Analysis of Spatial Variability

Once we have assembled all of the available investigation information into appropriate data structures, as discussed in Chapter 4, we are ready for the information review and analysis step. The principal objective is to obtain an in- depth appreciation of the available information that will dictate the course of the characterization process. The primary tools available for this purpose are visualization, statistical analysis and spatial variability analysis. Visualization techniques and statistical analysis are familiar to most of us and are not discussed in detail here; the case studies presented in Part II contain many examples. On the other hand, spatial variability analysis (or geostatistics as it is commonly called) is less familiar, particularly to those of us outside the mining sector. This is the principal focus of this chapter.