Whittle

Strategic Mine Planning 2008

Block Model Preparation

 Whittle Block Model

Whittle requires a block model generated in another software

package e.g. Surpac, GEMS, Datamine, Vulcan, Minesite
There are several formats that Whittle will accept
There is required data the block model MUST include
There is optional data the block model CAN include
 Whittle Block Model

Whittle requires a block model generated in another software

package
The Whittle block model usually starts with the geological
model
The geological model contains some information that could be
used in Whittle
It will require other data to be added
 Whittle Block Model Import Formats

Mine planning packages such as Datamine and

Medsystem
Flat file (or CSV)
Whittle’s own format called Mod and par file (for this
course we will focus on this format)
Whittle Block Model Import Formats
 Mod File Format

Can be ascii (text) or binary

If Ascii, can be fixed (column) or free (csv) format
Must include required information
 Example Fixed Format Mod File

Block line I J K No parcels MCAF PCAF tonnes

19 36 1 1 1.000 1.000 2160.
19 36 1 SULF 2160. 159. 769.
Parcel line I J K ROCK tonnes metal1 metal2
20 36 1 1 1.000 1.000 2160.
20 36 1 SULF 2160. 97. 305.
 Example Free Format Mod File

I J K No parcels MCAF PCAF tonnes zone

Block line 45,73,54,8,2.097,0.992,192.0,6

I J K ROCK tonnes metal1

45,73,54,TRAN,24.0,8.9
Parcel line 45,73,54,TRAN,24.0,8.9
45,73,54,TRAN,24.0,3.4
45,73,54,TRAN,24.0,8.9
45,73,54,TRAN,24.0,8.9
45,73,54,TRAN,24.0,8.9
45,73,54,TRAN,24.0,8.9
45,73,54,TRAN,24.0,8.9
 Mod File Required Data

IJK for block position

Tonnages for block and parcel
MCAF and PCAF for block (can be 1)
Contained metal and Rock code (max of 4 characters)
for parcel
Limit of 999 parcels per block and 999 blocks in any
direction
 Mod File Optional Data

Zone number for defining slopes

Mine number if multiple mines exist
Block value if you wish to predetermine the value used in
the optimisation
 Geological Block Model Data

Data that MAY be sourced from the geological block model

includes
Grades (to generate contained metal)
Density (to generate tonnes)
Rock code (max of 4 characters)
Position and number of parcels (IJK and parcel number)
Zone number (must be consecutive integer)
 Model Validation

The importance of this step cannot be over emphasised

Ensure all data is valid by Whittle’s definition (no

negatives, no zero CAFs, AIR in correct place, grade and
sg=0 for air)

Validate exported model by generating report in GMP and

comparing to report in Import Block Model node – check
tonnes, grades, CAFs by bench and by rock code