Plurigaussian conditional simulation (PGS) of the Budenovskoe uranium roll-front deposit, central Kazakhstan: 3D model of the host sedimentary sequence

ABSTRACT

The current paper presents case study of the Budenovskoe sandstone-hosted uranium deposit, the host sequence of which has been modelled geostatistically, using Plurigaussian conditional simulation (PGS) and Sequential Gaussian conditional simulation (SGS). The PGS method minimises subjectivism of the geological interpretations, by constraining the lithological models to geostatistical and lithostratigraphic characteristics of the host sequence, and accurately reproduces litho-stratigraphy of the sedimentary sequence, realistically conveying its complexity. This was integrated with the rock permeability generated using SGS. Integrating two models has significantly enhanced definition of the fluid infiltration passages in the host sequence. The model was built using stochastic algorithms of PGS and SGS, and therefore can be used for estimation the project risk. In practice, the errors, initially estimated to the blocks used for the conditional simulation, are grouped to the volumes of a practical interest, including the resource and reserve domains, production blocks and the leach cells.

KEYWORDS:

• Plurigaussian simulation
• uranium rolls
• permeability model
• Budenovskoe deposit
• uranium
• roll-type
• ISL

Acknowledgements

Authors are grateful to the Kazakhstan geologists who have provided the drillholes data and geological information of the project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).