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Geological software creates full 3D model of mine

10 Apr 2009

By Antoaneta Dimitrova  (Courtesy to The Australian Mining Review, published April 2009)

THE COMBINATION of Dr Jun Cowan’s structural geological expertise and capabilities of the Leapfrog software has helped generate the lithological and grade distribution model of the Boddington gold deposit in WA.

Able to model detailed lithological information, the geological software provides valuable insight into grade distribution, the geometries of rock types and their spatial relationships.

Based on a unique 3D interpolation program which creates a full, interlocking 3D lithology model directly from drill hole codes while preserving the cross cutting relationship between the various lithologies, Leapfrog saves time and creates multiple models from the same data.

Prestologic created the full 3D interlocking model of the Boddington Gold Mine (BGM) with Leapfrog, using minimal digitization.

The model is being used by BGM to examine the finer details of gold and copper occurrences in the mine in relation to lithological distribution.

Dr Cowan, conceptual founder of the Leapfrog software and presently director of Prestologic, led the development of the program when he was the general manager for Christchurch-based Zaparo couple of years ago.

Dr Cowan is also an official sales representative and trainer for Leapfrog in Australia and other parts of the world.

Other Leapfrog users include some of the big exploration and mining powerhouses such as Sino Gold Mining, BHP Billiton, Straits Resources, Norilsk Nickel Australia, Newcrest Mining Ltd, Harmony Gold Mining and many more.