Block Models

The Block Models folder can be used to import and create block models. Model types that can be imported are:

  • Isatis files
  • CSV files
  • UBC grids

You can also create block models and sub-blocked models, which can then be exported for use in other applications. Creating block models within Leapfrog Geo has the advantage that the resolution can easily be changed.

Block models can be evaluated against geological models and interpolants as described in Evaluations. If you are licensed to use Leapfrog EDGE within Leapfrog Geo, block models can also be evaluated against estimators.

The rest of this topic describes importing block models in Isatis and CSV formats, creating block models in Leapfrog Geo, viewing block model statistics and exporting block models. It is divided into:

For information on working with the other type of block model, see UBC Grids.

Importing a Block Model

Leapfrog Geo imports block models in the following formats:

  • CSV + Text Header (*.csv, *.csv.txt)
  • CSV with Embedded Header (*.csv)
  • Isatis Block Model Files (*.asc)

Note that neither CSV format requires a header; once you start the import process, Leapfrog Geo will use the data in the file to locate the minimum and maximum centroids. You can view this information and change how the data is mapped before the file is saved into the project.

Importing an Isatis Block Model

To import an Isatis format block model, right-click on the Block Models folder and select Import Block Model. Select the file you wish to import and click Open. The model will be imported and added to the Block Models folder.

Importing a Block Model in CSV Format

Block models imported in CSV format must be regular, rotated only about the Z axis. You will also need to map the data in the file to the block model format Leapfrog Geo expects.

To import a block model in CSV format, right-click on the Block Models folder and select Import Block Model. Select the file you wish to import and click Open. An import window will be displayed in which you can map the columns in the file to those Leapfrog Geo expects. Once you have mapped the required columns, click Next to define the grid.

In the next window, the data in the file is displayed and you can select the values to use in formatting the grid:

You can select information in the file and drag it to the corresponding values on the left-hand side:

You can also enter the grid definition values manually.

Once all required values have been copied, Leapfrog Geo will check the grid definition against the data in the file and confirm that the centroids match:

Click Finish. The block model will appear in the Block Models folder.

Creating a Block Model

To create a new block model, right-click on the Block Models folder and select New Block Model. The New Block Model window will appear, together with a set of controls that will help you set the size, location and orientation of the model in the scene:

The block model is defined from its Base point, and the reference centroid is the Base point plus one half the Block size. Block models cannot have partial blocks, and when changes are made to the Block size parameter, the model’s extents will be enlarged to match the Block size.

If you know the values you wish to use for the model’s Extents, enter them in New Block Model window. You can also:

  • Use the controls in the scene to set the extents.
    • The orange handle sets the Base point.
    • The red handles adjusts the size of the boundary.
    • The blue handle adjusts the Azimuth.
  • Use another object’s extents. Select the object from the Enclose Object list.

If you wish to define a tilted block model, create a sub-blocked model with no triggers. See Sub-Blocked Models.

It is a good idea to use larger values for the Block size as processing time for large models can be considerable. Once you have created a block model, you can change its properties to provide more detail.

You can also evaluate the block model against geological models, interpolants and distance functions in the project. To do this, click on the Evaluations tab. All objects available in the project will be displayed. Move the models you wish to use into the Selected list.

Enter a Name for the block model and click OK. The model will appear under the Block Models folder. You can make changes to it by double-clicking on it.

Displaying a Block Model

When a block model is displayed in the scene, there is an Index Filter option for displaying the grid:

For None, no X, Y or Z filter is applied. For Subset, the grid is filtered to show the union of the selected X, Y and Z ranges. For Sliced, the grid is filtered to show the intersection of the selected X, Y and Z ranges.

For the Subset and Sliced options, tick the boxes for X, Y and Z. To adjust the range, drag the white handles left and right. Double-clicking on the slider alternates between displaying a single value and displaying the full range.

Viewing Block Model Statistics

To view statistics on a block model, right-click on the model in the project tree and select Statistics. The following options are available:

See the Analysing Data topic for more information on each option:

Right-clicking a block model evaluation or a numeric calculation and selecting Statistics opens a univariate graph for the selection. See Univariate Graphs in the Analysing Data topic for more information.

Table of Statistics

You can view statistics for all evaluations and calculations made on a block model broken down into categories and organised by numeric evaluations and calculations. To view statistics, right-click on a block model in the project tree, select Statistics then select the Table of Statistics option.

You can view statistics for as many numeric data columns as you wish, but only one Category column can be used.

When you have a Category column selected, you can organise information displayed in two ways: Group by Category or Group by Numeric. Here, statistics are displayed organised by the category data columns:

The Query filter option uses a related filter to constrain the data set to a selected subset.

Statistics can be unweighted, weighted by volume or weighted by tonnage.

The Categories list provides category classification options. When selected, the set of statistics measures for each evaluation or numeric calculation will be shown for each category.

Hide empty categories removes rows from the output where the block count is 0. Hide inactive rows removes rows

Group by category and Group by numeric column provide options for the table organisation.

Other controls in this window are as follows:

  • The arrow buttons at the top of the window ( and ) allow you to quickly expand or collapse the rows.
  • Click rows to select them.
  • Select multiple rows by holding down the Shift or Ctrl key while clicking rows.
  • The Copy button () copies the selected rows to the clipboard so you can paste them into another application.

Exporting Block Models

Block models created in Leapfrog Geo can be exported in the following formats:

  • CSV + Text Header (*.csv, *.csv.txt)
  • CSV with Embedded Header (*.csv)
  • CSV as points (*.csv)
  • Isatis Block Model Files (*.asc)
  • Surpac Block Model Files (*.mdl)
  • Datamine Block Model Files (*.dm)

To export a block model, right-click on the block model in the project tree and select Export. You will be prompted to select the file format.

