Estimation of proportions of lithotypes using auxiliary information

Abstract

The problem of estimating the proportion of lithological (ore) types in volumes of mineral deposits is considered when an auxiliary variable Z(z) is observed along with the lithology L(x) at x. The process {Z(x)} is assumed to be stationary and an assumption on the statistical relationship between {Z(x)} and {L(x)} processes is made. Consequently, the second-order stationarity of {L(x)} is not required. A method using the kriged distribution of the auxiliary variable is proposed. A case study illustrating the procedure is given.