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F A L L 2 0 1 4 Photograph : Ian Anderson /Hy-Tech Drilling
3. Grade block
modelling software
After all of the challenging and creative
work by mineral explorers, it basically
comes down to two numbers: the size
of the mineral deposit and the grade.
Through interpretation of geology and
assays from drilling, geologists and min-
ing engineers have been tasked through-
out modern history with attempting to
estimate these values prior to feasibil-
ity studies and mining. 3D ore deposit
modelling and resource estimation soft-
ware have been invaluable in this most-
important exercise.
4. Hydraulic diamond drills
Finding an ore deposit is no easy task. If it
is located in remote and rugged terrane,
it can also be an expensive exercise. In the
early and mid-1990s, the transition from
heavy gear-driven rigs to hydraulic dia-
mond drills dramatically reduced the size
and increased the efficiency of core drills.
In British Columbia, early developers
and users of these drills contributed to
