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Chapter 11

The Block Menu

In This Chapter

Introduction
Data
Create
Interpolate
Edit
Selection
Display
Utils

Introduction
Using commands on the Block menu, you can create block model
projects, build block models of various types, and display and update
block model and surface elevation grid (SEG) data.
Seven submenus deal with these operations:

Data. Defines which block model project is to be loaded. Imports

and exports project data.

Create. Defines the location and geometry of a project. Creates

and initializes project folders and block models.

Interpolate. Assigns grade values to blocks from sample data

using any of several kriging or inverse distance processes.

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Edit. Updates block models and SEGs with solid/surface, polygon or

point data attributes. Edits individual blocks. Mathematically
manipulates block models. Models economic parameters.

Selection. Defines sets of blocks to be activated for operations and

for viewing based on explicit selection, location relative to data
objects, or values contained.

Display. Defines how blocks and SEGs are displayed. Sets the
active view plane based on rows, columns or levels of a block
model. Assigns display types and colour profiles.

Utils. Interfaces with Whittle pit optimization software. Converts

a SEG into a surface TIN and vice versa.

In order to use many of the commands on the Block menu, you must
first create or import block model and/or SEG data Also, you must
define colour profiles in order to display your data. See Volume I: Core
for information on creating colour profiles.
Gemcom for Windows is available in several editions. Licensees with
advanced editions (such as Resource Evaluation) will have access to
the full complement of Block menu commands; other users will see a
subset of the commands described in this chapter.

Project View Area

Block modelling operations make use of the folder tree found on the
Objects tab of the Project View area. An introduction to the Project
View area can be found in Volume 1: Core, Chapter 3: Getting Started.
The folder tree provides a map of your project structure. You must
highlight a project, folder, or model name to access many Block menu
commands.
In the folder tree, icons indicating the various block model types
appear as seen in Figure 11-1:

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Figure 11-1: Block model icons

Project View Context Menu

Right-clicking on an icon in the Objects tab folder tree will bring up
the Project View Context Menu. This menu provides a shortcut to
Block menu commands applicable to the highlighted project, folder, or
block model. The specific commands available will depend on the type
of icon selected and the current data loading and display status.
Project Commands
Project View Context Menu commands available when right-clicking
on a project icon
appear in the table below:
Project command

Corresponds to

Reassign Project

Block }Data }Reassign Block Model Project

New Folder

Block }Create }Folders }Create Block Folder

Properties

Block }Create }Create/Edit Block Model

Project

Folder Commands
Project View Context Menu commands available when right-clicking
appear in the table below:
on a folder icon

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Folder command

Corresponds to

New Block Model

Block }Create }Models }Create Block Model

Delete

Block }Create }Folders }Delete Block Folder

Import

Block }Data }Import Block Model

Export

Block }Data }Export Block Model

Properties

Block }Create }Folders }Edit Block Folder

Block Model Commands

Project View Context Menu commands available when right-clicking
on any block model icon
(except an elevation model icon) appear in
the table below:
Block model
command

Corresponds to

Initialize

Block }Create }Models }Initialize/Re-Initialize

Block Model

Delete

Block }Create }Models }Delete Block Model

Display

(Available only when model is currently hidden.)

Hide

(Available only when model is currently displayed.)

Export

Block }Data }Export Block Model

Update from Points

Block }Edit }Update Block Model from Points

(Available only when points are loaded.)

Update from Polygons Block }Edit }Update Block Model from

Polygon
(Available only when polygons are loaded.)
Update from Solids

Block }Edit }Update Block Model from Solid

(Available only when solids are loaded.)

Properties

Block }Create }Models }Edit Block Model

Display
Choose this command to display a block model. This command does
not directly correspond to any Block menu command.
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1. Highlight a block model in the Project View area.

