Leapfrog Geo User Manual

User Manual
for Leapfrog Geo version 4.0

Copyright 2016 ARANZ Geo Limited
All rights reserved. Unauthorized use, reproduction, or disclosure is prohibited.
Patents pending. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. While
every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this manual, ARANZ Geo assumes no responsibility for errors or
omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from use of the information contained herein.
ARANZ Geo Limited documentation often refers to hardware or software products by their trade names. In most, if
not all, cases these designations are claimed as trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
The trade names are used here for identification purposes only.
ARANZ Geo Limited

P O Box 3894
Christchurch 8140
New Zealand
Contents
Getting Started 1
Licences 1
Dongle Licences 1
Code Licences 2
Module Licences 2
Launching Leapfrog Geo 2
Starting a New Project 3
Managing Project Files 3
Saving Projects 4
Saving Zipped Copies of Projects 4
Saving Backup Copies of Projects 4
Compacting Projects 4
Upgrading Projects 5
Leapfrog Hydro Projects 5
The Graphics Test 6
Video Card Issues 7
Updating Your Video Card Driver 8
Checking Your 3D/OpenGL Settings 9
An Overview of Leapfrog Geo 10
Organising Your Workspace 11
Detaching and Minimising the Project Tree 12
Organising the Scene View Tab 13
Keyboard Shortcuts in the Main Window 14
The Project Tree 14
Project Tree Keyboard Shortcuts 17
Restricted Objects 17
Subfolders 18
Finding Objects 19
Deleting Objects 19
Renaming Objects 20
Comments 20
Sharing Objects 21
Unsharing a Polyline 21
Processing Tasks 21
Prioritising Tasks 22
Correcting Errors 23
Object Properties 23
Histograms 24
Statistics 24
2016 ARANZ Geo Limited

ii | Leapfrog Geo User Manual
The 3D Scene 25
Navigation 25
Locating an Object from the Scene 28
Clicking in the Scene 29
Clicking in the Shape List 29
Slicing Through the Data 30
Measuring in the Scene 32
Determining a Location 33
The Moving Plane 34
The Ruler 35
Drawing in the Scene 37
The Drawing Toolbar 38
Drawing Hotkeys 39
Drawing 3D Lines 40
Drawing 2D Lines 42
Polyline Properties 42
Tangents and Ribbons 42
Drawing Points 43
Editing Normals 44
Settings 46
Display and Navigation Settings 46
3D Acceleration Mode 47
Font Size 47
Z Axis Scale 48
Rotation Settings 48
Camera Settings 49
Overlay Settings 49
Screen Grid Settings 49
Axis Lines Settings 49
Other Overlay Settings 49
Colour Scheme 50
Lighting Settings 50
Processing Settings 50
User Interface Settings 51
Show Tree Lines 51
Leapfrog Central Settings 51
Show Save Scene Button 51
Tab Position 51
Help Settings 52
Leapfrog Central Integration 53
Enabling Leapfrog Central 53

Contents | iii
Setting Up the Connection 54

Connecting to Leapfrog Central 55
Viewing a Projects History 55
Locking Branches 56
Project Included 57
Project Stages 57
Annotations and Attachments 58
Downloading a Local Copy of a Project 58
Publishing to Leapfrog Central 59
Selecting Objects 60
Setting the Project Workflow Stage 60
Including the Project 60
Adding Revision Information 61
Preparing the Package 61
New Leapfrog Central Projects 61
Creating a New Leapfrog Central Project 61
Adding a Project to Leapfrog Central 62
Disconnecting a Project from Leapfrog Central 62
Reporting a Problem 63
Getting Support 63
Concepts 64
What is Implicit Modelling? 65
What are the Advantages of Implicit Modelling? 65
Implicit Modelling Makes Assumptions Explicit 66
Best Practices 66
Surfaces 68
Surface Resolution in Leapfrog Geo 68
Adding Data to Surfaces 69
Contact Honouring 70
Global Trends 72
Structural Trends 74
Creating a Structural Trend 74
Displaying a Structural Trend 76
Applying a Structural Trend 77
Editing Surfaces with Polylines 78
Editing Surfaces with Structural Data 80
Extending a Surface 81
Boundaries 84
The Clipping Boundary 84
Defining a Topography 87
Topography From Elevation Grid 87

iv | Leapfrog Geo User Manual
Topography From Surfaces, Points or GIS Vector Data 88

Fixed Elevation Topography 88
Adding Height Data to the Topography 89
Changing Topography Settings 90
Changing the Size of the Topography 90
Topography Resolution 90
Applying a Trend to the Topography 91
Topography Display Options 91
Projecting Collars onto the Topography 92
Object Extents 92
Interpolant Functions 94
The Spheroidal Interpolant Function 95
Sill 96
Nugget 96
Nugget to Sill Ratio 97
Base Range 97
Alpha 99
Drift 100
Accuracy 102
The Linear Interpolant Function 102
Sill and Base Range 104
Nugget 104
Drift 104
Accuracy 105
Data Types 106
The Table Dialog 106
Correcting Data Errors 106
Exporting Data Errors 107
Correcting Errors in Leapfrog Geo 108
Checking for Missing Files 109
Ignoring Errors 109
Modifying Data 109
Fixing Collar Max Depths 109
Replacing All 109
Replacing a Selection 110
Special Values 110
Query Filters 112
Creating a New Query Filter 113
Leapfrog Geo Query Syntax 113
Building a Query 115
Advanced Queries 116

Contents | v
GIS Data, Maps and Images 117

Importing Vector Data 117
Importing a MapInfo Batch File 118
Importing Data from an ESRI Geodatabase 119
Reloading GIS Data 120
Reloading Points, Lines and Polygons 120
Reloading an ESRIDatabase 120
Importing 2D Grids 121
Importing a Map or Image 121
Georeferencing in Leapfrog Geo 123
Manual Georeferencing 123
Automatic Georeferencing 124
Exporting a Georeferenced Image 124
Setting Elevation for GIS Objects and Images 124
Creating a New GIS Line 125
Drawing a New GIS Line 126
Creating a New GIS Line from Intersecting Meshes 126
Exporting GIS Data 127
Drillhole Data 128
Importing Drillhole Data 129
Expected Drillhole Data Format 132
The Collar Table 132
Interval Tables 133
The Screens Table 133
The Survey Table 134
Selecting the ODBC Data Source 134
Connecting to an acQuire Database 134
Saving a Selection 135
Appending Drillholes 135
Importing Interval Tables 135
Importing Columns 136
Importing Screens 136
Importing Point Values Down Drillholes 137
Importing LAS Points Down Drillholes 137
LAS File Mapping 138
LAS File Inconsistencies 138
Importing Downhole Structural Data 138
Survey Table Options 140
Spherical Arc Approximation 141
Raw Tangent 141
Balanced Tangent 141

vi | Leapfrog Geo User Manual
Processing Drillhole Data 142

Category Composites 143
Converting Ignored Segments 144
Filtering Short Segments 147
Numeric Composites 148
Selecting the Compositing Region 149
Compositing in the Entire Drillhole 149
Compositing in a Subset of Codes 149
Compositing in Intervals 150
Compositing Parameters 150
Majority Composites 151
Grouping Lithologies 153
Automatic Lithology Groups 156
Splitting Lithologies 156
Interval Selection 160
Overlaid Lithology Column 163
Category Column from Numeric Data 164
Back-flagging Drillhole Data 164
Comparing Modelled Values to Drilling Lithologies 165
Comparing Drilling Lithologies to Modelled Values 168
Refining the Geological Model to Improve Correlation Statistics 169
Merged Drillhole Data Tables 169
Core Photo Links 170
The ALS Core Photo Interface 171
Setting Up the ALS Interface 171
Using the ALS Interface 172
Removing the ALS Link 172
The Coreshed Core Photo Interface 172
Setting Up the Coreshed Interface 172
Using the Coreshed Interface 173
Removing the Coreshed Link 174
Deleting Drillhole Data 174
Reloading Drillhole Data 174
Exporting Drillhole Data 175
Exporting All Drillhole Data 175
Exporting a Single Drillhole Data Table 176
Points Data 177
Importing Points Data 177
Appending Points Data 178
Setting Elevation for Points 178

Contents | vii
Extracting Points from Drillhole Data 178

Extracting Contact Points from Drillhole Data 179
Extracting Intrusion Values from Drillhole Data 181
Intrusion Point Generation Parameters 182
Extracting Interval Midpoints from Drillhole Data 183
Creating Guide Points 184
Importing Geophysical Data 185
Creating a Grid of Points 185
Evaluating a Grid of Points 186
Exporting a Grid of Points 186
Categorising Points 186
Evaluating Points Data 189
Exporting Points Data 189
Exporting Intrusion Values 189
Exporting Interval Midpoints 189
Structural Data 191
Creating New Planar Structural Data Tables 191
Importing Planar Structural Data 193
Importing Lineations 194
Assigning Structural Data to Categories 195
Editing the Orientation of Planar Structural Data 196
Declustering Planar Structural Data 196
Setting Elevation for Structural Data 198
Estimating Planar Structural Data 198
Meshes 199
Importing a Mesh 199
Meshes with Textures 200
Textured OBJ Meshes 200
Textured Vulcan 8 Meshes 200
Cleaning Up a Mesh 200
Importing an Elevation Grid 201
Creating a Mesh 202
Mesh from the Moving Plane 203
Combining Meshes 204
Clipping a Volume 204
Clipping a Mesh 205
Extracting Mesh Parts 205
Interpolated Meshes 206
Creating an Interpolated Mesh 206
Refining an Interpolated Mesh 207

viii | Leapfrog Geo User Manual
Surface Resolution Settings 208

Snap Settings 208
Other Options 208
Triangulated Meshes 209
Offset Meshes 210
Editing an Offset Mesh 211
Draping an Image on a Mesh 212
Mesh Export 212
Exporting a Single Mesh 213
Exporting Multiple Meshes from the Meshes Folder 214
Exporting Multiple Meshes from Models and Interpolants 215
Elevation Grid Export 215
Thickness Grid Export 216
Polylines 218
Polyline Import 218
Polyline Export 219
Geochemical Data 220
Sending Data to ioGAS 221
Creating a New ioGAS Data Object 221
Opening the Data in ioGAS 223
Sending a New Data Column Back to Leapfrog Geo 224
Importing ioGAS Data 224
Importing ioGAS Data as Points 225
Importing ioGAS Data as Intervals 225
Analysing Data 226
Visualising Data 227
The Shape List and Shape Properties Panel 228
Removing Objects from the Scene 228
The View List 229
Colour Options 229
Opacity 230
Property Buttons 230
Legends 230
The Shape Properties Panel 231
Slice Mode 231
Filtering Data Using Queries 231
Filtering Data Using Values and Categories 231
Selecting Multiple Objects 232
Display Colours 232
Colourmaps and Colour Gradients 233
Colourmap Import and Export 233

Contents | ix
Colourmap Import 234

Colourmap Export 234
Editing a Colourmap 234
Continuous Colourmaps 235
Discrete Colourmaps 235
Displaying Dates 236
Colour Gradients 237
Deleting Colour Gradients 238
Displaying Drillholes 238
Displaying Drillholes as Lines or Cylinders 240
Hiding Lithologies 241
Displaying a Legend 241
Changing Colourmaps 242
Viewing Multiple Interval Tables 242
Selecting from Multiple Columns 242
Displaying Interval Data in the Scene 243
Displaying Points 244
Displaying Surfaces 245
Displaying Structural Data 245
Planar Structural Data 246
Lineations 247
Displaying Sliced Data 249
Displaying GIS Data 249
Custom Topography Views 250
Evaluations 252
Drillhole Correlation Tool 253
Selecting Collars 253
The Correlation Set Window 255
Navigating in the Correlation Set Window 257
Correlation Column Layouts 258
Managing Styles 259
Interpretation Tables 259
Assigning Lithologies 260
Modifying the Interpretation Table 260
Stereonets 263
Creating a Stereonet 263
Plot Options 264
Data Display Options 264
Viewing Stereonet Statistics 267
Selecting Categories in the Stereonet 267
Exporting a Stereonet 271

x | Leapfrog Geo User Manual
Form Interpolants 272

Creating a Form Interpolant 272
Setting a Trend 273
Adding Isosurfaces 273
The Form Interpolant in the Project Tree 274
Form Interpolant Statistics 275
Planning Drillholes 276
Adding Planned Drillholes 277
Planning Options 278
Drilling Prognoses 279
Exporting Planned Drillholes 279
Importing Planned Drillholes 280
Modelling 281
Geological Models 282
Creating a New Geological Model 282
The Base Lithology 282
Surface Resolution 283
Model Extents 283
The Geological Model in the Project Tree 284
Geological Model Display 284
Copying a Geological Model 285
Creating a Static Copy of a Geological Model 285
Geological Model Volumes and Surfaces Export Options 285
Editing a Geological Model 286
Changing the Query Filter 286
Surface Generation Options 286
Volume Generation Options 287
Surface Resolution for a Geological Model 287
Modifying the Models Boundary 288
Extent from a Polyline 290
Creating an Extent from a Polyline 291
Changing the Extents Settings 292
Applying a Trend 293
Adding Data 293
Editing the Extent with a Polyline 294
Editing the Extent with Structural Data 294
Extent from GIS Vector Data 294
Creating an Extent from GIS Data 294

