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Microsoft Access and Technical Support To The Mining Industry

GR-FX specialises in Microsoft Access application development and support for clients in the mining and trucking industries. Following is a sample of the 100+ projects we have been involved with. We are developing in all versions of Access and can interface easily with spreadsheets, mining packages and if relevant through linked tables to larger databases.

Drillhole and Geochemical Databases
Mining and geological production reporting
Metallurgical monitoring systems
Drill contract management
Loading laboratory files into assay tables (QA/QC)
Pit movement analysis
Graphical reporting of plant sample data
Truck movement data
Underground face sampling and profit analysis
Block model checking and extraction of grids to spreadsheets
Mine contract management
Laboratory management systems
Financial reporting

GR-FX direct mining clients over the years have included Ivanhoe in Mongolia, Perilya in Broken Hill, Bluestone, Henty, Allegiance and Renison in SW Tasmania, Copper Mines of Tasmania, Cadia near Orange, Triarco Minerals in Sydney and central NSW, BHP in Brisbane, Amdad in Brisbane, QMAG in Rockhampton, RGC in Sydney,Selwyn near Mt Isa, Platsearch in Sydney, Paddington & Kundana in Kalgoorlie, The Granites in the Northern Territory, Thalanga & Highway Reward in Charters Towers, Peak Gold Mines in Cobar, Bulyanhulu in Tanzania, Menzies Gold in Indonesia, Highlands Gold In Papua New Guinea, Pancontinental Mining in Sydney, Oakbridge in the Hunter Valley, Abosso Mines in Ghana, Furtei SGM in Italy, Gympie Gold and North Limited in Melbourne.

Two Reasons Why GR-FX Consultants Are Successful In The Mining Industry

We understand the intricacies of putting together Microsoft Office solutions because we are continually researching how to make Access, Excel and Word work together.

We are experienced in converting existing Excel systems to multi-user solutions without disrupting the day to day activities of the key users.

SAMPLES OF OUR WORK

The reason behind the proliferation of solutions is because the majority of research and development has been focused on utilising the popular and very powerful Microsoft Access relational database. Here is a sample of the things that we have developed.

Drillhole Databases

GR-FX has developed drillhole database systems in Access that allow its clients to utilise the power of the database whilst still continuing to operate the mining tools that they are used to. Systems have been setup to work closely with tools such Surpac, Vulcan, Micromine and Datamine. To see samples of these systems, click on the small pictures below to see screen captures of our software in action.

Click on picture to see a recent example of a drillhole data entry form

Click on picture to see a multi table drillhole report
Quality control and error handling for drilling data

Click Here to review our geological / drillhole database solutions in more detail.

Metallurgical Software

Transferring Metallurgical reporting information to a relational database is a complex process as the requirements are a function of the unique processes within a plant and does not fit a simple relational model. Nevertheless transferring to a database allows you to report and analyse data over time which is difficult in a multi spreadsheet in-house system. To achieve a solution that provides good data management and and flexibility requires intimate knowledge of Access and Excel automation. We try to be the best in the business at this task.

Samples of the different metallurgical systems that we have created.

At Perilya's Broken Hill mine: "We successfully converted a home grown Metallurgical software solution running on proprietary hardware into a multi-user system that uses an Access database and feeds into Excel spreadsheets for reporting." Garry Robinson

Click Here to review our metallurgical solutions in more detail.

Underground Production Management And Reporting

Management of underground production data is generally something that evolves over time and ends up requiring customized software written specifically suited to the mine. How this is handled in many locations is that the custom software is created by the mining engineers and geologists using spreadsheets and sometimes using rudimentary Access databases. Whilst we actually think this is a good idea in the early stages of a mine because it generates a reasonable quality specification. In the long term it is better to involve a software professional to turn these solutions into robust and simple multi-user solutions. To this end, we have been successfully involved in a number of projects for underground mines that start when management wants to bring complex spreadsheet or disparate software and data systems under control. Samples from some of those systems

Data entry form for underground production data

Two parts of the same morning shift summary spreadsheet created from the database

Sample menu and report from a Grade Control system

At Perilya's Broken Hill mine: We have converted a complex series of standalone spreadsheets and databases that the Geology and Mining teams used to manage underground production into a multi-user Access database that also uses Excel as the principle reporting tool.

Other Mining Samples

Reporting for a face mapping system in a thin vein gold deposit

A detailed logging form for ruggerdized Windows computers

Summary

We are involved in the development of many customised applications in Microsoft Access. Most of these are usually a result of spreadsheet systems that have run out of room or are difficult to maintain. Transferring a system of this nature is usually good for us and the clients because the spreadsheet becomes a reasonable definition of the requirements of the customised software as well as providing data for testing the system.

Click here to see further examples of customised software that we have developed.

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