Newsletter December 2012

Eureka handles aerial photography, terrain synchronised between the tablet and the EXPLORING maps, historical plans and GIS data. Eureka desktop application in real time. Importantly, Eureka can import and display WITH EUREKA SEG-Y format seismic data with a unique Maptek’s innovation helps geologists approach to visualise seismic reflectivity apply their professional skills to reach the Exploration just became easier, with and amplitudes. A smart tracking tool ‘Eureka’ moment, where all the pieces of the launch of the ground-breaking helps in the interpretation of features of the data puzzle come together to indicate Maptek Eureka™ software. interest such as horizons or faults. the presence of a potentially economic mineral or energy resource. A powerful 3D visualisation and multi- A velocity model can be applied to processing platform enables interpretation seismic sections, using the drillhole Speaking at the official launch of Eureka of a wide range of geospatial data. High information to convert the seismic time 1.0 at the North America users conference resolution imagery, seismic, gravity, data into depth. Detailed seismic data in Denver, Maptek CEO Barry Henderson magnetic and other geophysical survey can then be incorporated into horizon said that Maptek had developed Eureka to data can be displayed in the same space models, providing additional information help explorers satisfy the massive global as the drilling, allowing geologists to to correlate the models of the resource. demand for minerals and energy. immerse themselves in the data and ‘In the next 30-50 years, the world will quickly come to a better understanding As well as drilling and geophysical data, consume as much copper as has been of their exploration projects. Eureka accepts high resolution jpeg and ecw files and multi-attributed data. mined historically. The same applies to iron Eureka manages large datasets with ease. Numeric attributes can be assigned to the ore and other metals,’ Henderson said. No detail is lost while moving between z coordinate, so attributes can be viewed Maptek will continue to develop the different scales; users can see the big in 3D. Additional attributes can be derived Eureka software to deliver tools that will picture as well as analyse target areas from data using inbuilt scripting tools. benefit the resources industry. in detail. Almost unlimited control is Developing Eureka in collaboration with gained over drilling data, with interactive Email [email protected] industry, Maptek prototyped an interactive display and editing tools for drawing, for a demonstration of Eureka or visit field tablet for entering drillhole data via georeferencing of imagery, drillhole editing, www.maptek.com/eureka to learn more surface modelling, surface arithmetic, and drop-down lists, handwriting recognition contouring. or virtual keyboard. Logged data can be

> In this issue Bigger Better Vulcan 8.2 Modelling drillhole hardness Shortcuts in mine design Analysing variability in stockpiles Users conference Global news and views BIGGER BETTER VULCAN 8.2 More than 70 ‘user stories’ have been incorporated in Vulcan version 8.2 which was released in November.

The Rapid Pit Design tool aids users to quickly evaluate alternative pit scenarios. Multiple iterations can be projected from benches and strings. Ramps and switchbacks can be added as desired. Grade Estimation now allows search Polygon Morph interpolates polygon HotKeys can be used to allocate benches distance and search orientation values shapes between existing polygons, as ore or waste, to double bench, to clip to be stored as block model variables. creating smoother transitions between to topography, and to generate tonnage Separate dip and dip direction can be digitised shapes. The new attribute editor and grade within seconds. considered in unfolding, resulting in a can be used to store information such as better representation of the orebody volume or date created. The CSV Import tool builds a new Isis orientation. Orientations between surfaces database from csv files without needing to can be calculated as bearing, plunge and The new Polygon Flag option provides design the database first. Users can also dip. Search orientation vectors can be additional flexibility in assigning parameters load an existing database and change the displayed on a block by block basis. within a block model both before and after fields or tables on the fly to create a new grade estimation. The flagged attributes database. are carried through the triangulated model and into the grade shell. A new option under Support Analysis allows users to analyse data to determine The Attribute Editor allows users to ideal block size based on entered cut-off assign and manipulate attributes of design values, and evaluate an estimated model objects at the same time. Attributes are against existing data. Conceptual resource easily copied from one design object to numbers can be obtained straight from a another, and Perl scripting can be used to drillhole database without first generating change items in the group in one pass. complex block models. The Triangulation Attributes tool Chronos performance is enhanced by allows metadata to be stored within the moving scheduling calculations to Excel triangulation data structure. Other users where the data is located. sharing the project can see all the data. More robust Boolean operations ensure The 256 Colour palette introduces a new reliability for intersecting triangulations, colour selection and editing interface with building and manipulating solids. more predefined colour gradients. New design databases will be automatically New options under Variography display created in the extended format and will the variance sill and fit variography solely also work in 32 colour mode. to a major direction. Other changes include support for ecw and jpeg2000 formats in Vulcan 64-bit.