Contents | xi

Adding Data to the Extent 297
Extent from Points Data 298
Creating an Extent from Points Data 299
Extent from Structural Data 302
Creating an Extent from Structural Data 302
Extent from a Surface 306
Extent from a Distance to Points 306
Creating an Extent from a Distance to Points 307
Extent from a Distance Function 308
Creating an Extent from a Distance Function 308
Base from Lithology Contacts 309
Creating a Base from Lithology Contacts 310
Changing the Bases Settings 311
Adding Data to the Base 312
Editing the Base with a Polyline 313
Editing the Base with Structural Data 313

xii | Leapfrog Geo User Manual
Model Lithologies 313

Faulted Models 314
The Fault System 315
Fault Interactions 316
Activating the Fault System 317
Copying the Surface Chronology to an Empty Fault Block 318
Faulted Model Display Options 318
Editing Faults 318
Surfacing Options for Faults 319
Boundary Filtering 319
Snapping to Data 319
Changing Fault Inputs 320
Replacing Fault Inputs with a Single Mesh 320
Adding Data to the Fault 321
Snap Settings for Individual Inputs 321
Boundary Filtering Settings for Individual Inputs 321
Applying a Trend to a Fault 321
Contact Surfaces 321
Contact Surfaces in the Surface Chronology 322
Contact Surfaces Types 325
Deposit and Erosion Contact Surfaces 325
Intrusion Contact Surfaces 327
Vein Contact Surfaces 329
Younging Direction 330
Deposits and Erosions 330
Creating Deposits and Erosions 331
Deposits and Erosions From the Base Lithology 331
Deposits and Erosions From Other Lithology Contacts 335
Deposits and Erosions From Other Data 335
Deposits/Erosions in the Project Tree 337
Refining Deposits and Erosions 337
Surfacing Options for Deposits and Erosions 338
Setting the Surface Resolution 339
Applying a Trend to a Deposit/Erosion 339
Intrusions 339
Creating Intrusions 339
Intrusions from Lithology Contacts 340
Intrusions from Other Data 341
Intrusions in the Project Tree 342

Contents | xiii
Displaying Intrusion Points 343

Refining Intrusions 343
Surfacing Options for Intrusions 343
Applying a Trend to an Intrusion 345
Clipping Values for Intrusions 346
Interpolation Settings 346
Veins 347
Creating Veins 347
Veins From Lithology Contacts 348
Veins From Other Data 348
Veins in the Project Tree 349
Displaying Veins 350
Refining Veins 350
Surfacing Options for Veins 350
Vein Thickness 351
Vein Pinch Out 351
The Vein Reference Surface 353
Adding Data to the Reference Surface 354
Using a Planar Reference Surface 355
The Vein Boundary 355
Adding a Polyline to the Vein Boundary 356
Adjusting the Vein Boundary Plane 356
Editing Vein Segments 357
Vein Segment Orientation 357
Vein Systems 357
Creating a Vein System 359
Adding Veins to the Vein System 359
Editing the Veins 359
Vein System Lithology Settings 359
Vein Interactions 360
Stratigraphic Sequences 361
Creating a Stratigraphic Sequence 362
Surface Stiffness 365

xiv | Leapfrog Geo User Manual
Editing the Stratigraphic Sequence 365

Correcting Pinch-out Errors 365
Surfacing Options 366
Editing Individual Surfaces 366
Contact Honouring and Boundary Filtering for Individual Surfaces 366
Adding Data to Individual Surfaces 367
Editing Surface Contacts 367
Offset Surfaces 368
Creating an Offset Surface 369
The Offset Surface in the Project Tree 370
Refining an Offset Surface 370
Changing Surfacing Options for an Offset Surface 370
Smoothing 372
Changing Offset Limits 372
Changing to a Constant Offset 372
Changing to an Offset to Points 372
Changing the Reference Mesh 373
Editing the Reference Mesh 373
Structural Surfaces 373
Creating a Structural Surface 374
The Structural Surface in the Project Tree 375
Refining a Structural Surface 375
Surfacing Options for a Structural Surface 376
Setting the Surface Resolution 376
Snapping to Input Data 376
Non-contact Structural Inputs Settings 377
Applying a Trend to a Structural Surface 377
Value Clipping 377
The Surface Chronology 378
Refined Lithological Volumes 379
Editing the Sub-Model 381
Interpolants 383
Creating a Numeric Interpolant 383
Values Used 384
Applying a Query Filter 385
Applying a Surface Filter 385

Contents | xv
The Interpolant Boundary 385

Compositing Options 385
General Interpolant Properties 386
The Numeric Interpolant in the Project Tree 386
Interpolant Display 386
Numeric Interpolant Statistics 387
Editing a Numeric Interpolant 387
Adjusting the Values Used 388
Adding a Contour Polyline 389
Adding Points 390
Compositing Parameters for a Numeric Interpolant 390
Adjusting the Interpolant Boundary 391
Clipping and Transforming Values for a Numeric Interpolant 392
Changing the Trend for a Numeric Interpolant 393
Using a Global Trend 393
Using a Structural Trend 394
Adjusting Interpolation Parameters 395
Output Settings for a Numeric Interpolant 396
Multi-domained Interpolants 396
Creating a Multi-domained Interpolant 397
Compositing and Filtering the Values Used 398
Selecting Domains 399
Clipping and Transforming Values 399
Setting the Trend 399
Interpolation Parameters 399
Output Options 399
The Multi-domained Interpolant in the Project Tree 400
Interpolant and Sub-interpolant Display 401
Sub-interpolant Statistics 402
Creating an Indicator Interpolant 402
Creating an Indicator Interpolant 403
Selecting the Values Used 403
Setting the Cut-off 403
Applying a Query Filter 404
Applying a Surface Filter 404
The Interpolant Boundary 404
Compositing Options 404
General Interpolant Properties 405
The Indicator Interpolant in the Project Tree 405
Indicator Interpolant Display 406
Indicator Interpolant Statistics 406

xvi | Leapfrog Geo User Manual
Editing an Indicator Interpolant 407

Adjusting the Values Used 408
Adding a Contour Polyline 408
Adding Points 410
Compositing Parameters for an Indicator Interpolant 411
Adjusting the Interpolant Boundary 412
The Cut-off Value 413
Changing the Trend for an Indicator Interpolant 413
Adjusting Interpolation Parameters 414
Indicator Interpolant Surfacing and Volume Options 414
Distance Functions 416
Setting the Boundary 417
Setting a Trend 418
Adding Buffers 418
The New Distance Function in the Project Tree 419
Importing a Variogram Model 419
Copying an Interpolant 420
Creating a Static Copy of an Interpolant 420
Interpolant Volumes and Surfaces Export 420
Interpolant Midpoints Export 421
Combined Models 422
Creating a Combined Model 422
The Combined Model in the Project Tree 423
Editing a Combined Model 424
Displaying a Combined Model 424
Creating a Static Copy of a Combined Model 424
Combined Model Export 424
Flow Modelling 425
ModFlow Models 425
Creating a ModFlow Model 426
Horizontal Grid Spacing 427
Vertical Grid Layering 428
Editing a ModFlow Model 430
Importing a ModFlow Model 432
ModFlow Evaluations 433
Assigning an Evaluation for Export 433
Combined Evaluations 433
ModFlow Hydrological Properties 434
Setting Hydrological Properties 435
Zone Numbers 437
ModFlow Model Display 437

Contents | xvii
Grid Display Options 438

Viewing Block Information 439
Head Values and MT3D Concentrations 439
Generating a Head Value Mesh 440
ModFlow Model Export 440
As a ModFlow File 441
For Groundwater Vistas 441
As a Groundwater Vistas Update 441
FEFLOW Models 441
FEFLOW Model Display 442
Displaying a 3D Model 444
Displaying a 2D Model 445
Viewing Block Information 446
Importing a FEFLOW Grid 446
Creating a 2D FEFLOW Model 447
Boundary Options 448
Element Size 449
Adding Features to the Grid 449
Creating a 3D FEFLOW Model 451
FEFLOW Evaluations 454
Assigning an Evaluation for Export 454
Combined Evaluations 455
FEFLOW Material Types 455
FEFLOW Model Export 457
Block Models 458
Importing a Block Model 458
Importing an Isatis Block Model 458
Importing a Block Model in CSV Format 459
Creating a Block Model 461
Displaying a Block Model 462
Block Model Export 462
In a Supported Format 462
In CSV Format 463
Null Values for Unevaluated Blocks 463
Numeric Precision 463
In Datamine Block Model Format 463
As Points 463
Sub-blocked Models 464
Creating a Sub-blocked Model 464
Model Extents and Rotation 465
The Grid Pattern 465

xviii | Leapfrog Geo User Manual
Triggers and Evaluations 465

Sub-blocked Model Export 466
In a Supported Format 466
In CSV Format 466
Null Values for Unevaluated Blocks 466
Numeric Precision 466
In Datamine Block Model Format 467
As Points 467
UBC Grids 468
Importing a UBC Grid 468
Evaluating UBCGrids 468
Mapping Category Evaluations 468
Exporting a UBCGrid 469
Presentation 470
Sections 471
Evaluating Sections 471
Exporting Sections 471
Creating Cross Sections 472
Importing Cross Sections 473
Fence Sections 475
Serial Sections 475
Setting the Base Section 476
Setting the Offset Sections 477
The Serial Section in the Project Tree 478
Displaying a Serial Section 478
Exporting a Serial Section 478
Section Layouts 480
Creating New Section Layouts 482
Scale 482
Page Properties 483
Evaluations 483
Extents 483
The Section Layout Editor 483
Object Names and Colours 485
Styling Layout Objects 486
Setting Up the Page 489
Organising the Section 489
Adding and Styling Models 490
Adding and Styling Drillholes and Planned Drillholes 492
Adding and Styling Surfaces 495
Organising the Legend Group 496

Contents | xix
Changing the Legend Group Layout 497

Styling Legend Swatches 498
Making Legends Visible and Invisible 499
Adding and Organising Annotations 499
Title 499
Title Block 500
Scale Bar 500
Location 500
Text Boxes 501
Images 501
Displaying Section Layouts 501
Exporting Section Layouts 502
Copying Section Layouts 502
Rendered Images 503
Background Rendering 503
Saved Scenes 505
Saving Scenes 505
Exporting Scenes 506
Exporting Scenes for Leapfrog Aspect 507
Linking to Scene Files 507
Movies 508
Contour Lines 510
Creating Contour Lines 510
Exporting GIS Contours 510

| xx

Getting Started
This section describes how to get started with Leapfrog Geo. The first three topics describe how
to activate your Leapfrog Geo licence, how to launch Leapfrog Geo and how to run the
graphics test to check the capabilities of your computers video card. The next topic, An
Overview of Leapfrog Geo, describes the different parts of the Leapfrog Geo main window.
Licences
To run Leapfrog Geo, you need a licence. There are two types, one that requires a Leapfrog
USB dongle and one that requires the entry of a code.
Dongle Licences
If you have a USB dongle and need to activate your licence, plug the dongle in to your
computer and start Leapfrog Geo. Leapfrog Geo will check the dongle and prompt you to start
the activation process. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen.
If the licence cannot be installed, contact Customer Support as described in Getting Support.
Once the licence has been activated, the licence details will be displayed. The Module Licences
tab shows whether you have licences for any specialist modules.
If you have an OnDemand licence, you will be prompted to check out days. In the window that
appears, the bars shows the maximum checkout period, divided into blocks that each represent
one day. Green blocks are active days remaining on your licence, and blue blocks are days
available for checkout. Click blue blocks to select additional days; the blocks will turn orange to
indicate the additional days you will be checking out.
You may also have module licences available, in which case you can click on the button for that
licence and select the required number of days:

2 | Leapfrog Geo User Manual
Click Get Licence to update your licence and check out the days indicated in orange.
Once Leapfrog Geo is running, you can check out additional days by selecting Extend Licence
from the Leapfrog Geo menu or by clicking on the button at the bottom of the main window:
Code Licences
You may have a licence that requires the entry of a code. Start Leapfrog Geo and click Enter
Licence Code in the window that appears. Enter the code you have been given and click Get
Started.
You can copy the licence code from the email or document you received and paste it into
the first Licence Code field.
If the code cannot be validated and you are sure you have entered the code correctly, contact
Customer Support as described in Getting Support.
Module Licences
Some Leapfrog Geo features are only available if you have a licence for a specialist module.
Your module licence may be activated as part of your Leapfrog Geo licence activation. If,
however, your licence has already been activated and you wish to activate or extend a module
licence, select Install Licence (for a normal licence) or Extend Licence (for an OnDemand
licence) from the Leapfrog Geo menu.
Launching Leapfrog Geo

This topic is divided into:
l Starting a New Project
l Managing Project Files
l Saving Projects
l Saving Zipped Copies of Projects
l Saving Backup Copies of Projects

l Compacting Projects
l Upgrading Projects
l Leapfrog Hydro Projects

Starting a New Project | 3
When you launch Leapfrog Geo, the main window will appear with the Projects tab displayed:
Thumbnails for the most recent projects are displayed in the Recent projects list. Click on a
thumbnail to open a project.
You can also navigate directly to the required project file by clicking on Open Project File.
Once a project file has been opened, Leapfrog Geo switches to displaying the Scene View tab.
The second set of thumbnails is for projects contained in the Search folder:
l Click on the folder button ( ) or press the F5 key to change the Search folder. The Search
folder is useful if you have one folder in which you keep most of your Leapfrog Geo projects.
l Click on the Refresh button ( ) or press the F4 key to update the list of projects in the Search
folder.
Starting a New Project

To start a new project, click New Project at the top of the Projects tab. The new project will be
saved in the Search folder.
Managing Project Files

Leapfrog Geo project files use the extension .aproj. A folder is also created that contains
information used by the project.
Do not change the name of your project folder or alter its contents. Doing so could render
your project file unusable.

