ore body reserve report using geological block model, topographical surfaces and region solids
This is a complete standalone toolchain to calculate ore body reserves from a geological block model, topographical surfaces and region solids.
Its intended for high level use, with no required knowledge of programming or python.
While there are many software packages that enable this calculation, this is a fully open source sollution. Free, auditable and extendable.
It integrates multiple mature python modules to handle each step of this complex process.
The modules used include:
- pyvista (geometry operations and visual rendering)
- pandas (number crunching)
- tkinter (graphical interface)
This solution is feature complete but still under active development.
Its intended for academic purposes, reserve comparison with mature tools and as a technological demonstrator of solving the required steps.
Its not yet suited for production use.
A python distribution such as WinPython is required. Version must be >= 3.7. Version 3.8.x recomended.
Do not use the installer from Python.org because it will lack countless required modules. Distros exist for a reason!
After Python is installed you can test its really working by using the following command:
python -V
Only one required module is not included by default in WinPython and other mainstrean distros:
- pyvista
Install using this folowing command in the WinPython Command Prompt (not the Python Interpreter!):
pip install pyvista
Download this complete repository as a zip and extract to a local folder.
The folder must have execute permissions. On Windows this means a folder outside the user directories, because locations such as Downloads, Documents, Desktop, etc do not allow .cmd files to run.
The simplest way to run is to execute (double click on windows explorer) the supplied vtk_reserves.cmd file. This batch script shoud detect a WinPython distribution and use it automatically to call the main py file (vtk_reserves.py). For other distributions, manually call the main script by using the following command in the distro eqivalent of Python Command Prompt (not any kind of Python Interpreter!):
python vtk_reserves.py
Either way the user interface should appear:
The included converter tool bm_to_vtk.py can be used to convert data to the supported formats. For instance, it can convert Vulcan block models (BMF) to VTK or CSV. It can also convert between multiple supported triangulation formats. See next section.
The block model must be in one of the supported formats:
- csv file, containing x,y,z of each block and variables.
- vtk file with a UniformGrid object type and the variables as cell_arrays.
The surfaces and solids can be in those supported formats:
- csv (ASCII, with x,y,z and faces)
- obj (wavefront)
- msh (leapfrog)
- vtk (containing PolyData Mesh object types).
Regions are used to split the report by the areas within closed solids. Each area/region will have the same name as the file.
Mine exclude and mine include are used to "mine up" or "mine down". Usualy topographies are "mine up" (include) and mining pit are "mine down" (exclude).
Output can be in one of those formats:
- csv
- xlsx
The result is a reserves report split by lithology, region and possibly other classificatory variables.
It will also contain volume, mass and weighted mean of numerical variables such as grade.
| region | lito | grade mean | density mean | volume sum | mass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| vox_region1 | high | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| vox_region1 | low | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| vox_region1 | medium | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| vox_region2 | high | 69.53446163437245 | 87.6740902065477 | 28468000.0 | 2495906000.0 |
| vox_region2 | low | 21.11175785797439 | 79.5 | 17180000.0 | 1365810000.0 |
| vox_region2 | medium | 45.963415442028904 | 81.37556154537286 | 44520000.0 | 3622840000.0 |
| vox_region3 | high | 69.4 | 84.5 | 7500000.0 | 633750000.0 |
| vox_region3 | low | 21.64715704429221 | 78.52418911489829 | 7276000.0 | 571342000.0 |
| vox_region3 | medium | 44.76301545763373 | 77.48488664987406 | 15880000.0 | 1230460000.0 |
If the display checkbox is ticked, a 3d window should appear showing the data used:
std_voxel_vtk.zip
std_voxel_vtk.csv
- bm_to_vtk.py: convert between file formats.
Note: Converting from/to Vulcan proprietary file formats is only possible when the script is executed using the
File > Python Scriptmenu within Envisage. - tri_decimate.py: reduce mesh complexity to allow for faster testing
Apache 2.0
Copyright 
Vale 2022