Global Journal of Earth and Environmental Science

GLOBAL JOURNAL OF EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Integrity Research Journals

ISSN: 2636-6002
Model: Open Access/Peer Reviewed
DOI: 10.31248/GJEES
Start Year: 2016
Email: gjees@integrityresjournals.org

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Integration of Geostatistics and 3D Geological Modeling for Gold Resource Estimation in Goni prospect, Blue Nile, Sudan: Comparison between Ordinary Kriging (OK) and Simple Kriging (SK)

https://doi.org/10.31248/GJEES2024.221   |   Article Number: 96CEB4891   |   Vol.10 (6) - December 2025

Received Date: 11 November 2025   |   Accepted Date: 12 December 2025  |   Published Date: 30 December 2025

Authors:  Farah Abdelnabi Abdelateif Abdelkhier* , El Sheikh Mohammed Abdel Rahman and Mohmmed Yahya Abdel Galil

Keywords: Sudan., 3D geological modelling, gold, geostatistics, ordinary kriging, simple kriging, resource estimation

ABSTRACT

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Integrating geostatistics and 3D geological modelling provided a robust framework for gold resource estimation at the Goni prospect. Despite limitations from sparse drilling and a relatively high nugget effect, the validated database and compositing strategy established moderate spatial continuity, confirming structural control of mineralisation within shear‑zone quartz veins. Comparative evaluation showed that Simple Kriging inflated tonnage by extrapolating marginal grades, while Ordinary Kriging yielded more conservative, geologically defensible estimates aligned with industry best practice. The 3D geological model constrained mineralisation to realistic domains, minimising grade smearing and enhancing block confidence. Future work should emphasise infill drilling, domain separation, and conditional simulation to reduce uncertainty and strengthen classification. Overall, this study demonstrates that integrating geostatistics with 3D modelling improves accuracy, reduces dilution, and provides a clear framework for reliable resource evaluation in heterogeneous gold deposits.

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