1

Interpreting Seam Data

For Minex v6.0
July 2009

1
Introduction

Seam data can be in the form of borehole seam intervals and mapping data stored as strings
and points in the geometry file.

Seam intervals are stored in the .B33 database file separate from the downhole sampling and
geological logging data. They may be interpreted from borehole sampling information and
added to the database at any time. These borehole seam intercepts may be used for
reporting, plotting and correlating to form a bore seam model.

Seams or layers that are interpreted are then entered into a list (stored in the .B35 file) which
defines them in stratigraphic order. These are also assigned flags which define them as
COAL or WASTE material, a default density, a pen number used for graphics display and a
related seam if a relationship exists.

Requirements
For this tutorial you will need:

To have a basic understanding of the Minex borehole database with the ability to
create a new borehole database
To understand the concept of gridded seam modelling used to model coal seams
in Minex.

The following files are required for this tutorial:

o M5_Project1.B31, M5_Project1.B32 and M5_Project1.B34 borehole
database files the borehole database created in the Tutorial Creating a
New Borehole Database.

o M5_Project1_Input_Seam_Intervals.xls

o LITHOLOG.SYM borehole geological symbols file

o LITHOLOG.DIC borehole geological dictionary file

o SYMBOLS.PAR colour and line patterns symbol file

o Coal_Highwall.tif 3D Sirovision image of highwall geology
Objectives
From this tutorial you will learn to:

Create a seam/layer sequence (.B35) file
Format the seam interval (.A33) data file
Load and validate the seam interval data
Run a stratigraphic check and correct any errors
Plot borehole data and seam intervals with seam correlation lines on cross section
Import a 3D Sirovision image of a highwall
Digitise seam boundary data using the 3D Sirovision image and store the data in the
geometry file to be used later in seam gridding.

Loading Seam Data into the Borehole Database
Interpreting Seam Data Page 2 of 11
Loading Seam Data into the Borehole Database
Seam interval files (known as pick files) contain interpreted seam interval data which is
stored separately from sample data in a borehole database file with .B33 suffix. Pick files
contain FROM and TO depth intervals, a CLASS number and a SEAM name. The following is
an extract from the seam interval spreadsheet supplied
M5_Project1_Input_Seam_Intervals.xls:


BOREID FROM TO CLASS SEAM
1125 16.31 19.56 1 B1
1125 64.83 72.19 1 D
1125 72.47 73.225 1 E1
1125 73.225 73.98 1 E2
1127 25.84 30.94 1 D
1127 31.45 31.86 1 E1
1127 31.86 32.27 1 E2
1128 22.7 28.4 1 D
1128 28.53 29.205 1 E1
1128 29.205 29.88 1 E2
1129 21.85 29.4 1 D
1138 45.09 46.88 1 A1
1138 49.72 51.42 1 A2
1138 78.63 79.21 1 B1U
1138 80.73 82.87 1 B1
1138 83 85 1 C1
1138 86.63 89.75 1 C2
1138 116.21 120.7 1 D1
1138 123.95 124.66 1 D2
1138 127.28 127.575 1 E1
1138 127.575 127.87 1 E2

The CLASS number is set to 1 when preliminary seam intervals are Input. The class number
will be discussed later.

Before you can load a seam pick file you will need to create a Seam/Layer Sequence List.
This list will be stored as the .B35 file i

Creating a Seam/Layer Sequence List
To create your own seam sequence scroll through the M5_Project1_Input_Seam_Intervals.xls
file and write down all the seams available in the file (e.g. A1, D, D2 etc) and write them below
in the order they occur in within each borehole:

Top seam _______
Seam 2 _______
etc

Bottom seam _______

You have now defined a stratigraphic list of seams.

To create a Seam/Layer Sequence List in Minex as a framework for the .B35 file:
1. Go to BoreholeDB | Fil e | Create/Edit Seam Sequence.
2. In the Seam code column enter the seam sequence you obtained from the .A33 text
file. F7 to copy lines.
Loading Seam Data into the Borehole Database
Interpreting Seam Data Page 3 of 11

