 3 )l$t
*ile i+ .ain#raa.)*7. !t ma% also open the file automaticall% in the ?lot #ile
=iewer( which is a separate little program solel% for 'iewing plot files.
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