2. Choose Display on the Project View Context Menu. A check mark
(
)will appear next to the block model icon, indicating it has been
selected for display.
3. If no display profile is associated with the model, you will be asked
if you wish to select a profile. If so, choose Yes, then follow the
instructions under Edit Block Model in the Models subsection of
the Create section of this chapter.
4. If no selection is active, you will be asked if you wish to define a
selection. If so, choose Yes, then follow the instructions under
Define Selection in the Selection section of this chapter.
You may repeat this process for as many block models as desired.
However, if you choose to display block model data as cubes, only the
first block model chosen using the cube display option will be visible in
3D mode.
Hide
Choose this command to terminate display of an individual block
model. This command does not directly correspond to any Block menu
command.
Elevation Model Commands
Project View Context Menu commands available when right-clicking
on an elevation model icon appear in the table below:

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Elevation model
command

Corresponds to

Delete

Block }Create }Models }Delete Block Model

Display

Block }Display }Select SEG Data for

Display
(Available only when model is currently hidden.)

Hide

(Available only when model is currently

displayed.)

Select Grids to Display

Block }Display }Select SEG Data for

Display
(Available only when model is currently
displayed.)

Export

Block }Data }Export Block Model

Edit

Block }Edit }SEG Description Editor

Properties

Block }Create }Models }Edit Block Model

Block Express Menu

When the cursor rests on a block in the graphical work area, rightclicking the mouse will bring up the Block Express Menu. As in the
standard Express Menu, the list of last commands chosen appears, but
the Properties command does not. However, additional commands
which refer to the individual block selected with the cursor appear.
These are described below.
Edit
This command is equivalent to Block }Edit }Block Editor, invoking
the Block Editor dialog box for editing the selected block.
Create Section
Choosing this command brings up a submenu containing commands
which instantly allow you to view a vertical section or planview

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passing through the selected block. These commands essentially

correspond to selected commands as listed in the table below:
Command

Corresponds to

Plan View

Block }Display }Set View Corridor Along Level

Vertical North

Block }Display }Set View Corridor Along

Column

Vertical South

Block }Display }Set View Corridor Along

Column

Vertical East

Block }Display }Set View Corridor Along Row

Vertical West.

Block }Display }Set View Corridor Along Row

If the Block }Display }Select Row/Column/Level from View or

Select SEG Row/Column from View commands are toggled On,
choosing any Create Section command will define a new selection,
replacing your current selection set.

Block Properties
Choose this command to display the Block Properties dialog box,
which lists data values for the selected block. The dialog box contains
a Summary tab, plus a tab specific to each folder in the project.

The Geometry frame in the upper part of each tab contains

information describing the selected block's location and size.

The Totals frame below contains four columns: the data Item, the
Value in the selected block, the amount of Product in the selected
block, and the Units applicable to the product. Numbers and items
appearing in red are incompletely defined. Quantities accompanied
by an asterisk (*) are implied or mapped, rather than explicitly
defined. Quantities for which there is no information available are
reported as "undefined."

If you wish to edit the values in the selected block, choose the Edit
command button to bring up the Block Editor dialog box.

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Block Properties dialog boxSummary tab

After viewing the data, choose Close.

Summary tab
Choose the Summary tab to see the total volume, tonnage and
amount of each grade element contained in the block. The percent
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value should be 100%. If it is not, check the folder tabs for undefined
quantities. As shown in the following table, if you have N folders, N-1
must contain a percent model for the total to be defined. (Gemcom will
calculate the remaining percentage by subtracting the summed
percentages from 100%.)
Tab

Percent model (example

1)

Percent model (example

2)

Standard

50%

50%

Folder 2

undefined

40%

Folder 3

undefined

undefined

Summary

undefined

100%

Folder tabs
The folder tabs bear the name of the folders in the block model project.
Choose a folder tab to see the rock type, density, percent, economic,
and grade values contained in the block models in that folder.

Block Properties dialog boxFolder tab (Totals frame only)

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Common Block Modelling Dialog Box Types

Several types of dialog boxes are frequently encountered when using
Block menu commands. Many are described in Volume I: Core,
Chapter 4: Dialog Boxes, but a few which have unique applications to
block modelling are described below.
Browse Dialog Box
You will encounter this dialog box whenever you choose a Browse
command button, for example when importing or exporting a block
model. See the instructions for File Name dialog boxes in Volume I:
Core, Chapter 4: Dialog Boxes.

Browse dialog box

Choose Model Dialog Box
You will encounter this dialog box whenever you have the opportunity
to load a block model.

