Error analysis and visualization of 3D geological models of mineral deposits

• Errors in deposit models arise from inaccuracies in modeling data and interpolation methods. • Data and method errors are analyzed to quantify errors in 3D geological models. • Errors are visualized using colors to aid interpretation and improve understanding. • Boolean operations create quarry and mining models for practical applications. The accuracy of 3D geological models of mineral deposits has a significant impact on the precision and reliability of mining production decisions. High-precision 3D geological models can provide more accurate geological information of mineral deposits. A scientific error analysis method is proposed to quantify the errors in geological models and visualize these errors by assigning them to geological model entities. The errors in 3D geological models of mineral deposits mainly originate from modeling data and interpolation methods. By analyzing the generation and processing of modeling data, an error model for the modeling data is established. The Kriging interpolation method is used to quantitatively describe the errors in the modeling methods, and these errors are integrated into the 3D geological model. By using Boolean operations, the 3D geological model is combined with the open-pit mine entity model to generate an error-containing mining site model and mined rock model, and to calculate their mining and stripping volumes and errors, achieving error visualization. Using an open-pit coal mine in Inner Mongolia as a case study, the construction of its 3D mineral deposit and mining field models demonstrates the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method in practical applications, highlighting its importance in improving the accuracy and reliability of mining production decisions.