GEOSTATISTICAL APPROACH FOR THE ESTIMATION OF SHEAR-HOSTED GOLD DEPOSIT: A CASE STUDY OF THE OBUASI GOLD DEPOSIT, GHANA

Casmed Charles Amadu (), Gordon Foli, Bernard Kissi-Abrokwa and Sylvester Akpah
Additional contact information
Casmed Charles Amadu: Department of Earth Science, Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, CK Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, P. O. Box 24, Navrongo, Ghana
Gordon Foli: Department of Geological Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), PMB, University Post Office; Kumasi, Ghana
Bernard Kissi-Abrokwa: Department of Earth Science, Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, CK Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, P. O. Box 24, Navrongo, Ghana
Sylvester Akpah: Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Mines and Technology, P. O. Box 237, Tarkwa, Ghana

Malaysian Journal of Geosciences (MJG), 2021, vol. 5, issue 2, 76-84

Abstract: Underground mining at Obuasi in Ghana has been in operation since 1947. This paper uses geostatistical methods to evaluate gold ore blocks to ensure reliable grades for mining large tonnage and low-grade resources. Historically, the principal ores were low tonnage, high grade and relatively homogeneous quartz stockwork with simple geometry and average bulk grades in the range of 20-30 g/t that were evaluated using conventional polygonal methods and mined by semi-mechanized means. Currently, the ore is a shear-hosted mixed quartz vein and disseminated sulphide type deposit of low grade that is mined using highly mechanized means. The need therefore arises for a re-assessment of the estimation procedures to ensure prolonged and more profitable mining. Both diamond drill (DD) core and stope/cross-cut channel samples were taken from Block 1 at the mine for analyses and re-assessment. A wireframe model was used to constrain the three dimensional (3D) block model of the deposit. Ordinary kriging (OK) and multiple indicator kriging (MIK) geostatistical methods were used to estimate gold grades. Grade distribution is positively skewed with high spatial variability and extreme values while background values are established as

Keywords: Ore reserve estimation; geostatistics; ordinary kriging; multiple indicator kriging (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zib:zbnmjg:v:5:y:2021:i:2:p:76-84

DOI: 10.26480/mjg.02.2021.76.84

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