12/20/2018 Surpac Structural Suite Part 1 - Key Functions

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Surpac Structural Suite Part 1 – Key

Functions
December 5, 2018
By Ross Pemberton (https://blogs.3ds.com/geovia/author/rosspemberton/)

The modelling of structural geology is often an over-looked, misunderstood and under-utilized facet of
the mining process, where deeper knowledge of structural trends can provide vital insights into design
considerations, safety, ore genesis and structural controls on mineralization.

With the release of the GEOVIA Surpac 6.9 Structural Suite, geologists now have the capability to
visualise, interpret and plot these trends. The key benefits and use cases of this toolset are outlined in
the GEOVIA Blog post, entitled ‘Extending Geology Modeling for Structural Geologists with the Surpac
Structural Suite (https://blogs.3ds.com/geovia/extending-geology-modeling-for-structural-geologists-
with-the-surpac-structural-suite/)’.

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12/20/2018 Surpac Structural Suite Part 1 - Key Functions

(https://blogs.3ds.com/geovia/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2018/12/1-Surpac-Structural-Suite-Part-
1-e1544019393707.jpg)

*Structural symbols visualising the dip of a bedding plane across an area.

(Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2013.)

In part 1 of this 3 part GEOVIA blog post series we will discuss some of the key functions available
within the Surpac Structural Suite of tools.

Today we will look at its location within GEOVIA Surpac software (version 6.9 or newer) and explain in
detail the Data visualizer function. The Structural Suite toolset is located under the Database menu >
Structural Suite submenu. It contains 24 functions.

1) HOW TO DISPLAY STRUCTURAL MEASUREMENTS IN GEOVIA SURPAC

The featured function in this post, is the Data Visualizer which will require a Surpac drillhole database to
be open before use. Downhole and surface structural measurements can be visualised with this function
following the workflow below:

a. For downhole structural measurements:

Firstly, downhole structural measurements should be stored within the database inside a point table
before starting the Data Visualizer function. The mandatory fields within this table are hole_id and
depth_to. Optional field examples include: dip, dip_direction, strike, alpha and beta
depth_to beta. Example:

(https://blogs.3ds.com/geovia/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2018/12/2-Surpac-Structural-Suite-Part-
1.png)

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12/20/2018 Surpac Structural Suite Part 1 - Key Functions

b. For surface structural measurements:

Surface structural measurements should be stored within the database inside a discrete table before
starting the Data Visualizer function. The mandatory fields within this table are samp_id, x, y and z.
z
Optional field examples include: dip, dip_direction, strike, alpha and beta.
beta Example:

(https://blogs.3ds.com/geovia/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2018/12/3-Surpac-Structural-Suite-Part-
1.png)

c. Then launch Structural Suite > Data Visualizer

The following form will be displayed, navigate through the tabs left to right.

i. On the first tab Data Source select the table containing the structural measurements and select the
preferred directional notation and fields that will orientate the structural symbols (e.g. dip and
dip_direction).

(https://blogs.3ds.com/geovia/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2018/12/4-Surpac-Structural-Suite-Part-
1.png)

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12/20/2018 Surpac Structural Suite Part 1 - Key Functions

ii. The second tab Constraints is optional and can be disabled by unticking Define Constraints.
Constraints This tab
allows the user to constrain which symbols are displayed on screen by using drillhole or data table
constraints.

iii. On the third tab choose between simple and advanced styles for the structural symbols. These
settings control the symbol shape, size and application (e.g. 3D or 2D). To disable symbols untick Create
symbols. Examples of simple and advanced styling are given below:
symbols

(https://blogs.3ds.com/geovia/wp-

content/uploads/sites/21/2018/12/5-Surpac-Structural-Suite-Part-1-1.png)

* Example of simple styling

(https://blogs.3ds.com/geovia/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2018/12/6-Surpac-Structural-Suite-Part-
1.png)

* Example of advanced styling

TIP: Please note custom symbols can be created and loaded into the Data Visualizer function by saving
the corresponding symbol as a string file into this location:

C:\Users\Public\GEOVIA\Surpac\<Surpac_version>\share\resource\scripts\structural_suite\symbols’.

When saving the symbol into string file format, the Purpose field in the save form must be filled, as this
will be the name displayed in the Symbol drop down menu. The symbol itself should be digitised in plan
view and be ~1m across in size (to be consist with the scaling convention of the other symbols). GEOVIA
Surpac must be restarted before the new symbol will appear in the function.

iv. On the fourth tab Coloring Styles,

Styles select the field to color by and the Autostyle to use (e.g. Rainbow).
To disable colouring untick Use Coloring.

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(https://blogs.3ds.com/geovia/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2018/12/7-Surpac-Structural-Suite-Part-
1.png)

v. Click Apply to view the symbols on screen. See image at top of post for example of the output.

In PART 2 of this GEOVIA Blog post we will look at the following Structural Suite functions:

• Create stereographic projection from selected data

• Create Planes from stereographic projection
• Dip/dip direction of the intersection line of two planes

Bio Latest Posts

Ross Pemberton
Mining Knowledge Consultant, GEOVIA at Dassault Systèmes

Ross is a qualified Resource Geologist with 5 years' industry experience in database

management, geological modeling, grade control, geostatistics, resources estimations
and process mapping. Since joining GEOVIA, Ross has helped mining clients in Europe,
Middle East and Africa, working across gold, copper, lead, zinc, iron, coal and mineral
sands commodities. Ross specializes in GEOVIA Surpac, GEMS, Minex, MineSched and
3DVIA Composer. He is based in Coalville, UK.

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