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Choose Model dialog box

1. In the folder tree, click any box containing a plus sign [+] to reveal
the contents of the associated project or folder.
2. Highlight the name of one block model you wish to load. Block
models are indicated by the generic block icon .
3. Choose OK.

Model Grids and Command Buttons

In several dialog boxes, you will be asked to enter information into a
grid text box to create a model of your data. In generally, these grids
will contain an identifying variable in the leftmost column and one or
more data parameters in the remaining columns. Several command
buttons will be available to help you fill in the necessary rows in these
grids. These buttons will generally include Add, Insert, Delete, Edit, and
occasionally others, such as Sort.

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Typical model grid entry box with command buttons

Add a Row
1. Choose Add.
2. In any dialog box which appears, enter the necessary data for the
new row, which will follow the last row in the list and choose OK.
3. Choose OK or Finish to insert the row into the model.
Insert a Row
1. Highlight an entry in the leftmost column.
2. Choose Insert.
3. In any dialog box which appears, enter the necessary data for the
new row (which will precede the highlighted row in the list) and
choose OK.
4. Choose OK or Finish to insert the row into the model.
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You may highlight multiple rows, but only one new row will be
inserted, preceding the uppermost highlighted row in the list.
Delete Rows
1. Highlight one or more entries in the leftmost column.
2. Choose Delete. The selected rows will be deleted from the list.
3. Choose OK or Finish to delete the rows from the model.
Edit a Row
1. Highlight an entry in the leftmost column and choose Edit
or
Double-click on the desired leftmost column entry.
2. In any dialog box which appears, enter the necessary data for the
row, and choose OK.
3. Choose OK to apply the edits to the model.
You may highlight multiple rows, but only the uppermost highlighted
row in the list will be edited.
Sort Rows
1. Choose Sort. The leftmost column entries will remain in ascending
numerical order downward. The remaining row data will be
reordered such that the entries in the second leftmost column also
appear in ascending numerical order downward.
2. Choose OK or Finish to apply the sort to the model.

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Data
Choosing Block }Data brings up a submenu of commands that let you
select the current project, and copy block model data into and out of
the project.

Reassign Block Model Project

Choose this command to select the project containing the block model
or surface elevation grid data that you want to use.
1. Choose Block }Data }Reassign Block Model Project.
Or,
Highlight a project in the Project View area and choose Reassign
Project on the Project View Context Menu.
2. In the Select Project dialog box, highlight the drive on which the
desired block model project is stored.
3. A list of valid projects stored on the highlighted drive will appear.
Highlight the desired block model project and choose OK.

Import Block Model

Choose this command to import block model data from a text file or an
extraction file.
1. Highlight a folder in the Project View area.
2. Choose Block }Data }Import Block Model.
Or,
Choose Import on the Project View Context Menu.

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Block Model Import: General dialog box

3. In the Block Model Import: General dialog box, enter the following
data:

Import type. Choose either Text file or .MEX file.

If you are importing a text file, enter the following data:

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Block by. Choose Indices, if the import file includes indices,

Coordinates if you wish blocks to be assigned based on
coordinates included in the import file, or Record Numbers if
you wish blocks to be assigned sequentially to records, in
the sequence illustrated (for M rows and N columns) in the
table below:

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Record

Row

Column

Level

+1

xN

xN+1

Base index. If you are blocking by indices, choose the base

index used in the import file, 0 or 1. Gemcom applications
use 1 as the lowest index number, but other software
systems may use 0.

Import from. Enter the path and name of the data file to be
imported or use the browse button [] to invoke the Browse
dialog box for searching your projects. For your reference, text
file contents will appear in the File data text box.

4. Choose Next to proceed.

5. Text file data will appear in the lower text box of the Block Model
Import: Fields dialog box. By highlighting any Status column
entry in the lower window, the block model data to be imported for
the highlighted row will appear in the right-hand text box.
Right clicking on any Status column entry brings up a Data
Status Menu, containing commands which enable you to
manipulate the characteristics of the data file. See Edit Data
Status below for instructions.

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Block Model Import: Fields dialog box

6. If you are blocking by indices, enter the following data:

Reverse index. Check the Level, Row, and/or Column boxes

if you wish to reverse the associated index. For example, if the
file you are importing refers to levels 1 to 9 from top to bottom,
checking the box will assign levels 1 to 9 from bottom to top.