Maptek Vulcan™ 8.2 is the second release in 64-bit. The installer includes support for patching, ensuring users keep up-to-date with the latest improvements. Customer beta testing DECEMBER 2012 and rigorous internal quality assurance 2 have resulted in a robust release which also delivers a great user experience. MAPTEK FORGE MODELLING DRILLHOLE HARDNESS TO ENHANCE BLAST DESIGN Introducing Maptek BlastLogic™ into the existing mine systems mix makes for a new industry standard in drill and blast management.

Advances in drill rig guidance and management systems allow mines to profile hardness and downhole penetration rates and use this data to improve their blast design. For example, identifying Colour legend profiling drillhole hardness (Eureka) a band of hard rock across specific regions of a shot means an engineer can The Vulcan to BlastLogic workflow is BlastLogic supports the visualisation customise hole-by-hole explosive load seamless, with common datasets allowing and use of dxf files for operations with design to achieve optimal fragmentation. click-drag-drop functionality. BlastLogic third-party mine planning and geological also supports an automated interface with modelling systems. Harnessing the value of this relies on the the major drill navigation systems; this interdependency of mine planning, drill allows as-drilled data to be accessed and Another solution involves bundling the management and the load design systems viewed immediately. new exploration modelling software, used by drill & blast. Maptek Vulcan™ and Maptek Eureka™ with BlastLogic. The BlastLogic software can be used with BlastLogic charge design functionality will same effortless workflow creates drillhole site drill navigation systems to provide a soon support deck loading off a surface. hardness profiles and surfaces that can straightforward solution for routine mine This solution will meet the needs of coal be used in BlastLogic to enhance a blast operations. mines relying on through-seam blasting, design. as well as hard rock mines wanting to The drill design is performed in Vulcan, discriminate on the hole-by-hole load This is one example of how Maptek can and passed to drill navigation which in turn design, given degrees of hardness within help mines better manage the optimum delivers back the hardness data. Vulcan the shot. recovery of ore and coal so as to achieve displays the hardness profile of each hole quantum savings. by colour. A hardness horizon can then be This helps minimise waste as the optimal Email [email protected] tracked to form a surface model. In a coal amount of explosive charge can be for more information on BlastLogic mine, the roof and floor surfaces of seams applied per hole. It also maintains toe and are modelled. wall control and eliminates the expensive overhead of handling oversize rock. BlastLogic is used to validate and update the correct spatial location and dimensions Another high-value deliverable is the of each drillhole, coordinate the QA facilitation of accurate placement of process and prepare the load design, charge, which historically has been difficult all at a click of a button. to track and measure. DECEMBER 2012

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Deck loading off a surface (BlastLogic) evaluation, new methods had to be and cut-off grade. The new method can SHORTCUTS IN explored in order to meet the schedule replace manual checking and provide a MINE DESIGN for bringing the site into production. final stope shape with maximum values. After thousands of stope designs were The 3D-IASD method significantly Hongliang Wang, Mining Optimization made, point by point, line by line, and ring reduced errors and provided accurate Engineer of Newmont Mining by ring, Wang discovered an incremental- cut-off grade calculations, saving time. Corporation, initiated a shortcut for analysis-based stope design and cutoff The five step process involves: 3D grid evaluating alternate underground grade calculation method (3D-IASD). setup; filtering out rings that do not contain designs. ‘The traditional methods did not allow for grades; running the stope rings reserve Wang was tasked with developing a a logical or spatial relationship between report; building mineable stope shapes full-scale mine design for an underground rings,’ he said. ‘I realised proper naming with various cut-off grades; and designing project at Nevada’s Carlin Gold Trend. could save a significant amount of time.’ mine-wide stopes and development.

