Solid Model Tools 159

Solid Menu Tools - Overview

Solid models are discussed in Chapter 8. They are used to illustrate the 3-dimensional distribution of geochemistry, geophysical, lithology, or other measured values.

The tools in the RockWare Utilities Solid menu discussed here are used to filter, extract, edit, and otherwise manipulate these solid models.

See also: Creating Solid Models (page 131), Solid Modeling Reference (page 266).

Computing Solid Model Statistics

The RockWare Utilities Solid / Statistics utility is used to get a general summary of the contents of an existing solid model file. The statistical summary can be displayed in two ways:

• As a textual report, in which the summary of node values and computed statistics are displayed in a document in a text editor. Example: Run this on two models to be sure they have the same dimensions for future mathematical operations.

• As a plottable frequency histogram of the node values, reported as numbers or percent. Be warned that histograms of high-density solid models may take a significant amount of time to create, or they may exceed the capacity of your computer system.

• As a plottable scatterplot of observed versus computed G values, representing model error. (We call these “Krajewskigrams” in honor of our associate who invented them.)

• As a listing of predicted versus modeled values in the data window.

Help / Contents / Working in the RockWare Utilities/ Solid Model Tools / Solid Model Statistical Tools.

Performing Arithmetic Operations with Solid Models

The tools in the RockWare Utilities Solid / Math option are used to perform arithmetic operations on the values stored in an existing solid model file, storing the results in a new solid model file. The following options are available:

Model & Model: This tool performs arithmetical operations with the node G-values in two existing solid model files.

Model & Constant: This tool performs arithmetical operations with the node G-values in a single solid model and a constant.

Notes: ! In order for the program to match up corresponding nodes in the two input model, they must have the same dimensions (X, Y, and Z coordinates and range) and numbers of nodes. If you aren’t sure of the "size" of any solid model, use the Solid / Statistics / Report option to obtain a summary. During modeling, you can manually establish the model dimensions and node spacing by activating the Confirm Model Dimensions check-box in the Model Dimensions window.

Help / Contents / Working in the RockWare Utilities/ Solid Model Tools / Mathematical Tools.

Filtering Solid Models

The RockWare Utilities Solid / Filter option used to filter the nodes contained within an existing solid model file.

The Distance Filter is used to filter an existing solid model file based on the nodes' distances from the drill holes. All nodes that lie beyond the distance cutoff will be set to zero. This can be used to remove low-confidence areas from a model.

The Grid Filter is used to adjust the voxel values in a solid model based on their location above or below one reference grid model, or above, between, or below two reference grid models. This can be a handy way to assert stratigraphic surface or ground surface constraints on a solid model. Note that the input solid model and the input grid file must have the same dimensions and numbers of nodes in the X and Y directions in order for this filter to work. If you aren't sure, you can use the Statistics option in the Grid and Solid menus to view a summary of model dimensions and node spacings for grid and solid models, respectively.

The Polygon Filter reads a user-created file listing polygon boundary coordinates, and sets a solid model’s nodes that lie either inside or outside a vertical projection of the polygon to "0".

The Range Filter deletes high or low G-values from a solid model file, reassigning them a user-specified constant.

The Rounding Filter reads G-values stored in a solid model file and rounds them up or down to the closest user-declared rounding interval.

The Smoothing Filter tool reads an existing solid model and averages the G-values based on a user declared "filter" size. The smoother can be run 1 or more times, to get rid of spurious "noise" within the model and bring out regional trends. Note that this tool pays no attention whatsoever to the original data from which the model was generated and makes no effort to honor the observed data values

Help / Contents / Working in the RockWare Utilities/ Solid Model Tools / Solid Model Filtering Tools.

Creating and Manipulating Boolean Solid Models

The RockWare Utilities Solid / Boolean Ops menu contains tools to transform a real number solid model file to a Boolean (true/false) file in which nodes are set to "1" if their G-value falls within a user-specified range, and a "0" if the G-values do not. In addition, there are tools to manipulate the resulting Boolean models.

The following options are available:

Boolean Conversion: This tool transforms a real number solid model file to a Boolean (true/false) file. In this process, the values of nodes are set to "1" if their original G-value falls within a user-specified range, and to a "0" if the G-G-values do not fall within the range. (Then, multiply this model back against the original to zero-out areas where your criteria aren't met.)

Minimum Ore Zone Thickness: This tool is used to specify a minimum thickness for any individual ore or material zone to be included in the output model and computations. This is a means of discarding non-economic areas from the totals.

Minimum Total Ore Thickness: This tool is used to specify a minimum thickness for the combined, total ore or material zones to be included in the output model and

computations. This is also a means of discarding non-economic areas from the totals.

Maximum Total Waste Thickness: This tool is used to remove small pockets of "non-ore"

material from surrounding "ore" blocks, translating them to "ore" classification and including them in the output solid model for future calculations.

Stripping Ratio: This tool is used filter a Boolean solid model based on the ratio between the thickness of the overburden ("waste") and the thickness of the zone of interest ("ore").

Several methods of computing the stripping ratio are offered, based on individual ore zones or total ore zones.

Density Conversion: This tool is used to enter a multiplier for individual Boolean voxels so that the program can compute total mass as well as total volume. The X, Y, and Z-values of the input model must be in the same units in order to compute a meaningful volume

Notes: The tools listed after Boolean Conversion can read ONLY BOOLEAN SOLID MODELS.

The computations can be constrained by a grid model representing surface elevations.

