Geological Modelling of Pegmatites at Odysseus Deposit

This case study presents the geological modelling methods applied to the Odysseus Deposit, a nickel sulphide deposit located in Western Australia. The study focuses on the challenges faced in mineral resource estimation due to the presence of pegmatites that intrude and displace the orebody. It details the geostatistical simulation study conducted by IGO, which utilized a categorical adaptation of the sequential indicator simulation (SIS) method to interpret pegmatite geometries. The study produced 50 realizations of pegmatite geometry, revealing significant variability in spatial distribution. Three alternative geological modelling methods were tested, including a vein tool algorithm, an intrusion implicit algorithm, and Maptek™ DomainMCF. The results indicated that the DomainMCF model provided the most precise estimations and was consistent with the geological data. The study emphasizes the importance of close-spaced drilling to reduce geological uncertainty and improve resource estimation accuracy, ultimately aiding in effective mine planning.