Mineral Resource Estimation is a challenging and demanding field, requiring application of professional knowledge, skill and experience of the highest order. MRE is one of our core competencies and the pillar of our consulting practice. The accurate estimation of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves is critical to all mining operations irrespective of size or commodity.

Our consulting team has 32 years’ experience in mineral resource evaluation with proven capabilities to deliver outstanding, high quality work offering a proven record of producing accurate mineral resource estimates in accordance with the industry reporting codes..

UGES has mineral resource practitioners who are proficiency in  various resource estimation software packages as well as modern machine learning geostatistical software. At UGES we undertake independent global and local mineral resource estimations suitable for public reporting based on JORC 2012, SAMREC and NI 43-101. Our resource estimation team has in-depth knowledge of resource estimation and are abreast with current modern advances in the geostatistical industry. Our geostatisticians have advanced linear and non-linear geostatistical skills techniques to ensure that the most appropriate techniques are deployed.

The resource evaluation techniques deployed include but not limited to the following:

• Geostatistical techniques for continuous variables: Ordinary Kriging (OK), Standardized Ordinary Kriging (SOK), Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) etc.
• Geostatistical techniques  for categorical variables: Indicator Kriging (IK), Sequential Indicator Simulation (SIS), Implicit Modelling, Multiple Point statistics (MPS), Hierarchical Truncated Plauri-Gaussian (HTPG).
• Multivariate geostatistical techniques:
  • Cokriging
  • Collocated co-kriging using secondary data.
  • Data decorrelation using techniques such as PCA, MAF, PPMT followed by estimation.

Our resource estimation procedure is based on industry best practices:

• Validation of the input assay and QA/QC data
• Categorical modelling (i.e. IK, Implicit Modelling, HTPG, MPS)
• Domaining and domain verification using data clustering and data analytical algorithms
• Exploratory Data Analysis
• Outlier Management Strategies
• Spatial Data Analysis or Variography
• Cross-validation
• Quantified Kriging Neighbourhood Analysis
• Estimation using the most appropriate technique
• Block Model Validation
• Resource Classification
• Resource Reporting

Mineral exploration is a highly capital intensive activity which requires high investment, sustained cash inflow, and considerable amount of time with inherent risk. At the core of our competencies is our strong geological background and knowledge of the genesis of various hydrothermal and alluvial deposits. This strong background, versatile experience and skills enables us to carry-out any exploration project efficiently, offering a complete spectrum of exploration services varying from brown field, greenfield exploration to resource delineation drilling.

Our Mineral Exploration Services:

• Deskltop study
• Field Mapping
• Remore Sensing and Geophysical Exploration
• Geochemical Exploration
• Targeting 
• Exploration Drilling Planning and Management
• Quality Assurance and Control (QA/QC)
• Global Resource Estimation

UGES is affiliated with numerous experienced field geologists who have worked in both mono and polymineralic exploration projects in various operations thus enabling us to source the right skills in areas outside our core competencies. Our Exploration Strategy:

The UGES consulting team along with our affiliates has the necessary experience and the capability of conducting comprehensive mineral resource financial appraisal studies all the way from initial scoping through pre-feasibility to feasibility stage.

Our PA Services:

• Scoping Study: An initial assessment carried-out early in the life of a resource project. It is based on initial drilling and informed assumptions, and commonly include a basic mine plan.

• Pre-Feasibility Study: An assessment carried-out to determine whether a mineral resource is likely to support a viable mining project. Prefeasibility studies are more detailed than scoping studies and are the key intermediate step in the assessment of a mining project.

• Feasibility Study: An assessment carried-out to determine whether to proceed with a mining project into the detailed engineering and construction stage.