Be sure the grid and solid models have the same XY dimensions and node spacings.

See also the Solid / Convert / Ore Thickness to Grid tool if you wish to convert the output Boolean model to a grid model for display as a 2D contour map.

Be sure that the conversion factor you enter for the Density Conversion tool matches the volume units that the program is using! If the program will be computing volume in cubic feet but your conversion constant represents weight per cubic inch, you would need to convert the constant to weight per cubic foot before entering it here.

Help / Contents / Working in the RockWare Utilities/ Solid Model Tools / Boolean Model Tools.

Converting and Extracting Solid Model Data

The RockWare Utilities Solid / Convert menu contains tools to convert certain solid model data to 2-dimensional grid model format, to extract 2-dimensional "layers" from solid models as grid files, and to insert 2-D grid model layers into solid models. These tools are available:

Ore Thickness to Grid: This tool translates a Boolean solid model file representing "ore"

versus "not-ore" into a 2-dimensional grid file that represents total ore thickness, for display as a contour map, 3D surface, etc.

In this example, the solid model displays in dark clay zones that are > 3 feet thick (created in the Solid / Boolean Ops / Minimum Ore Zone Thickness tool). The contour map shows a plan view of the total clay thickness.

Overburden Thickness to Grid: This tool is used to translate a Boolean solid model file representing "ore" versus "not-ore" into a 2-dimensional grid file that represents total overburden ("not-ore") thickness. The resulting grid file can be illustrated as a contour map, 3D surface, etc.

In this example, the solid model displays in dark clay zones that are > 3 feet thick (created in the Solid / Boolean Ops / Minimum Ore Zone Thickness tool). The contour map shows a plan view of the total thickness of the NOT-CLAY or

“overburden”.

Extract Grid from Model: This tool "pulls" out a 2-dimensional grid file from an existing real number or Boolean solid model file. The grid file can be extracted from any

horizontal (constant Z) or vertical (constant Y or X) layer in the original solid model.

Insert Grid into Model: This tool is used to insert a 2-dimensional grid file "slice" into an existing real number or Boolean solid model file, replacing the existing node values with the grid's node values. The grid file can be inserted into any horizontal (constant Z) or vertical (constant Y or X) layer in the original solid model.

Notes:

The Ore Thickness to Grid and Overburden Thickness to Grid tools read ONLY BOOLEAN SOLID MODELS.

See Notes on Orientation in the Help messages for information on the coordinates that are represented in the Extract and Insert Grid tools.

See Editing Grid Models (page 153) for details about editing the extracted grid model.

See Creating Grid-Based Maps (page 102) if you wish to illustrate the extracted grid file as a map.

Help / Contents / Working in the RockWare Utilities/ Solid Model Tools / Converting, Extracting, Inserting Grid Models.

Editing Solid Model Slices

The RockWare Utilities Solid / Edit command is used to edit the contents of a real number or Boolean solid model file, one "slice" at a time. The slice you specify will be loaded into the Grid Editor for viewing and editing. When your work in the Grid Editor is complete, the edited slice will be re-inserted into the solid model. The modified solid model is saved on disk under a different file name.

Notes: Because of the different orientations of the different slice planes, the X and Y axes of the 2-dimensional slice that is extracted from a solid model are not always going to coincide with the X and Y axes of the solid model. See Notes on Orientation in the Help messages for information. In addition, the solid model voxel G value will be displayed in the Editor as the Z value.

Help / Contents / Working in the RockWare Utilities/ Solid Model Tools / Editing Solid Model Slices.

Morphing Solid Models

The RockWare Utilities Solid / Morph tool is used to read a list of existing solid model files (*.MOD) and create a dynamic “movie” within RockPlot3D that shows time-based changes within these models. You can specify any number of intermediate, transitional models be generated between the existing models.

Notes: Be sure the solid model files have the same dimensions and number of nodes to morph successfully.

Help / Contents / Working in the RockWare Utilities/ Solid Model Tools / Morphing Solid Models.

Importing Solid Models

The Solid / Import command is used to read an existing set of regularly-spaced XYZG data stored in an ASCII format and translate the data into a RockWorks solid model file format.

Notes: See the Solid Model Import Format in the Help messages for details about the input file’s required structure.

Help / Contents / Working in the RockWare Utilities/ Solid Model Tools / Importing Data into a Solid Model.

Exporting Solid Models

Use the Solid / Export command to export the data contained in a solid model file created within RockWorks. It offers model export to these different formats, with a variety of options:

ASCII XYZG: XYZ node locations and G values are listed in four columns, separated by the character of your choice, at the decimal precision you select, with or without a header.

NOeSYS (T3D): The NOeSYS program provides an excellent way to visualize XYZG data modeled in RockWorks. The output file is ASCII in format. RockWorks permits you to launch T3D automatically when the file export is completed.

Slicer Dicer: This program is another excellent visualization tool for 3D data.

RockWorks offers launching of Slicer Dicer automatically when the export process is complete.

Notes: See the help messages for details about the output file structure.

Help / Contents / Working in the RockWare Utilities/ Solid Model Tools / Exporting Solid Models to Other File Formats.

Initializing a Blank Solid Model

Use the Solid / Initialize tool to create a new solid model from scratch, at the dimensions and node spacing you declare. All model nodes will be initialized to a single, user-declared value.

Help / Contents / Working in the RockWare Utilities/ Solid Model Tools / Initializing a Blank Solid Model.