Draw Geologic Column

As the name suggests, this command draws geologic columns for selected drillholes. All of these settings may be saved to a geologic column settings file (.gcl). Notice that the dialog is divided into three tabs: Draw Settings, Grid Settings, and Label Settings.


Draw Settings

Draw Type: The geologic columns can be drawn in 3D, 2D or Next to Drillhole.
The 3D option will draw the columns in true 3D space.
The 2D option will draw a cross-sectional view of the columns in a user defined location.
The Next to Drillhole option will draw a cross-sectional view of the columns next to the true drillhole locations.

Offset Distance This value is only applied when the Draw Type is set to the Next to Drillhole option. This value sets the distance between the drillhole symbol and the column. It is important to note that this distance is multiplied by the Horizontal Scale value on the Grid tab to set the actual offset distance.

3D Settings: This button is only active when the Draw Type is set to the 3D option. These settingscontrol how the drillhole will be drawn in 3D space. When selected, the below dialog will appear.


Draw Drillhole as: This option controls how the column will be drawn. An example of each option is shown below as viewed in the 3D Viewer Window
The Cylinder option will draw the column as 3D faces.
The Rectangle option will draw the column as flat 3D polylines (this essentially draws a 2D column rotated into 3D space)
The Line option will draw a single 3D polyline to represent each column.
Vertical Exaggeration From: This option controls how 3D columns will be drawn when vertical exaggeration is applied.
When the Base Elevation options is used, the column will be scaled, but the Base Elevation value (entered immediately below this option) will be held at the true elevation, even if the column does not intersect this elevation.
When the Surface option is used, the column will be scaled, but the top of the hole will be held at the true elevation.
For example, consider a drillhole with a collar elevation of 100 and a bottom elevation of 60 to be drawn with a 2X vertical exaggeration. If the Surface option is used, the top of the column will be drawn at elevation 100 and the bottom of the column will be drawn at elevation 20. If the Base Elevation option is used with a Base Elevation of 0, the top of the hole will be drawn at elevation 200 and the bottom of the hole will be drawn at elevation 120.

Rotate Labels Vertical: When selected, this option will draw all 3D text labels oriented in the vertical direction. When this option is not selected, 3D text labels will be oriented in plan view.

Horizontal Alignment: This option is only available when the Draw Type is set to the 2D option. Three methods are available for Horizontal Alignment.
The Individual option will prompt you to select the location to draw each individual column.
The Line Up option will space the columns equal distances apart from one another, regardless of the true distance between the holes. The space between the columns is the product of the Distance Between Holes multiplied by the Horizontal Scale on the Grid tab.
The Projected option will space the columns by projecting them onto a cross-sectional alignment polyline.
Both the Line Up and Projected options require that an alignment polyline be drawn through or near the columns of interest prior to the command. After clicking OK on the main dialog, you will be prompted to select this polyline, as well as the "maximum drillhole distance from alignment polyline" to filter out distant holes. Any drillholes outside of this range will not be drawn, even if they are selected.

Vertical Alignment: When Horizontal Alignment option is set to the Line Up or Projected options, the geologic columns may be aligned vertically in one of three ways.
The Elevation option will draw the columns according to their true elevations.
The Surface option will draw the columns so that all collar elevations are aligned. This allows a horizontal line to be drawn across the top of all the columns. With this option, an elevation axis will be drawn through each column for individual inspection.
The Strata option will draw the columns so that a specific strata/bed is aligned across the columns. This would allow a horizontal line to be drawn through the top/bottom elevation of the strata/bed in all holes. With this option, an elevation axis will be drawn through each column for individual inspection. This option also requires a text string for either the Strata Name or Bed Name fields. The Elevation to Align dropdown list controls if the strata/bed will be aligned according to the top or the bottom elevation.

Column Width Scaler: This value, relative to the Horizontal Scale, determines the width of the geologic column. For example, a Column Width Scaler of 0.15 and a Horizontal Scale of 100 will produce a column with a width of 15 drawing units.

Fill Drillhole by: This option determines the hatch pattern for each strata.
If the Outline Only option is selection, no hatch pattern will be drawn.
If the Hatch option is selected, the strata will be filled with the hatch specified in the Strata Definition File. If a strata is not found in the Strata Definition File, the strata will be hatched with the ANSI31 pattern.
If the Solid Fill option is selected, all strata will be hatch with the SOLID hatch pattern.

