Por Kathryn Gall
La estimación de recursos es un proceso multimillonario que sustenta el éxito de los proyectos mineros.
Su resultado final, el modelo de bloques, es el vehículo principal para traducir el conocimiento geocientífico en decisiones que abarcan desde la evaluación del proyecto en la fase inicial hasta las operaciones diarias de la mina. Su valor radica en sintetizar la geología compleja en un formato que pueda guiar opciones críticas y de alto valor, pero lograrlo está lejos de ser simple. Los desafíos en nuestra capacidad para comprender verdaderamente el subsuelo, sumados a las crecientes presiones sobre la industria minera, hacen que la estimación de recursos sea un esfuerzo desafiante y de alto riesgo.
Debido a que los costos de la minería están en sus máximos históricos, las estimaciones de recursos no solo deben ser confiables y defendibles, sino que los modelos de bloques también deben estar controlados por versiones, ser accesibles y auditables con facilidad y, lo que es más importante, deben integrarse perfectamente en la planificación minera posterior.
Heat map from BlockSync highlighting per block differences from a newly added drillhole
Evolving block model management
Geological block models are essential for mineral resource estimation and guide critical decisions at every stage of the mining process, from classification and evaluation to mine planning and production.
Despite their importance, block models are often stored in disparate and proprietary formats creating silos that hinder collaboration, slow down workflows, and have a lack of clear derivative lineage. Resource estimation teams often rely on manual processes to locate, access, and transfer block models between different software programs. This fragmented approach carries risks and can lead to geologists spending significant time finding and managing files rather than focusing on analysis. This can result in misinformed decisions and duplication of work.
The Leapfrog release 2025.1 addresses these challenges by integrating directly with BlockSync, a Seequent Evo application designed for collaborative, secure, and efficient block model management. BlockSync centralises block models in the cloud within a shared and controlled environment allowing for more efficient workflows when accessing and working with block models. BlockSync also allows for improved data integrity and version control to help teams work faster and smarter throughout the entire resource estimation lifecycle.
El enfoque de Seequent: colaborativo e intuitivo
Seequent transforma la manera en que los geólogos comprenden el subsuelo a través de Evo, un ecosistema abierto con un enfoque seguro basado en datos para el modelado geológico y la estimación de recursos.
Con BlockSync, una aplicación nativa en la nube de Evo, todas las partes interesadas, desde geólogos hasta vicepresidentes, pueden colaborar de forma ágil y sincronizada, actualizando, visualizando y compartiendo modelos de bloques conforme se incorporan nuevos datos de perforación, lo que asegura el uso de información actualizada y confiable en toda la operación. La plataforma centralizada elimina el riesgo de confusión de versiones y rompe los silos de datos, ya que proporciona una única fuente de verdad accesible para todas las partes interesadas.
- Leapfrog Geo redefines how geologists model the subsurface with its intuitive, dynamic approach to geological modelling. As new data becomes available, models are iteratively updated in real time.
- Leapfrog Edge dynamically links evolving geological models with the resource estimations, resulting in defensible industry-standard block models.
- And now, with BlockSync (a Seequent Evo application), teams can effectively manage and collaborate on their block model data in a centralised, secure, and auditable cloud-based system.
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Auditability that drives value
BlockSync securely tracks all changes in the data within a fully auditable system of record, allowing stakeholders to track a decision-making process. This provides transparency and accountability throughout the resource estimation process. While drilling data management has been a focus in mining for decades, block model management is becoming equally critical. While the drilling data represents raw inputs, the block model represents the decisions made by experienced geologists that guide downstream processes. BlockSync ensures this critical information is version-controlled, easily accessible, and auditable. This holistic approach not only streamlines operational and strategic decision-making but builds confidence in resource estimates by ensuring data integrity through strict governance at every step.
The road ahead: a new standard for resource estimation
As the mining industry continues to evolve, there is a growing need for traditional resource estimation practices to advance as well, with block model management becoming increasingly central to this progress.
Seequent is proud to be leading this transformation, providing an integrated, future-proof approach to geological modelling and mineral resource estimation. By enabling teams to better manage their block models, mining professionals can unlock deeper insights from clean and reliable data, make more informed decisions, reduce operational risk, and plan with greater confidence.
The future of subsurface intelligence is here