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accumulations (grade-thickness) rather than weighted RQD would surely
prove its usefulnessfor geostatistics and for kriging. It is hoped that, in the
future, further trials and prolonged examination will confirm the validity of
a wider application of this technique.

Moreover, an important consequence of stereotomography, along with
ensuing important results, will be the persistence probability. It is believed
that much remains to be investigated by researchers, and that the present
theory which is still at an early stage, will be viable and will lead to more
general development with the help of other geoscientists. Unfortunately,
at the time of our study, the open pit from which the data come, was not
sufficiently advanced for using the available structural geology field data.
Also, it was not possible to confirm retrospectively with a back-analysis
their equivalence with similar data generated by the stereotomographic
technique. Thus, additional tests will be needed for assessing the complete
validity of our method. But the authors remain very optimistic about the
utility of such a technique and they hope that fair competition can stimulate
many interested investigators, and they invite the latter to share their data
and results for the benefit of the whole mining field.


CONCLUSION
Finally, by way of conclusion, we will borrow from L.J. Thomas (1973)
the following excerpt : "For a caving operation a parameter such as the
"rock quality designation" is more useful. It is more important to know
how easy it is for the ore to break into small pieces than it is to know how
strong the small pieces are. The former is a function of bedding planes
and joints, and induced cleavage. The latter on the usual small laboratory
specimens tells one how strong an unbroken rock is".


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors are particularly indebted to Gustavo Sánchez Bocanegra, to
John (Juan) A. Randall, to Edmée Labossière and her brother Sylvio, and
to both referees for assistance and advice. Also, they reiterate their grate-
fulness to the Faculty of Mines of Guanajuato in Mexico, who allowed them
very generously the access to its Computer Center.


REFERENCES
Barnes, M.P., 1980. Computer-Assisted Mineral Appraisal and Feasibility. AIME,
New York, N.Y., 167 pp.

Brown, E.T., 1981. Rock Characterization Testing and Monitoring - ISRM
Suggested Methods. Pergamon, Oxford, 211 pp.

Davis, J.C., 1973. Statistics and Data Analysis in Geology. Wiley, New York,
N.Y., 550 pp.

Deere, D.U., 1963. Technical description of rock cores for engineering
purposes. Felsmech. Ingenieurgeol. (Rock Mech. Eng. Geol.), 1(1): 16-22.

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