Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve Estimation – The AusIMM Guide to Good Practice

Description

The highly anticipated second edition of Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve Estimation – The AusIMM Guide to Good Practice presents up-to-date procedures to assist all levels of users looking to gain a detailed understanding of the science of Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation. This updated version remains non-prescriptive, supports consistency with the 2012 JORC Code and describes contemporary tools, techniques, software and case studies. It provides additional examples of good practice while revising the 2001 volume components. The emphasis is on being an informative and functional guide that marks further progress made in the science. This volume consists of 79 mostly new technical and supporting papers and nine chapter overviews consistent with the framework of the first edition. Several papers published elsewhere during the period and considered to add value have been included, together with relevant papers republished from the first edition of this volume for ease of reference. In addition, the first step has been taken in providing good practice guidelines for Australian practitioners as summarised in the respective chapter overview papers. The 2012 JORC Code is attached as an Appendix. Cover Copyright Contents Chapter 1 – An Overview and Outline Overview Managing Risk in Feasibility Studies Common Sense and Good Communication – Effective Team-Based Estimation and Classification of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves JORC and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Definition Standards – Major Changes and Developments for Competent Persons Chapter 2 – The Resource Database Overview Design Principles of Relational Databases and Management of Data Flow for Resource Estimation Sampling and Analysis Protocols and Their Role in Mineral Exploration and New Resource Development Geological Data Collection for Reliable Coal Resource Estimation A Review of the Reliability and Validity of Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (pXRF) Data How Sampling Biases Can Induce Decision-Makers to Make Wrong Decisions – An Introduction to Qualitative Sampling Theory Practical Considerations and Shortcuts in Sampling Geostatistical Criteria for Choosing an Optimal Ratio between Quality and Quantity of Samples – Method and Case Studies Measurement of Bulk Density for Resource Estimation – Methods, Guidelines and Quality Control Collection of Geotechnical Data from Drill Holes Use and Abuse of Oriented Drill Core Chapter 3 – Geological Interpretation and Geological Modelling Overview Geological Interpretation for Resource Modelling and Estimation Best Practice in Coal Exploration and Resource Evaluation The Do's and Don'ts of Geological and Grade Boundary Models and What You Can Do About It A Checklist for Grade Control Calculated Mineralogy and Its Applications 'X-Ray Plunge Projection' – Understanding Structural Geology from Grade Data Practical Implicit Dyke Modelling for Resource Estimation – Newmont Boddington Gold, Western Australia The Pursuit of Best Practice and Use of Innovative Techniques – Case Studies in Geological Interpretation and Modelling, Gold Fields – Growth and International Projects Wireframe-Free Geological Modelling – An Oxymoron or a Value Proposition? Chapter 4 – Mineral Resource Estimation Overview Mineral Resource Estimation of the Brockman 4 Iron Ore Deposit in the Pilbara Region by Rio Tinto Iron Ore Multivariate Iron Ore Deposit Resource Estimation – A Practitioner's Guide to Selecting Methods Tropicana Gold Mine, Western Australia – A Case Study of Non-Linear Mineral Resource Estimation Estimation of Underground Mineral Resources at the Sunrise Dam Gold Mine – A Case Study in Risk Management Mineral Sands – Some Aspects of Evaluation, Resource Estimation and Reporting A Practitioner's Guide to the Identification, Classification and Estimation of Inventory Coal and Coal Resources A Practitioner's Guide to Recoverable Resource Estimation Using Localised Uniform Conditioning Resource Estimation in Folded Deposits – A Review of Practice and Case Studies Drilling of Mineral Resources – Towards Better Investment Decisions Chapter 5 – Non-Resource Inputs to Estimation of Ore Reserves – The Modifying Factors Overview The Influence of Geotechnical and Groundwater Factors on Ore Reserve Estimation Selecting a Mining Method for Metalliferous Orebodies Transition