Create Lithology Sections (Multi-Panel)

RockWorks | Borehole Operations | Lithology | Section

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 model along any path and create a 2D cross section diagram. Because the model is interpolated across the entire project, you can place the section panels anywhere you like.

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 section diagram with the background color and/or pattern defined for the rock type in the Lithology Types Table 2D striplogs can be included with the section if the panel endpoints coincide with borehole locations.

See also
     Lithology Profiles for single-panel displays.

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 filters and rules for this program. (More info)
  • Spatial Filter: Filter the input data for the lithology model based on XYZ location, filter the data to be displayed in striplogs, if activated. Note that these tools filter the data that is passed to the modeling and log-generating procedures. This is distinct from the filters that are applied once the model is completed, and described below.
  • Time Filter: Filter any T-Data or Aquifer data in striplogs, if activated.
  • Stratigraphic Rules: Apply stratigraphy rules for Stratigraphy data in striplogs, if activated.
  
  
• 2D Log Design
  Click here to choose which data items are to be displayed in the logs, if activated via the Striplogs checkbox below, and in which order. See Using the 2D Log Designer and the Visible Item Summary.
  ! For Section diagrams, striplogs will be plotted vertically regardless of any non-vertical orientation.


• Section Location
  Click on this button at the top of the window to draw, on a map display of your enabled boreholes, where the cross section panels are to be placed. The most recent section drawn for this project will be displayed (More info)


• Location Map
  Check this box to create, along with the section, a reference map that shows the section's location. It can be embedded in or created separately from the cross-section.
  Click on this tab to establish the map options. (More info.)

  

• Faulting
  Click on this tab to enable the display of faults and to modify fault options. (Read this for more details.)

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• Vertical Exaggeration
  Click here to pre-define the vertical stretch you would like to apply to your diagram. By giving the program this information in advance of generating the section, it can help with text and graphic sizing and placement. (More info.)
  ! Note that you can always change the vertical exaggeration at which the diagram is displayed, in the RockPlot2D window itself. But, by telling the program up-front how stretched it will be, you'll get better placement of the graphic components.


• 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 3D voxel diagram, for example, you can use the same model, which was stored on disk as an .RwMod file, for the cross section.
  
  • Create New Model: 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 may 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)
    
    
  • 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 section diagram.
    
    
• Traverse Defined By...: Use this setting to tell RockWorks how you want to define the cross section location.
  • Interactive Map: Choose this to draw or import the section location in the Section Location tab at the top of the window.

  

  • List of Borehole Names: Choose this option if you have created a text file in which you have listed the names of the boreholes to be represented in the cross section, one name per line in the file. Example:

    DH-30
    DH-03
    DH-21
    DH-40

  • List of XY Coordinates: Choose this option if you have created a text file in which you have listed the X and Y coordinates for the cross section vertices, one space- or tab-separated coordinate pair per line. Example:

    481896.8 4399952.0
    481953.3 4399923.8
    481997.6 4399898.1
    482031.0 4399892.9

• Fill Options
  Click this tab to choose how to fill the section layers; you can select either or both:
  • Fill Background will fill the 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.

  

  
  
• Striplogs
  Check this item to include 2D logs with the lithology section display. Click the 2D Log Design button at the top of the window to set up how you want the logs to look. Click on this tab to establish some additional striplog settings.
  ! NOTE: If you don't draw your lithology section trace from borehole to borehole, which is possible, and if you plot the logs, the program will be forced to choose the closest borehole to place at the panel junctions.
  • Use True Vertical Depth: Check this box if you have deviated holes and want them to be plotted in the section using true vertical depth rather than measured depth.
  • Clip: Check this 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). Click on the tab to define the elevation range to be displayed.
    • Top Elevation: Enter the uppermost elevation to be displayed in the logs.
    • Base Elevation: Enter the lowermost elevation to be displayed in the logs.
      ! Log clipping parameters are defined using elevations, not depths. (More info.)
  • Save Log List: Check this to save to a text file the names of the boreholes that are included with the section diagram.
    • File in which to store the Log List: Enter the name for the log list text file.
    • Display List Upon Completion: Check this to display the text list in Notepad (or equivalent) after the section is completed.
    
    
• Annotation
  Click on this tab to establish title, border, axis labels, and other perimeter settings for the section. (More info.)



• Surface Profile
  Check this box to include a polyline on the section diagram that represents a user-selected elevation grid model, such as the ground surface.
  Click on this tab to access the surface profile options.
  • Grid Model: Browse for the name of the existing grid model (.RwGrd file) to be represented in the polyline.
  • Polyline Attributes: Click this tab to establish the line settings. (More info.)





• Faults
  Check this box if you want to display lines in the output diagram where the section slice intersects the fault(s) defined in the Faults program tab.
  Click on this tab to set up the fault lines. (More info.)



• Infrastructure
  Check this box to display buildings, pipes, or other infrastructure with your section.
  Click this tab to define the infrastructure file and plot settings. (More info)



• Other 2D Files
  Check this option to include existing RockWorks diagrams as layers with your lithology section.
  Click on this tab to select the existing .Rw2D files to be included. (More info)


• Peripherals
  Check this option to include various peripheral annotations with your section. Options include titles, text blocks, pattern legends, and more.
  Click on this tab to activate the items and establish their settings. (More info)





• Border
  Check this option to include a solid line border around the entire section image.
  Click on this tab to establish border settings.


• Output Options
  • Save Output File: Check this to assign a name for the diagram 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 diagram displayed in RockPlot2D once it is created.
  
  

Step-by-Step Summary

1. Access the RockWorks 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. Select the Borehole Operations | Lithology | Section menu option
4. Enter the requested menu settings, described above
5. If you are including logs with the diagram, be sure to click on the 2D Log Designer tab at the top of the window to establish how you want the logs to look.
6. If Traverse Defined By is set to Interactive Map, click on the Section Location button at the top of the window to establish the section location.
7. 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 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.

The program will then look at the coordinates specified for the section panels 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 for each panel to illustrate the lithology types, using the rock types' background colors and/or patterns specified in the Lithology Types Table, as requested. The panels will then be appended together to create the multi-panel section. Logs and a section location map will be appended if requested. The completed diagram will be displayed in a RockPlot2D tab if requested.

8. You can adjust any of the settings in the Main Options tab and then click the Continue button again to regenerate the section.

! * 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 section.

9. View / save / manipulate / print / export the section in the RockPlot2D window.

Tips

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

See also

• Adding this program to your Playlist
• Adding this program to your Favorites
• Save/load/view menu settings

Back to Lithology Menu Summary

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