Applying 3D U-statistic method for modeling the iron mineralization in Baghak mine, central section of Sangan iron mines

Abstract

The U-statistic method is one of the most important structural methods to separate the anomaly from background. It considers the location of samples and carries out the statistical analysis of the data without judging from a geochemical point of view and tries to separate subpopulations and determine anomalous areas. In the present study, 3D U-statistic method has been applied for the first time through the three-dimensional (3D) modeling of an ore deposit. In order to achieve this purpose, 3D U-statistic is applied on the data (Fe grade) resulted from the drilling network in Baghak mine, central part of the Sangan iron mines (in Khorassan Razavi Province, Iran). Afterward, results from applying 3D U-statistic method are used for 3D modeling of the iron mineralization. Results show that the anomalous values are well separated from background so that the determined samples as anomalous are not dispersed and according to their positioning, denser areas of anomalous samples could be considered as anomaly areas. And also, final results (3D model of iron mineralization) show that output model using this method is compatible with designed model for mining operation. Moreover, seen that U-statistic method in addition for separating anomaly from background, could be very efficient for the 3D modeling of different ore type.