from Open Pit to Underground Mining Mining Dilution and Losses in Underground Mining The Assessment and Management of Coal Recovery in Open Pit Mines Metallurgical Input to the Determination of Ore Reserves Geometallurgical Guidelines for Miners, Geologists and Process Engineers – Discovery to Design Assessment of Iron Ore Reserves – Rio Tinto's Pilbara Experience Case Study – Marketing of Industrial Minerals – Iluka Resources Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves of Industrial Minerals – Markets and Other Modifying Factors Infrastructure for Mining Developments The Influence of Revenue and Cost Factors on Ore Reserve Estimation Environmental Constraints on Resource-to-Reserve Conversion Community Consultation – The Ok Tedi Experience Chapter 6 – Ore Reserve Estimation Overview Feasibility Studies – Scope and Accuracy Reflections on Front-End Loading in Mining Project Development Whittle Optimisation – The Money Mining Methodology and Its Impact on Ore Reserves Maximising the Value of Open Pit Gold Reserves – Where Are We Getting It Right? Block Caving Software – Practical Application Reserve Estimation for Block Cave Mines Using PCBC Geotechnical Modifying Factors to Be Considered When Determining the Status of Longwall Reserves Chapter 7 – Risk in Resource and Reserve Estimation Overview Evaluating Resource Risk – The Due Diligence Process The Importance of Understanding Uncertainty and Risk Associated with All Geological Inputs to Ore Reserves Scenario Thinking – A Powerful Tool for Strategic Planning and Evaluation of Mining Projects and Operations Non-Technical Risks and Their Impact on the Mining Industry Exposing Uncertainty in Schedules for Proactive Stockpile Planning Reserves, Reserves and not a Tonne to Mine – A Study of Reserves Reported Prior to Mine Closure Back to Basics – Geological and Mining Risks and Financial Issues on Resource and Reserve Evaluation in Coal Projects Chapter 8 – Monitoring and Exploiting the Reserve Overview Predicting the Unpredictable – Evaluating High-Nugget Effect Gold Deposits Effective Grade Control Systems Grade Control Based on Economic Ore/Waste Classification Functions and Stochastic Simulations – Examples, Comparisons and Applications Planning Strategies to Increase Project Value Interpreting Long-Term Mine to Mill Trends at St Ives Gold Mine Reconciliation Principles for the Mining Industry Mining Reconciliation – An Overview of Data Collection Points and Data Analysis A Strategy to Minimise Ore Grade Reconciliation Problems between the Mine and the Mill Guide to Creating a Mine Site Reconciliation Code of Practice Chapter 9 – Classification and Reporting Overview Issues in Capital Raisings and Disclosure Review of 2012 JORC Code and Comparison with National Instrument 43-101 Estimating and Reporting Potential Mineralisation at BHP Billiton – The Unconstrained View Mineral Resource Classification – It's Time to Shoot the 'Spotted Dog'! Reporting and Converting Resources to Reserves – How Confident Are We? Mine Design Stages in Russia Resource and Reserve Valuation Practices in Countries Forming the Russian Commonwealth of Independent States Rio Tinto Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve Governance Liability Issues Arising in Relation to Exploration, Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve Reports Included in Takeover Documents Liability of Competent Person for JORC Reports Competent Persons – Beyond JORC Code Requirements Appendix – The JORC Code 2012 Contents Foreword Introduction Scope Competence and Responsibility Reporting Terminology Reporting General Reporting of Exploration Results Reporting of Mineral Resources Reporting of Ore Reserves Technical Studies Reporting of Mineralised Fill, Remnants, Pillars, Low Grade Mineralisation, Stockpiles, Dumps and Tailings Reporting of Coal Resources and Reserves Reporting of Diamond Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves Reporting of Industrial Minerals Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves Reporting of Metal Equivalents Reporting of In Situ or In Ground Valuations Table 1 Checklist of Assessment and Reporting Criteria Appendix 1 Generic Terms and Equivalents Appendix 2 Competent Person's Consent Form Appendix 3 Compliance Statements Appendix 4 List of Acronyms Author Index Subject Index Front matter Foreword – Second edition Foreword – First edition Acknowledgements – Committee Acknowledgements – Reviewers Sponsors Leapfrog MMG Rio Tinto Other Monograph Publications of the AusIMM