The following are global leaders in developing computer software for geological exploration activities, mineral reserves calculation and mining:
1) Aquila Mining Systems Ltd. (Montreal, Canada): This company is a pioneer in the field of geological exploration software development and the first company in the world to develop and implement a drilling system that can independently identify rocks and their main features. The company is currently a member of Gaterpillar;
2)DataMine (British DataMine International Company): This software product is mainly used by consulting companies and mining enterprises as a comprehensive mining management system for different kinds of minerals. It is one of the most powerful multifunctional systems in the world.
3)Vulcan (developed by KJRA Systems) is a powerful integrated system, which consists of a large number of modules and is used to solve various geological, mining, survey, environmental goals, etc.
4)MineScape system (as well as Ellipse, MineStar and MineMarket programs) was developed by Australia Mincompty Co., Ltd.. MineScape is adopted by enterprises that develop various solid minerals;
5)Lynx system (developed by South Africa's Lynx Geosystems S.A. (Pty) Ltd) consists of a set of sophisticated ground pressure instruments, which are mainly used to solve environmental problems;
6)MineSight system (developed by Mintec, Inc.) is widely used by mining enterprises in the United States and Canada. Strong geological information processing, deposit modeling and mineral reserves estimation capabilities;
7)Gemcom system (developed by Canada Gemcom Software International Company) can run a complete working cycle, and finally create a mineral model to complete the design and planning of open-pit mines and underground mines;
8)Micromine system (developed by Micromine Pty, Australia): This software product contains many tools for solving problems in geological exploration activities and deposit operations;
9)Techbase suite (developed by American Minsoft Ltd) is mainly for geological development, and is suitable for three-dimensional modeling, geological map and reserve estimation of mineral deposits;
10)Geostat software package (developed by Geostat Systems International, Canada) is used for mineral modeling, reserve estimation and mining operation planning;
1 1)GDM integrated system (developed by BRDM of French Geological Survey): The main users of this system include oil and gas field development enterprises. The system has cutting-edge ground pressure components and flexible drawing function. Strong geophysical and geochemical data processing and analysis capabilities;
12) petrelle & p software platform integration system (developed by international company Schlumberger). The system aims to solve various related problems in modeling and calculation of oil and gas reserves. The system has powerful mathematical tools, which can be used for any type of oil and gas field modeling, geophysical survey data processing ability and other neighborhood functions.
13)MineFrame Geographic Information System (developed by Mining University, Kola Science Center, Russian Academy of Sciences) has designed comprehensive solutions for three-dimensional modeling of various geological targets and mineral deposits (mainly solid minerals) to meet the needs of mining enterprises and scientific research and design institutions;
14) geostatistics software tool (developed by Volodymyr Maltsev) aims at solving relevant geostatistics problems and calculating mineral reserves;
15)K-MINE integrated geographic information system (developed by KRYVBASAKADEMINVEST Company of Ukraine) aims to solve various related problems in modeling various mineral deposits. The established model can be used by the management departments of mining enterprises in the stage of mineral development.
Most computer programs (systems) are information analysis suites, which integrate software and equipment for collecting, processing and transmitting geological environment data. They can complete three-dimensional display of geological structure and mine roadway, calculation of mineral reserves, planning and optimization of geological exploration and mining operations, and implementation of environmental protection measures.
The development and modification of geological information interpretation method, as the basis of mineral reserves calculation, takes into account the requirements of mineral resources reserves classification, and meets the conditions of changing the traditional methods of geological exploration information collection, interpretation, analysis and comprehensive arrangement, which is beneficial to deposit modeling and reserves calculation by computer technology.
Using computer modeling and geostatistics can accurately reflect the spatial distribution law of mineralization (fluid saturation) parameters in the deposit, because they can consider a full set of indicators that affect the calculation of reserves. Based on the assumed geometric shape and exploration network density, block model and dynamic model can reflect the natural anisotropy of ore bodies and structures most accurately.
Using computer modeling is helpful to evaluate and delineate the spatial form of mineral resources reserves and distinguish different types and different commercial (technical) grades of reserves/resources.
The method of establishing three-dimensional deposit model mainly depends on deposit structure and mineral types. The modeling process specifically includes the following seven steps [1].
1) Develop a database structure to store the original information obtained from geological exploration;
2) Input and analysis of geological data: edit the geological information to be input into the system; Geological test and geophysical survey information input; Statistical analysis, verification (error correction), data grouping and database arrangement of original geological data are carried out to find out the regularity;
3) geological exploration information interpretation and deposit modeling: drilling construction in model space is grouped according to section lines; Define and delimit ore-bearing and non-ore-bearing intervals according to strata and lithology, and adjust intervals according to cut-off grade (geological data interpretation); Considering structural deformation, according to geophysical survey information (seismic, electrical, magnetic and gravity surveys), the spatial boundaries of rocks are clearly defined;
4) Creation of geological body wireframe model: wireframe deposit modeling (modeling of ore bodies and surrounding rocks, strata, anomalies, traps, etc. );
5) Field investigation of geostatistics: Geostatistical analysis of spatial data, variability and spatial variability (anisotropy) laws of geological characteristics of each component; Modeling of hydrodynamic system, calculation of migration, pollution, chemical composition, etc.
6) establishing a block model of the deposit: establishing an empty block model; Mathematical methods (nearest region (polygon) method, inverse distance weighted interpolation method (IDW method) and kriging method (being revised) are used to interpolate the content of each component; According to the preset metallogenic conditions, adjust the contour line of rock distribution of the deposit; Definition of levels and categories of mineral resources reserves;
7) Reserve evaluation and estimation: determine the lowest cut-off grade of mineral composition (original ore state); Determine the category and level of reserves;
The field modeling techniques of different types of minerals are basically the same, but the modeling techniques of mineral areas that have been put into operation are slightly different (for such mineral areas, mining graphic files (plan, profile and geological map) have usually been compiled to adjust the contour lines of spatial rock distribution according to production exploration, sampling test and actual deposit development data). In the stage of exploration information interpretation and reserves calculation, the modeling steps of different types of deposits are obviously different.
Before field modeling and geological data interpretation, drilling location selection, reasonable determination of exploration engineering grid, testing method and quality should be carried out [5, 1 1].