CLASSICAL

STATISTICS

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF
GEOLOGICAL DATA
2 categories:

Non-spatial or classical statistics

location of sample not taken into account

Spatial Statistics
based on sample value and location (samples taken
in a mineral deposit are more similar in grade a
short distance apart than if taken far apart).
Both categories are an integral part of geostatistics.
All geostatistical studies begin with non-spatial statistical
analyses.

Classical Statistical Analysis

allows us to ...

To identify distribution of data

Separate Sample Populations
Compare different lithological units
Compare statistics from raw data
with composited data.
Study outliers and high grade
populations

SUMMARY STATISTICS
Measures of Location:
MEAN, MEDIAN and MODE

Measures of Spread
Variance, Standard Deviation,
Interquartile range

Measures of Shape
coef of skewness, coef of variation

Measures of Location
(describe where the various parts of the distribution lie)

MEAN:
arithmetic average of the data values

MEDIAN
mid-point of observed values. 50% of
samples above and 50% below median
grade

MODE
Value that occurs most frequently

PUT in DIAG SHOWING examples of mean,

mode, median

Measures of Spread
(used to describe variability of the data values)

VARIANCE:
average squared difference of observed values
from their mean. (Is sensitive to erratic high
values)

STANDARD DEVIATION:
Square root of variance (same units as that of
variable being described)

INTERQUARTILE RANGES (Q3-Q1)??

Difference between upper and lower quartiles
preferred if few erratically high values influence
the mean)

PUT in DIAG SHOWING examples of

measures of spread,

Measures of Shape
(provides information on the length of the tail)

COEFF of SKEWNESS:
+ve = long tail of high values to the right
(log normal distributions)

-ve = long tail of small values to the left

( inverse log normal distributions)

=0 symmetric (normal distributions)

COEFF of VARIATION
used as an alternative to skewness to describe
the shape of the distribution. Used for +ve
skewness mainly.

PUT in DIAG SHOWING examples of

skewness

G4W SUMMARY STATISTICS REPORT

FREQUENCY TABLES
A Frequency table is also included in the
standard G4W statistics report showing
the following information

HISTOGRAMS

Frequency tables record how the observed values fall within certain
intervals or classes. The HISTOGRAM is the corresponding graph of
this data.

Distribution Types
Gaussian (Normal) Distribution - not
very common in mineral deposits.

Lognormal distributions - most common

in earth sciences. Usually positively skewed

(to the right) meaning that there a small
but significant no. of high values. It is
sometimes found that the logarithms of the
values tend towards a normal distribution.

Typical Distributions for some

deposit types
Mineral deposits more commonly than not display skewed
distributions. Many deposits display typical distribution
types as follow:
NORMAL DISTRIBUTIONS:

massive copper or Manganese deposits

+ve SKEWED DISTRIBUTIONS :

precious metals (Au, etc. ) base metals, mineral

sands, contaminants..)
-ve SKEWED DISTRIBUTIONS:

Iron ore

NORMAL & LOG HISTOGRAMS

Normally scaled histogram:
X-axis = class intervals with a

normal scale.

Y-axis = sample count

Log Scaled Histogram:

X-Axis = class intervals with a

logarithmic scale

Y-axis= sample count

It is sometimes found that the

logarithms of the values tend
towards a normal distribution

FREQUENCY GRAPHS
- are line graphs that show the relative count, cumulative
count or decreasing count of values in each class interval

NORMAL & LOG NORM FREQUENCY

Normally scaled :
X-axis = class intervals with a

Log Scaled:
X-Axis = class intervals with a

Y-axis = cum. sample count

Y-axis= cum. sample count

normal scale.

logarithmic scale

PROBABILITY PLOTS

- show the probability of values falling within a particular

class interval by plotting class intervals against cum relative
freq. using a probability scale

PROBABILITY PLOTS

Normally scaled :
X-axis = class intervals,

normal scale.

Y-axis = cum. relative sample,

probability scale

Log Scaled:
X-Axis = class intervals,

logarithmic scale

Y-axis= cum. relative sample,

probability scale

highgrade/
outliers
B

mineralised

A
un-mineralised

Importance of Domains
Deposits must be divided into areas
which present reasonably constant
statistical properties.
Variograms must be constructed from
samples with the same geological
material. Must separate samples into
different ore or rock and structure
types. Individual variograms are then
constructed for each of these types.

Stats Check List

Before moving on to variography, make sure you
become familiar with your data:
check using classical statistical methods (composite data
if needed)
Take note of extreme values. Check location of high grade
zones.
Look for bimodal or multimodal histograms as these may
indicate different populations and therfore must be
separated.
If log-normal plot the histogram on log-prob scale and
check (should produce a straight line)
In other words, become familiar with your data and gain a
basic understanding of the datas behaviour. Learn where
to expect high and low grade zones, etc.

Distribution vs Kriging methods