A .lock file is created when a project is opened. The .lock file protects the project from being
moved while the project is open and from being opened by another instance of Leapfrog Geo,
which can happen when projects are saved on shared network drives.
If processing and display of objects in your project is too slow and your project is stored on a
network drive or on a USB drive, consider moving your project onto a local drive. Leapfrog
Geo is optimised for working off your local hard drive, and working from network drives and
USB drives risks corrupting the project.
Saving Projects
Leapfrog Geo automatically saves an open project each time a processing task has been
completed or settings have changed. Projects are also saved when they are closed so that scene
settings can be restored when the project is next opened.
Saving Zipped Copies of Projects

You can save a zipped copy of a project by selecting Save A Zipped Copy from the Leapfrog
Geo menu. You will be prompted to choose a name and location for the zipped project. Click
Save to create the zip file.
Saving Backup Copies of Projects

You can save a backup copy of a project by selecting Save A Copy from the Leapfrog Geo
menu. You will be prompted to choose a new name and location for the saved project. Click OK
to create the new project file. Leapfrog Geo will save a copy of the project in the location
selected.
Once the backup copy is saved, you can open and use it from the Projects tab. Otherwise,
you can keep working in the original copy of the project.
Compacting Projects
When you delete objects from a project file, Leapfrog Geo retains those objects but notes that
they are no longer used. Over time, the project file will grow in size and data stored in the
database may become fragmented.
Compacting a project removes these unused objects and any unused space from the database.
When you compact a project, Leapfrog Geo will close the project and back it up before
compacting it. Depending on the size of the project, compacting it may take several minutes.
Leapfrog Geo will then reopen the project.
To compact a project, select Compact This Project from the Leapfrog Geo menu. You will be
asked to confirm your choice.

Upgrading Projects | 5
Upgrading Projects
When you open a project that was last saved in an earlier version of Leapfrog Geo, you may be
prompted to upgrade the project. A list of affected objects will be displayed. For large projects
with many objects that need to be reprocessed, the upgrade process may take some time.
It is a good idea to back up the project before opening it. Tick the Back up the project before
upgrading button, then click Upgrade and Open. Navigate to the folder in which to save the
backup and click Save.
For large projects with many objects, upgrading without backing up the project is not
recommended.
Leapfrog Hydro Projects

Leapfrog Hydro projects can be converted to Leapfrog Geo projects. However, the process is
one-way, and projects opened in Leapfrog Geo can no longer be opened in Leapfrog Hydro.
When you open a Leapfrog Hydro project, you will be prompted to save a backup before
converting the project:
Once a Leapfrog Hydro project has been converted to Leapfrog Geo, it can no longer be
opened in Leapfrog Hydro. It is strongly recommended that you back up the project before
converting it.

In the Projects tab, the thumbnails for unconverted Leapfrog Hydro projects in the Search
folder will be marked as Leapfrog Hydro projects:
The Graphics Test

Leapfrog Geo can run in one of three acceleration modes. These modes are selected by clicking
on the button at the bottom of the main window:
See 3D Acceleration Mode in Settings for more information on these settings.

When you first run Leapfrog Geo, run the graphics test to test the capability of your computers
video card.
To start the test, open Leapfrog Geo and select Test Graphics from the Leapfrog Geo menu:

Video Card Issues | 7
The graphics test displays a series of image pairs that test the capabilities of your video card for
the currently selected acceleration mode. For each pair, compare the images:
Even if the differences are slight, click the Images Differ button. If the images match, click the
Images Match button. The next test will be displayed.
At the conclusion of the test, the result is displayed. If one or more tests have failed, information
about solving problems will be displayed.
If you click on Save Report, you will be prompted to save the file on your computer.
If the test has failed, try switching to a different acceleration mode and running the test again. If
possible, avoid using Software Rendering as it can be very slow.
If you cannot resolve the problem following the steps described in Video Card Issues, save a
copy of the graphics test report and contact technical support as described in Getting Support.
Be sure to include information about your system copied from the About > System Info tab.
Video Card Issues

If the graphics test fails, there are two steps you can take to correct the problem:
l Ensure your video driver is up-to-date. See Updating Your Video Card Driver.
l Check your video cards 3D/OpenGL settings. See Checking Your 3D/OpenGL Settings.

Updating Your Video Card Driver

The best way to update your video driver is to do this using any tools that your computers
manufacturer provides. For example, some manufacturers allow you to update drivers using a
tool installed in the Start screen (Windows 8 or later) or Start menu (Windows 7). Look for items
that carry the manufacturers name. Another option is to right-click on the desktop to see if
there is an update tool available. In the example below, the manufacturer has included an
option for updating video drivers called NVIDIA Control Panel:
If your computer appears to have no manufacturer-installed tools for updating drivers, you can
go to the manufacturers website and see if updates are available there. Look for parts of the
website relating to support and driver downloads or driver updates.
If your computers manufacturer does not provide information to help you update your video
driver, you can run the Hardware Update Wizard to see if a newer driver is available. To do this:
1. Open the Control Panel.
2. Open the System option.
3. Switch to the Hardware tab (Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10).
4. Click on the Device Manager option.
5. Click to open the Display adapters option.

Checking Your 3D/OpenGL Settings | 9
6. Right-click on the display adapter and choose the Update Driver Software option:
Next, follow the steps to complete the wizard. If the wizard cannot update your software
because your computer already has the latest software, it may be that your video driver is
already up-to-date and that the reason the graphics test fails may lie in the cards 3D/OpenGL
settings. See Checking Your 3D/OpenGL Settings.
If your video cards driver has been updated, run the graphics test again to see if the computer
passes the tests. If the test still fails, contact technical support as described in Getting Support.
Be sure to include information about your system copied from the About > System Info tab.
Checking Your 3D/OpenGL Settings

The step or steps at which your computer fails the graphics test may indicate what 3D/OpenGL
settings need to be changed. Save the graphics test report, as described in The Graphics Test
and contact technical support as described in Getting Support.

An Overview of Leapfrog Geo
This topic provides an overview of the different parts of the Leapfrog Geo main window. It is
divided into:
l Organising Your Workspace
l Detaching and Minimising the Project Tree
l Organising the Scene View Tab
l Keyboard Shortcuts in the Main Window
If you are new to Leapfrog Geo, it is a good idea to go through the tutorials, which introduce
basic concepts. The tutorials take two to four hours to complete and will get you to the point
where you can start processing your own data.
The Leapfrog Geo main window is divided into three main parts:
The Project Tree contains all the data in the project and tools for working with that data. When you
want to change how this data is used in the project, work with the objects in the project tree. See
The Project Tree.
The Scene View tab displays a 3D representation of selected objects from the project tree.
Changing how you view objects in the scene window does not change those objects in the project
tree. See The 3D Scene.
Tools for changing the appearance of data in the scene window are available in the shape list and
the shape properties panel. Changing the appearance of these objects does not change those
objects in the project tree. See Visualising Data.

Organising Your Workspace | 11
You can add objects to the scene window by dragging them from the project tree. You can
temporarily hide them in the scene or remove them altogether using the controls in the shape
list.
When you open a Leapfrog Geo project, the project is displayed in the state it was in when it was
closed.
Organising Your Workspace

You can split the Leapfrog Geo main window into separate parts to make better use of your
screen space. In addition, some Leapfrog Geo windows open in separate tabs that can be used
either docked or detached.
To detach a tab, either:
l Click on it and drag it away from the main window.
l Right-click on it and selecting Move to New Window.
You can then move and resize the detached tab.
To dock a detached tab, click on it and drag it to where you want to dock it:
When the plus sign appears, release the mouse and the tab will dock.
Tabs can be docked to the main window or to other tabs. Drag tabs to reorder them.
You can view a list of all open tabs by selecting the down arrow to the right of the processing
queue button:
When you close a project, the position of open tabs will be saved and restored when the project
is next opened.

Some Leapfrog Geo windows open in separate tabs that can be used either docked or
detached. The position in which tabs open is determined by the New tab position setting in the
Settings window:
l Open all tabs in the main window.
l Open all tabs in separate windows.
l Tabs can open where the last tab was moved to. This setting can be used for creating a
window in which all tables and dockable windows open, with the scene window, project tree
and shape list in another window.
To change this setting, click on the Leapfrog Geo menu, select Settings and then click on the
User Interface tab.
Detaching and Minimising the Project Tree

The project tree can also be detached from the main window. To do this, right-click at the top
of the project tree and select Detach:
To reattach the project tree, click the red X to close the tab. It will reappear docked to the main
window.
You can also minimise the project tree. To do this, right-click on it and choose Minimise or press
the F8 key. Restore the project tree by pressing the button:
Pressing the F8 key once again also restores the project tree.

Organising the Scene View Tab | 13
Organising the Scene View Tab

The Scene View tab is made up of the scene window, the shape list and the shape properties
panel. The shape list and shape properties panel can be displayed on the righthand side of the
scene rather than below the scene. To do this, right-click in the shape list and select Move List
to Right:
You can also detach the shape list and display it as a tab, which can then be detached from the
main window. To do this, right-click in the shape list and select Put List in Separate Tab:
You can then detach the tab from the main window:
To dock the shape list to the Scene View tab, right-click in the Shape List tab and choose where
you wish to dock the list:

Keyboard Shortcuts in the Main Window

Use the Tab and Shift+Tab keys to move between the different parts of the main window in the
following order:
l Project tree
l Scene toolbar
l Scene window
l Shape list
l Shape properties panel
Key(s) Action
Maximise scene, minimise project tree and shape list. Press F8 again to
F8
restore.
Ctrl+1 Activate the Select tool ( )
Ctrl+2 Activate the Draw slicer line tool ( )
Ctrl+3 Activate the Draw plane line tool ( )
Ctrl+4 Activate the Ruler tool ( )
F10 or Alt L Open the Leapfrog Geo menu
F1 Open Leapfrog Geo help
Ctrl+Q Quit Leapfrog Geo
The Project Tree

This topic provides an introduction to working with the project tree. It is divided into:
l Project Tree Keyboard Shortcuts
l Restricted Objects
l Subfolders
l Finding Objects
l Deleting Objects
l Renaming Objects
l Comments
l Sharing Objects
l Unsharing a Polyline
The series of folders in the project tree are used to organise objects such as maps, images and
data sets into categories. These folders also provide tools that let you import information into
the project and generate models. Right-click on each folder to view the actions you can
perform using that folder.

The Project Tree | 15
You can also right-click on objects within the top-level folders to view more information on that
object or carry out actions specific to that object. For example, right-clicking on a table of
imported drillhole data reveals a menu showing possible actions:
When a bold option appears in the right-click menu, as Open does in the menu above, that
option can also be selected by double-clicking on the object.
You can select more than one object in the project tree by holding down the Shift key or the Ctrl
key while clicking. This is useful for viewing or deleting multiple objects at once.
The way folders and objects are organised in the project tree lets you reveal or hide information
about an object to focus on objects you are currently working with. This is also useful when you
are exploring a project and want to determine how something was put together. The arrows
next to objects in the project tree let you reveal or hide an objects details to focus on objects
you are currently working with. Here, the Topographies folder is expanded to show a
Topography object that is made up of a mesh:

The mesh itself is stored in the Meshes folder, but is hyperlinked to from wherever it is used in
the project.
The Drillhole Data folder and the Drillholes object have been expanded to show the drillhole
data tables. Tables shown in bold are those displayed in the scene.
Folders that have no arrow have no detail stored.
Expanding a geological model reveals information about how it was built. Here, a geological
model has been expanded to show the basic objects that make up a model:
The five objects underneath the geological model GM represent the five basic parts of a
geological model:
l The Boundary object defines the outer limits of the geological model.
l The Fault System object defines faults and their interactions in the geological model.
l The Lithologies object defines the lithologies in the model.
l The Surface Chronology object defines the structure of the models contact surfaces.
l The Output Volumes folder contains the generated units (outputs) that make up the
geological model.

Project Tree Keyboard Shortcuts | 17
Here, boundary objects for a geological model have been expanded to show how they were
created:
The Topography object is included as the models upper boundary. The East boundary object
was created using a polyline from the Polylines folder and the West boundary object was
created using a GIS data object in the GIS Data, Maps and Photos folder. Clicking on the
hyperlinks will locate the object from which the extent was created.
Project Tree Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts for navigating in the project tree are as follows:
Key(s) Action
Up and down arrows Navigate up and down the tree
Right arrow Expand folder/object or go down one level
Left arrow Close folder/object or go up one level
Ctrl+shift+left arrow Close all folders/objects
Shift+right arrow Expand the selected folder/object and any objects in it
Shift+left arrow Close the selected folder/object and any objects in it
Ctrl+A and Ctrl+/ Selects all folders and objects
Ctrl+F Search for objects
Enter The equivalent of double-clicking on an object
Ctrl-X Cut an object or subfolder. Use with Ctrl-V to move objects and subfolders.
Ctrl-V Paste an object or subfolder
Some actions are not available until data has been imported into the project.
Restricted Objects
Some objects may appear in the project tree as restricted:

Restricted objects were created using features only available in modules. You can display
restricted objects in the scene and change how they are displayed, but you cannot make
changes to the objects themselves. Contact Customer Support as described in Getting Support
for more information about licensing modules.
Subfolders
In many top-level project tree folders, you can create subfolders that help in organising large
numbers of data objects. For example, here points objects are organised into subfolders in the
Points folder:
To add a subfolder, right-click on a folder in the project tree and select New Subfolder. Add
objects to subfolders by dragging and dropping them. You can also use Cut (Ctrl-X) and Paste
(Ctrl-V) shortcuts to move objects and subfolders.
Subfolders can be renamed, moved and deleted, but cannot be moved to other top-level
folders.
Subfolders have the same right-click commands as their parent folder, which means you can
import or create new data objects inside the subfolder rather than in the parent folder. You can
also view all objects in the subfolder by dragging the folder into the scene or by right-clicking
on the subfolder and selecting View All.