7. If you are importing a freeformat text file, check the Delimited

format box. Then:

Activate the radio button to the left of the appropriate

delimiter: Comma, Space, Tab, Semicolon or Other.

If you chose Other, enter the delimiter character in the

entry box below.

Or,

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7. If you are importing a fixedformat text file, uncheck the

Delimited format box. The Edit fixed columns command button
will be active. Choose it to edit the file if necessary, using the
procedures described below under Edit Fixed Columns.
8. If you are importing a text file, enter the following data:

Headers. Enter the following parameters to identify header

rows in the data file:

Delimiter. Enter the delimiter which separates field

header names in the data file, if any.

In column. If header information appears in multiple rows

in the data file, enter the column number containing the
header data.

In quotes. Check this box if column headers appear in

quotes in the data file. If this box is checked, quotes will be
removed for display in the text entry box column headers.

You may have to click in the lower text box to see these edits
take effect.

Display options. Check or uncheck the following boxes to

control display of the data file in the lower text entry box.

Display skipped lines.

Display header lines.

See Edit Data Status below for instructions on identifying header

and skip lines.
9. To assign a data field:

In the righthand text box, double click on an entry in the

Block Model column.

In the Select a Field dialog box, enter the field number, or pick
it from the list.

Choose OK.

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Note that if you are blocking by coordinates, the first three rows in
the righthand text box will allow you to assign fields for X, Y and
Z coordinates. When blocking by indices, they will allow you to
assign fields containing Level, Row and Column indices.
If you change column names by specifying headers, you may have to
reassign data fields before importing.

10. Choose Next to proceed or Back to return to the previous dialog box.

Block Model Import: Import dialog box

11. In the Block Model Import: Import dialog box, enter the following
data:

Options.

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On empty value. Choose the procedure to be followed in

the event an empty block is encountered in the import file
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Ignore to not import any data for the empty block, Make zero
to import a data value of zero, or Abort to halt the import

process.

Overwrite. Choose the types of blocks to be overwritten

with the imported data: Any block, Zero and empty blocks or
Only empty blocks. Block types not selected will retain their
original values.

Ignore out of bounds blocks. Check this box to skip

import of blocks outside the project geometry. Uncheck the
box to issue a warning and halt import when an out of
bounds block is encountered.

Testing.

Number of lines. Enter a number of lines sufficient to

provide a meaningful import test.

12. Choose Test to test the import procedure without overwriting any
current block models. Results appear in the lower text entry box.
13. Choose Finish to complete the import procedure, or Back to return
to the previous dialog box.
14. Results will appear in the lower text entry box. Choose Close.
Edit Data Status
Right click on a Status column entry in the lower text box of the Block
Model Import: Fields dialog box to bring up the Data Status Menu.
This menu enables you to assign lines in the import file to be read as
headers, skipped, or read as data..
Make Field Headers
Choose this command to flag a line in the text file as a header. A file
can have multiple header lines, but all must precede the first data
line.

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Skip Lines
Choose this command to flag a line in the text file to be skipped.
Make Data
Choose this command to flag a line in the text file as data.
Determine Columns
When editing fixedformat files, you can choose this command to
format the columns based on the entries in the current line. The
number of columns will be fixed by the longest line in the file, but the
start position and field length will be determined by the entries in the
current line. If the current line has fewer fields than other lines in the
file, columns to the right of the last entry will be of zero-length.
Edit Fixed Columns
Choose this command button in the Block Model Import Fields dialog
box to edit the field positions in a fixedformat data file.

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Edit Fixed Columns dialog box

1. In the Edit Fixed Columns dialog box, highlight a desired entry in
the Column name column.
2. Perform any of the following operations:

You can increment the length of the field by 1 each time you
click on the Length header.

Count. Activate the appropriate radio button to make each

click Decrease or Increase the length.

Choose the Move up command to insert a new zerolength

column at the start position.

Choose the Split Column command to split the column in half.

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The Column contents will show how the formatting of the first
data line in the text file changes in response to your edits.
Note that you cannot delete columns. However, you can reduce
unwanted columns to zerolength.
3. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 as desired.
4. Choose OK to complete fixed column editing.