3. At this stage leave the Father code field is blank. Select Father From Seam box.
When you save the list the software will assign the Seam code to the Father code.
4. The Material code field gives the type of material within that seam e.g. COAL,
WASTE, ORE etc. All the seams you will be entering are coal seams.
5. In the Density field column give the default density of coal for that seam which is 1.4.
6. Choose colours based on the seam groupings so you can visually differentiate
between seams of different seam groupings.
7. Set a priority of 1 to all seams. Priority is set for the interpolation phase of the seam
modelling. It allows you to set seams with more information to have a greater priority
when interpolating seams than those with little data.
8. Leave the Expansion field blank. This field is used by geologists as a tool for
describing seams or inputting actual seam names.
9. Tick the Create Pick File checkbox. This will create a .B33 file using the seam
sequence you have specified.
10. Press Save. You will be asked by the software if you want to delete the seam picks
for the seam(s) you are deleting, Select NO.
11. Go to the Minex Explorer and click on the cross and drill down to the Seam Interval
and Stratigraphic Sequence menu. Under the Stratigraphic sequence you should see
all the seams you just entered in the appropriate stratigraphic sequence.
12. You have just set up the .B35 file which stores all the data relating to stratigraphic
order, default density, colour, priorities and material, of seams. Now Save the
borehole database using the File menu by selecting the Save menu then Save
Borehole DB.
Creating the Seam Interval Data Format
Like collar and sample data seam or layer interval data is loaded in the borehole database as
a formatted ASCII file.

To import borehole seam/layer interval data as a text file into the borehole database you first
need to make sure that the file is a column format flat ASCII file and that you have a format
definition to describe the column position of the five fixed variables (BOREID, FROM, TO,
CLASS and SEAM).

To format seam interval data and the seam interval definition file ready for loading into Minex:

1. In your text editor open Borehole.A33 and SEAMS.SFN from the tutorial dataset.
2. In your text editor open M5_Project1.PRN and save it as M5_Project1.A33.
Loading Seam Data into the Borehole Database
Interpreting Seam Data Page 4 of 11
3. Now add an embedded format definition at the top of the seam interval data.



; BOREI D 1 10 0
; FROM 11 10 2
; TO 21 10 2
; CLASS 39 2 0
; SEAM 41 5 0
; ; 3456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789
1067 45. 805 46. 4 1E2
1068 24. 69 30. 81 1D
1068 30. 99 31. 495 1E1
1068 31. 495 32 1E2
1077 48. 52 55. 63 1D
1077 55. 92 56. 38 1E1
1077 56. 38 56. 84 1E2
1078 28. 48 30. 58 1B1
1078 39 39. 32 1C1

4. Edit the definition header so that it accurately indexes the seam interval data.
5. Save M5_Project1.A33.

Now you have embedded a seam interval definition file into the top of the seam interval data
file you can load this data into Minex.

Loading Seam Interval Data

Now that you have set up the .b35 seam sequence file you can load the seam interval data
into Minex. However you first need to set the Seam Interval File to Read/Write.

1. Highlight Interval under the Borehole Database in the Minex Explorer window. In the
Properties window change the Read Only field from True to False.
Now the Seam Interval file is editable you can load your Seam Interval data into the database.
Validating Seam Intervals
Interpreting Seam Data Page 5 of 11
2. Choose BoreholeDB > Load > Load Seam/Layer. Select BOREHOLE.A33 from your
working directory.
3. Select Embedded Format File as you have embedded the format definition (*SFN file) into
the seam interval file.
4. Select Overwrite Existing Data. This will avoid duplicating data that may already exist in the
database. Leave the remaining window settings as they are and press Ok.Importing
Seam/Layer Interval (Pick) Files. The seam load report will be sent to the Output window:

====================
SeamLoad Repor t
====================
I gnor ed bor ehol es wi l l be l i st ed.

I nt er val s l oaded : 361 - Rej ect ed : 0 - Tot al : 361
Validating Seam Intervals
The process of seam validationchecks each individual borehole and produces a report
which lists the:
Borehole Processed - those boreholes selected and processed,
Barren Boreholes - those holes which have no seam pick intervals,
Negative Thickness - those holes which, due to error in data entry, have a
seam floor above the seam roof,
Undefined From/To - where a seam name (ID) has been input, but where
the seam roof and/or floor depth has not been defined,
Missing Seams in Whole Borehole - lists the seams from the Stratigraphic
Sequence which have not been defined in the seam pick for a borehole,
Missing Seams inside known Borehole - lists the seams which have not
been defined between known picks for a borehole., and
Missing Seams outside known Intervals - lists the seams which have not
been defined above the uppermost known seam pick as well as below the
lowermost known seam pick for a borehole.

The report obtained from this process will change as further Bore Seam Modelling processes
are performed. Therefore, it is recommended that validation should be checked on a regular
basis.
Run the Seam Validation report and correct any errors
Access the Seam Validation report menu from the BoreholeDB >Reporting menu.