™ ‘Underground precious metal mining is Mining shapes, such as cut-and-fill drifts According to Wang, Maptek Vulcan difficult,’ said Wang. ‘Manual stope design and stopes, are typically manually drawn allowed Newmont to be creative is time consuming and error prone.’ by engineers, based on the block model when doing design work.

Underground mine design automation ‘Vulcan definitely made the process a and optimisation is a complex task. lot easier. Simple but key tools such as Generating 3 to 6 scenarios for a ‘multiple transfer’ and ‘auto naming’ proper comparison and sensitivity facilitated 3D setup; ‘triangulation by analysis at different metal prices and polygon’ and ‘carry naming attributes’ cut-off grades can take months. streamlined modelling; and the ‘advanced reserve editor’ gave us the Traditional methods required more results we needed,’ he concluded. than 3 weeks to complete 1 mine-wide Thanks to Hongliang Wang detailed design. When management Mining Optimization Engineer/Scientist requested another 16 options for Newmont Mining Corporation Presented at 2012 North America Users Conference

A ‘repeatability and reproducibility’ Comparison with CMO manual data ANALYSING analysis was conducted to define showed a 70% improvement in the variability of the current surveying measurement system variability when VARIABILITY process. Two CMO surveyors performed using I-Site. multiple volume measurements of a Cliffs Michigan Operations (CMO) single stockpile using GPS, collecting ‘Using the Six Sigma MSA methodology found that using Maptek I-Site™ points from the base, middle and top. to design the study, and with Maptek for survey significantly decreased help, we accomplished what had never variation in volume calculations of The final 3D model of the stockpile been done before, establishing real life bulk material stockpiles. contained triangular surfaces that characterisation of the variation associated ‘averaged out’ fine details. Outcomes with such lidar measurement systems,’ CMO Tilden and Empire mines regularly varied with the number of points said Peterson. measure stockpiles of concentrate, taken - more points creates a better pellets, flux stone and other materials. model but requires longer cycle times. CMO determined that the more peaks, These surveys provide assessments valleys, ridges, and crests the stockpile of production and inventories for In June 2011, CMO brought in I-Site, had, the more time it took to walk the accounting; however patterns showed which is used at other Cliffs operations, piles and make sure the detail was variation - both in excess and deficiency. to determine if this laser scanning accurate. It also introduced a safety process would provide a reduced level of risk for the surveyor. The I-Site process ‘By understanding the sources and uncertainty, and if there was a business greatly minimised time spent surveying DECEMBER 2012 magnitude of variation in the process, we case for transitioning to I-Site technology. the stockpile and decreased safety risks. 4 can better manage our reconciliation,’ said Kurt Peterson, CMO Manager of Training Mike Foster, Maptek I-Site Senior CMO noted additional benefits of the O and Development, and project leader. Technical Consultant, surveyed the I-Site system, such as a 360 high stockpile from a tripod setup at multiple definition photo of the area, compatibility points. He then provided a volume with Vulcan and AutoCAD, the ability calculation using a common base to measure from distances of 1500 surface to capture the same volume metres, and vehicle mount capability.

MAPTEK FORGE between two scans of the pile. Thanks to Kurt Peterson Manager of Training and Development Cliffs Michigan Operations Presented at 2012 North America Users Conference Vulcan technical sessions covered Networking started with welcome drinks MISSION improving stope measurements, coal on Tuesday night. At Wednesday’s washability, unfolding and underground conference dinner, three people were ACCOMPLISHED mine design optimisation. I-Site topics honoured for their 25 year connection with included volumetrics, geotechnical Maptek. Thursday night gave attendees a The Denver office is coming back mapping and stockpile reconciliation. chance to unwind and play some pool at to earth after a fantastic Users Maptek Chief Software Engineer, Andrew the Wynkoop Brewery. Conference which saw 65 customers Myers officially launched Eureka, and attend from across North America. Blast Accuracy Solutions Manager, Mark Roberts introduced the benefits of 25 YEARS AGO Proceedings blasted off with a Keynote BlastLogic for drill and blast operations. Address from astronaut and author, Software engineers Andrew Myers Colonel Mike Mullane. His ‘Countdown to and Bill Blattner started at Maptek Safety’ presentation provided relevant and within months of each other in 1987. actionable steps to maintain safety in the workplace. Andrew joined the office and Bill became the third member of the Denver team. While neither writes as much code as they used to, their work forms the basis for much of the functionality across Vulcan today. Andrew has also written code for I-Site, BlastLogic and Eureka.

