Reserve estimation of the high phosphorous stockpile at the Choghart iron mine of Iran using geostatistical modeling

An attempt to estimate the reserves in the High Phosphorous stockpile (HP) at the Choghart Iron mine of Iran was carried out using geostatistical modeling. Grade and tonnage estimates of ore stockpiles can help convert them into a valuable ore reserve. This is valuable in consideration of increasing metal demand, and the depletion of in situ ore reserves, around the world. Estimation of reserves in stockpiles is difficult partly because of geological and grade discontinuities created during the dumping of the ore piles. Data input for the HP stockpile at Choghart was performed based upon pre-existing information gathered during extraction from the various mining benches. After establishing the input data files the reserve estimates were found using geostatistical methods aided by the international mining software SURPAC. The stockpile was divided in to three domains and the reserves in each domain were estimated separately. A grade block model was used to compute the reserve. Fe% and P% were estimated using the Ordinary Kriging method. The results showed that the total tonnage of the HP stockpile is 4.5 million tons with an average grade of 55% Fe and 1.03% P.