FIGURE 3.4 Seam validation report shows errors in the seam interval file. Note hole C78

The Seam Validation report displays in the Output window as follows:


Bar r en bor ehol es
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Validating Seam Intervals
Interpreting Seam Data Page 6 of 11

Bor ehol e 1130 has no seams def i ned
Bor ehol e 1174 has no seams def i ned
Bor ehol e 3001 has no seams def i ned
Bor ehol e 3002 has no seams def i ned
Bor ehol e 3005 has no seams def i ned
Bor ehol e 3007 has no seams def i ned
Bor ehol e 3008 has no seams def i ned
Bor ehol e P67A has no seams def i ned
Bor ehol e V18 has no seams def i ned

Negat i ve t hi ckness
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

SeamC1 i n Bor ehol e C78 has negat i ve t hi ckness

Negat i ve i nt er bur den t hi ckness
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


Undef i ned FROM or TO Var i abl es:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


St r at i gr aphi c Check
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

St r at i gr aphi c check was successf ul - no er r or f ound.

You should now check out the seam interval for seam C1 in borehole C78 and determine how
to edit it.
Validating Seam Intervals
Interpreting Seam Data Page 7 of 11
Plotting seam correlation lines on borehole cross sections
Use the section S1-2500 you use in the Tutorial Loading Sample Data into the Borehole
Database. Turn on the Plot Seam/layer IDs and Plot Correlation Lines in the IDs tab of the
Borehole Section Plotting menu.


Collecting and Storing Seam Mapping Data
Interpreting Seam Data Page 8 of 11
Collecting and Storing Seam Mapping Data
Most seam mapping data is collected as surveyed seam roof and floor strings from exposed
geology on highwalls or on the wall and roof of underground openings. In most opencut mines
the seam roof boundary is typically cleaner and better exposed than seam floor boundaries.
These strings are typically collected by the mine surveyor and stored in the geometry file in a
map name such as SEAM. Each string and point is assigned an identifier which conforms to
the naming conventions for seam grids B2SF for example would be used for structure floor
data for seam B2.
Using 3D Sirovision Images to Input Seam Data
Sirovision, an innovative software program developed by the CSIRO in Australia, uses digital
cameras and terrestrial photogrammetry to produce accurately surveyed 3D images of
highwalls which can be directly input and used in Minex. Once displayed in the 3D design
window, you can digitise seam boundaries on the 3D surface using the photographic image
detail.
Importing and Displaying a 3D Sirovision Image
Import the Sirovision image file Highwall.tiff using menu File | Import | Import Sirovision
Model. Select the image file Coal_Highwall.tif and then press the Ok button to import.

Figure 3.7 Sirovision Import menu allows you to import a 3D Sirovision image and display it in
the 3D Design window

Figure 3.8
Display of a 3D Sirovision image in the 3D Design window
Collecting and Storing Seam Mapping Data
Interpreting Seam Data Page 9 of 11
To view the image in the 3D Design window you may have to delete other objects and reset
the 3D area.
Digitising Seam Boundaries on a 3D Sirovision Image
Whether you are digitising seam boundaries on Sirovision images or importing boundary
strings picked up by a mine surveyor, it is important that you store the strings in the geometry
file in such a way as to use them easily for gridding. It is recommended that you store all
seam mapping data in the one map eg. SEAMS and that you name each string according to
the seam name it will be used to create ie. Seam name plus SR for roof, SF for floor and ST
for thickness.

Figure 3.9
To digitise the seam roof boundary on the Sirovision 3D image make sure you will store the
resulting string in the map name SEAMS and the appropriate ident name (seam name plus
SR).
Each imported Sirovision creates a triangle surface and it is this triangle surface that you will
use to digitise seam boundaries. Make sure then that you are in Snap to point mode before
you start digitising and that you have selected the appropriate map (SEAMS) and ident name
(MT1SR). You will not recognise the seam name MT1 as this Sirovision image is from a
different dataset we are just using it to illustrate the method.

Figure 3.10
To digitise the seam roof boundary on the Sirovision 3D image make sure are in the Snap to
solid mode and select Structure Disc as the data type.
Summary
Interpreting Seam Data Page 10 of 11
Summary
You should now be familiar with the way seam intervals are loaded and stored in the borehole
database. You have learned how to:

Create a seam/layer sequence (.B35) file
Format the seam interval (.A33) data file
Load and validate the seam interval data
Run a stratigraphic check and correct any errors
Plot borehole data and seam intervals with seam correlation lines on cross section.
Digitise seam boundary data using a 3D Sirovision image and store the data in the
geometry file to be used later in seam gridding.