Unit #4 Carlson Software

Carlson is an Autocad Overlay Designed to build specialized commands into a widely used drawing package Largely 2D or a highly layered 3D Dimensional limitations and the adding of commands to a basically familiar package speeds learning and familiarizing

Used Heavily in the Coal Industry Most coal is mined in near level seams of fairly uniform thickness Carlson has done an excellent job – Adding dragline simulation into surface coal mining – Highly integrated with day to day surveying Performance in non-uniform and irregular 3D such as metals and industrial minerals is generally behind the competition

Coal Mine Planning Generally starts with drill hole data You import the data into Carlson Carlson can extrapolate the data across a grid that can be used for contours – Carlson can estimate reserves and quality off of contours Alternatively Carlson can build a block model to work from

Continuing Once reserves are defined you plan out your entries Carlson allows you to describe things like entries and pillar sizes and then it draws things out instantly – Tremendous time savings vs. what it would take to do the same in MineSight When the layout is complete you can put in mining rate information and Carlson will time out your panels for you.

A Different Kind of Unit I do not know Carlson like I know MineSight In this unit I have taken Carlson videos and seminar papers and tried to piece together an outline to train you – It will also mean that not all software will be taught to you in one format Good – Bad? I guess you’ll decide

An Outline For 3 weeks – I will take Monday and Tuesday for economic considerations – Thursday we will not hold class – you will run a self study self pace Frankly my ability to help is limited because I am not a Carlson man You will be producing a single project with your work that you turn in at the end.

The Information The first articles and videos will cover – Setting up Carlson – Understanding Carlson’s geology modeling – Importing of drill hole data – Preparing either data grids or block models – Estimating reserves The next articles and videos will deal with drawing panels and entries and timing mining operations.

Your Project This block of ground is 3 miles north to south and 5 miles east to west. At the south end the coal is 8 feet thick, but at the north end it is only 3 feet thick. The coal thins in a linear fashion to the north. At the south end the sulfur is 3.5%. At the north end the sulfur is 0.9%. The sulfur content again varies linearly. You need to produce a coal product of not more than 2% sulfur through the life of your mine. You will be doing 3 million tons of coal per year with room and pillar supersection. Your depth is 500 feet. Coal strength is typical of Illinois #6 coal. Assume you have a sandstone floor with no weak floor underclays. Draw me a resonable mine layout and time your mining using Carlson software.