USE OF GEOSTATISTICS TO MODEL GEOLOGY - VEIN DISTRIBUTION IN A COMPLEX PEGMATITE-TYPE DEPOSIT

Geostatistical methods can be applied to vein thickness data and direc tional semi-variograms can be used to identify the structures that con trol the distribution of veins and to determine their orientation. Thi s approach is applied to a borehole database for a pegmatite-type oreb ody and, by the introduction of two new variables, a model of vein dis tribution is constructed. Host-rock lithology as a control on pegmatit e distribution is also considered, primarily with the use of vein thic kness as a geostatistical variable. Particular attention is given to t he new variables ropy index and apparent volume, which allow vein dist ribution in a mining block to be determined.