RR. Block Model Gap Filling
- iarmstrong
This step can be enabled in Setup > Settings > Options > Fill Block Model Gaps. Otherwise, it won’t be shown in the Setup Tasks list
This step provides an option to fill voids in block models with a default material. This is useful where the current mining solid surface is outside of the Block Model extents.
Overview
Gap filling material should be waste or backfill material, if it could be anything else, discuss with the geologists who prepared the Block Model.
Select a parcel from a list of parcels preconfigured in the resmodel.
To gap fill with one of the existing material types, the gap filling material should be selected from the dropdown list.
If in the Parcel field you enter a custom value other than the listed parcels (e.g., "Gap" or “TopSoil”), the Designer tab and the subsequent plan setup will have that non-existing parcel along with the parcels created when generating the Reserves model.
Volume is always = 1.
Specify default DryTonnes and WetTonnes density, and moisture, if applicable. You can also set grades etc as well, if known.
If gaps are present and gap fill is not used, the schedule will apply zero tonnes for this mining area.
In this example, wherever there is missing any block model information when it gets interrogated against phase solid, the created Gap Filling Preset is going to be used.
Applying Block Model Gap Filling template
Create a new Gap Filling Preset, such as “waste”.
Assign the material type, volumes, tonnes, and other block model parameters, when applicable
If multiple gap fill material presets are created, in Setup > Phase Details, toggle which phases use which preset.
Areas outside of the Block Model extent will be calculated as containing material set as Gap Filling.
Error messages
Missing values
In cases when Block Model is changed and the values that were previously mapped no longer exist, you may see the error messages as below:
“Error in <“BlockFill”>: The field <…> has a value which is not in the block model”, and
“Error in <“BlockFill”>: The field <…> needs a value”.
To rectify and proceed, populate values in the corresponding block model fields as per the error message.
For example, if you mapped the values for “ResCat” from the old model and the values where A, B & C, and they no longer exist in this new model, being now called X, Y & Z, you will need to map the new values as the old ones no longer exist.
Phase Details step
When using the gap filling, the Block Model field in the Phase Setup step must not be left blank (the default setting <none>). If no gap filling template is selected, an error message will be displayed at the bottom. Without resolving it you will not be able to proceed to further setup.
“The block model filling specified for phase <(pit1_s2)> is invalid.”