Creating Lithology Profile Diagrams

RockWorks | Borehole Manager | Lithology | Profile

Use this program to:

• Create a new 3-dimensional solid model representing interpolated lithology types (an .RwMod file) - OR - read an existing lithology .RwMod file you've already created, and
• "Slice" this lithology model between two points and create a 2D profile diagram.   Because the lithology is interpolated across the entire project, you can place the profile slice anywhere you like - you're not restricted to picking borehole locations.

The lithologies will be represented in the model using the numeric "G-values" declared in the Lithology Types Table.  The lithologies will be represented in the profile with the background color and/or pattern defined for the rock type in the Lithology Types Table.  2D striplogs can be projected onto the profile with true orientation maintained.

See also: Lithology Sections for lithology cross sections made up of multiple slices, displaying vertical logs only.

Feature Level: RockWorks Standard and higher
 

Menu Options
Step-by-Step Summary

Menu Options

• Lithology Modeling Options: First, tell the program whether you wish to use an existing lithology solid model (from a previous use of this tool or another Lithology menu tool) or you wish to create a new lithology solid model, by clicking in the appropriate radio button.
  ! NOTE This is not trivial. Creating the lithology model can take some time, depending on the resolution of the model and the detail of your data. If you already created a pleasing model for display as a fence diagram, for example, you can use the same model, which was stored on disk as a .RwMod file, for the profile.
   
  • Create New Model:  If you want to create a new model, click in this radio button, and expand this item to establish the modeling settings. 
    • Spatial (XYZ) Filtering: Insert a check in this box, on the right side of the window, to activate a data filter based on spatial coordinates. Expand this heading to establish the filter settings. 
      Note that these tools filter the data that is passed to the modeling procedures.  This is distinct from the filters that are applied once the model is completed, and described below.
    • Create Filtering / Sampling Report: Check this box if you've activated the above filter and wish to see a listing of the filtered data.
    • Lithology Model Name: Click to the right to enter a name for the lithologic model, such as "lithology".  The program will append automatically the file name extension ".RwMod". 
    • Modeling Options: Click on the Options button to establish important modeling settings:
      • Algorithm (Modeling Method): This determines the modeling method to use, for interpolating your lithology model. (More.)
      • Additional Options: These include model dimensions, tilting, warping, filtering above-ground, smoothing, and much more. 
    • Limit Input to Selected G Values: Check this box to filter the input data. (More.)
    • Limit Model to Selected G Values: Check this box to filter the output model. (More.)
      
      
  • Use Existing Model: If you wish to use an already-existing lithology model, click in this radio button, and expand this item to select: 
    • Model Name: Click on this item to browse for the name of the existing lithology model (.RwMod file) to be used for this profile.
       
• Fill Options: Expand this option to choose how to fill the profile layers; you can select either or both:
  • Fill Background will fill the profile panels with the background color selected for the rock type in the Lithology Types Table.
  • Plot Patterns will display the pattern selected for the material in the Lithology Types Table.

  
   

• Lithology Legend: Insert a check here to include a legend that lists all of the lithology keywords and their colors and patterns, as listed in the active Lithology Types Table. Expand this item to set the legend width, size, and offset.  More. 
   
• Plot Logs:  If you would like for the program to append striplogs to your profile diagram, as shown in the sample at the top of this page, insert a check here. 
  • Clip Logs: Check this sub-item if you want to restrict the logs to a particular elevation range.  This should match the elevation range of the lithology model you are creating at this time (or the existing lithology model, if specified). (More.)
  • Include Stripmap: Insert a check here to include a stripmap above or below the profile diagram, which depicts the position of the logs within the search "swath" relative to the profile. Expand this heading to establish the Stripmap location and appearance options. (More.)
  • Show Collar Distances: Insert a check in this box to display at the top of the profile a series of labels that represents each borehole's distance to the profile line. (More.)
  • 2D Striplog Designer: Click on the 2D Striplog Designer tab to the right, to select the items to display in the individual logs to overlay the lithology profile. 

• Visible Items:  Use the check-boxes in the Visible Items column to select which log items are to be displayed.  See Visible Item Summary for information about the different log items.
• Options: Click on any of the Visible Items names to see the item's settings in the Options pane to the right.  See the Visible Items Summary, above, for links to the Options settings.
• Layout Preview: For each item you've activated, you'll see a preview cartoon in the upper pane.  Click and drag any item to the left or right to rearrange the log columns.  See Using the 2D Log Designer.