Attendees heard some novel applications for Vulcan software. Two students from Idaho State University are modelling structural controls on geothermal Colonel Mike Mullane talks to attendees resources in Idaho, and Shannon Kobs Commenting on the overall calibre of the Nawotniak explained how she uses Vulcan presentations, North American General to model volcanic ash clouds. Manager, Jon Larson said, ‘The technical program was diverse and informative.’

‘We heard how Vulcan is applied to design Bill Blattner, Marc Silverman and Andrew Myers with Maptek CEO Barry Henderson freeze walls for uranium mining through to how I-Site Studio is used to model landfill.’ Marc Silverman put Andrew and Bill’s work to the test as one of the first Vulcan customers in North America. Peabody Energy bought Vulcan in 1987 with Marc helping with site installation.

After a few false starts and new data tapes shipped from , Peabody Vulcan workshops and an I-Site forum on was up and running. Marc still uses the final day provided an opportunity to Vulcan today and his input has been learn new skills, hear about the latest tools valuable in Vulcan development. and gain hands-on experience. DECEMBER 2012 5 MAPTEK FORGE SOUTH AFRICA VULCAN IN ASIA EUROPE The University of the Western Cape Maptek has appointed new Vulcan Staff from office are (UWC) in South Africa will introduce resellers in Mongolia and India. showcasing Maptek products to a Vulcan to more than 500 students in wider audience in Europe. Staff from Adelaide, , Sydney and its Department of Earth Sciences. Denver offices have been travelling to Callum Dowds, Technical Sales Consultant The Geology and Environmental Mongolia to roll out Vulcan and train users. for I-Site, attended SPAR Europe in Sciences group is at the forefront of The Hague, Netherlands in November. ‘The initiative will deliver improved support visual and interactive teaching methods, The 3D-based event was packed with and supplier interaction where it’s needed,’ and established a Highly Immersive innovators from all over Europe. Callum said Maptek General Manager Australasia Visualisation Environment (HIVE) in 2010. showed off Maptek developments in I-Site and the Pacific, Peter Johnson. hardware and I-Site Studio software. The acquisition of Vulcan in July 2012 continues their tradition of applying 3D Gary Buchanan will be at Europe’s leading visualisation of geological and mining mining investment event in December at datasets to enhance data interpretation. Mines and Money London. Callum and This initiative, the largest single installation Gary will demonstrate the range of Maptek of Vulcan in Africa, aims to better equip a products, including data from our new future generation of geoscientists. release, Eureka, at Booth H16.

The UWC vision includes making Vulcan available across all areas of research and to enhance the scope of postgraduate ventures, especially in Economic Geology.

Maptek booth at Mining Mongolia in September

‘While our staff are experienced in training at remote sites, our new relationship with Callum Dowds at SPAR Europe in November Information Technology Experts LLC in Mongolia will deliver better response times, Maptek is Gold Sponsor for December’s closer day-to-day interaction and local European Lidar Mapping Forum in language support to our customers in Salzburg. Graeme Cowie, I-Site Manager Mongolia,’ he explained. Europe, will present mining applications of laser scanning. Visit Maptek at Stand 62. The Mongolian miners see themselves as innovators in mining technology, which is a Paul Ehlers and Duncan Lee (Maptek) with good fit with Maptek. SIDMMA CHILE Professor Charles Okujeni, Head of Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Western Cape India is another region where miners are Maptek was gold sponsor at the 2nd demanding better technical capability to Seminario de Innovación y Desarrollo meet demands in the local industry. The use of Vulcan will help broaden the Minero Medio Ambiental in Chile. scope of research within the Earth Science ‘India has a wealth of natural resources Held at the Department of Mining Department to include more sophisticated and significant areas yet to be fully Engineering of the University of La Serena, economic, mining and exploration explored,’ Johnson said. ‘The agreement the event promotes transfer of knowledge modelling methods. with Sumeru Cooee Pte Ltd will set up a through discussion and analysis of strong team delivering the best technology The Department also plans to incorporate technological innovations and recent solutions and outstanding local support

