Creating 3D Lithology Models and Block Diagrams

RockWorks | Borehole Manager | Lithology | Model

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.
• Display the model as a 3D voxel diagram in RockPlot3D.

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 diagram using the background colors defined for the patterns in the Lithology Types Table. 3D logs can be added to the image if desired.  The completed voxel diagram will be displayed in a RockPlot3D window where you can manipulate the display, filter for specific values, view volumes, etc.

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 profile, for example, you can use the same model, which was stored on disk as an .RwMod file, for the 3D diagram.
   
  • Create New Model:  If you want to create a new model for the diagram, 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 voxel diagram.
       
• Create 3-Dimensional Diagram:  Insert a check here to create the voxel diagram after the model is created.  Expand this heading to set up the diagram.
  
  • Group Title: Enter the text to be used to label the diagram in the 3D scene, such as "Lithology Model." You can change the name later, in the 3D viewer.
    
    
  • Voxel Style: Expand this heading to choose how the lithology voxels will be displayed.  You can choose to display either the Full Voxel, or just the Midpoint.  Display of the midpoint only can significantly improve display time for huge models.
    ! Note: You can toggle between Full Voxels and Midpoints in RockPlot3D after the model is displayed.  For this reason, if you're interpolating/displaying a large model, choose Midpoints; should you later prefer to view the full voxel image, you can select this in the display window itself.

    
     

  • Plot Logs:  Check this box to append striplogs to your 3D scene. 
  • • 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.)
    • 3D Striplog Designer: Click on the 3D Striplog Designer tab to the right, to select the items to display in the individual logs to plot with the model.  

    • 
       

      • 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.
      • Options: Click on any of the Visible Items names to see the item's settings in the Options pane to the right.  See Visible Item Summary for links to the Options settings.
      • Layout Preview: For each item you've activated, you'll see a preview cartoon in the upper pane, showing an overhead view of the log columns.  Click and drag any item to rearrange the log columns; click and drag the circle handles to resize a column.  See Using the 3D Log Designer.
         
  • Reference Cage: Insert a check here to include vertical elevation axes and X and Y coordinate axes in the 3D diagram. Expand this item to set up the cage items.  (More.)
  • Include Lithology Legend: Insert a check here to include an index to the lithology names and background colors as defined in the Lithology Type Table. (More.)
  • Include Volumetrics:  You can disable this option if the volume computations take too long (e.g. a very dense model) or you simply don't need them.

Step-by-Step Summary

Follow these steps to create a 3D solid model of interpolated lithology zones, and/or to create a 3D voxel diagram illustrating this new model or an existing model: 

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. Select the Lithology | Model menu option. 
4. Enter the requested menu items, described above
5. If you are including logs with the diagram, be sure to click on the 3D Striplog Designer tab to establish how you want the logs to look.
6. Click Process to proceed with model and diagram generation. 

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.

7. If you have requested model size confirmation, the program will display a window at this time.  Adjust these dimensions as necessary and click OK to continue.   (More.)

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. 

If you requested a diagram, the model will be displayed in a RockPlot3D tab in the Options window, using the lithology background colors in the current Lithology Types Table. (Lithology pattern designs are not displayed in the 3D window.)   If you activated the Plot Logs feature, the program will also append the 3D logs to the lithology scene.

8. You can adjust any of the following items and then click the Process button again to regenerate the display.
   • Lithology model settings in the Options pane on the left*, and/or
   • Diagram settings in the Options pane on the left, and/or
   • Striplog settings in the 3D Striplog Designer tab.

   ! Each time you click the Process button, the existing 3D 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 3D scene.
    

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

!  Tip: Once you have a solid model that appears to well 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.

See also:

• Lithology Types Tables
• Project Manager
  
  

 Back to Lithology Menu Summary 

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