Standard Validation Checks

The following standard checks are made when you run the Validation process:

Ordered sample intervals.

Sample intervals can be uneven, that is the difference between the From and the To does not need to be the same for each sample interval in a hole. There can also be missing intervals.

Intervals continuing below the total depth specified for the drillhole.

The total depth of a drillhole is defined in the Collar file. Any samples in the Interval file below this depth indicate an inconsistency. The minimum depth of a survey is 0 and the maximum is defined by the total depth in the Collar file.

Continuous surveys down a drillhole.

The depths of successive surveys must increase down a hole.

Surveys above the top of the hole and below the bottom of the hole.

The program requires that the downhole depths of consecutive sample intervals have increasing values. Missing intervals are acceptable but samples must not overlap. That is, for every hole, the From value must be greater than or equal to the previous To value.

If any errors and inconsistencies are found, they will be included in the Report file. You must specify a name for this file.

Error Messages

Depending on the validation options you have selected, the following errors may be reported as a result of the validation process.

Error Messages	Details
Missing survey at depth zero	This error is reported when: 1. There is a Survey file which contains records for a hole at a depth greater than zero, but which does not contain a record for that hole at zero. 2. There is no survey at depth zero in the Collar file, or the Azimuth and Inclination fields are not defined, or are blank for that hole in the Collar file, or the hole does not exist in the Collar file. Note that this validation check is completely independent of the Check for Missing Holes validation option.
Missing interval at depth zero	Reported if there is an Interval file which contains records for an interval at a depth greater than zero, but which does not contain a record for that interval at zero.
Survey past end of hole	The depths defined in a Survey file cannot exceed the total depth of the hole (defined in the Collar file).
Interval past end of hole	The intervals defined in an Interval file cannot exceed the total depth of the hole (defined in the Collar file).
Event depth past end of hole	The Events defined in an Event file cannot exceed the total depth of the hole (defined in the Collar file).
Missing coordinate value	One or more coordinate values are missing in the Collar or Trench file.
Coincident collars	Two or more collars are present at coinciding coordinates.
Missing or incorrect azimuth	Reported when the 'Check azimuths' option is selected as part of your validation options. Azimuths are expressed in degrees with positive values increasing clockwise from the North (zero degrees). A negative value, a value greater than 360°, or a missing value, will be reported as an error.
Missing or incorrect inclination	Reported when the 'Check Inclinations' option is selected as part of your validation options. Inclinations are expressed in degrees from -90 to 90, with negative values representing downward inclines and zero for horizontal. Any other value, or a missing value, will be reported as an error.
Missing end of hole depth value	Missing End Of Hole depth value is reported as an error. Negative values are also invalid.
Missing survey depth value	Depth values in the Survey file must be positive numeric values. If a value is missing, an error will be reported.
Missing event depth value	Missing Event Depth value is reported as an error. Negative values are also invalid.
Collar end of hole depth value is negative	The Collar End of Hole Depth value must be 0 or greater. If a value is negative, or missing, an error will be reported.
Survey depth value is negative	Survey depth values must be positive numeric values. If a value is negative, or missing, an error will be reported.
Event depth value is negative	Event depth values must be positive numeric values. If a value is negative, or missing, an error will be reported.
Duplicate hole name	Reported when the 'Check for duplicate holes' option is selected as part of your validation options. Hole IDs should be unique within the Collar file.
Missing hole name value	Reported when the 'Check for missing holes' option is selected as part of your validation options. A Hole ID defined in the Collar file (as shown in the error message) does not exist in the Survey or Interval file.
Hole not found in Collar file	Reported when an expected hole is not found in the Collar file.
Hole not found in Survey file	Reported when an expected hole is not found in the Survey file.
Hole not found in Interval file	Reported when an expected hole is not found in the Interval file.
Hole not found in Event file	Reported when an expected hole is not found in the Event file.
Azimuth change exceeds defined maximum	Reported when a change in azimuth exceeds the 'Valid Azimuth Change' value (degrees) set as part of your validation options.
Inclination change exceeds defined maximum	Reported when a change in inclination exceeds the 'Valid Inclination Change' value (degrees) set as part of your validation options.
Hole deviation exceeds defined maximum	Reported when hole deviation exceeds the 'Maximum deviation' value (degrees/metre) set as part of your validation options.
Previous survey record has greater depth value	The Survey record has a depth value which exceeds the same value for the previous record.
Previous interval record has greater to value	The Interval record has a depth value which exceeds the same value for the previous record.
Previous event record has greater depth value	The Event record has a depth value which exceeds the same value for the previous record.
Records for hole are not contiguous	The FROM and TO depths, which define successive surveys, intervals or events are not contiguous.
Multiple surveys at the same depth	Reported as an error when more than one Survey record has an identical depth value.
Collar file orientation different to Survey file orientation	An error is reported if the Collar file orientation azimuth and inclination are different to the Survey file orientation azimuth and inclination.
Missing interval	Reported when the 'Check for missing intervals' option is selected as part of your validation options. The FROM and TO depths, which define successive intervals in the Interval file, are not contiguous.
Intervals don't reach end of hole	Reported when an Interval depth does not reach the end of the Hole depth.
Overlapping intervals	The FROM and TO depths that define an interval must not overlap with another interval.
Interval length exceeds defined maximum	Reported when the length of an interval is greater than the 'Max interval length' value set as part of your validation options. If the 'Check sample interval lengths' option is also selected as part of your validation options, the process will ignore any sample intervals that don't have values for the specified grade field.
Missing From or To values	Each interval in an Interval file must have a valid FROM and TO depth.
Interval from equals to	The FROM depth of an interval must always be less than the TO depth (zero length intervals are not allowed).
Interval from greater than to	The FROM depth of an interval must always be less than or equal to the TO depth (zero length intervals are allowed).
Interval subdivided into smaller intervals	Reported as an error when an Interval is subdivided into smaller intervals.
Missing trench ID value	Reported as an error when the Trench ID is not specified for a trench in the Survey file.
Duplicate trench ID	One or more trench records have the same Trench ID.
Duplicate trench point	One or more trench records have a point at the same coordinates.
Trench not found in associated file	An error is reported when an expected trench cannot be found in the associated file.
Trench not found in trace file	Reported as an error when an expected trench cannot be found in the trace file.
Trench trace consists of 1 point only	If a single point is defined for a trench trace, an error is reported.
Trench total sample length less than total trace length	Reported when the Total assay length does not reach the end of the trench.
Trench total trace length less than total sample length	Reported when the Total assay length exceeds the end of the trench.
Trench total trace length less than event depth	Reported when an Event is at a depth which exceeds the end of the trench.