DECEMBER 2012 Vulcan into a second year course as developments in the mining world. to mining companies across India to help an introduction to geological modelling optimise their operations.’ 6 techniques. ‘Maptek has the best products, and we are ‘Vulcan will enhance the research committed to delivering the best technical capabilities and skills development support and services for our customers in of students. Maptek and UWC will all regions,’ concluded Johnson. leave behind a lasting legacy through technological innovation,’ said Paul Ehlers, MAPTEK FORGE Technical Services Manager, Africa. Mining Engineering alumni from the University of La Serena with Leonardo Larenas, Andrés Díaz, Juan Rivera and Gastón del Valle (Maptek) USERS AREA LAOS TRAINING I-SITE IN CHINA Maptek is launching a new online Maptek is rolling out Vulcan and Maptek I-Site technology will be customer portal in January 2013. conducting training at MMG Sepon in more widely available in China southern Laos. thanks to a new agreement with Customers can track and manage their The open cut copper and gold mine, Beijing STS Instrument Co Ltd. own support cases, search a knowledge which is operated by Lane Xang Minerals base of FAQs, solutions and ‘how-to’ The National Expo for Surveying and Limited (LXML), will use Vulcan for videos, and learn from tips and tricks. Geomatics Equipment, in Xi’an, Shaanxi geology, mine planning, drill and blast, province, and the China Mining 2012 A forum will also be launched, for Vulcan geotechnical, hydrology and surveying. Conference and Exhibition in Tianjin, users to share information online. Users provided the first opportunities for visitors can draw from a repository of more than to see the new I-Site 8810 scanner. 400 solution articles. Vulcan downloads will also be accessible. Beijing STS staff received training in the applications and benefits of the latest long range scanning technology from Maptek.

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Technical services and sales staff from several Australasian Maptek offices have visited Sepon to train site staff in using Vulcan

Minmetals Resources Limited owns 90% ‘We want customers to be able to easily of LXML, while the Lao Government owns access information,’ said Stewart Maurer, the other 10%. Lane Xang is Lao for ‘one million elephants’, an historical name for Director of Global Marketing. 02 the kingdom of Laos. ‘The portal is something customers have asked for. It will be an essential tool in the Maptek customer service matrix.’ RIDE 4 CANCER

All Vulcan users with current maintenance Thousands of bikes, 4 states and will be able to access the users area at 1 common goal - Maptek cyclists no extra cost. Information about creating and supporters joined the recent accounts will be sent by email early in the Australian Ride to Conquer Cancer. new year, along with a secure login. Riding more than 200 km over 2 days in 03 Attendees at the North America Users , Sydney, Perth and Melbourne, Conference had a preview in October. In the Maptek teams gave our cycling jerseys 2013 access will be extended to users an airing for a great cause. of I-Site products, with BlastLogic and Eureka to follow. EXPOMINA PERU Expomina is one of the biggest mining tradeshows in South America. 04

Maptek representatives from Chile and DECEMBER 2012 The start in Sydney, NSW (above) Peru attended the event in September. On the road south of Perth, WA (below) 7

