A2GC

Numerical Modelling Capabilities

A2GC offers a range of numerical modelling services, from basic stress interaction analyses to
advanced Life of Mine risk profiles focusing on expected mining conditions, energy release and potential seismic reactions, and dilution.

There are several characteristics that we believe differentiate us, including the following:

  • We ensure the modelling objectives and specific questions are clear and unambiguous, and attainable with an adequate degree of confidence.
  • We ensure your data support the level of analysis you seek. If not, we will provide you with a gap analysis that clearly establishes what data are missing and how to obtain them.
  • We use Deswik as our preferred tool to transfer geometrical and planning data more efficiently and more quickly from our clients to our models.
  • We do not indiscriminately “put everything” in a model. We carefully vet the data you have and decide what to include in the analyses, based on accuracy, resolution, completeness and reliability.
  • We never do “cookie-cutter” analyses. Every project is its own thing with its own peculiarities.
  • We focus on the questions at hand. We never make models larger, denser and more complex than needed – this keeps the analyses efficient and reduces costs and delivery times.
  • We put particular emphasis on the calibration aspect where possible. This effort upstream significantly increases the confidence in the modelling results and reduces rework.
  • We never assign junior people to modelling projects. We only use seasoned numerical modelling specialists with extensive experience.
  • During the completion of the project, we keep in close alignment with the objectives, schedule and budget by holding regular meetings, typically weekly, to discuss progress.
  • We continuously innovate technically on various levels:
      • We are constantly improving our tectonic initial stress installation scripts. The approach allows to initialise, when required, different stress magnitudes in different lithologies based on their stiffness, which will affect their reaction to nearby mining.
      • We are continuously refining the criteria associated with the various risk profiles we have pioneered, whereby the geomechanical difficulties anticipated by our models are quantified per time unit (typically monthly, quarterly or bi-yearly) in terms of tonnes of ore or oz /lb of metal in the ‘High,’ ‘Moderate’ and ‘Low’ risk categories. These graphs (example below) allow to readily identify steps in the modelled sequence where production could be compromised by geotechnical issues.

      • We are constantly improving post-peak behaviours in our inelastic models. We routinely consider an additional inflection point between the peak and residual strengths, which renders the post-peak behaviour much more realistic for moderately jointed hard rocks, and better suited to capture seismic behaviours.

      • An additional inflexion point, this one to the left of the peak strength, is next on our list of improvements.
      • We are regularly refining our modelling approach for paste and hydraulic backfill to better represent the internal stresses that develop in it from the pouring process (as a fluid), prior to curing (as a solid). This is an important aspect when the focus of the analyses is on the stability of backfill exposures.
  • We rely heavily on the power, speed and flexibility of Python to extract, compile and display results.
  • We encourage exporting our results to clients, preferably in ParaView, so they can query for themselves all the numerical results.
  • We are transparent about the hypotheses, assumptions and limitations associated with our analyses and conclusions.

Contact us at info@a2gc.ca for more information