Implicit modeling of narrow vein type ore bodies based on Boolean combination constraints

Area of Science:

• Geological modeling
• Computational geology
• Mineral resource estimation

Background:

• Traditional ore body modeling often relies on direct interpolation, which can be insufficient for complex geological structures.
• Accurate modeling of narrow vein deposits is crucial for efficient mineral extraction and resource management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an automated modeling method for narrow vein type ore bodies.
• To utilize Boolean combination constraints for constructing implicit functions of geological surfaces.
• To provide a flexible approach for incorporating geological constraints into the modeling process.

Main Methods:

• Constructing implicit functions for the hanging wall and foot wall surfaces separately.
• Combining these implicit functions using Boolean operations to define the complete ore body.
• Developing specific rules for vein thickness and boundary constraints to model complex surfaces.

Main Results:

• The proposed method successfully models narrow vein type ore bodies, such as gold and mineral sand deposits.
• Experimental results using real geological data validate the suitability of the approach.
• The method effectively handles ore bodies that are large in two dimensions and narrow in the third.

Conclusions:

• The automated Boolean constraint-based method offers an effective solution for modeling narrow vein ore bodies.
• This approach enhances the accuracy and efficiency of geological modeling for specific deposit types.
• The developed rules allow for detailed specification of geological features, improving model fidelity.