Multivariate Spatial Modeling of Metallurgical Rock Properties

• Author / Creator

  Deutsch, Jared L

• High resolution spatial numerical models of metallurgical properties constrained by geological controls and more extensively measured grade and geomechanical properties constitute an important part of geometallurgy. The spatial modeling of metallurgical rock properties has unique challenges. Metallurgical properties of interest may average nonlinearly, and the nonlinear behaviour may be unquantified due to substantial costs associated with sample collection and testing. The large scale of the samples presents an additional challenge in the modeling of these variables as the support volume for metallurgical properties may be 1-2 orders of magnitude larger than typical metal assays. Practical challenges including the highly multivariate nature of geometallurgical data sets, undersampling and complex optimization requirements complicate the problem. Addressing these challenges requires an integrated statistical approach. In this thesis, a consistent framework for quantifying and modeling the nonlinear behaviour of metallurgical rock properties is introduced. This integrated approach is composed of three parts: a nonlinear modeling and inference strategy, a multivariate downscaling algorithm, and an integrated geostatistical approach to multivariate modeling of metallurgical properties. The first contribution of this thesis is a novel semi-parametric Bayesian updating algorithm which has been developed to infer nonlinear behaviour given multiscale measurements of metallurgical rock properties and related linear properties. This approach may be applied to fit a power law which is demonstrated to be a flexible model for nonlinear modeling. The second contribution addresses the challenge of highly multiscale data by the development of a direct sequential simulation method for the downscaling of metallurgical rock properties given highly multivariate information. The stochastic downscaling procedure developed is exact and respects intrinsic constraints, such as requirements for non-negativity. The third contribution is the development of a consistent framework for geostatistical modeling of metallurgical variables in the presence of constraints, nonlinear variables, multiscale data, missing data, and complex relationships. This approach, and a number of the algorithms developed in this thesis are applied in a geometallurgical case study of a South American copper-molybdenum porphyry deposit. The thesis statement: an integrated statistical approach for the multivariate spatial modeling of metallurgical rock properties will lead to better mine and mill operation strategies to maximize mine value. Developments in this thesis facilitate the integrated approach which is applied to the case study demonstrating the value of this integrated statistical framework.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Parameter uncertainty
  • Geostatistics
  • Multivariate simulation
  • Multiscale modeling
  • Nonlinear variables
  • Unequal sampling
  • Geometallurgy
  • Multiple imputation

• Graduation date

  Spring 2016

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Doctor of Philosophy

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R34M91N14

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.