Finding Objects | 19
When lists of objects are displayed, the subfolder organisation will be reflected in the list. For
example, when creating an interpolant, the list of data objects that can be interpolated is
displayed organised by subfolder:
Subfolders cannot be created in the Drillhole Data folder, although they can be created in the
Composites and Planned Drillholes folders.
Finding Objects
To find objects in the project tree, click the search button at the top of the project tree:
You can also click anywhere in the project tree and type Ctrl-F.
The Find window will be displayed:
Enter the information you are searching for, then click Backwards or Forwards to locate the
object in the project tree.
Deleting Objects
When you delete an object from the project tree, a window will be displayed listing all other
objects in the project that will also be deleted and those that will be reprocessed. Consider
carefully the effects on other objects in the project, as once an object is deleted, it cannot be
recovered.

Deleting data from the project may cause other objects to be reprocessed, which can take
some time.
To delete more than one object from the tree, hold down the Shift key or the Ctrl key while
selecting objects.
Renaming Objects
When an object is created in Leapfrog Geo, it is given a default name. It is a good idea to give
objects in Leapfrog Geo names that will help you distinguish them from other objects, as large
projects with complicated models will contain many objects.
To rename an object in the project tree right-click on the object and select Rename. The
Rename Object window will be displayed:
Enter a new name for the object. Click Rename to change the objects name.
Comments
Another aid to documenting work in a project is comments.
You can record comments on any object in the project tree, which can be helpful when the
project contains many objects and when several different people are working on a model.
Objects that have comments are indicated in the project tree by a comment balloon ( ). The
comment will be displayed when you right-click on the object:
Tab or click to add a new comment or edit an existing one. You can also add standard
information to a comment, such as date and time.

Sharing Objects | 21
You can add information about the project as a whole using the Notes object ( ), which is the
last object in the project tree. Double-click on the Notes object to open it and add information.
Sharing Objects
Some objects are created as part of working with other objects and are not available elsewhere
in the project. An example of this is a polyline drawn as part of creating a geological model
boundary. To share such objects within the project, right-click on the object in the project tree
and click Share. The shared object will be copied to the relevant location in the project tree and
a hyperlink added to the object it was shared from.
For example, here a polyline created as a lateral extent is shared:
The polyline is saved to the Polylines folder and a hyperlink to it appears as part of the
geological models boundary. Whenever the polyline is updated, changes will be made
wherever it is shared in the project.
Unsharing a Polyline
Polylines that have been shared can be unshared by making a local copy of the polyline. To do
this, right-click on the shared polyline and select Create Local Copy:
The polyline in the Polylines folder remains, but a local copy of it is made and the hyperlink to
the Polylines folder copy is deleted. This means you can now work on, for example, the
Polylines folder copy without changes to it affecting the geological models copy.
Processing Tasks
The processing queue button shows how many tasks are currently being processed:

Objects will be added to the processing queue when you make changes to them via the project
tree.
l To view the queue and progress on processing, click the queue button or press Alt + P.
l To pause processing, press Ctrl + P. To resume processing, press Ctrl + P again.
The button will turn grey when all processing is complete.
You can close a project while is still running tasks. When you next open the project, the
remainder of the tasks in the processing queue will be processed.
Prioritising Tasks
Tasks can be prioritised and their inputs processed before other objects. To prioritise a task,
right-click on an object in the project tree and select Prioritise. Prioritised tasks are marked in
the project tree with an arrow:
Prioritising an object is useful when you are editing it and wish to view the effect of changes
without reprocessing all objects in the project. For example, you may be modifying a
boundary or contact surface for a geological model. You can prioritise the surface, then run
it each time you make changes.
To run only prioritised tasks, click the processing queue button, then click Priority Only:
The processing queue button will change to show that only priority tasks will be run:
The number of objects that have been prioritised is indicated by the button at the top of the
project tree ( ). To view prioritised tasks, click the button. All prioritised objects will be selected
and displayed in the project tree.
To reset a priority object, right-click on it and select Clear Priority.
Click the processing queue button, then click Run All to resume normal processing.

Correcting Errors | 23
Correcting Errors
If processing of an object fails, all other objects dependent on that object will also fail. Click the
processing queue button to view the errors. To inspect the source of error, right-click on the
object in the task queue and select Go to Project Tree:
Right-click on the object in the project tree, then select Properties. The Errors tab shows
information on any processing errors for the object and may be helpful in fixing the error.
Object Properties
You can view the properties of most objects imported into or created in Leapfrog Geo. To do
this, right-click on the object in the project tree and select Properties.
The information available in the Properties window depends on the type of object. There are
two tabs that appear for each type of object:
l The Processing tab shows the current status of the processing (queued to process,
processing, finished).
l The Errors tab shows errors that have occurred while processing the object. See Processing
Tasks.
Many objects also have a General tab that summarises information about the object. The
amount of information in the General tab will vary according to the type of object. For example,
for table objects, the General tab shows the tables data structure.
Other tabs included in the Properties window for some objects are:
l Histograms
l Statistics

Histograms
When you view properties for interval tables and numeric data tables, the Histogram tab shows
the distribution of the data in a particular column:
If the table contains several columns, you can display histograms for each column. If so, you will
be able to choose the other columns from the dropdown box. You can also:
l Adjust the number of intervals in the histogram by changing the Bin count.
l Remove values less than zero by ticking the Semilog X box.
Changes made to the way the histogram is displayed are not saved when the Properties
window is closed.
Statistics
When you view properties for some objects, a Statistics tab is available. The information
displayed is specific to the type of object.
l For grids of points, see Evaluating a Grid of Points.
l For back-flagged drillholes see:
o Comparing Modelled Values to Drilling Lithologies
o Comparing Drilling Lithologies to Modelled Values

o Refining the Geological Model to Improve Correlation Statistics
l For interpolants, see Numeric Interpolant Statistics.
l For multi-domained interpolants, see Multi-domained Interpolants.
l For indicator interpolants, see Indicator Interpolant Statistics.
You can copy the information displayed in the Statistics tab to the clipboard for use in other
applications.

The 3D Scene | 25
The 3D Scene
This topic describes how to interact with the 3D scene. It is divided into:
l Navigation
l Locating an Object from the Scene
l Clicking in the Scene
l Clicking in the Shape List

l Slicing Through the Data
l Measuring in the Scene
l Determining a Location
l The Moving Plane

l The Ruler
For information on how to display objects in the scene, see Visualising Data.
Navigation
The best way to navigate the 3D scene in Leapfrog Geo is using the mouse. If you are running
Leapfrog Geo on a laptop, it is recommended that you plug in a mouse rather than using the
laptops touchpad for navigation. However, you can also navigate in the scene using the
keyboard.
Action Mouse Keyboard
Changing the Click and drag to rotate the Press the arrow keys to rotate the scene
viewing angle scene
For smaller steps, hold down the Shift key while
pressing the arrow keys
Zooming in and out Use the scroll wheel Press the Page Up or Page Down keys
of the scene
Hold the right mouse button For smaller steps, hold down the Shift key while
while moving the mouse pressing the Page Up or Page Down keys
Click and hold both mouse

Panning the scene Hold down the Alt key while pressing the arrow keys
buttons, then drag
Hold the scroll wheel and drag
Click the scroll wheel

Centre an object in
the scene Click both mouse buttons
together

Use the Look menu above the scene window to switch to different viewing angles:
If you prefer to navigate using the keyboard, use the following keyboard shortcuts:
Key(s) Action
Arrow keys Rotate the scene in 10 degree steps
Shift+Arrow keys Rotate the scene in 2 degree steps
Home Reset the view, showing all visible objects in scene
U, D, E, W, N, S Look Up, Down, East, West, North and South
L Look at the slicing plane
Shift+L Look at the back of the slicing plane
M Look at the moving plane
Shift+M Look at the back of the moving plane
Ctrl+M Look down the moving plane pitch
Shift+Ctrl+M Look up the moving plane pitch
P Select Perspective view
O Select Orthographic view
Ctrl+Delete Clear the scene
Ctrl+B Bookmark the viewing angle and zoom
B Display the bookmarked viewing angle and zoom
Ctrl+ Save the scene
Copies the scene to the clipboard. The image can then be pasted into
Ctrl+C
another application, such as an image editor.
Ctrl+/ Add the slicer to the scene. Press Ctrl+/ to remove the slicer from the scene.

Navigation | 27
Key(s) Action
Add the moving plane to the scene. Press Ctrl+; to remove the moving plane
Ctrl+;
from the scene.
The current viewing angle and scale are displayed in the lower righthand corner of the scene
window:
You can change how the viewing angle and scale are displayed in the Overlays tab of the
Settings window.
You can save the current viewing angle as a bookmark by selecting Bookmark Viewing Angle
from the Look menu or by pressing Ctrl+B. Restore the bookmark by selecting Look > Restore
Bookmark or by pressing B.
Only one viewing angle bookmark can be saved. The bookmark is not saved when Leapfrog
Geo is shut down.
The scene window displays a 3D representation of selected data from the project tree. You can
add objects from the project tree to the scene in two ways:
l Click on the object and drag it into the scene. Hold down the Shift key or the Ctrl key while
clicking to select multiple items, then add them to the scene.
l Right-click on the object and tick the View Object box.
Dragging objects into the scene window may be blocked by other applications on your
computer. For example, if you are sharing a screen using Skype, you will not be able to drag
objects into the scene.

Once you have added objects to the scene window, you can change the appearance of those
objects using the controls in the shape list and the shape properties panel.
Changing how you view objects in the scene window does not change those objects in the
project tree.
Visualising Data describes in detail how to change the visualisation of data in the scene, which
is an important part of interpreting data in the project and making modelling decisions.
Locating an Object from the Scene

When you have a number of objects displayed in the scene, it may not be readily apparent
where you can find more information about those objects. Leapfrog Geo helps you find the
object in the project tree and the shape list in two ways, by Clicking in the Scene and by
Clicking in the Shape List.

Clicking in the Scene | 29
Clicking in the Scene

Clicking on an object in the scene displays a window that contains a summary of the data and,
for many objects, a link to the corresponding data in the project tree. For example, here drillhole
data is displayed in the scene and clicking on a segment displays the corresponding data:
Note that clicking on an object in the scene also selects it in the shape list.
Clicking in the Shape List

When you have objects displayed in the shape list and want to locate them in the project tree,
simply right-click on the object in the shape list and select Go to Project Tree:
The objects location in the project tree will be expanded and the object will be selected.

Slicing Through the Data

The slicer is a powerful tool for revealing data that is concealed behind other objects and for
emphasising data. Slicing can be considered a form of dynamic sectioning. Two buttons in the
toolbar can be used to add the slicer to the scene:
You can add the slicer to the scene by clicking the Show slicer button ( ). The slicer will appear
in the scene and you can adjust its position using the controls in the shape list:
You can also click the Draw slicer line button ( ), then click and drag in the scene to cut a slice
through the scene.
The scene may appear empty because the slicer has removed all visible data. Reposition the
slicer or turn it off.
You can change the way the slice appears in the scene using the controls in the shape list, and
finer controls are available in the shape properties panel:

Slicing Through the Data | 31
Right-click on the slicer in the shape list to view more information about each option:
The Lock to Camera ( ) option locks the slice to the current view so that moving the scene
changes the direction of the slice.
These options can also be controlled from the Look menu:
The Set to list in the shape properties panel contains standard views, together with any sections
displayed in the scene:
To move the slicing plane in a direction orthogonal to the slicing plane, hold down the Ctrl key
and the right mouse button while dragging the mouse.
To change the thickness of a thick slice, hold down the Ctrl key and the middle mouse button
while dragging the mouse. If you have a two-button mouse, hold both buttons.
Use the following keyboard shortcuts to control the slicer:
Key(s) Action
Ctrl+/ Add the slicer to the scene. Press Ctrl+/ to remove the slicer from the scene.
L Look at the slicing plane

Key(s) Action
Shift+L Look at the back of the slicing plane
T Thick slice ( )
F Remove front ( )
K Remove back ( )
Ctrl+V Orient the slicer to the current view
Ctrl+E Slice the east (X) axis ( )
Ctrl+N Slice the north (Y) axis ( )
Ctrl+D Slice the elevation (Z) axis ( )
Ctrl+L Lock the slicer to the camera ( )
C Centre the slicer in the scene
Ctrl+right mouse button Move the slicer forward and backward in the scene
Ctrl+middle (or left+right) mouse

Change the slice width
button
, (comma) Step the slicer forward
. (full stop) Step the slicer backward
L and Shift+L Look orthogonally at the slicer plane
Measuring in the Scene

Leapfrog Geo has a number of tools for making quantitative measurements in the scene. These
include:
l Clicking on an object in the scene. This will open a window containing more information
about the object.
l Viewing an objects properties to determine its size. Right-click on the object in the project
tree and select Properties. Information on the size of the object will be displayed in the
General tab.
l Using the cursor to determine an approximate location in the scene. See Determining a
Location.
l Using the moving plane to measure trends. See The Moving Plane.
l Using the ruler to measure in the scene. See The Ruler.