Export Block Model

Choose this command to copy block model data to any project. You
may export one or multiple models.
1. Highlight a folder in the Project View area.
Or, to export a single model only,
Highlight a block model in the Project View area.
2. Choose Block }Data }Export Block Model.
Or,
Choose Export on the Project View Context Menu.

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Export Block Model dialog box

3. In the Export Block Model dialog box, enter the following data:

File information.

Export type. For a free format text file, choose Comma

delimited. For an extraction file, choose .MEX file.

Export to. Enter the path and name of the destination file,
or use the browse button [] to invoke the Browse dialog
box for searching your projects.

Block data models. Check the boxes by the names of the

models you wish to export from the selected folder.

Options. Check the appropriate boxes to choose any data fields

to be exported in addition to the block model values. Fields
appear as seen in Figure 11-2.

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Export block indices. If you are exporting data to a text

file, check this box to write the level, row, and column
indices of each cell.

Export coordinates. If you are exporting data to a text

file, check this box to write the XYZ coordinates of the
centre of each cell.

Write field headers. Check this box to write the names of

the data fields on the first line of the export file.
Field headers

Level,
15, 1,
15, 1,
15, 1,

Row, Col, X,
1, 1960.245,
2, 1973.236,
3, 1986.226,

Y, Z, Rock Type, Density

2376.678, 382.500, 88, 2.1
2384.178, 382.500, 10, 2.3
2391.678, 382.500, 12, 2.5

Block indices
Coordinates

Data

Figure 11-2: Typical commaseparated fields in export text file

Selection range. Depending on which blocks you wish to

export, activate the radio button alongside All blocks in model,
Blocks in current selection, or Blocks not in current selection.

4. Choose OK.
5. If the destination file already exists, choose Yes to overwrite it.
6. The number of data records exported will be reported. Choose OK.

Create
Choosing Block }Create brings up a submenu of choices that let you
create and edit block model project geometry, folders and models. You
can also create sections based on project rows, columns or levels.

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Create/Edit Block Model Project

Choosing Block }Create }Create/Edit Block Model Project
invokes the Edit Block Model Project dialog box or the Create Block
Model Project wizard.
If you are editing an existing project, you may access three Edit Block
Model Project tabs to edit general parameters, geometry, and levels for
your project.
If you are creating a new project, the Create Block Model Project
wizard will guide you through the steps of defining the project
geometry, then allow you to define project contents.
Define General Parameters
Choose the General tab to define general project parameters.
1. On the General tab, enter the following data:

Title. Enter a title of up to 64 characters for the project.

Seam model. Check this box to define a seam geometry. Leave

it unchecked to define an orthogonal geometry.

2. If you altered the seam model setting, a status box will appear,
warning you that geometry and level data will be reset. Choose Yes
to continue.
3. Choose OK or Next.
Define Geometry
Choose the Geometry tab to define project dimensions and location.

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Geometry tab
1. On the Geometry tab, enter the following data:

Origin. Enter the X, Y and Z coordinates of the project origin

in the units of your project coordinate system.

Number of blocks. Enter the number of Columns, Rows and

Levels in your project geometry.

Block sizes. Enter the Column size and Row size in the
units of your project coordinate system.
If you are not creating a seam geometry, enter the following:

Z irregularly spaced. Check this box if levels are not

regularly spaced, or leave it unchecked if all levels are
spaced evenly.

Level. If levels are regularly spaced, enter the level height

in the units of your project coordinate system. If levels are
irregularly spaced, enter the default level height.
Altering these settings will invoke a status box, warning
you that level heights will be reset. Choose Yes to continue.

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Orientation. Figure 11-3 shows the standard orientation of a

block model project geometry. Enter the following parameters
to specify the orientation of your geometry.

Figure 11-3: Project orientation

Rotation. Enter the rotation angle in degrees anticlockwise from the coordinate system easting to the row
wise direction.

2. Choose OK or Next.
Define Levels or Seams
Choose the Levels tab (for an orthogonal geometry) or the Seams tab
(for a seam geometry) to define thicknesses, elevations and
descriptions of project layers.

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Levels tab (above) and Seam tab

1. If you are creating a seam geometry, enter the following data :

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Top surface. Edit the SEG record number which conforms to

the top of the project geometry. If you have not yet created
SEGs, enter a default value which you can change later.

