A Comparative Study of Ore Reserve Estimation Methods: Traditional Triangulation vs. Geovia Surpac & Maptek Vulcan at the Al Khabra Phosphate Deposit, Saudi Arabia

Authors

• Hussein A. Saleem, Mining Engineering Department, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia AND Mining and Metallurgical Engineering Department, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt
• Mostafa A-B Ebrahim, Civil Engineering and Environmental Department, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia AND Civil Engineering Department, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt
• Gamal S. Abdelhaffez, Mining Engineering Department, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia AND Mining and Metallurgical Engineering Department, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, EgyptFollow
• Abdul Majeed Al Aenezi, Saudi Arabian Mining Co (Maaden)

Abstract

Ore reserve estimation drives mining's economic viability. Reserve estimation in mining involves determining the amount of economically extractable minerals in a given deposit. This study, using 63 boreholes, conducts a comparison of triangulation, Geovia Surpac, and Maptek Vulcan for Al Khabra's phosphate reserves, Saudi Arabia. It computes grade, volume, and tonnage, revealing a 2.05% difference in Surpac and 0.68% in Vulcan. Specifically, the traditional triangulation method yielded a reserve of 278.6 million tonnes (Mt) at an average grade of 21.75% P₂O₅. In comparison, Geovia Surpac estimated 284.3 Mt, and Maptek Vulcan estimated 280.5 Mt at a grade of 22.25% P₂O₅. The findings highlight method synergy, optimizing phosphate mine planning and ore recovery for long-term profitability.

First Page

43

Last Page

55

Recommended Citation

Saleem, Hussein A.; Ebrahim, Mostafa A-B; Abdelhaffez, Gamal S.; and Aenezi, Abdul Majeed Al (2026) "A Comparative Study of Ore Reserve Estimation Methods: Traditional Triangulation vs. Geovia Surpac & Maptek Vulcan at the Al Khabra Phosphate Deposit, Saudi Arabia," Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Engineering Sciences: Vol. 36: Iss. 1, Article 5.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64064/1658-4260.1022

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.