Hatch Scaler: This value is only used when the Fill Drillhole by Hatch option is selected. This value, relative to the hatch scales in the current Strata Definition File, determines the hatch scale of each strata's hatch pattern. For example, a Hatch Scaler of 5 and a strata with a defined hatch scale of 2 will produce a hatch pattern with a scale of 10. If a strata is not found in the Strata Definition File, the Hatch Scaler will be multiplied by a value of 5 to set the hatch scale of the strata.

Draw Strata Connections: This option is not available when the Align Horiz by Individual option is selected. This option will draw polylines connecting similar strata between columns. Note that if a strata or bed pinches out between columns, this pinchout will not be drawn. After clicking OK on the dialog, you will be prompted for the strata to connect, as shown below.


Connect By: This option will determine if connections are drawn according to Strata Names or Bed Names. If the Strata and Bed Name option is selected, connections will be drawn for individual strata layers. If the Bed Names Only option is selected, connections will only be drawn for the top and bottom of each bed - individual strata connections will not be drawn.

Sort Strata: This button will sort the list alphabetically by Strata Name.

Sort Bed: This button will sort the list alphabetically by Bed Name.
Color Strata by GPF: This option will color each strata according to a Grade Parameters File (GPF). You may select a GPF by clicking the ellipsis button to the right of the option. When the drillhole is drawn in 3D, the strata width will be scaled according to the Geologic Column Scaler defined for each grade in the Grade Parameters File. This allows for more visual interpretation of high-grade and low-grade sections of the column, as shown below.

Use Strata Definitions: This option allowz the use of a Strata Definition File (which controls layering, colors, hatching, etc.) other than the one currently set in the Mining Project Settings. The ellipsis button will prompt you for this Strata Definition File.

Column Outline Colored by Strata: When this option is enabled, the outline of the drillhole will be colored the same as the hatch color. When this option is disabled, the drillhole will be outlined with a white/black line.

Column Outline Width: This value sets the thickness for the column outline.

Composite Strata to Beds: This option will composite strata together by Bed Name where applicable. In order to use this option, both the Strata Name and the Bed Name must be defined in the Strata Definition File.

Group Entities: This option will draw each column as a group of entities (not to be confused with a block entity).

Draw To Sheets: This option is only available if the Horizontal Alignement option is set to Individual. This will draw the individual drillholes on multiple sheets, breaking the page as necessary.

Draw CESO Sheets: This option is similar to the Draw to Sheets option, but is formatted specifically for a particular Carlson user. Unlike the Draw to Sheets option, this option will add header information to the sheets.

Draw Bar Graph: This option is only available when the Draw Type is set to the 2D option. And example Bar Graph as shown below. The graph is intended for acid-base accounting, but any drillhole attribute may be used. The graph is logarithmic, ranging in value from -100 to 100. Any values outside of this range will be drawn at the maximum value and a label will be drawn to indicate the true value. In addition to the Bar Graph, a Scatter Graph may also be drawn. This graph ranges in value from 4 to 10. Any values outside of this range will be drawn off the graph

Use Red-Blue: This option will draw the Bar Graph with only red or blue hatches when selected. Red hatches are used for negative values and blue hatches are used for positive values.

Graph Name: This text string is the title of Bar Graph, which will be drawn below the X-axis values. An example of a geologic column with a bar graph is shown below.




Grid Settings


Draw on Existing Grid: This option is only available when the Horizontal Alignment option is set to Projected. This option will draw the drillholes on a pre-existing cross section grid. When this option is selected, you will be prompted to select the bottom left corner of the section and enter the bottom elevation. This ensures the columns are drawn at the correct elevations on the section.

Draw Elevation Axis: This option will draw an elevation axis (vertical line) next to the columns

Draw Depth Axis: This option will draw a depth axis (vertical line) next to the columns. When this axis is drawn next to a 3D drillhole, the axis will follow the dip of the hole rather than always being drawn as a vertical line.

 Draw X-Axis: This option will draw a stationing axis (horizontal line) between drillholes when the Horizontal Alignment option is set to the Line Up or Projected methods.

Horizontal Scale: This value sets the overall drawing scale that many other options in the dialog reference for scaling. This allows you to quickly change the size the geologic columns with a single value.

Vertical Scale: This value, relative to the Horizontal Scale, determines the vertical exaggeration. For example, a Horizontal Scale of 50 and a Vertical Scale of 10 will produce a 5X vertical exaggeration.

X/Y-Axis Grid Interval: This value sets the grid line spacing for the X and Y axes. For example, a Y-Axis Grid Interval of 25 will draw a tick/grid line every 25 ft/m of elevation change.