If you wish to export the model in one of the CSV formats, select CSV Block Model Files (*.csv) in the Export Block Model window. You will be able to choose between the three CSV formats in the next step.

Enter a name and location for the file and click Save. Next, you will be able to choose custom settings for CSV, Isatis and Datamine formats. There are no custom settings for exporting in Surpac format; the file will be saved as soon as you click the Save button.

The Export as Points menu option available in previous versions of Leapfrog Geo has been removed. This functionality has been integrated into the Export menu option.

The rest of this topic provides more information about exporting block models in CSV, Isatis and Datamine formats.

Exporting Block Models in CSV Format

The selections you make when you export a block model will be saved. This streamlines the process of subsequent exports of the model.

When you choose to export a block model in CSV format, you must first choose the type of CSV export. Options are:

  • With an embedded header file. The block model definition is included at the top of the CSV file.
  • With a separate text header. The block model definition is written as a separate text file.
  • As points. The CSV file does not include the block sizes and model description.

Click Next. The steps that follow are:

Selecting From Evaluated Items

Choose which objects will be included in the exported file. The Available items list includes all evaluations made onto the model. If you are licensed to use Leapfrog EDGE within Leapfrog Geo, you can also include calculations and filters, which will be exported as separate columns. The order of columns in the exported file will match the order shown in the project tree.

Click Next.

Setting Row Filtering Options

If you are licensed to use Leapfrog EDGE within Leapfrog Geo, you can use a Query filter to filter rows out of the data exported.

This is different from exporting filters as columns, as selected in the previous step.

The second option in this window is useful when all block results are consistently the same non-Normal status. Select from Error, Without grade, Blank or Outside; all rows that consistently show the selected statuses will not be included in the exported file.

Click Next.

Setting Numeric Precision

There are three encoding options for Numeric Precision:

  • The Double, floating point option provides precision of 15 to 17 significant decimal places.
  • The Single, floating point option provides precision of 6 to 9 significant decimal places.
  • The Custom option lets you set a specific number of decimal places.

To change either the Centroid and size precision and Column data precision options, untick the box for Use default precision and select the required option.

Click Next.

Setting Status Code Text Sequences

When a block model is exported, non-Normal status codes can be represented in the exported file using custom text sequences.

The Status Code sequences are used for category status codes and filter status codes exported as columns. For filter status codes, Boolean value results will show FALSE and TRUE for Normal values or the defined Status Codes for non-Normal values.

Boolean values on block models are only available if you are licensed to use Leapfrog EDGE in Leapfrog Geo.

Numeric Status Codes can be represented using custom text sequences. This is optional; if no separate codes are defined for numeric items, the defined Status Codes will be used.

Click Next.

Selecting the Character Set

The selection you make will depend on the target for your exported file. You can choose a character set and see what changes will be made.

Click Next to view a summary of the selected options, then click Export to save the file.

Exporting Block Models in Isatis Format

The selections you make when you export a block model will be saved. This streamlines the process of subsequent exports of the model.

When exporting a block model in Isatis format, the steps to follow are:

Selecting From Evaluated Items

Choose which objects will be included in the exported file. The Available items list includes all evaluations made onto the model. If you are licensed to use Leapfrog EDGE within Leapfrog Geo, you can also include calculations and filters, which will be exported as separate columns. The order of columns in the exported file will match the order shown in the project tree.

Click Next.

Setting Status Code Text Sequences

When a block model is exported, non-Normal status codes can be represented in the exported file using custom text sequences.

When exporting block models in Isatis format, both category and numeric status codes can use independent custom text sequences. For filter status codes, Boolean values are exported using 0 for false and 1 for true; non-Normal values will be left blank and status codes cannot be distinguished.

Boolean Status Codes on block models are only available if you are licensed to use Leapfrog EDGE in Leapfrog Geo.

Click Next.

Selecting the Character Set

The selection you make will depend on the target for your exported file. You can choose a character set and see what changes will be made.

Click Next to view a summary of the selected options, then click Export to save the file.

Exporting Block Models in Datamine Format

The selections you make when you export a block model will be saved. This streamlines the process of subsequent exports of the model.

When exporting a block model in Datamine format, the steps to follow are:

Selecting From Evaluated Items

Choose which objects will be included in the exported file. The Available items list includes all evaluations made onto the model. If you are licensed to use Leapfrog EDGE within Leapfrog Geo, you can also include calculations and filters, which will be exported as separate columns. The order of columns in the exported file will match the order shown in the project tree.

Click Next.

Setting Row Filtering Options

If you are licensed to use Leapfrog EDGE within Leapfrog Geo, you can use a Query filter to filter rows out of the data exported.

This is different from exporting filters as columns, as selected in the previous step.

The second option in this window is useful when all block results are consistently the same non-Normal status. Select from Error, Without grade, Blank or Outside; all rows that consistently show the selected statuses will not be included in the exported file.

Click Next.

Setting Status Code Text Sequences

When a block model is exported, non-Normal status codes can be represented in the exported file using custom text sequences.

When exporting block models in Datamine format, both category and numeric status codes can use independent custom text sequences. Boolean values are exported using values 0 for false and 1 for true; specify if non-Normal values should be represented by 0 or by the numeric status codes.

Boolean Status Codes on block models are only available if you are licensed to use Leapfrog EDGE in Leapfrog Geo.

Click Next.

Selecting the Character Set

The selection you make will depend on the target for your exported file. You can choose a character set and see what changes will be made.

Click Next.

Renaming Items

When exporting a block model in Datamine format, column names for the evaluated objects have a maximum length of 8 characters. Leapfrog Geo will recommend truncated column names, but if you wish to use different abbreviations, click on the item’s New Name to edit it.

Click Next to view a summary of the selected options, then click Export to save the file.

 

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