SENSITIVITY STUDY OF THE

ESTIMATION VARIANCE
APPROXIMATION OF A QUOTIENT
Comparison with Conditional
Simulations in the Mn Deposit of
Bangomb (Gabon)
C. Bessin (Geovariances)
S. Rodrigues (Eramet)
SUMMARY
1. Quotient approximation formula
2. Testing the hypothesis: Comparison with
Simulations
3. Application on the Mn-deposit of Bangomb
NON-ADDITIVITY
A grade (G) measured on uneven samples is
non-additive. It cannot be directly estimated.
Additive variables:
Thickness (T)
Accumulation (A) = Grade x Thickness
ESTIMATION OF A NON-ADDITIVE GRADE

The estimation of A and T allow to deduce G:

=

APPROXIMATION FORMULA
An estimation variance is obtained by the following approximation
(Journel & al., 1978):
2 2 2
= + 2
2 2 2
with correlation between A and T calculated on data

The approximation is valid if:

A and T are intrinsically correlated
2
< 0.01
2
Gaussian distribution
APPROXIMATION FORMULA
The estimation variance of A and T allow to deduce the one of G:
2 2
2 2 2 = 2 + 2
2 2
VALIDATION: COMPARISON WITH SIMULATIONS

How stable is the formula outside of the

hypothesis made to build the formula?
Intrinsic correlation
2
< 0.01
2
Gaussian distribution
BENCHMARK
100 simulations
2D grid: 2,560,000 nodes
Data locations are simulated
to obtain a variety of Kriging
Variances
Values of Data are simulated
(both for Gaussian and
Lognormal distributions)
DISTRIBUTIONS OF A & T

Gaussian Lognormal
VARIOGRAMS
Accumulation and Tonnage
are co-simulated to obtain
the Grade.
Intrinsic Correlation
No Intrinsic Correlation
(max authorized by LMC)
PROCESSING OF SIMULATIONS
From Simulations, we obtain values that can be compared
to Kriging outputs:

=

2 2
_ =

2
2 2 2
Compared to _ = + 2
2 2
GAUSSIAN DISTRIBUTIONS
Real Variance vs.
Approximated Variance

Approximation
formula valid
No intrinsic correlation
The formula is
stable outside of the
intrinsic correlation
hypothesis

Intrinsic correlation
LOGNORMAL DISTRIBUTIONS
Real Variance vs.
Approximated Variance

Approximation
formula less
2
No intrinsic correlation
accurate because
2
is lower.
No effect of the
intrinsic correlation
hypothesis
Intrinsic correlation
CASE STUDY: BANGOMB (GABON)
Mn-deposit located in Gabon
Operated by Comilog
25% of the Mn world rich ore
reserves
Layer of a few meters
Mn grade and the thickness are
very continuous across the
plateau.
HISTOGRAMS
A & T distributions
are slightly
dissymmetrical T A

T has values close to

0.
RESULTS
Valid results for
2
< 0.03
2
Threshold
changed
empirically for
Bangomb All results Results for
2
< 0.03
2
(normally 0.01)
CONCLUSION
Intrinsic correlation hypothesis: not necessary.
Distributions: values of T close to 0 (ex:
lognormal) tend to invalidate the formula.
2
Threshold on is appropriate but can be tuned.
2

2
What correction for block where > 0.03 ?
2