X/Y-Axis Label Interval: This value sets the text intervals for the X and Y axes. For example, a Y-Axis Label Interval of 100 will draw an elevation/depth label every 100 ft/m of elevation change.

Axis Text Size Scaler: This value, relative to the Horizontal Scale, determines the text height of the elevation/depth/stationing labels. For example, an Axis Text Size Scaler of 0.15 and a Horizontal Scale of 100 will produce text labels with a height of 15 drawing units.

Grid Style: This option controls how the grid will be drawn.
The Grid Lines option will draw a true grid with lines spanning the appropriate axes.
The Ticks Only option will draw the grid axes, but instead of full lines spanning the axes, small tick marks will be placed along each axis.
The Ticks and Dots option will draw tick marks along each axis, as well as points where true grid lines would intersect.

Specify Elevation Range: This option will draw the columns only between a range of elevations, set by the Top Elev and Bottom Elev values.

Specify Strata Range: This option will draw only a specific range of strata in the columns. After clicking OK on the dialog, you will be prompted for the strata to draw, as shown below. If not all strata are shown in this dialog, clicking Skip to Next will scan another hole for strata layers. Portions of strata above/below the selected strata can also be drawn according to the Roof Thick and Floor Thick values, respectively. 


Label Settings


No Labels: This option will turn off labeling for the column and will also ghost out all labeling options in the dialog.

General Label Size Scaler: This value, relative to the Horizontal Scale, set the text size labels for strata/bed/attribute labels.

General Label Settings: This button will open the below dialog, which controls many of the details of the column labels for strata/bed/attributes. 


Draw Labels as: This option controls the type of text that is used for labels.
The DText option will use a standard text entity for labels.
The MText option will use MText (multi-line text) entities for labels.
The MLeader option will use Multileader entities for labels, which are simply MText entities attached to a leader line.

Label Style: This text string sets the text style for the labels. The Set button may be used to select a pre-existing text style. Text styles may be edited via the STYLE command.

Use Full Strata Name: This option will use the Full Strata Names found in the Strata Definition File for strata labels.

Attributes on Single Line: This option will place all attributes for a single strata on one row rather than placing each attribute on an individual row.

Draw Label Leaders: This option will draw red leader lines from the column to the strata label and attribute labels. Labels will sometimes be shifted away from the column to avoid overlaps. Without these leader lines, the labels may be difficult to match up with the strata they relate to.

Draw Ferm Codes: This option will label each strata with its Ferm Code in addition to the true strata name (according to the Ferm Code definition file). If the Ferm Label option is set to Code, then the actual Ferm Code will be used. If the Ferm Label option is set to Full Description, then the full Ferm Code description will be listed rather than the Ferm Code itself.

Label by Grade Parameters:  This option will add the Grade Name to the label, according to a Grade Parameters File. If this option is set to Left the Grade Name will be listed with the attribute label. If the option is set to Right, the label will be listed with the strata label.

Elevation/Thickness/Depth Decimals: These options control the number of decimals to display for elevation, thickness, and depth labels, respectively.

Elevation/Thickness/Depth Prefix: These text strings set the prefix for elevation/thickness/depth labels, respectively.

General Label Size Scaler: This value, relative to the Horizontal Scale, set the text size labels for labels relating to the drillhole itself (such as the collar elevation, northing, easting, etc.)

Drillhole Label Settings: This button will open the below dialog, which controls many of the labels relating to the drillhole itself (rather than labels relating to strata within the drillhole).

Label Northing and Easting: This option will draw a label of the Northing and Easting coordinates for each column.

Label Surface Elevation: This option will draw a label of the Surface Elevation for each column.

Label Drillhole Name: This option will draw a label of the Drillhole Name for each column.

Label Drillhole Descriptions: This option will draw a label of the Drillhole Description for each column.

Label Drillhole Depth: This option will draw a label of the maximum depth for each column.

Label Offset For Projected Method: This option is only applied when the Horizontal Alignment is set to the Projected option. This option will draw a label indicating the perpendicular distance from the column to the alignment polyline.

Label Water Level: This option will draw a label of the water table elevation in the column. When this option is selected, the Water Level Attribute must match the name of the water level attribute defined in the drillhole. Note that the water level is an attribute of the drillhole itself; it should not be listed as an attribute of a particular strata.

Drillhole Text Style: This text string will set the text style for the drillhole label. The Set button may be used to select a pre-existing text style. Text styles may be edited via the STYLE command.

