Burra mine 3D model

Brief description

The Burra (Burra) Mine, situated 150 km north of Adelaide within the Adelaide Geosyncline, produced 2.7 million tonnes of copper ore in two major mining phases: 1845 – 1877 and 1970 - 1981. The entire length of the pit is occupied by a diapiric body intruding the Skillogalee Dolomite and may extend up to 500 m to the west. Recognition that the porphyry and associated mineralisation are of similar age to the host Skillogalee Dolomite promotes large tracts of the Adelaide Geosyncline as prospective for similar mineralisation. The Burra mine 3D model was constructed using a georeferenced version of the original hand-drafted base map, which included elevation data points surveyed during the final phase of mining. These elevation locations and associated height data were digitised from the georeferenced map into a GIS point dataset. Borehole and survey station points were captured and saved in separate point datasets. The point dataset elevation values were transferred to the base plan polylines (where spatially coinicident), and these lines were used to generate a 3D triangular irregular network (TIN). Elevation points not spatially coincident with base plan lines were added to the TIN separately. The geology dataset was draped over the TIN in a 3D visualisation environment and was output to an Adobe 3D pdf format for display in Acrobat Reader TM.

Lineage

Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlanned

Statement: Recent (as of now) major technical advances in computer-based geological modelling and data visualization methods have allowed the Geological Survey of South Australia to create a digital model of the mine's geology from stored data that was obtained by the above described project: this data hitherto has only existed in hard copy records kept by the Department. Note: these models are presented as a 'proof of concept' only and their accuracy (spatial or otherwise) should not be relied upon for exploration or other decision making processes.

Notes

Purpose
To aid in geological exploration.