Drillhole Databases In Microsoft Access
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 Surpac, Micromine and Datamine. The most common attributes of these
systems are good database design, a selection of queries to test the integrity of the
data, a full drillhole report, merging facilities for assay labs and exporting to the
mining product. The standard data management includes sample number and depth
incrementing. The users then either build their own functionality or special features are
developed such as high grade intersection calculations and loading from data loggers. It
is important to note that every system is developed after the database has been designed.
This is the best way to get the most out of the Access environment.
These drillholes systems
have been deployed in the Gobi Desert for Ivanhoe, Henty Gold Mine, Renison
in Tasmania, Broken Hill for Perilya, Selwyn near Mt. Isa, RGC Thalanga, The Granites, Queensland
Magnesia, South Bulga, Furtei SGM in Italy, Triarco Minerals in Sydney, Gympie Gold in
Queensland, Cadia Mine and Menzies Gold (Indonesia). Drillhole and geochem database
support has been provided at Peak in Cobar, Kundana in Kalgoorlie, Norths and AMDAD in
Brisbane. We have also developed time based environmental
management software for RGC sites in Tasmania.
See some screenshots of a Drillhole database in a Word file
Field Based Logging --
A sample of what we do
 
 |
GR-FX
has developed field based logging systems for a large mine in NSW. These systems
have been developed using Microsoft Access and run on highly rugged laptop
tablets. They can be operated through a digital pen or a keyboard.
An example is the Panasonic Toughbook The key characteristics of the
software that we have developed is that the user should hardly ever use the keyboard.
This is because the keyboard is non existent. So everything must be point and
click. See demonstrations of the following systems
Blast Logging Blast-FX
Face Mapping Face-FX Exploration Logging Explore-FX |
Customised Drillhole System
Development
Because of our experience in setting up Access for drillhole
databases, we will provide competitive development of the user interface for your Access
database whilst assisting you in the more critical design of your drillhole database.In
all our drillhole systems we always check the data for geological integrity before we
transfer it to the mining software. A copy of these queries which you can modify for your
database can be purchased as can any other specialist help.
Whilst all jobs are different, we generally charge a small
rental fee for use of the libraries and techniques that we have already developed plus the
time that it takes to design/develop the database and software. Our
development is very interactive ensuring that you have good cost control of the project.
Normal a job would involve
 | am assessment of your current data database |
| data entry forms for all the tables |
| incrementing sample numbers in the assay table |
| incrementing from/to depths in all the downhole tables |
| full hole renaming and deletion to complement the Access
relational model |
| integrity queries |
| a very basic drillhole report |
| unload all tables to text utility |
| a form to calculate length weighted averages for single
element intersections. |
In addition to that we can assist you to implementation of
Combo Boxes for lookup tables in the database design and help you setup Surpac ready
databases with ddb files ready to go.
Download
an Access 2000/2002/2003 drillhole database sample
Click here
for an example of a drillhole data entry form
Drillhole Demo - An alternative
setup for data entry of multiple tables using the FX Toolbar
Integrity Queries Demo -
Overlapping Samples, Beyond End Of Hole and Multiple Samples
Reporting
Using special functions, we can translate the
codes from Surpac lookup tables and output better descriptions of geological data in a
readable sentence. This can be applied to other forms of lookup tables. This
example is from a coal project In Western Australia.
hole_id |
depth_to |
thickness |
GeoDescription |
F1001 |
17.26 |
|
BRIGHT BANDED (60% - 90% BRIGHT), BLACK, BRITTLE, CORE SLIGHTLY
BROKEN,FINELY CLEATED IN TOP 0. 15M., |
F1001 |
17.54 |
0.28 |
DULL-FREQ. BRIGHT(10-40% BRIGHT), BLACK, BRITTLE, CORE BROKEN, |
F1001 |
18.42 |
|
BRIGHT BANDED (60% - 90% BRIGHT), BLACK, BRITTLE, CORE SLIGHTLY
BROKEN,BROKEN IN TOP HALF. NON ADHESIONAL CONTACT., |
F1001 |
18.58 |
0.16 |
CARBONACEOUS, FINING UPWARDS, GRADATIONAL BASE, TOWARDS BASE OF
UNIT, |
F1001 |
18.74 |
0.16 |
RED, BROWN, |
F1001 |
18.9 |
0.16 |
CLAYEY, FERRUGINOUS, |
The following example shows coordinates being calculated on
the fly in a Access query for straight holes. This would allow your access data to
be utilised immediately in a Desktop Mapping Product such as Map Info.
hole_id |
bed_id |
lithology |
totdepth |
seam_id |
thickness |
DepthTop |
east |
north |
rl |
rlTop |
12039B |
1 |
UN |
137.00 |
|
12.00 |
0.00 |
286033.69 |
430080.31 |
504.90 |
504.90 |
12039B |
2 |
SH |
137.00 |
|
4.00 |
12.00 |
286033.69 |
430080.31 |
504.90 |
492.90 |
12039B |
3 |
SH |
137.00 |
|
13.40 |
16.00 |
286033.69 |
430080.31 |
504.90 |
488.90 |
12039B |
4 |
COAL |
137.00 |
1 |
2.90 |
29.40 |
286033.69 |
430080.31 |
504.90 |
475.50 |
12039B |
5 |
SH |
137.00 |
|
4.50 |
32.30 |
286033.69 |
430080.31 |
504.90 |
472.60 |
12039B |
6 |
LS |
137.00 |
|
3.20 |
36.80 |
286033.69 |
430080.31 |
504.90 |
468.10 |
12039B |
7 |
SH |
137.00 |
|
3.30 |
40.00 |
286033.69 |
430080.31 |
504.90 |
464.90 |
12039B |
8 |
LS |
137.00 |
|
5.80 |
43.30 |
286033.69 |
430080.31 |
504.90 |
461.60 |
12039B |
9 |
SH |
137.00 |
|
2.90 |
49.10 |
286033.69 |
430080.31 |
504.90 |
455.80 |
12039B |
10 |
SS |
137.00 |
|
20.00 |
52.00 |
286033.69 |
430080.31 |
504.90 |
452.90 |
The following form will calculate weighted averages on any
field in the assay results table. The results shown are for Copper
MinDepthFrom
|
MaxDepthTo |
totLenCore |
cuAvg |
cuWgtAvg |
22 |
62 |
40 |
2336.65 |
2334.35 |
Following is an example of the overlaps query that can be
setup for any hole in a database. Queries like this help ensure the integrity of the
database and reduce time wasted in mining packages.
HoleID |
DepthFrom1 |
DepthTo1 |
DepthFrom2 |
DepthTo2 |
869 |
6 |
7 |
5 |
6.1 |
DD94CD13 |
9.8 |
12 |
8 |
10 |
Importing and Exporting
This is especially critical in mining
packages. The following example shows a customised exporting and reporting form that
allows you to select what collars you want through the access query design interface and
which tables you want to export. Because datamine uses special custom formats for
its direct table loads, these are generated using Access Basic code. This saves the
extra step to convert fixed width text files into datamine tables. This client
now runs a number of users on an Access database and this frees up the datamine
workstations to run specific geological applications.
Customised Drillhole Software ???
GR-FX Pty Limited is a consulting firm that has many years experience setting up
drillhole systems in Relational Databases. Our final custom Access software
generally becomes a simple system that requires less than an hours training if you are
experienced in using Windows Applications. We set up our software to complement
mining packages rather than compete with them. Our systems are automatically multi
user on Windows file shares and do not have any cumbersome security devices.
Can we help you ?