Determining a Location | 33
Determining a Location
The simplest way of measuring an approximate location in the scene is to first display an object
in the scene window, then position the cursor over the location. The position of the cursor is
displayed at the bottom of the Leapfrog Geo window:
The position of the cursor in the scene is calculated using the depth buffer on the graphics card
and so is not an exact method of measuring in the scene.
If you require an exact position, click on the object. Leapfrog Geo will compute the exact
position and display it in a pop-up window:
The point selected is highlighted in the scene.

The Moving Plane

In Leapfrog Geo, the moving plane is used for measuring planar structures and defining
coordinate system orientations. There are two tools in the toolbar that relate to the moving
plane:
To use the moving plane, click the Show plane button ( ) and position the plane in the scene.
The main axis of the moving plane is defined by the green line. The second axis is defined to be
in the plane at right angles (orthogonal) to the main axis. Third axis is perpendicular to the
plane.
There are three ways to position the plane. You can:
l Use the handles in the scene window to move the plane. If you cannot see the handles, click
on the moving plane.
l Use the Plane controls in the shape properties panel to change the Dip, Dip Azimuth, Pitch
and Centre Point.
l Orient the scene to look parallel to the required plane position, then click on the Draw plane
line button ( ). Draw the required line in the scene.
Plane movement can be aligned to the Axes or to the Camera:
l With the Axes option, the handles move in cartesian coordinates. This is the only option
available in older versions of Leapfrog Geo.
l With the Camera option, the handles move relative to the camera angle. This is the way the
moving plane handles worked in Leapfrog Mining.
Drawing the plane line is usually the most convenient method of defining a planar structure.

The Ruler | 35
To remove the moving plane from the scene:

l Click the Show plane button ( ).
l In the shape list, click the delete button ( ) for the moving plane.
Use the following keyboard shortcuts to control the moving plane:
Key(s) Action
Add the moving plane to the scene. Press Ctrl+; to remove the moving plane
Ctrl+;
from the scene.
M Look at the moving plane
Shift+M Look at the back of the moving plane
Ctrl+M Look down the moving plane pitch
Shift+Ctrl+M Look up the moving plane pitch
The Ruler
You can use the ruler to measure distances in three dimensional space and between drillholes
and planned drillholes.
The easiest way to use the ruler is to click on the Ruler button ( ) and click and drag between
points in the scene to start making measurements. A ruler line will appear in the scene to
indicate the measurement. Information about the distance measured will appear in the scene
and in the shape properties panel:
The ruler tool stays active in the scene so you can make as many measurements as required.

You can also measure the distance between drillholes or between drillholes and a point. To do
this, click on the Calculate Distance button in the shape properties panel. The Distance
Calculator window will appear:
You can select both drillholes and planned drillholes. Click Calculate to calculate the distance
and update the ruler in the scene. The distance value will appear in the Distance Calculator
window.
You can also select a point in the scene by clicking the Select button ( ) in the Distance
Calculator window, then clicking in the scene. The location of the point in the scene will
appear in the Distance Calculator window.
After measuring a distance, it is a good idea to change the viewing angle to confirm that the
measurement has been made between the correct points in three dimensions.
There are two ways to remove the ruler from the scene:
l Click the Select button ( ).
l Click the delete button ( ) for the ruler object in the shape list.

Drawing in the Scene | 37
Drawing in the Scene

In Leapfrog Geo, you can draw polylines to define many surfaces, including lateral extents and
contact surfaces. You can also use polylines to make adjustments to surfaces and create new
GIS lines.
This topic describes drawing polylines in Leapfrog Geo. It is divided into:
l The Drawing Toolbar
l Drawing Hotkeys
l Drawing 3D Lines
l Drawing 2D Lines
l Polyline Properties
l Tangents and Ribbons
l Drawing Points
l Editing Normals
For information on importing and exporting polylines, see Polylines.
When drawing in Leapfrog Geo, you can draw on surfaces or on the slicer.
l If you are drawing on surfaces, the line will be in 3D.
l If you are drawing on the slicer, the line will be in 2D and locked to the plane it was drawn in.
It can be converted to a 3D line.
When you start drawing a polyline, drawing tools are added to the scene window. If you are
drawing a GISline or if the slicer was already in the scene, the drawing mode will be set to be on
the slicer.
Toggle between the two options using the toolbar buttons:

When drawing and otherwise working with the polyline, tooltips are displayed in the scene that
show what actions are currently possible:
For example, if the drawing mode is set to on slicer ( ), you will be warned if the slicer is not in
the scene:
You can disable these tooltips once you are more familiar with how the polyline tool works.
Open the Settings window by clicking on the Leapfrog Geo menu and selecting Settings.
Click on Overlays and disable the Polyline help text option.
The Drawing Toolbar

The Draw lines( ) and Draw points( ) tools are used to create new lines and points. The tools
in the second row are for controlling whether the polyline is drawn (on the slicer ( ) or on
surfaces ( )). The Select dropdown list lets you select different parts of the polyline.
The other tools are for working with selected parts of the polyline:
l Making line segments straight ( ) or curved ( )
l Adding nodes ( ) to lines
l Adding tangents to lines or reorienting selected tangents ( )
l Flipping selected tangents and disks ( )
l Add disks to points ( )
l Converting a 2D polyline to 3D ( )
l Setting the slicer to a 2D polyline ( )

Drawing Hotkeys | 39
There are also buttons for undoing ( ) and redoing actions ( ), as well as saving the polyline ( )
or deleting selected parts of it ( ).
Drawing Hotkeys
Use the following keyboard shortcuts while drawing:
Key(s) Action
Ctrl+5 Draw lines ( )
Ctrl+6 Draw points/disks ( )
Ctrl+S Save ( )
Ctrl+W Close editor ( )
Ctrl+Z Undo ( )
Ctrl+Y Redo ( )
Delete Delete the selected segment, node, tangent or disk ( )
X Draw/move on slicer ( )
Shift+X Draw/move on objects ( )
Q Make segments curved ( )
Shift+Q Make segments straight ( )
Shift-A Add node ( )
A Add/reorient tangent ( )
V Flip tangent/disks ( )
Shift+D Add/remove disk ( )
Shift+E Make selected line 3D ( )
Shift+W Set slicer to selected 2D line ( )
Ctrl+A Select all
Shift+Ctrl+Alt+L Select all lines
Shift+Ctrl+Alt+T Select all tangents
Shift+Ctrl+Alt+P Select all points without disks
Shift+Ctrl+Alt+D Select all points with disks

Drawing 3D Lines
Polylines are made up of nodes, which are added where you click in the scene using the Draw
lines( ) tool. This is a 3D polyline, which is indicated in the scene by the dashed line:
Click to select a node and drag to move it in the scene parallel to the screen. If you hold down
the Ctrl key while moving the node, it will snap onto surfaces in the scene.
When drillhole segments are in the scene, the polyline tool will snap to the end of nearby
intervals.
When you click to add a node, dragging the mouse before releasing the button lets you control
the curvature:
When you start drawing a polyline, a tangent is automatically added to the first node. This is
oriented in the direction of the camera, and you will need to rotate the scene to see that it is a
cone.

Drawing 3D Lines | 41
There are also bezier control points for curved segments. Bezier control points are, used to
control the curvature of the segment. Click on a control point and drag it to change the curve
of the segment:
When you have finished drawing, right-click to end the polyline. Switch to the Select tool ( ) to
make changes to the polyline.
l Click on a node to move it.
l Click on a segment away from a node and drag it to change its curvature.
l Click on one or more segments, then make them straight ( ) or curved ( ).
l Select a point on the polyline, then click ( ) to add a node.
l Select a point on the polyline. The point selected is indicated in the scene by a red cone. Click (
) to add a tangent oriented in the direction of the camera.
l Select a tangent and click ( ) to change the orientation of the segment to that of the
camera.
l Select a tangent and click ( ) to flip it.
Begin drawing again by selecting the Draw lines button ( ). To continue from an existing node
at the start or end of a polyline, click on the node.
Although you can make the line curved while adding nodes, an easy way to draw a curved
poyline is to simply click to add a series of points. Seet the curvature of the whole line by
selecting all segments and then clicking the Make selected segments curved button ( ):

You can then make any adjustments to the curves required by dragging the segments or using
the bezier control points.
Drawing 2D Lines
Working with a 2D polyline is similar to working with a 3D polyline, except that drawing is
restricted to the 2D plane set by the slicer.
In this scene, a 2D polyline is indicated by an unbroken line:
To convert a 2D polyline into a 3D polyline, click the 3D polyline button ( ).
Polyline Properties
In the shape list, you can control the colour of the positive (red) and negative (blue) surfaces of
the line and of the line itself (green):
For contact surfaces, the colour of the positive and negative sides of a ribbon will be
determined by the lithologies or categories assigned to either side of the surface.
With the Node size and Point size controls in the properties panel, you can change the size of
nodes and points in the scene to make working with the polyline easier.
Tangents and Ribbons

The Surface ribbon( ) and Normal ribbon( ) help you to determine the orientation of the
polyline in the scene. The surface ribbon reflects the orientation of the polyline and normal
ribbon is perpendicular to the surface ribbon.

Drawing Points | 43
For example, click on the Surface ribbon button ( ) to determine which side of the polyline is
positive (red) and which side is negative (blue):
If you are having trouble seeing the ribbons, you can change their size using the Ribbon width
control in the properties panel.
When you first draw a polyline, it has only one tangent, located at the first node and oriented in
the direction of the camera. You can add more nodes by clicking at a point along the polyline
and then clicking the Tangent button ( ). A tangent is added to the polyline, which is updated
to reflect the new information. The tangents orientation is taken from the camera angle. To
reorient a tangent, click on it in the scene, change the camera angle to reflect the orientation
you wish to set, then click the Tangent button ( ).
You can also flip selected tangents by clicking on the Flip tangents and disks button ( ).
You can add as many tangents as required, although it is best to keep them to a minimum.
Drawing Points
Polylines can also include points, which are drawn using the Draw points tool ( ). Clicking
adds a point, and clicking and dragging adds a point with a normal:
Normals are shown in the scene as disks intersecting the points.

The scene below shows one point with a normal and one without:
To move a point without a normal, switch to the Select tool ( ). Click on the point and drag it.
To add a normal to the point, click on it in the scene and click the Add disk button ( ).
Editing Normals
To edit the orientation of a point with a normal, click on it in the scene. There are two rotation
modes. In the first, the handles adjust the dip and azimuth of the disk:
Click on the disk to change the rotation mode.

In the second rotation mode, dragging the disk rotates it in the plane indicated by the handles:
Change the angle of the plane by moving the mouse cursor over the disk.

Editing Normals | 45
You can also change the orientation of a disk by drawing over it. To do this, make sure the Draw
points tool ( ) is selected. Hold the cursor over the point you want to edit. The cursor will turn
green to indicate that you can adjust the disks angle:
Drag to adjust the angle and release the mouse button when finished:
You can also flip selected disks by clicking on the Flip tangents and disks button ( ).

Settings
Open the Settings window by clicking on the Leapfrog Geo menu and selecting Settings:
The settings available in this window are described below:

l Display and Navigation Settings
l 3D Acceleration Mode
l Font Size
l Z Axis Scale
l Rotation Settings
l Camera Settings
l Overlay Settings
l Screen Grid Settings
l Axis Lines Settings

l Other Overlay Settings
l Colour Scheme
l Lighting Settings
l Processing Settings
l User Interface Settings
l Leapfrog Central Settings
l Help Settings
To close the Settings window and leave settings unchanged, click the Revert button, then click
Close.
Display and Navigation Settings

In the Settings window, click on Scene to change scene display and navigation settings.

3D Acceleration Mode | 47
3D Acceleration Mode
Leapfrog Geo can run in one of three acceleration modes. Click the Acceleration mode button
in the Settings >Scene window to use a different mode. The modes available are:
l Software Rendering uses software only, for maximum compatibility with any hardware. This
option can be very slow displaying all but the simplest scenes, and is provided as a fall-back if
display issues cannot be resolved with either of the other two options.
l Partial Acceleration uses hardware acceleration that has been provided on graphics cards
for many generations of graphics cards. In this mode, Leapfrog Geo renders scenes using
fixed function pipeline hardware acceleration features that have been superceded in
modern graphics cards by programmable shaders, but this legacy capability is widely
supported and offers performance advantages over software rendering. Using Partial
Acceleration can sometimes fix anomalies or problems encountered in Full Acceleration
mode that may be due to bugs in old drivers, and it should work with even old or lower-
featured hardware.
l Full Acceleration is the best option, assuming you have good hardware and up-to-date
drivers. Because it makes use of programmable shaders provided by modern graphics cards, it
is the fastest of the three modes and uses your available graphics memory more efficiently. It
is the mode you should use, if your system supports it.
First, try using Full Acceleration and see how it renders scenes. If you seem to be having issues
with how data is displayed in the scene, see The Graphics Test for information on testing your
computers graphics capabilities. Note that especially when graphics cards are new on the
market, there may be a number of driver versions released to address anomalies, so the use of a
recent driver version is important. If using a laptop with dual graphics cards, use it with the
power supply connected, and select the Performance Graphics option over the Power Saving
option.
If that doesnt resolve the graphics problems, then try Partial Acceleration mode. If possible,
avoid using Software Rendering as it can be very slow.
If your current hardware is unable to support Full Acceleration mode, it may be worth
considering upgrading your graphics card. Medium- to high-end home PC and gaming
graphics cards are sufficient. High-end workstation grade cards also work very well, but you will
also be paying for further capabilities that are not utilised by Leapfrog Geo.
The acceleration mode can also be changed by clicking the button at the bottom of the
Leapfrog Geo main window:
Font Size
This setting is the size of text used to display information on the grid and axes.