01 James Moncrieff, Maptek with STS CEO Frank Wang and Deputy GM David Wang MAPTEK FORGE 02 I-Site 8810 attracts a crowd at China Mining 03 Technical sales team at the National Expo for Surveying and Geomatics Equipment Alvaro Quezada (Chile) and Luis Castillo (Peru) 04 I-Site 8810 in action at a coal mine in China BLASTLOGIC KOREA COAL CORPORATION will use Vulcan for geological modelling, open WESFARMERS CURRAGH metallurgical cut and underground mine design, pit coal mine in Queensland’s Bowen Basin optimisation and mine scheduling at their has acquired BlastLogic. The new drill & coal operations in Indonesia. blast solution will improve the collation of as-drilled metrics to assist optimisation of LXML Sepon, Laos has purchased 17 drilling resources, and ensure the accurate Vulcan software licences for geology, mine placement of charge to minimise coal loss planning, drill and blast, geotechnical, and dilution. hydrology and surveying at their open cut copper and gold operations. VULCAN MOROBE MINING - WAFI GOLPU JV CALDERA MINERAL SERVICES, based in Papua New Guinea will use Vulcan for Maptek at Seminario Internacional de Mineria, in Hollywood, California, is leasing Vulcan geological modelling, geostatistical analysis Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico in October for geology work at its underground gold and simulation for ore resource estimation operation - CAMP BIRD MINE in Ouray, and reporting at their large copper Visit Maptek at these Colorado. discovery. Tradeshows IN 2013 CEMENTOS MOCTEZUMA, a company ROY HILL IRON ORE has purchased in Morelos State, Mexico, dedicated to the multiple Vulcan licences for open cut January 28-29 production and sale of cement, will use mine design and mine planning in the AME BC Mineral Exploration Roundup Vulcan for mine planning and modelling. development of a new iron ore project in Vancouver, BC - Booth C15 Western Australia. February 4-7 Indaba I-SITE Cape Town, South Africa

FIRMATEK 3D MAPPING SOLUTIONS, February 24-27 LLC has purchased a fourth I-Site Studio SME (Society of Mining Engineers) licence to process lidar data from its service Denver, Colorado - Booth 1010 provider business in Selma, Texas. March 3-6 PDAC Prospectors & Developers Forum NEWMONT - BODDINGTON GOLD Toronto, Ontario - Booth 1039 Jorge Sanchez (Maptek) at Cementos Moctezuma MINE has acquired an I-Site 8800 system to improve the speed, accuracy and safety April 15-18 on current laser scanning applications SPAR International CHINA GOLD INTERNATIONAL of stockpiles, dam and end-of-month Colorado Springs, Colorado RESOURCES CORPORATION LTD, based reconciliation. The I-Site Studio geotechnical in Vancouver, BC, Canada, has purchased May 5-8 module will be used to extract and analyse Vulcan for mine planning of two gold CIM (Canadian Institute of Mining) geotechnical information from the pit walls. operations. Toronto, Ontario - Booth 711 TECK COAL LIMITED has purchased the ENDEAVOUR SILVER CORP - EL CUBO June 6-7 I-Site 8800 laser scanning system and I-Site Elko Mining Expo MINE, an underground silver operation in Studio software for its Quintette operation Elko, Nevada - Booth 110 Guanajuato State, Mexico, will use Vulcan in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. This is for resources modelling and mine planning. October 16-19 the seventh scanner Teck has purchased for 30 Convención Internacional de Minería Canadian operations. Mundo Imperial Acapulco, Mexico - Stands 3051 & 3093 TROPICANA GOLD PROJECT, a joint venture between AngloGold Ashanti November 3-8 Australia Ltd and Independence Group NL, APCOM will use the I-Site 8800 laser scanner and Porto Alegre, Brazil vehicle mount for pit updates, volumes, Jorge Sanchez with staff from Endeavour El Cubo geological mapping and geotechnical analysis. The mine is 330 km northeast of Kalgoorlie on the edge of the Great Victoria Desert in Western Australia. DECEMBER 2012 0 8

MAPTEK FORGE www.maptek.com Maptek at Atexpo, Copiapó, Chile in November

Maptek Forge newsletter is published quarterly. Maptek, Vulcan, I-Site, BlastLogic and the stylised Maptek M are registered and You can receive it by mail, emailed pdf or emailed link to the Maptek website. unregistered trademarks of Maptek Pty Ltd; Maptek Computación Chile Ltda; Email [email protected] to subscribe or advise changes to contact details. Maptek Computación Chile Ltda, Sucursal Perú; Maptek S de RL de CV; Maptek Articles may be reproduced with acknowledgement. Informática do Brasil Ltda; and KRJA Systems, Inc. Marks are registered in one or more of the following countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Chile, Greece, © 2012 Maptek India, Indonesia, Mexico, Perú, Republic of South Africa, Russia, Spain, UK & USA.