Application of a Geostatistical Method to Quantitatively Define Various Categories of Resources

In a previous article the author proposed a geostatistical method providing technical criteria required to classify reasonably assured resources by levels of assurance of their existence. This method has been used to define the “measured” and “indicated” geological resources of the Short Creek lignite coal zone in Southern Saskatchewan. The technical criteria provided by this geostatistical method are compared with the more traditional criteria previously used to classify the same coal resources. Several properties of the method are discussed and recommendations are made concerning its application.