Z Axis Scale
The Z-axis scale setting lets you set a value greater than 1.0 for the z-axis relative to the x- and
y-axes. This is useful when the area under study is very planar and extends over a wide area. In
such cases, scaling the z-axis can accentuate the distribution of data along the z-axis. If you
have a project open when you change this setting, the change will be reflected in the scene so
you can experiment with different values before choosing the one that best accentuates the
distribution of data.
The z-axis setting can also be changed by clicking the Z-Scale button at the bottom of the
Leapfrog Geo main window:
The Scale Z Axis window will appear:
Note that each project saves the z-axis scaling setting when the project is closed. In addition,
when saving scenes (see Saved Scenes), the z-axis scale is saved as part of the scene.
Rotation Settings
The Geographic rotation and Free rotation settings determine whether or not the model
displayed in the scene window can be rolled. With the Geographic rotation option, the
azimuth and elevation can be varied, but the Z axis is constrained to be vertical. With the Free
rotation option, however, the rotation of the model is not fixed to any axis and the model can
be freely rolled around any axis. Select the option you prefer. When Leapfrog Geo is installed,
Geographic rotation is set as the default option as it is the most commonly used.
The Rotate with left button and Rotate with right button settings determine how the mouse
is used to rotate the scene:
l When Rotate with left button is selected, you can rotate the scene by holding down the left
mouse button and dragging in the scene. Clicking and holding the right mouse button
zooms in and out of the scene.
l When Rotate with right button is selected, holding down the right mouse button and
dragging rotates the scene. However, zooming and rotating functions are not swapped.
Instead, the left mouse button can only be used for clicking on different objects in the scene.
Select this option if you tend to accidentally move the scene when you intend to click.

Camera Settings | 49
Camera Settings
The Orthographic projection and Perspective projection settings determine the view of the
model in the scene window.
If Perspective projection is selected, you can change the Perspective angle using the slider.
This is similar to adjusting the zoom setting on a camera. Higher angles make nearby objects
larger and more distant objects smaller. Lower angles will compress the scene. Experiment with
the settings to see the effect on objects in the scene.
Select the option you prefer.
Overlay Settings
In the Settings window, click on Scene > Overlays to change what objects are included in the
scene.
Changes you make to these settings are automatically updated in the scene so you can easily
experiment to see what overlays you prefer.
Select Revert to return to the settings in place when the Settings window was first opened.
Screen Grid Settings

The Show screen grid setting determines whether or not the screen grid is displayed. Select the
option you prefer. The Loose Spacing, Normal Spacing and Fine Spacing options determine
the spacing of the grid.
Axis Lines Settings

The Axis Lines settings determine how X-Y-Z coordinates are displayed in the scene. When axis
lines are enabled, the axes indicate the extent of data currently displayed in the scene.
l Enable Show axis lines to display the east (red), north (green) and elevation (blue) axis lines.
l Enable Put numbers on axes to display scale ticks along the grid. These are automatically
adjusted to fit the extent of the data and the current zoom setting.
l Enable Show whole box to display the axis lines as a box that encloses the current data set.
Other Overlay Settings

The scale bar, compass ball and viewing angle text are the navigation aids in the lower
righthand corner of the scene window.
When the slicer is in the scene, text describing its position will be displayed in the lower lefthand
corner if the Slicer position text option is enabled.
When drawing polylines, tooltips are displayed. If you do not wish to view these tooltips, untick
the box for Polyline help text.

Colour Scheme
In the Settings window, click on Scene > Colour Scheme to change the colour scheme used in
the scene.
Leapfrog Geo is installed with three colours schemes: Default, Black Background and White
Background. The scheme selected in the Schemes list will be used for all new Leapfrog Geo
projects and for existing projects when they are next opened.
l Experiment with the settings to see how they affect the scene window. The scene will be
updated as you make changes.
l Select Revert to return to the settings in place when the Settings window was first opened.
l To create a new scheme, click on an existing scheme. This is the scheme that will be used as a
basis for defining the new scheme. Next, click the New Scheme button and change its
settings.
l Click Factory Reset to revert to the colour schemes defined when Leapfrog Geo was first
installed.
Clicking on Factory Reset to revert to the original colour schemes deletes any custom
colour schemes.
Lighting Settings
In the Settings window, click on Scene > Lighting to change how visual effects are displayed in
the scene window. You may be able to use these settings to emphasise significance in the data
displayed in the scene.
l The Ambient level setting determines the overall brightness of the scene.
l The Specular brightness and Specular shininess settings determine how light appears to fall
on the surfaces in the scene. The Specular brightness setting has a stronger effect when
Specular shininess is soft.
You can have up to four light sources defined for a project. By default, two light sources are
defined.
Changes made to these settings are automatically applied to the scene.
l Click Revert to return to the settings in place when the Settings window was first opened.
l Click Factory Reset to revert to the lighting sources and settings defined when Leapfrog Geo
was first installed.
Processing Settings
In the Settings window, click on Scene > Processing to change how background processing is
used to run changes to data and models.
l For the Automatic option, the number of background processes will be set based on your
computers CPU and RAM.

User Interface Settings | 51
l For the Disabled option, tasks will be run in the main process and no background processes
will be used.
Select Revert to return to the settings in place when the Settings window was first opened.
User Interface Settings

In the Settings window, click on User Interface to change project tree and scene toolbar
options.
Show Tree Lines

Ticking the box for Show Tree Lines displays objects in the project tree with lines:
Enable this option if you find it useful for displaying relationships between objects in the project
tree.
Leapfrog Central Settings

See Enabling Leapfrog Central for more information on the settings in this window.
Show Save Scene Button

Ticking the box for Show Save Scene toolbar adds an extra button to the scene toolbar:
Click this button to save the current scene.
You can also change the scene toolbar by right-clicking on it and selecting Customise.
Tab Position
Some Leapfrog Geo windows open in separate tabs that can be used either docked or
detached. The position in which tabs open is determined by the New tab position setting:
l Open all tabs in the main window.
l Open all tabs in separate windows.

l Tabs can open where the last tab was moved to. This setting can be used for creating a
window in which all tables and dockable windows open, with the scene window, project tree
and shape list in another window.
Help Settings
If you are working on a slow connection, you can download a copy of the help that can be
saved to your hard drive. To do this:
l Visit Leapfrog Geo Downloads.
l Once you have downloaded a copy of the help and installed it, select Settings from the
Leapfrog Geo menu.
l Click on the Help tab and then select Local folder.
Leapfrog Geo help is updated at each release. If you are using a downloaded copy, you will
need to download a new copy each time you update Leapfrog Geo.

Leapfrog Central Integration | 53
Leapfrog Central Integration

The Leapfrog Central platform is a model management system. Leapfrog Centrals integration
with Leapfrog Geo lets you work in different project revisions, publish models to the server, view
documents and annotations and make your own annotations. The Leapfrog Browser displays
the project history so you can navigate through revisions and branches, explore models, view
documents and annotations and make your own annotations.
Projects shared within Leapfrog Central can be downloaded and worked on locally in Leapfrog
Geo. When you have finished working on a project, select the objects you wish to publish to
Leapfrog Central and add notes about the revision. New projects can be added to Leapfrog
Central by building them from scratch or by uploading an existing project.
This topic describes how to set up and work with Leapfrog Central from within Leapfrog Geo. It
is divided into:
l Enabling Leapfrog Central
l Setting Up the Connection
l Connecting to Leapfrog Central
l Viewing a Projects History
l Locking Branches
l Project Included
l Project Stages
l Annotations and Attachments
l Downloading a Local Copy of a Project
l Publishing to Leapfrog Central
l Selecting Objects
l Setting the Project Workflow Stage

l Including the Project
l Adding Revision Information
l Preparing the Package
l New Leapfrog Central Projects
l Creating a New Leapfrog Central Project
l Adding a Project to Leapfrog Central

l Disconnecting a Project from Leapfrog Central
To learn more about Leapfrog Central, see the Leapfrog Central help.
Enabling Leapfrog Central

To enable Leapfrog Central, open the Settings window by clicking on the Leapfrog Geo menu.
Select Leapfrog Central and tick the box to enable Leapfrog Central. A Central Projects tab
will appear in the main window.

When you connect to Leapfrog Central, you can download projects and work on them locally.
To change the location where projects are saved, click the Change button under Project
Management and navigate to where you want to save projects:
The Connection settings determine the timeout settings for connection to the Leapfrog Central
server. The Large request timeout is used for publishing, uploading attachments and getting a
revision. All other communication with the Leapfrog Central server uses the Default request
timeout. The Default request timeout and Large request timeout should only be adjusted
upward if you have problems with a poor connection. The default values are 20 seconds and
600 seconds.
There is an option for checking the integrity of a revision after it has been uploaded. If you wish
to do this, enable the Check file consistency after upload option.
Setting Up the Connection

The first time you connect to Leapfrog Central, you will need to set up your connection.
Request an account from your Leapfrog Central administrator, who will provide you with your
login and connection details. Once you have these details, click on the Central Projects tab.
Click the Add button to add a new server:
Enter the information provided to you by your Leapfrog Central administrator and click New
user to enter your login token.
Create a password, then click Save.

Connecting to Leapfrog Central | 55
Connecting to Leapfrog Central

Once Leapfrog Central integration has been enabled, you can see the status of your
connection to Leapfrog Central in the lower lefthand corner of the Leapfrog Geo main
window. Click this button to logout or change Leapfrog Central settings:
If you are logged out, click on the Central Projects tab and click the server you wish to log in to:
To hide the Central Servers panel, click the button:
Viewing a Projects History

The Central Projects tab shows the projects available in Leapfrog Central.
Leapfrog Central projects are organised into revisions and branches:
l Different points in the modelling process are captured as revisions, which are specific points
in time.
l Any revision can be the basis for any number of alternate revisions, forming the start of a new
branch.
These are displayed visually in a projects history tab. Revisions are displayed chronologically,
from the most recent down to the oldest. In the Graph, offshoots from a revision are branches
where an alternative hypothesis has been investigated. Changes made in a branch do not
appear in other branches; branches effectively diverge from the base revision. The dots on the
graph line up with the revision information.

To view more information about a revision, click on it in the history:
Locking Branches
When working on a branch in Leapfrog Geo, the branch can be locked so no other Leapfrog
Central users can make changes to it. This is useful for letting others users know that a model is
being worked on.
The Locked column indicates whether or not the branch is available to be worked on. If a
branch is locked, hold the cursor over it to see who locked it and when it will be available once
again:
To lock a branch, right-click on it in the project history and select Lock branch:

Project Included | 57
In the window that appears, set the Lock duration and add any comments. The lock can be set
for as little as one day; when the lock expires or when a new publish is completed, the branch
will be unlocked for other users. While the branch is locked, other users are still able to
download projects, create new branches and publish to branches that are not locked.
If you locked a branch, you can unlock it before the lock expires by right-clicking on it and
selecting Unlock branch:
The Leapfrog Central administrator can also unlock branches via the Admin Portal.
Project Included
The Project column indicates whether or not the Leapfrog Geo project was included when the
revision was published. If there is no icon displayed, then no project was uploaded when the
revision was published. You can view the revision in the Leapfrog Browser, but you cannot work
on it in Leapfrog Geo.
When Leapfrog Geo projects are included in a revision, they can be published in a Complete
state ( ) or in an Unprocessed state ( ). The difference between the two is whether or not
stored modelling calculations are included in the published project. Removing stored
modelling calculations can make the upload/download size of a revision considerably smaller
and is useful when internet connectivity is poor. The tradeoff is that when the project is
downloaded by a Leapfrog Geo user, the project will have to be reprocessed before they can
use it. This may take some time.
Project Stages
The Project Stage is useful for promoting projects through an organisations procedures. For
example, your organisation may have project stages defined that include Experimental, Ready
for Peer Review and Ready for Production. Different stages are displayed in different colours
so it is easy to see at a glance what revisions belong to each stage.

Annotations and Attachments

With Annotations, Leapfrog Browser and Leapfrog Geo users can carry out conversations
about specific aspects of the model. Annotations include a scene. If you already have the
project open in Leapfrog Geo, you can load any scene from that projects history by clicking on
it. Information about the selected scene will be displayed and you will be prompted to load all
the objects or only the unchanged objects:
If the selected scene has a geotag, it will be added to the shape list and displayed in the scene.
Leapfrog Browser users can also attach files, which can be downloaded in Leapfrog Geo.
Downloading a Local Copy of a Project

Select a revision and then click Download to download a local copy of the project. The project
will be downloaded to the location on your local drive specified in the Settings > Leapfrog
Central window. Note that a new revision of the project has been created in the history, as an
unpublished project:
Click the Open button at the bottom of the tab to open the project.