Label Position: This option determines where the drillhole label is drawn.
If the Above Drillhole option is selected, the label will be center justified above the column.
If the On Side option is selected, the label will be drawn to the right of the column.

Northing Prefix/Suffix: These two text strings will set the prefix and suffix for the label of the column Northing coordinate.
 
Easting Prefix/Suffix: These two text strings will set the prefix and suffix for the label of the column Easting coordinate.

Elevation Prefix/Suffix: These two text strings will set the prefix and suffix for the label of the column Surface Elevation.

Offset Prefix/Suffix: This option will only be applied when the Horizontal Alignment is set to the Projected option. These two text strings will set the prefix and suffix for the label of the column Offset from the fence alignment polyline.


Label Strata: This option will draw labels for each strata found in the column. All strata label options will be ghosted when this option is not selected.

Strata to Label: This option will determine which strata are labeled.
The All option will label all strata.
The Key-Only option will only label key strata.
The Selected option will prompt you to select the strata to label.
The Fit-Only option will only draw a label if the strata is thick enough to place a label without having to adjust the label position to avoid overlaps.
The Bed-Only option will only label strata with bed names.

Elevation Label: This option determines which elevation will be labeled for each strata.
If the None option is selected, no elevation label will be drawn.
If the Top Elevation option is selected, the top elevation of each strata will be labeled.
If the Bottom Elevation option is selected, the bottom elevation of each strata will be labeled.

Depth Label: This option determines which depth will be labeled for each strata.
If the None option is selected, no depth label will be drawn.
If the Top Depth option is selected, the depth to the top of each strata will be labeled.
If the Bottom Depth option is selected, the depth to the bottom of each strata will be labeled.

Label Strata Thickness: This option will draw a label for the thickness of each strata.

Label Strata On Single Line: This option will place all strata labels on a single row rather than placing each label on an individual row.

Append Bed Name: This option will label the Bed Name in addition to the Strata Name for each strata in the column.

Label Bed: This option will draw a label for the bed name of each strata. All bed label options will be ghosted when this option is not selected.

 Bed Elevation Label: This option determines which elevation will be labeled for each bed.
If the None option is selected, no elevation label will be drawn.
If the Top Elevation option is selected, the top elevation of each bed will be labeled.
If the Bottom Elevation option is selected, the bottom elevation of each bed will be labeled.

Bed Depth Label: This option determines which depth will be labeled for each bed.
If the None option is selected, no depth label will be drawn.
If the Top Depth option is selected, the depth to the top of each bed will be labeled.
If the Bottom Depth option is selected, the depth to the bottom of each bed will be labeled.

Label Bed Thickness: This option will draw a label for the thickness of each bed.

Layer Settings

Clicking the Layer Settings button will display the below dialog.


Grid Layer: This text string sets the CAD Layer of the grid linework. The Set button can be used to select a pre-existing CAD Layer.

Label Layer: This text string sets the CAD Layer for most label entities, such as the elevation, depth, station, and strata. The Set button may be used to select a pre-existing CAD Layer.

Attribute Layer: This text string sets the CAD Layer for attribute labels entities. The Set button may be used to select a pre-existing CAD Layer.

Drillhole Label Layer: This text string will set the CAD Layer for the drillhole label. The Set button may be used to select a pre-existing CAD Layer.

Strata Layers: This option will determine which CAD Layers are used for each strata in the column.
If the Individually option is used, each strata will be drawn on the CAD Layer specified in the Strata Definition File. If the strata is not found in the Strata Definition File, each strata will be drawn on a CAD Layer matching the name of the strata.
If the Non-Key Same option is used, all key strata will be drawn as if the Individually option were selected and all non-key strata will be draw on the CAD Layer specified just to the right of this option. The ellipse button may be used to select a pre-existing CAD Layer.
If the All Same option is selected, all strata will be drawn on the CAD Layer specified just to the right of this option. The ellipsis button may be used to select a pre-existing CAD Layer.


Select Attributes: After clicking okay on the main dialog, you may be prompted for any additional settings in the command line. If you have chosen to draw strata/bed labels, you will see the below dialog, which allows you to choose which attributes to label. You may select multiple attributes by holding the CTRL or SHIFT keys while selecting attributes. To clear the selection of attributes, click the Clear button.



Example Geologic Columns

Prompts

Geologic Column Settings dialog
Select Drillholes for geologic column.
Select objects: pick the drillhole symbols
Select Attributes to Draw dialog
Pick location for geologic column: pick or enter the bottom center point for the geologic column

Pulldown Menu Location: Drillhole
Keyboard Command: geocol