TY - JOUR
T1 - Integrated 3D geological modeling of Sonda-Jherruck coal field, Pakistan
AU - Jiskani, Izhar Mithal
AU - Siddiqui, Fahad Irfan
AU - Pathan, Abdul Ghani
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - Despite being one of the largest coal fields in Pakistan, the Sonda-Jherruck coal resource is yet to be exploited. Exploration studies were done between 1981 and 1989 by the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS). While much exploratory data is available, computer-aided geological modeling has not been carried out. The resource estimation was carried out using the traditional circular 891 method. The specified distance between observational points remains constant, disregarding continuity in seam thickness that leads to higher uncertainty. Fault modeling and geologic mapping were not performed in preliminary reports. Fault lines based on aerial maps are indicated. This study generated 3D solid seam models and a fault model of the deposit. Coal seams were modeled to produce spatial distribution maps for seam thickness. The overall in-place coal resources of the deposit are estimated to be 4.66 billion tons, however mineable resources are estimated to be 1.59 billion tons. The method of fault detection is based on drill hole data. Dipping was calculated using regular grid data and the unknown points were estimated using the inverse distance weighting squared method. The assessed fault zones were compared with the USGS fault lines and an apparent similarity was observed.
AB - Despite being one of the largest coal fields in Pakistan, the Sonda-Jherruck coal resource is yet to be exploited. Exploration studies were done between 1981 and 1989 by the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS). While much exploratory data is available, computer-aided geological modeling has not been carried out. The resource estimation was carried out using the traditional circular 891 method. The specified distance between observational points remains constant, disregarding continuity in seam thickness that leads to higher uncertainty. Fault modeling and geologic mapping were not performed in preliminary reports. Fault lines based on aerial maps are indicated. This study generated 3D solid seam models and a fault model of the deposit. Coal seams were modeled to produce spatial distribution maps for seam thickness. The overall in-place coal resources of the deposit are estimated to be 4.66 billion tons, however mineable resources are estimated to be 1.59 billion tons. The method of fault detection is based on drill hole data. Dipping was calculated using regular grid data and the unknown points were estimated using the inverse distance weighting squared method. The assessed fault zones were compared with the USGS fault lines and an apparent similarity was observed.
KW - 3D geological modeling
KW - Coal resource estimation
KW - Fault modeling
KW - Solid modeling
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85051012954&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jsm.2018.06.001
DO - 10.1016/j.jsm.2018.06.001
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85051012954
SN - 2543-4950
VL - 17
SP - 111
EP - 119
JO - Journal of Sustainable Mining
JF - Journal of Sustainable Mining
IS - 3
ER -