Block Models

• Block Models
  • Standard Block Model Types
    • Resource Model
    • Reserve Model
    • Long Term Model
    • Short Term Model
    • Grade Control Model
  • Block Model in Reconciliation
  • Common Reconciliation Comparisons

A block model is a 3D model representation of a mines mining area. As the name suggests, a block model consists of 3D blocks. Depending on the type of block model, these are usually uniform cubes or multipoint polygons. Each block typically has a unique ID and attributes such as tonnes, volume, grade, material type, lithology, and spatial coordinates.

The model names are configured to match your mine and the following are representations of model types that are typically imported into Reconcilor.

Standard Block Model Types

Resource Model

Resource models are generally used to capture the in situ estimates of the tonnage (mass), grade (qualities) as well as other associated attributes for the known ore body. Typically, the Resource model has the coarsest resolution of data and covers a large area compared to other models.

Resource Models are normally owned by Geologists and used in the reporting of annual declarations.

Reserve Model

Reserve models are also estimates, typically based on the Resource model but updated with additional drilling, mining dilution, ore loss, metallurgical recovery, and mining scale. Reserve models generally include a period, although this is not normally specific to a date as such, rather Year 1 / Month 1, Year 1 / Month 2, and so on. Reserve models often form the basis for generating Budgets, Forecasts and Mine Plans. The Reserve model must cover the area of mining.

The Reserve Models are often owned by the Engineering or Planning departments and used in reporting of annual declarations.

Long Term Model

Long Term Model is a term commonly, but not always synonymous with the Reserve Model. This term can also be used to represent the basis, or source for Long Term Plans. Confirmation of the definition is company / client specific.

Short Term Model

Short Term Model is usually synonymous with a Grade Control or Mining Model. These models represent updates to either the Resource or Reserve models generated after additional information is made available during the mining process.

Grade Control Model

A Grade Control Model is used to update previous estimates (generally the Resource Model) with information that is obtained during the process of mining. Such information can include additional sample data, mapping or geological domain definition and so on. It generally forms the basis for the short term mine plans and is often owned by the Geologists. Grade control models are synonymous with mining models in Reconcilor. Not every operation produces a Grade Control Model and so it is not a requirement for Reconcilor.

Block Model in Reconciliation

As Block Modelling is a process of estimating what is in the ground, models are used to communicate to current and prospective shareholders the value of the asset that is in the ground.

To give shareholders the confidence that their money is wisely invested, geologists will typically perform different forms of Block Model reconciliations to show the accuracy of their estimates against actuals produced. However, performing these reconciliations is not always indicative of what has happened in reality, due to variables in the mining process that are not available at the time of estimating the model (for example, trucking errors where ore material is sent to the wrong destination).

Common Reconciliation Comparisons

• Spatial Comparison (Model vs. Model)

  Compares two models over a common location (for example, pit, bench, or stope) to assess how new information — such as additional drilling — changes the estimates. It can also illustrate shifts caused by economic changes (for example, a revised cut-off grade due to commodity price movements).

  Note: In this context, 'spatially' refers to reporting by common areas defined in Reconcilor’s Location Hierarchy, not to full 3D visualisation.

• Temporal Comparison (Model vs. Model using Surfaces)

  Compares two models using surveyed surfaces over time (for example, month-to-month) to show temporal changes in estimated tonnes and grades.

• Model vs. Haulage (Trucking Data)

  Compares modelled material volumes and classifications with actual haulage data, to identify misclassification or routing errors (for example, ore sent to the waste dump).

• Model vs. Plant Feed or Product

  Compares modelled grades or metal units with actual plant feed or product data for the same period, providing a measure of grade estimation accuracy. These comparisons are highly dependent on planning compliance and the correct routing of material from pit to plant.