! For Profile diagrams, striplogs will be projected onto the line of section; you'll be able to select the distance from the profile cut within which logs will be "grabbed" for display in the diagram.  See Multi-Log Profiles for information.

! Deviated/inclined boreholes can be displayed with true geometry on the profile.

• Plot Surface Profile:  Insert a check here to include a line on the profile that represents a user-selected grid model, typically the ground surface. Expand this heading to access the profile options.
  • Surface Profile Options: Click the Options button to select the grid model to be represented, and to establish the profile settings.  (More.)

  

  
   
• Create Additional Parallel Profiles:  Check this box if you want multiple profile lines to be drawn automatically, offset from the profile that you define. Expand this heading to define the direction and spacing of the automatic profile lines, the maximum distance, and diagram labeling options.  (More.)

  
   

• Show Fault(s): Check this box to display vertical fault lines in the profile, based on the location of one or more fault polylines defined in the project database. (More.)

• Show Infrastructure: Check this box to display buildings, pipes, or other infrastructure with your profile. Click the Options button to define the infrastructure file and plot settings. (More.)

• 
  

• Perimeter Annotation: Expand this heading to establish title, border, and vertical exaggeration settings for the profile. (More.)

• Create Location Map:  Insert a check here to have the program create, along with the profile, a reference map that shows the profile cut's location.  It can be embedded in or created separately from the profile. (More.) 

• Profile Selection Map: Click on the Profile Selection Map tab to the right, to select where the profile cut (or multiple cuts, if you've requested parallel profiles, above) to be placed. The most recent profile drawn for this project will be displayed.  (More.)

Step-by-Step Summary

1. Access the Borehole Manager program tab. 
2. Enter/import your data into the Borehole Manager. This tool specifically reads location, orientation (if any), and lithology data.
3. Enable boreholes:  Be sure that all boreholes whose data are to be included in the lithology model (which will be sliced for the profile) are enabled.
4. Select the Lithology | Profile menu option. 
5. Enter the requested menu items, described above
6. If you are including logs with the profile, be sure to click on the 2D Striplog Designer tab to establish how you want the logs to look.
7. Be sure to click on the Profile Selection Map tab to set the profile location.
8. Click on the Process button to create the lithology profile diagram. 

If you've selected Use Existing Model, the program will load the information from the existing lithology model (.RwMod file), and will proceed to diagram generation.

If you've selected Create New Model, the program will scan the project database and extract the borehole locations, lithology depths and materials, and any borehole orientation.  It will apply any source data filters you have requested, and will interpolate the solid lithology model.

9. If you requested Confirm Dimensions, the program will first prompt you to confirm the default solid model dimensions.  (More.)

The program will then look at the coordinates specified for the profile cut and determine the closest nodes along the cut in the brand-new model, if created, or in the existing model. It will construct a vertical profile to illustrate the lithology types, using the rock types' background colors and/or patterns specified in the Lithology Types Table, as requested. Logs and a profile location map will be appended if requested.  The completed diagram will be displayed in a RockPlot2D tab in the Options window.

10. You can adjust any of the following items and then click the Process button again to regenerate the profile.
    • Lithology model settings in the Options pane on the left*, and/or
    • Profile settings in the Options pane on the left, and/or
    • Striplog settings in the 2D Striplog Designer tab, and/or
    • Profile location in the Profile Selection Map tab.

    ! Each time you click the Process button, the existing profile display will be replaced. 
    ! * If the lithology model looks OK and you just need to adjust one of the diagram settings, you don't need to keep re-interpolating the model.  Choose Use Existing Model and browse for the lithology .RwMod file to be used for the profile.
     

11. View / save / manipulate / print / export the profile in the RockPlot2D window.

Tips:

• Use the Stretch button in RockPlot to fill the window with the profile.  This is helpful if the profile is long and shallow. 
• If the profile looks better with a vertical exaggeration greater than or less than 1, you can pre-define this in the Perimeter Annotation Options which will generate better-looking axis annotations.
  
  

 Back to Lithology Menu Summary 

RockWare home page