2. Use command buttons as desired to add, insert, and delete levels,

edit level information, set level heights, and generate level
descriptions automatically. See the following subsections for
instructions.
Add, Insert, Delete, or Edit Levels or Seams
Each row in the grid text box contains the data for a single level or
seam. Follow these steps to populate the grid.
1. Choose the desired command button on the Levels or Seams tab:
Add, Insert, Delete. or Edit. (You must highlight a level or seam
before using the latter three commands.) See instructions in the
introductory section of this chapter under Model Grids and
Command Buttons.
2. If you are using Edit, enter the following parameters in the Level
Properties dialog box.
For an orthogonal geometry:

Level height. Edit the desired level thickness in the units of

your project.

Level description. Edit the description of the level.

or, for a seam geometry:

Bottom surface. Edit the SEG record number which conforms

to the bottom of the seam. If you have not yet created SEGs,
enter a default value which you can change later.

Seam description. Edit the description of the seam.

3. Choose OK or Next to apply the changes to the geometry.

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Set Level Heights

You can set the height of one or more levels in an orthogonal
geometry.
1. On the Levels tab, highlight one or more level column entries and
choose Set Height.
2. Enter the desired level thickness in the units of your project.
3. Choose OK to edit the levels in the list.
4. Choose OK or Next to apply the edits to the geometry.
Automatically Generate Descriptions
You can generate simple level or seam descriptions automatically
based on sequential level numbers, or, in the case of levels, on
elevation. This process will reset descriptions for all levels in the
project.
1. On the Levels tab, choose Auto-description.

Options for Generating Descriptions Automatically dialog box

2. In the Options for Generating Descriptions Automatically dialog
box, enter the following parameters:

Generate descriptions from. For seams, choose Level number.

For levels, choose Elevation of toe, Elevation of crest, Elevation of
mid-bench or Level number.

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If you are generating descriptions from an elevation, enter the

following parameter:

Number of decimals. Choose 0, 1 or 2 for the number of

decimal places to appear in the elevation description.

3. Choose OK to update the descriptions in the list.

4. Choose OK or Next to apply the edits to the geometry.
Define Project Contents
If you are creating a new project, you will continue to Steps 4, 5 and 6
in the Create Block Model Project wizard. Here you will be able to
create folders to organize the block models in your project.
1. Step 4 of the wizard provides a quick method to create a default
folder. Enter the following parameters:

Are you creating a standard block model project? Check

this box to automatically create a default folder called
"Standard" containing the following models (where "A,B,C"
represent up to ten grade elements), or uncheck the box to
proceed without automatic folder creation:

Automatically created Standard folder contents

Is this a partial model?. If you checked the box above,

check this box if you also wish to include a percent model in
the Standard folder.

2. Choose Next.
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3. If you returned to this dialog box and made changes after reaching
Step 5 of the wizard, you must confirm that you wish to overwrite
any existing folder and model information. Choose Yes.
Step 5 of the wizard is where you define folder names and contents. If
you checked the top box in Step 4 of the wizard, the grid text box will
be filled for you already. You may edit the data or create new folders.

Create Block Model Project wizardStep 5

4. Create folders according to the procedures in the subsections
below. You must define one and only one default folder per project.
5. Choose Next.
6. In Step 6 of the wizard, a summary of the new project parameters
will appear. Check the results and choose Finish.
Add a New Folder
In Step 5 of the wizard, follow these steps to add a new folder to the
project.

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1. Enter the following parameters.

Folder name. Enter a name for the folder.

Folder contents. In the grid text box, enter the attributes of

each block model to be contained in the folder named above:

Name. Enter a name for the block model.

Storage. Choose the data storage type from among these

options: Byte, Scaled, Short, Integer, Single, Double

Scale. If you have a chosen the scaled data type, enter an

appropriate scaling factor.

Decimals. Enter the number of decimals to show when

displaying values.

Default value. Enter a default value to assign to cells

containing no data.

Map. Assign a block model type by choosing from Generic,

Rock type, Density, Percent, Economic, Elevation, or, for a grade
model, any defined grade element name.

