Create Lithology Pie Chart/Starburst Maps

RockWorks | Borehole Operations | Lithology | Multivariate Map

Use this program to:

• Create a new 3-dimensional solid or block model representing interpolated lithology types (an .RwMod file)
  - OR -
  Read an existing lithology .RwMod file you've already created, and
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• Create a map of pie charts or starbursts that depict the relative amounts of various lithologies in the vicinity of each diagram.

This can be a helpful way to get a quick view of the overall geologic variability represented in a lithlogy model. The relative amounts of the different lithologic materials can be represented with either pie chart diagrams, in which greater values are represented with pie slices of greater angle and area (fixed length), or starburst diagrams, in which greater values are shown with longer petals (fixed angle).

The diagram fill is based on the background colors for the material types in the Lithology Types Table.

Note that the lithology materials that are represented in the diagrams are those from the base of the model to the top. They are NOT surface samples only.

Feature Level: RockWorks Standard and higher

Menu Options
Step-by-Step Summary

Menu Options

• Rules & Filters
  Use the buttons at the top of the window to apply spatial filters or time/date filters to the data being displayed in your map. (More info)
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• Model
  Click this tab to define whether you want to create a new lithology solid model or you wish to use an existing lithology solid model (from a previous use of this program or another Lithology menu program), 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 voxel diagram, for example, you can use the same model, which was stored on disk as an .RwMod file, for the multivariate map.
  
  
  • Create New Model: If you want to create a new model for the diagram, click in this radio button, and use the tabs to the right to establish the modeling settings.
    • Solid to be created: You can use the default program-assigned name, or click to the right to enter a different name for the lithologic model, such as "lithology". The program will append automatically the file name extension ".RwMod".
    • Create Filtering/Resampling Report: Check this item to generate a text report of the results of any spatial filtering you applied.
    • Limit Input: Check this box to activate an input data filter based on material type. Click on the tab to enter the filter settings. (More info)
    • Limit Output: Check this box to filter the output model based on material type. (More info)
    • Algorithm: Click this tab to select the modeling method to use, for interpolating your lithology model. (More info)
    • Special Options: Click on this tab to establish other model settings, such as tilting, warping, filtering above-ground, and smoothing. (More info)
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  • Use Existing Model: If you wish to use an already-existing lithology model, click in this radio button.
    • Solid Model: Browse for the name of the existing lithology model (.RwMod file) to be used for this map.
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• Diagrams
  Click this tab to set up the diagram options.
  
  • Type of Diagrams: Use the radio buttons to choose between Pie Charts or Starbursts.
     
  • Diagram Spacing: The spacing between diagram midpoints is defined in numbers of voxels. This will also represent the diameter of the diagrams. A setting of "5" for example, will create diagrams which are plotted every 5 voxels in plan view, with a diameter spanning 5 voxels. A setting of "10" will create diagrams every 10 voxels with a 10-voxel diameter. Here are some examples, overlaying a grid representing the plan view of the model.
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  • Search Radius: The circular area around each diagram within which the lithotypes will be sampled is also defined in number of voxels. A setting of "5" will cause the program to search a cylinder 5 voxels in diameter, from the top to the base of the model. A setting of "10" will use a search cylinder 10 voxels in diameter.
    ! The search radius does not need to match the diagram spacing (radius) in the event you want overlying sample margins.
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• 2D Map Options
  Use these checkboxes to append other layers to your map.
  Click each tab to set up the 2D map layers (image, map peripherals, map border, etc.).
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• Output Options
  • Save Output File: Check this to assign a name for the map in advance, rather than displaying it as Untitled.
    • Automatic: Choose this option to have RockWorks assign the name automatically. It will use the name of the current program plus a numeric suffix, plus the ".Rw2D" file name extension.
    • Manual: Choose this option to type in a name of your own for this file.
  • Display Output: Check this option to have the resulting map displayed in RockPlot2D once it is created.
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Step-by-Step Summary

1. Access the Borehole Manager program tab.
2. Enter/import your data into the Borehole Manager, if you have not done this already. This tool specifically reads location, orientation (if any), and lithology data.
3. Select the Lithology | Multivariate Map option from the Borehole Operations menu.
4. Enter the requested program settings, described above
5. Click the Continue button to proceed.

   If you've selected Use Existing Model, the program will load the information from the existing lithology model (.RwMod file), and will proceed to map 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. The program will create a solid model (.RwMod file) of the lithology types in the project, coding the lithotypes the numeric value declared in the Lithology Types Table. The completed model will be stored on disk under the indicated file name.

   The map will be generated using the requested diagram types and map layers. If requested it will be displayed in a RockPlot2D tab in the Options window.

6. You can adjust any of the settings in the Options tab and then click the Continue button again to regenerate the model and display.

   ! * If the lithology model looks OK and you just need to adjust one of the map 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 map.

7. View / save / manipulate / print / export the model in the RockPlot3D window.
   

Tip

• Once you have a solid model that appears to represent the distribution of the lithology materials in your project, you can use that existing model (.RwMod) to create other diagram types: profiles, sections, fences, plan and surface maps, using the other tools in the Lithology menu. You don't need to re-interpolate the background solid model each time - just choose Use Existing Model, specify the .RwMod file name, and create the new diagram.
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See also

• Lithology Types Tables
• Adding this program to your Playlist
• Adding this program to your Favorites
• Save/load/view menu settings
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Back to Lithology Menu Summary

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