Publishing to Leapfrog Central | 59
Work in the project as you would any other Leapfrog Geo project.
Publishing to Leapfrog Central

When you are ready to submit your project to Leapfrog Central, you can start the publishing
process by clicking on the Leapfrog Central button in the lower lefthand corner of the screen
and selecting Publish:
You can also select the Publish button in the Project History window:
The steps in publishing a project to Leapfrog Central are:

l Selecting Objects
l Setting the Project Workflow Stage
l Including the Project
l Adding Revision Information
l Preparing the Package
When you click Publish, you may receive a message saying there is an unfinished publish
event:

This occurs when a previous publish event was interrupted. Choose from the options
presented.
If the publish was abandoned, it can be removed via the Admin Portal.
Selecting Objects
Select the objects you wish to publish from those available in the project:
Click Next to choose options choose options for how the project will be uploaded.
Setting the Project Workflow Stage

Project stages are useful for advancing projects through an organisations processes. If the
project is ready to be moved on to a different stage, select a different Project Workflow Stage
from the dropdown list.
Project stages can later be changed in the Leapfrog Browser.
Including the Project

Select whether or not to include the Leapfrog Geo project. There are three options:
l No. The Leapfrog Geo project will not be published. Other Leapfrog Central users will not be
able to download the project and work on it in Leapfrog Geo.
l Complete.This option publishes the complete Leapfrog Geo project, including stored
modelling calculations. Other Leapfrog Central users will be able to download the project
and work on it in Leapfrog Geo without reprocessing the project.
l Unprocessed. An unprocessed project has a smaller upload/download size because stored
modelling calculations are removed. When an unprocessed project is downloaded again, all

Adding Revision Information | 61
of the modelling calculations will need to be reprocessed from the underlying data. Other
Leapfrog Central users will be able to download the project and work on it in Leapfrog Geo.
Depending on the size of the project, reprocessing may take some time.
Click Next.
Adding Revision Information

Enter information about the new revision. If you want to create a new branch, click the New
Branch button and enter a name for the branch.
Preparing the Package

Click Next to begin the processes of packaging the project for publication. There are two
options for starting the upload:
l If you want the upload to begin automatically once the package has been prepared, tick the
Auto upload box.
l If you want the option to cancel the upload once it has been packaged, leave the Auto
upload box unticked. Once the project has been packaged, click Publish to upload the
project to Leapfrog Central.
If for some reason you need to stop the upload, click on the Leapfrog Central button in the
lower lefthand corner of the screen and select Stop Upload:
You can resume the download by clicking Publish in the project history. You will be prompted
to resume the unfinished publish event, as described in Publishing to Leapfrog Central above.
If the upload is interrupted because the connection to the server is lost, you will be prompted to
finish the publish event the next time you log in to Leapfrog Central.
New Leapfrog Central Projects

There are two options for putting a project into Leapfrog Central:
l Create a new Leapfrog Central project.
l Put an existing project into Leapfrog Central.
Creating a New Leapfrog Central Project

Use this option to create a new Leapfrog Geo project and put it into Leapfrog Central. In the
Central Projects tab, click Blank project. Enter a name for the project and click OK. A new
Leapfrog Geo project will be created and saved in the location on your local drive specified in
the Settings > Leapfrog Central window.

Work in the project as you would any other Leapfrog Geo project. When you are ready to
publish the project to Leapfrog Central, do so as described in Publishing to Leapfrog Central
above.
Adding a Project to Leapfrog Central

Use this option to add an existing project to Leapfrog Central. In the Central Projects tab, click
Import. In the window that appears, select the project you wish to add to Leapfrog Central. If a
project is already open, you can choose that project:
Click OK. The project will be opened and copied to the location on your local drive specified in
the Settings > Leapfrog Central window. Work in the project as you would any other Leapfrog
Geo project. When you are ready to publish the project to Leapfrog Central, do so as described
in Publishing to Leapfrog Central above.
Disconnecting a Project from Leapfrog Central

Disconnecting a project from its Leapfrog Central server saves a copy of the project in a new
location on your computer. When a project is disconnected, it will no longer be possible to
publish the project to Leapfrog Central and its history will no longer be tracked.
If you wish to remove a project from Leapfrog Central, select Disconnect This Project from the
Leapfrog Geo menu. You will be prompted to confirm your choice. Once you click Proceed,
you will be prompted for a new location in which to save the project.

Reporting a Problem | 63
Reporting a Problem
If Leapfrog Geo encounters an error, the Leapfrog Geo Problem window will be displayed.
Enter as much information as you can about the problem, then click Send.
Getting Support
Technical support is available by visiting http://www.leapfrog3d.com/contact/support.
When contacting technical support, please include your licence number and a full description
of the problem or query, including any information provided in system error messages.
You can access your licence information by selecting About from the Leapfrog Geo menu:
You may also be asked to provide a copy of the log files. To find out where these are stored,
select About from the Leapfrog Geo menu, then click on the System Info. tab. Click on the link
to open the folder that contains the log files:

Concepts
This section describes important Leapfrog Geo concepts:
l What is Implicit Modelling? provides an introduction to the advantages implicit modelling
brings to the geological modelling world.
l Surfaces describes the different types of surfaces in Leapfrog Geo and important concepts
such as surface resolution. It also describes the different tools for working with surfaces that
are available in a Leapfrog Geo project.
l Boundaries describes the different boundaries and their uses, including defining a
topography that can be used as an upper boundary for models.
l Leapfrog Geos powerful 3D interpolation engine can interpolate any numeric data (e.g. ore
grade or piezometric head measurements) to describe how a real, numerical quantity varies in
three dimensional space. Interpolant Functions provides a brief introduction to
interpolation.

What is Implicit Modelling?

Implicit modelling is a game-changing innovation in geological modelling.
Traditionally, geological models are produced using a manual drawing process. Sections are
defined, and lithologies, faults and veins are drawn on the sections. Lines are then drawn to
connect surfaces across multiple sections. Modelling geology in this manner is time-consuming
and inflexible as it is difficult to update the model when more data becomes available. Early
assumptions that later are proved incorrect could shape a model in a way that is never corrected
because of the effort involved in starting over. Instead of using their knowledge to reveal
important information about the study site, geologists spend significant proportions of their
time engaged in mechanical drawing.
Implicit modelling, on the other hand, allows geologists to spend more time thinking about the
geology. Implicit modelling eliminates the laborious legwork by using mathematical tools to
derive the model from the data. A mathematical construct is built that can be used to visualise
different aspects of the data in 3D. Leapfrog Geo uses FastRBF, a mathematical algorithm
developed from radial basis functions. FastRBF uses the data and parameters supplied by the
geologist to derive any one of a number of variables to be modelled. Discrete variables such as
lithologies can be used to construct surfaces, as well as continuous variables such as ore
grades.
Instead of presenting a model constructed from rigid geometric constructs, the visualisations
echo the natural forms found in reality.
What are the Advantages of Implicit Modelling?

Implicit models are easy to keep up-to-date with the latest data. New drillhole data can quickly
be integrated, instead of taking weeks or longer manually modifying the model.
Implicit modelling allows several alternative hypothetical models to be produced from the data,
quickly and easily. New data that affects the model, even in very significant or fundamental
ways, can be assimilated and integrated with little effort. Models can be built rapidly, which
means that a range of geological interpretations can be continually tested.
Because less effort is involved in creating a model, more time is available to spend on
understanding the geology and studying more complex details such as faulting, stratigraphic
sequences, trends and veins. The model can be developed to reflect reality to a greater degree
of precision than was previously possible.
Geological risk is reduced when modelling is done implicitly. With traditional modelling, the
effort involved means that the first model developed may be held to as the ground truth,
despite mounting evidence that may discredit it. Instead, implicit modelling supports an
approach that follows the proven scientific method, developing hypothetical models,
experimenting to find new data to corroborate or discredit models and, ultimately, allowing the
best model to be revealed. A geologist can experiment with alternative parameters at the limits
of what is geologically reasonable to determine if there is any significant variation in the
resulting models, which can then bracket the model with conceptual error bars. Geostatistical
analysis can be conducted to identify what models are the most valid.

Implicit Modelling Makes Assumptions Explicit | 66
It is easy to change your mind when modelling implicitly. Perhaps models have been produced
demonstrating isometric shells enclosing specific grades of ore. Commodity price changes then
make it desirable to recreate the model using alternative ore grade values. If the model had
been produced manually, doing so would not be practical. But with implicit modelling, the ease
of generating a new model with new interpolation parameters means this valuable business
information can be readily produced.
New questions can be answered more easily. A model tends to answer one question or class of
questions well, and new questions require new models. If a model takes months to produce,
those new questions may remain forever unanswered. If it can be produced with only days or
hours worth of effort, valuable insights can be gained that could provide critical business value.
Implicit Modelling Makes Assumptions Explicit

Often, there is insufficient information in the data alone. For instance, drillhole data may well
need to be supplemented with known details about the geology. When a geologist is
constructing a model using traditional techniques, they use their knowledge of the geology to
make decisions about the model as it is constructed. This is something the geologist will do
automatically, which irretrievably conflates measured data with hypothesised data, hiding away
subjective assumptions that have influenced the development of the model.
Implicit modelling, however, keeps the measured data separate from interpretations. The
geologist can use polylines and structural disks to interpret the data without equating them to
measured data. Implicit modelling makes assumptions explicit; there is a clear separation
between hard data and user-introduced interpretations.
Implicit modelling and the presentation of a selection of models communicating different
aspects of the geology provide new tools a geologist can use to communicate with
professionals in other parts of the business.
On a purely business level, specialist staff can be putting their skills to use in productive,
valuable geological modelling, rather than drawing lines on sections ad infinitum.
Implicit models are more repeatable and, therefore, more auditable, because they are derived
from actual data and explicitly communicated geological interpretations, with selected
parametric variables as inputs and processed using a mathematical algorithm.
The only thing implied in implicit modelling is the unknown value between two known values.
Everything else is explicit. For this reason, it is best to refer to traditional modelling techniques as
traditional modelling rather than explicit modelling, assuming that it should be labelled with a
name that is the inverse of implicit modelling. Implicit modelling is much more explicit than
traditional modelling.
Best Practices
l Analyse data. Analyse your data using Leapfrog Geos drillhole interpretation and data
visualisation tools. Use 3D visualisation to look for errors in the data set.

l Stay focussed. Produce a model that answers a specific question or addresses a specific
problem. Dont unnecessarily model all the data available just because it is there. When a new
question is asked, produce a model that answers that question using the necessary data.
l Experiment and explore. Produce variations of the same model, or even models, using quite
different fundamental assumptions. Plan drillholes that will help reveal what model fits best
and then discard models that are inconsistent with new data.
l Understand risk. Model using a range of input parameters and assumptions to understand the
level of geologic risk.
l Share. Discuss and explore alternatives.
l Adapt. Previously, the effort of production and review of traditional models meant that there
is reluctance to rebuild a model when new data becomes available soon after model
completion. However, with implicit modelling, you should integrate new data and refine the
model as soon as the new data is available. The revised model could indicate that planned
activities should be redirected as expensive resources would be wasted persisting with the
original plan, for little return.
l Evaluate and review. Dont assume that because its easy to generate a model that you have
quickly produced the right model. Understanding the geology is vital for validating the model
and producing something that is geologically reasonable.

Surfaces
In Leapfrog Geo, meshes are used to represent surfaces in the form of vertices and triangles that
define the 3D shape of the surface. Meshes can be open or closed.
Meshes are generated as part of the model-building process, but can also be imported into a
project or created directly in the project. Leapfrog Geo has several tools for adjusting meshes.
This section describes different aspects of working with surfaces in Leapfrog Geo.
Surface Resolution in Leapfrog Geo

In Leapfrog Geo, meshes are used to represent surfaces in the form of vertices and triangles that
define the 3D shape of the surface. The resolution of a surface is controlled by the size of the
triangles used to create a surface. A lower surface resolution value means smaller triangles and,
therefore, a finer resolution. A higher surface resolution value will take less time to process but
the surface may not show the level of detail required.
When a surface is imported, Leapfrog Geo automatically sets a surface resolution based on the
information in the file. It is not possible to change the resolution of surfaces imported into
Leapfrog Geo. The exception is elevation grids (see Importing an Elevation Grid).
When surfaces are created, Leapfrog Geo sets a default resolution based on the data available.
You can set a lower value, but calculations will take longer. In addition, the resolution for many
surfaces can be adaptive; that is, areas closer to data will have a finer resolution than areas
further away from data.
To see the effect of different resolution settings, consider a simple geological model of three
rock types. Here, the surface resolution is set to 50 and the adaptive isosurfacer is disabled:

Here, the resolution has been reduced, which results in smaller triangles:
For both resolution settings above, the triangles are the same size everywhere in each surface,
even where real data is available. Once the adaptive isosurfacer has been enabled, the triangles
closer to the drillholes are smaller than those further away:
Areas of the surface that have large triangles indicate that there is less data in those areas to
guide the interpolation of the surface.
In Leapfrog Geo, the resolution for different types of surfaces can be controlled as follows:
l For geological models, a resolution can be set for the model as a whole, but individual
surfaces can have different settings. See Surface Resolution for a Geological Model.
l For interpolants, the resolution of the output isosurfaces is controlled by a single setting that
can be overridden for individual surfaces. See Output Settings for a Numeric Interpolant
and Indicator Interpolant Surfacing and Volume Options.
l The resolution can be changed for editable interpolated meshes ( ) and can be adaptive.
See Interpolated Meshes.
l When the topography has been defined using multiple data sources, the resolution can be
set and the adaptive option is available. See Changing Topography Settings.
Adding Data to Surfaces

Many surfaces can be refined by adding points, structural data, GIS data and polylines. If a
surface can be modified in this way, an Add menu will appear for the object when you right-

Contact Honouring | 70
click on it in the project tree. For example, the Add menu for this contact surface shows the
data types that can be used to refine the surface:
Select the type of data you wish to use to modify the surface. Leapfrog Geo will display all the
suitable objects in the project. Select the required object and click OK. A hyperlink to the added
data will appear under the surface in the project tree. The added data can be removed from the
surface by expanding the surface in the project tree, then right-clicking on the hyperlinked data
object and selecting Remove.
Contact Honouring
In Leapfrog Geo, surfaces can be created from drillhole data, points data, structural data, GIS
data and polylines. When surfaces are created from several different objects, it may be desirable
to snap the surface to some data objects but not to others.
There are several options for snapping surfaces to data:
l Off. The surface does not snap to the data used to create it.
l All data. The surface snaps to data within the Maximum snap distance, which includes
drillhole data and any data added to the surface.
l Drilling only. The surface snaps to drillhole data and data objects derived from drillhole data
within the Maximum snap distance but not to other data used to modify the surface. For
example, the surface will honour points data derived from drillhole data, but not points data
imported into the Points folder.
l Custom. The surface snaps to selected data objects within the Maximum snap distance.