Be sure to tab the cursor out of a cell to save the contents of the
cell. See Volume I: Core, Chapter 4: Dialog Boxes for further
instructions on grid text boxes.

Default folder. Check this box to make the current folder the
default folder, or uncheck it to make the current folder not be
the default folder.
You must define one and only one default folder per project. If
you define more than one, you will have to uncheck the box in
all but one of your folder definitions in order to proceed.

2. Choose Add to add the new folder to the list of defined folders.
Edit a Defined Folder
In Step 5 of the wizard, follow these steps to edit a folder in the
project.
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1. Choose the name of an existing folder from the Defined folders

list. The folder name will appear in the Folder name box at left
and its contents in the grid text entry box below.
2. Enter the following parameters.

Folder name. If you wish to create a new folder (and retain

the existing one), change the folder name.
Or,
If you wish to edit the contents of the existing folder, do not edit
the folder name.

Folder contents. In the grid text box, edit the attributes of

each block model contained in the folder as described in the
previous subsection.
You can choose Clear to delete the contents of the folder without
deleting the folder itself.

3. Choose Add if you changed the folder name, or Save if you did not.
Delete a Defined Folder
In Step 5 of the wizard, follow these steps to delete a folder from the
project:
1. Choose the name of an existing folder from the Defined folders
list. The folder name will appear in the Folder name box at left
and its contents in the grid text entry box below.
2. Choose Delete to eliminate the existing folder and its contents.

Folders
Choosing Block }Create }Folders brings up a submenu of choices
that let you create, edit, and delete block folders.

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Create Block Folder

Choose this command to create a new block folder in a project.
1. Highlight a project in the Project View area.
2. Choose Block }Create }Folders }Create Block Folder.
or
Choose New Folder on the Project View Context Menu.
3. The Create Block Folder Wizard will guide you through the folder
creation process. Enter the following data:

Folder name. Enter a name for the folder.

Default folder. Check the box to make this folder the default
folder. There must be exactly one default folder in a project.

4. Choose Next.
5. A summary the contents of the new folder will appear. Choose
Finish.
Edit Block Folder
Choose this command to edit the properties of a block folder.
1. Highlight a folder in the Project View area.
2. Choose Block }Create }Folders }Edit Block Folder.
or
Choose Properties on the Project View Context Menu.

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Folder Properties dialog box

3. In the Folder Properties dialog box, edit the following data:

Folder name. Edit the folder name as desired.

Default folder. Check the box to make this folder the default
folder.
Note: Since there must be exactly one default folder in each
block model project, you cannot reassign the default by
unchecking the box. Instead, repeat Steps 1 and 2 for the folder
you wish to make the default, and check the box there.

Block model mapping. The available block model types are

listed at right. These include Rock Type, Density, Percent,
Economic, Elevation, and up to ten Grade models. For each
block model type you wish to map, enter the following:

Modelling

Block model field. Choose the block model name from

among the existing models in the folder, or choose None to
map no model of a particular type. If you are outside the
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default folder, you can choose Get from default folder for
model mappings (other than for percent models).
4. Choose OK.
Delete Block Folder
Choose this command to delete a block folder.
1. Highlight a folder in the Project View area.
2. Choose Block }Create }Folders }Delete Block Folder.
or
Choose Delete on the Project View Context Menu.
3. Choose Yes.
4. If there are block models in the folder, choose Yes to delete them or
No to save them.
5. A status box will report that the folder is deleted. Choose OK.

Models
Choosing Block }Create }Models brings up a submenu of choices
that let you create, edit, initialize, and delete block models.
Create Block Model
Choose this command to create a new block model.
1. Highlight a folder in the Project View area.
2. Choose Block }Create }Models }Create Block Model.
or
Choose New Block Model on the Project View Context Menu.
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3. The Create Block Model Wizard will guide you through the model
creation process. Enter the following data:

Model name. Enter a name for the model.

Default value. Enter a default value to assign to model cells

with no data.

Units. Enter the units in which to express model data (such as

tons/m3 for density.)

Product factor. Enter a multiplication factor which will be

used to convert the data value to the desired units.

Elevation model. Check this box to create an elevation block

model or uncheck it to create any other type of model.

