The Potential of Geostatistics in the Development of Mining

Abstract

Why is geostatistics not more widely used as a practical approach to the problems of ore reserve evaluation and mine operation? The results of the use of any mathematical or statistical technique in any field of application are only as good as the model or hypothesis on which the technique is based. The implications of this fundamental proposition are clearly not widely enough understood in ore reserve estimation or mine planning. As a result, unsound or inefficient methods are far too frequently recommended in textbooks and papers, and far too frequently used by practicing geologists and engineers. This appears to be the main reason for the neglect of geostatistics. The power of the geostatistical models in the estimation of mineral resources is not understood. These themes are expanded and illustrated and an attempt is made to develop solutions to the difficulties mentioned. The paper is set out in six sections: (1) Introduction: the objectives of the paper; (2) Geostatistics: the Australian scene; (3) Reasons for the neglect of geostatistics; (4) An outline of a cost-benefit analysis of the geostatistical approach; (5) An outline of an educational program in geostatistics; (6) Some comments on public policy and the measurement of resources.