A Geostatistical Approach to Coal Reserve Classification

Abstract

There is an increasing need for reliable and comparable coal resource data and it is necessary to standardize the traditional classification procedures by quantifying the three basic evaluation criteria of economic feasibility, geologic assurance and recovery. For well documented deposits, geostatistical methods can considerably improve classification quality. A geostatistically based algorithm for classifiying coal resources within the current Queensland and New South Wales codes has been developed. Application of the method in classifying resources from a number of seams exhibiting different structural characteristics is assessed. The method is found to give classification results which closely reflect the error associated with an estimate of resource quantities based on current sampling densities. It requires a careful geostatistical analysis with emphasis on geological awareness. Resource category restrictions must be arbitrarily assigned and remain constant for all deposits being compared. Engineering judgement is needed and interpretation may be required with isolated and peripheral blocks.

Department(s)

Mining Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Classification Procedures; Coal Resource Data

Document Type

Article - Conference proceedings

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 1987 Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Aug 1987

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