Ordinary cokriging of additive log-ratios for estimating grades in iron ore deposits

Risk assessment and economic evaluation of mining projects are mainly affected by the determination of grades and tonnages. In the case of iron ore, multiple variables must be determined for ore characterization which estimation must satisfy the original mass balances and stoichiometry among granulometric fractions and chemical species. Models of these deposits are generally built from estimates obtained using ordinary kriging or cokriging, most time using solely the global grades and determining the ones present at different granulometric partitions by regression. Alternative approaches include determining the totality of the chemical species and distributing the closing error or leaving one variable aside and determining it by difference afterwards, adding up the error of previous determinations. Furthermore, the estimates obtained are outside the interval of the original variables or even exhibiting negative values. These inconsistencies are generally overridden by post-processing the estimates to satisfy the closed sum condition and positiveness. In this paper, cokriging of additive log-ratios (alr) is implemented to determine global grades of iron, silica, alumina, phosphorous, manganese and loss by ignition and masses of three different granulometric partitions, providing better results than the ones obtained through cokriging of the original variables, with all the estimates within the original data values interval and satisfying the considered mass balances. Key words: iron ore, additive log-ratios, cokriging, compositional data, geostatistic

Ordinary Cokriging of Additive Log-Ratios for Estimating Grades in Iron Ore Deposits

Risk assessment and economic evaluation of mining projects are mainly affected by the determination of grades and tonnages. In the case of iron ore, multiple variables must be determined for ore characterization which estimation must satisfy the original mass balances and stoichiometry among granulometric fractions and chemical species. Models of these deposits are generally built from estimates obtained using ordinary kriging or cokriging, most time using solely the global grades and determining the ones present at different granulometric partitions by regression. Alternative approaches include determining the totality of the chemical species and distributing the closing error or leaving one variable aside and determining it by difference afterwards, adding up the error of previous determinations. Furthermore, the estimates obtained are outside the interval of the original variables or even exhibiting negative values. These inconsistencies are generally overridden by post-processing the estimates to satisfy the closed sum condition and positiveness. In this paper, cokriging of additive log-ratios (alr) is implemented to determine global grades of iron, silica, alumina, phosphorous, manganese and loss by ignition and masses of three different granulometric partitions, providing better results than the ones obtained through cokriging of the original variables, with all the estimates within the original data values interval and satisfying the considered mass balance

Efeito do manejo de plantas daninhas sobre Neoseiulus californicus (Acari:Phytoseiidae) em pomar de macieira Effect of weed management on Neoseiulus californicus (Acari:Phytoseiidae) in apple orchard

Avaliou-se a influência do manejo de plantas daninhas sobre o deslocamento de ácaros tetraniquídeos (Panonychus ulmi e Tetranychus urticae) e do ácaro predador Neoseiulus californicus em um pomar de macieira 'Gala', onde foi implantado o controle biológico do ácaro vermelho, P. ulmi, por meio de liberações massais de N. californicus. As parcelas tiveram as plantas daninhas manejadas de três formas: sem manejo, com roçadas manuais e com herbicidas. As populações de ácaros foram avaliadas sobre as plantas daninhas, Plantago tormentosa e Erigeron sp, e sobre as folhas de macieira. As maiores populações de N. californicus foram observadas nas parcelas onde os manejos proporcionaram desenvolvimento de plantas daninhas na linha de plantio. Na parcela manejada com herbicida, houve maior população de ácaros tetraniquídeos sobre as macieiras, provavelmente, devido ao reduzido número de N. californicus. P. tormentosa foi o hospedeiro preferencial do ácaro predador. Concluiu-se que o manejo de plantas daninhas, na linha de plantio das macieiras, assume um importante papel no equilíbrio entre as populações de ácaros.<br>The influence of weed management on tetranychid mites (Panonychus ulmi and Tetranychus urticae) and phytoseids movement was evaluated. Neoseiulus californicus populations were released in an apple orchard for biological control of tetranychid mites. Three kinds of weed management were used: no weed control at all, manual control and control with herbicide. The mites were evaluated in Plantago tormentosa, Erigeron sp, and apple tree leaves. The highest population of N. californicus was observed where weed was not controlled. Tetranychid mites populations were abundant on apple trees when herbicide was used, probably due to the low population of N. californicus. P. tormentosa was the preferred host of phytoseids. The conclusion was that weed management plays an important role in the regulation of mite species in apple orchards