The most pertinent factor in Mineral Resource estimation is understanding the geology of the deposit. More notably, any result which does not take sufficient account of geology is almost certain to give an extremely misleading impression of the value of the deposit. Geological interpretation is a prerequisite and an essential element of Mineral Resource estimation and thus a major source of uncertainty. An important task of our geologists is to generate geological interpretations of mineral deposits to be used as inputs to the resource estimation process.  During geological interpretation, geological information derived from descriptive drillhole log data and mapping data is thoroughly analysed, supported by an understanding of the structural geometry of the ore body and a well-understood genetic model of mineralisation. Three Dimensional (3D) solid models’ or geological models that are used in resource estimation require an accurate depiction of key geometric and lithologic features of a deposit.These models form the basis of determination of estimation ‘domains’. These domains are statistically assessed to ensure that within them a reasonable degree of ‘statistical homogeneity’ (or ‘stationarity’) can be assumed.

Geological interpretation and modelling is one of UGES’s main competencies.  The understanding of the relationship between the mineralization and the geological processes that govern its emplacement and geometry within the geological framework is essential to the establishment of the geological controls for mineralization. Accurate definition of mineralization populations is essential for an accurate estimate of resources. To ensure that precise and homogeneous mineralization domains are defined, all pertinent geological features, grade continuity and associated mineralisation characteristics are thoroughly evaluated to enable the proper delineation of domains.

Our consultants have a proven track record of offering superior and competitive technical expertise in geological interpretation and development of complex geological models to underpin estimation domains. Our attention to geological detail, result oriented and excellent technical skills make us highly proficient. UGES has mineral resource practitioners who are proficiency in the various geological modelling software packages. 

Our Geological Modelling Services:

• Integration of various datasets on sections to generate lithological and grade models.
• Generation of lithological and grade solid models by wireframes or triangulation.
• Gridding of surfaces or structures to generate Digital Terrain Models  (DTM).
• Generation & verification of mineralization domains using sample clustering and data analytics workflows.
• Interpretation of bathymetry, side scan sonar and seismic data.

UGES consultants have a thorough understanding of disclosure standards of exploration results and mineral resources and reserves required by international mining industry reporting codes such as SAMREC, JORC and NI43-101. Our consultants are capable of compiling various international reporting codes compliant technical reports at all phases of a mining development project. Our consultants and affiliates are considered as both 'competent persons' in the reporting of mineral exploration results and mineral resources as per the requirements of mining industry reporting codes. Our affiliations with experienced mining industry consultants who serve as independent reviewers and co-signatories enable us to compile various technical reports in accordance with all industry reporting codes.

Our TR Services

• Compilation of Competent Person's Reports (CPR).
• Compilation of Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve Statements (MRRS).
• Compilation of Mineral Exploration Results Reports (MERR).

Decision making in the presence of geological and grade uncertainty is  highly risky. The risks associated with mining operations are varied and complex, with the dominant source of risk being the orebody itself.  At the core of resource risk analysis is understanding the variability or uncertainty of the resource. It is particularly important to assess resource variability during the early stages a mine development project. The lack of a better understanding of the geological and grade variability of the deposit is one of the common reasons for failure of most new mine projects. Once the geological and grade variability are understood, the risk profile of the resource and subsequent reserve can be established hence allow for more effective and informed decision-making.

Our AGM Services: 

Our consultants are high-end qualified geostatisticians with advanced geostatistical skills applicable for:

• resource uncertainty and risk analysis for mine plan optimization,
• estimation of recoverable resource above a given cut-off for both surface and underground mining environments,
• data spacing investigations for mineral resource classification and drill spacing optimization.

Various probabilistic resource modelling techniques are deployed to generate multiple plausible realizations of any variable of interest (i.e. U, Cu, Pb, Zn, Au, or Ag):

• Gaussian simulation techniques (SGS, TB and LU).
• Uniform Conditioning (UC) and Localized Uniform Conditioning (LUC).
• Change of support model and volume variance models (Discretized Gaussian Model, Indirect Log-normal Correction and Affine Correction).
• Multiple Indicator Kriging (MIK).
• Data Imputation.