AIG RPGeo E-forum: Mineral Resource Estimation - From exploration to tonnes and grade, 15th Oct 2020

A resource estimate is the best guess of volume and grade or quality for a mineralised deposit at a point in time. It is the product of exploration and resource definition geologists work in the field, firstly to find, then define a deposit of potentially economic material. The collection and analysis of data is what most geologists do day in day out, but what is critical data in a resource estimate?
How does a geologist know what is important before they have to generate an estimate of tonnes and grade? This e-forum aims to show you what goes into an estimate and a range of the processes involved. We will gain an understanding of the steps taken along the way, and what components are the most important? From sampling, QAQC, in-situ dry bulk density, and analysis to compositing, kriging and block modelling.
What is geostatistical stationarity and why is it important? What do nugget, range and lag have to do with geological interpretation? Is uniform conditioning some sort of hair product my partner wants me to use? No one will learn a thing about being a good geostatistician in this talk. Instead you will learn about how important your role as a geologist is to the button pushers who speak in tongues about the need for more data when what they really need is a better understanding of the deposit geology and how to lick rocks.