4. Choose Next.
5. In the next Wizard step, enter the following data:

Type. Choose the data storage type from among these options:
Byte, Scaled, Short, Integer, Single, or Double.

Scaling. If you have a chosen the scaled data type, enter an

appropriate scaling factor.

6. Choose Next.
7. In the next Wizard step, enter the following data:

Decimals. Enter the number of decimals to show when

displaying values.

Cell display profile or (for elevation models) SEG display

profile. Choose a predefined display profile to use with this
block model.

Block model mapping. Assign a block model type by choosing

from Generic, Rock type, Density, Percent, Economic, Elevation, or,
for a grade model, any defined grade element name.

8. Choose Next.
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9. A summary the properties of the new model will appear. Choose

Finish.
Edit Block Model
Choose this command to edit block model properties.
1. Highlight a block model in the Project View area.
2. Choose Block }Create }Models }Edit Block Model.
or
Choose Properties on the Project View Context Menu.
3. In the Model Properties dialog box, edit the following data:

General.

Model name. Enter a name for the model.

Default value. Enter a default value to assign to model

cells with no data.

Units. Enter the units in which to express model data

(such as tons/m3 for density.)

Product factor. Enter a multiplication factor which will

be used to convert the data value to the desired units.

Storage.

Type. Choose the data storage type from among these

options: Byte, Scaled, Short, Integer, Single, or Double.

Scaling. If you have a chosen the scaled data type, enter an

appropriate scaling factor.

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Model Properties dialog box

Display.

Decimals. Enter the number of decimals to show when

displaying values.

Cell display profile. Choose a predefined cell display

profile to use with this block model. Or use the browse
button [] to bring up the Cell Display Profile Editor. See
Cell Display Profile Editor later in this chapter.
Or, for elevation models,
SEG display profile. Choose a predefined SEG display
profile to use with this block model. Or use the browse
button [] to bring up the Surface Elevation Grid Display

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Profile Editor. See SEG Display Profile Editor later in this

chapter.
4. Choose OK.
Initialize/Re-Initialize Block Model
Choose this command to initialize or re-initialize a block model.
1. Highlight a block model in the Project View area.
2. Choose Block }Create }Models }Init / Re-Init Block Model.
or
Choose Initialize on the Project View Context Menu.
3. In the Initialize Block Model dialog box, enter the following data:

Initial value. Enter the value to which all selected blocks will
be initialized.

Selection range. Depending on which blocks you wish to

initialize, activate the radio button alongside All blocks in model,
Blocks in current selection, or Blocks not in current selection.

If you are initializing a density model, enter the following data:

Update density model from rock type model. Check the

box to initialize the model to the density value found in the
rock code profile of the rock type specified in the local rock type
model. Uncheck the box to use the specified initial value.

4. Choose OK.
Delete Block Model
Choose this command to delete a block model from the project.
1. Highlight a block model in the Project View area.
2. Choose Block }Create }Models }Delete Block Model.
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or
Choose Delete on the Project View Context Menu.
3. Choose Yes.
4. A status box will report that the model is deleted. Choose OK.

Sections
Choose this command to create vertical sections and plan views based
on block model project rows, columns, and/or levels.
1. Choose Block }Create }Sections.
2. The Block Model Sections dialog box will appear. You can create
sections from Rows and Columns. For an orthogonal geometry,
you can also create planviews from Levels. Each row, column or
level entry you select will yield its own section, using the name
shown in the dialog box. To select row, column and level entries:

Check the boxes to select individual or multiple entries

Choose All to select all entries.

Choose None to deselect all entries.

Enter the following data to choose entries by Steps:

Every Nth. Enter the step size.

Starting from. Enter the first entry to select (0 is invalid).

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Block Model Sections dialog box

3. If you chose entries by Steps, choose Apply.
4. To assign a series number to a set of sections, enter the following:

Row series, Column series or (for orthogonal geometry only)

Level series. Enter the desired series number to assign to this
set of sections.

Looking north. Check this box to create a Row series looking

north (sequence numbers increase as row numbers decrease)or
uncheck it to create the series looking south.

Looking east. Check this box to create a Column series

looking east (sequence numbers increase as column numbers
increase) or uncheck it to create the series looking west.

Sequence numbers in a level series increase downward.

5. Choose OK.

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