For example, here the Snap to data has been set to Drilling only for a mesh created from
multiple data objects:
Note that the only objects Snap is enabled for are the contacts derived from drillhole data.
Here, Snap to data has been set to Custom, which makes it possible to enable Snap for only the
selected data objects:
In Leapfrog Geo, the snap settings for different types of surfaces can be controlled as follows:
l For geological models, Snap to data can be set for the model as a whole, but individual
surfaces can have different settings. For more information, see:
o Editing a Geological Model
o Surfacing Options for Deposits and Erosions

o Surfacing Options for Intrusions
o Surfacing Options for Veins

Global Trends | 72
o Surfacing Options for Faults

o Changing Fault Inputs
l For editable interpolated meshes and offset meshes ( ), Snap to data can be set by double-
clicking on the mesh and changing the settings in the General tab. See Refining an
Interpolated Mesh and Offset Meshes for more information.
Global Trends
In Leapfrog Geo, many surfaces can be adjusted by applying a trend to the surface. To do this,
add the surface you wish to adjust to the scene so that it can be used in setting the trend.
Double-click on the surface in the project tree and select the Trend tab. Here, the Trend tab is
displayed for a contact surface:
Often the easiest way to apply a trend is to click on the Draw plane line button ( ) and draw a
plane line in the scene in the direction in which you wish to adjust the surface. You may need to
rotate the scene to see the plane properly.
The Ellipsoid Ratios determine the relative shape and strength of the ellipsoids in the scene,
where:
l The Maximum value is the relative strength in the direction of the green line on the moving
plane.
l The Intermed. value is the relative strength in the direction perpendicular to the green line on
the moving plane.
l The Minimum value is the relative strength in the direction orthogonal to the plane.
Once you have adjusted the plane to represent the trend you wish to use, click the Set From
Plane button to copy the moving plane settings.
The Set to list contains a number of different options Leapfrog Geo has generated based on the
data used in the project. Isotropic is the default option used when the surface was created.
Settings made to other surfaces in the project will also be listed, which makes it easy to apply the
same settings to many surfaces.
Click OK to apply the changes.

How the moving plane can be used to adjust a surface in this manner is illustrated by the
following intrusive contact surface:
The intrusion surface has two bodies that are not connected, and we can apply a trend to
connect the two parts. Here, the intrusion surface has been hidden in the scene and the scene
rotated to line up the QzP segments. A plane line can then be drawn through the QzP
segments:
Using the plane settings to adjust the surface results in the two parts of the intrusion joining up:

Structural Trends | 74
Structural Trends
Structural trends create a flat ellipsoid anisotropy that varies in direction with its inputs. This
topic describes working with structural trends. It is divided into:
l Creating a Structural Trend
l Displaying a Structural Trend
l Applying a Structural Trend
Creating a Structural Trend

To create a new structural trend, right-click on the Structural Trends folder (in the Structural
Modelling folder) and select New Structural Trend. The Structural Trend window will appear:
Structural trends can be created from surfaces and from structural data. Click Add to select
from the suitable inputs available in the project. The list of inputs will be displayed:

Tick the box for each input required, then click OK. The selected inputs will be added to the
Structural Trend window:
The Strength parameter determines the shape of the ellipsoid, and the Range parameter
indicates how far the influence of this mesh reaches. If the Trend Type is Non-decaying, the
distance from the mesh no longer affects the anisotropy and the Range value cannot be set.
Trends that are Strongest along meshes or Blending can include a global trend. To set this,
click on the Global Mean Trend tab.
You can enter the trend manually or add the moving plane to the scene and set the trend using
the moving plane, as described in Global Trends.
The Compatibility setting determines the algorithm used to create the structural trend.
Structural trends created in earlier versions of Leapfrog Geo (before 2.2) used the Version 1
algorithm. When these structural trends are upgraded, you can change them so they use
Version 2, which may be desirable if adding more data to the trend results in significant
changes in areas that are not close to new data.

Displaying a Structural Trend | 76
Enter a Name for the trend and click OK. The new trend will appear under the Structural
Trends folder.
Displaying a Structural Trend

When displayed in the scene, the trend is shown using disks placed on a regular grid:
The orientation of the disk gives the direction of the anisotropy. The size of a disk is proportional
to the anisotropy strength. Where there are no disks (or the size is very small) the trend is
isotropic.
If the Trend Type is set to Non-decaying, the distance from the mesh no longer affects the
anisotropy and all disks have the same size:
The Blending option requires multiple meshes and blends them according to their individual
strength settings. A trend with higher strength makes a stronger impact on the blending. The
blended trend is of decaying-type, and its strength weakens further away from the mesh.

Applying a Structural Trend

To apply a structural trend to an interpolated editable mesh or an interpolant, double-click on
the object in the project tree and click on the Trend tab:
To apply a structural trend to an intrusion contact surface, enable Show additional surfacing
options in the Surfacing tab, then click on the Trend tab.
Click on Structural Trend, then select the required trend from the dropdown list. Click OK to
apply the trend to the surface.
When a structural trend is applied, surfaces may appear distorted further away from the data:

Editing Surfaces with Polylines | 78
If this is the case, experiment with the Outside value setting. The Outside value is the long-
range mean value of the data. Setting a value of -1 for intrusions (where the positive values are
on the inside) and +1 for other surfaces will result in a smoother surface in most cases. For
example, here, the Outside value has been set to -1 for this intrusion, resulting in a much
smoother surface:
Editing Surfaces with Polylines

In Leapfrog Geo, many surfaces can be edited using polylines, including contact surfaces,
geological model extents and editable meshes.
To edit a surface with a polyline, it is a good idea to first add the object you wish to edit to the
scene and draw a slice across the scene where you plan to edit the surface. Next, right-click on
the surface in the project tree and select Edit > With Polyline.
The drawing toolbar will appear for the type of polyline selected and a new polyline will be
added to the scene. Draw the polyline and adjust it as described in Drawing in the Scene, then
click the Save button ( ) to view the effect of the polyline on the surface. To remove the
polyline from the surface, expand the surface in the project tree. Right-click on the polyline
object and select Remove.
In cases where you have existing polyline edits (control points), you can import them and add
them to the surface. To do this, import the polylines to the Polylines folder, then add them to
the surface by right-clicking on the surface and selecting Add > Polyline.

How a polyline can be used to edit a surface can be illustrated by the following surface, where a
small volume is disconnected from the main surface:
First, a slice is drawn through the surface where it will be edited:
Next, a polyline is created, using two lines to represent contacts that link up the surfaces:

Editing Surfaces with Structural Data | 80
When the polyline edits are saved, the surface is updated to reflect the edits:
It is best to keep polyline edits to a minimum, as small edits can have significant effects on the
shapes of surfaces.
If editing a surface with a polyline results in a distorted surface, use the surface and normal
ribbons to check the orientation of the polyline and its segments. See Tangents and
Ribbons for more information.
When you save the polyline, the object will be updated to reflect the additional points. The
polyline will be added to the project tree as part of the object that was edited. You can edit the
polyline by double-clicking on it or by right-clicking and selecting Edit Polyline.
Editing Surfaces with Structural Data

In Leapfrog Geo, many surfaces can be edited using planar structural data points drawn in the
scene. Surfaces that can be edited in this way include contact surfaces, model extents and
interpolated editable meshes. There are two ways to do this:
l If you have a structural data table created in or imported into Leapfrog Geo that you want to
use to adjust the surface, right-click on the surface in the project tree and select Add >
Structural Data. You will be prompted to select from the structural data tables available in
the project.
l If you want to create structural data points to use to adjust the surface, right-click on the
surface in the project tree and select Edit > With Structural Data.

To edit a surface with structural data using the second option, it is a good idea to first add the
object you wish to edit to the scene. Next, right-click on the surface in the project tree and
select the Edit > With Structural Data option.
The structural data toolbar will appear and a new structural data object will be added to the
scene. Draw the structural data points and adjust them as described in Creating New Planar
Structural Data Tables, then click the Save button ( ) to view the effect on the surface.
Structural data tables created in this way cannot be used by other objects in the project until the
table has been shared. To do this, right-click on the table in the project tree and select Share.
The structural data table will be saved to the Structural Modelling folder.
To remove the structural data from the surface, expand the surface in the project tree. Right-
click on the structural data object and select Remove.
Extending a Surface
Geological models created in a Leapfrog Geo project automatically use the defined topography
as an upper boundary. If a model is defined that extends outside the topography, an error will
occur. A similar error occurs when surfaces used in geological models do not extend outside the
models extents. In all cases, Leapfrog Geo cannot process the surface and an error will be
displayed.
In this example, an error has occurred during the process of creating a geological model
because the topography (yellow) does not enclose the model extents (pink):

Extending a Surface | 82
In order for Leapfrog Geo to be able to divide the model into separate volumes, the topography
needs to be extended to enclose the models boundary or the models boundary needs to be
restricted so it falls inside the topography. When the model is processed, the following error
results:
The solutions proposed will depend upon the data used to create the surfaces that conflict, but
fall into three broad categories:
l Reduce the size of the models or interpolants extents. Click the Edit Extents button. This will
open the objects Boundary window and you can change the boundary.
l Enlarge the topography by manually adjusting it. Click on the Edit Topography Extents
button. This option is only available when the topography has been created from more than
one data source. See Adding Height Data to the Topography and Changing Topography
Settings.
l Use the surfaces vertices to create the boundary or contact with extents large enough to be
used in the model or interpolant. Click the Use Vertices button to create a new vertices
object and use it as the source data for the boundary or contact.
If you have a solution to the problem that is not covered by the options presented, click Do
Nothing. For example:
l If the topography is not large enough, there may be additional data available. If it is not
already in the project, import the data and add it to the topography as described in Adding
Height Data to the Topography.
l If a surface being used to define a contact surface or boundary in a geological model or
interpolant is not large enough, you can add additional data to the surface.
Using vertices to create the boundary or contact results in the creation of a new points object
that will be saved in the Points folder.
Earlier versions of Leapfrog Geo (up to 1.3) would automatically create the new vertices
object and use it to interpolate the surface.

In the case of using topography vertices as an upper boundary, the vertices will be applied as a
lateral extent and the defined topography will not be used. For example, here the geological
model does not use the defined topography but instead uses the GM: Topography surface
created from the vertices:
Using topography vertices can take some time to process.

An additional disadvantage to using vertices is that the vertices object created is not linked to the
original object. When the object used to create the vertices changes, the vertices will not be
updated.

Boundaries
A newly-created project has only a basic set of X-Y-Z coordinates, and the coordinate system
used by the project is determined by the data imported to the project. It is not necessary to
specify what coordinate system is used; however, it is necessary to ensure that data you import
into the project uses the same coordinate system.
If you are importing data that uses different coordinate systems, you will need to process the
data outside of Leapfrog Geo so that it is using the same coordinate system.
Often the best way to set the coordinates for the project as a whole is to import a map or aerial
photo. Adding georeference data to a map will set the location of the map in three-dimensional
space and set the coordinates for the project. See Importing a Map or Image for more
information.
An important consideration in defining the project space is setting the clipping boundary. See
The Clipping Boundary.
It is not necessary to define a topography to model in Leapfrog Geo, but a defined topography
can be used as an upper boundary for all models built in the project. See Defining a
Topography.
Part of creating many objects in Leapfrog Geo is defining the basic rectangular boundary that
defines the objects extents. See Object Extents.
For geological models and interpolants, you can modify the models extents using surfaces
created from different types of data. See Modifying the Models Boundary in Editing a
Geological Model.
The Clipping Boundary

An important consideration in defining the project space is setting the clipping boundary.
The default clipping boundary in a new project file encompasses everything in the project and
grows as more data is added to the project. It is not necessary to set the clipping boundary.
However, the clipping boundary defines the limits of the X-Y coordinates for the region in which
data will be imported and models built and so defines the region in which calculations are
made. Restricting the size of the clipping boundary limits the area in which calculations are
made and is especially important if you are working with a large dataset.
The best way to set the clipping boundary is using an imported map or aerial photo, as this
provides a visual reference that is helpful in working with data added to the project in the future.
GIS data or drillhole data can also be used to set the clipping boundary.

To set the clipping boundary, add to the scene the objects you wish to reference in setting the
boundary. Right-click on the Topographies folder or on the GIS Data, Maps and Photos folder
and select Set Clipping Boundary. The Set Clipping Boundary window will be displayed,
together with controls in the scene you can use to resize the clipping boundary:
There are three ways to define the rectangular clipping boundary:

l Enter the coordinates.
l Select Enclose Object and choose from the list of objects in the project. The clipping
boundary will be updated using the selected object.
l Use the controls that appear in the scene. The orange handle adjusts the corner of the
clipping boundary and the red handles adjusts its size.
When you have finished adjusting the clipping boundary, click OK.
If you are going to import elevation data and use it to create a topography, it is important to set
the clipping boundary before creating the topography. For example, here a map has been
imported and a topography (yellow) created from an elevation grid. The map is displayed
draped on the topography:
The red arrows and orange handle show the clipping boundary, which has been allowed to
expand to encompass all data imported to the project. Because the topography was created
before the clipping boundary was set, all the data in the imported elevation grid has been used
and the resulting topography is larger than might be practical. Clearly, if the intention is to

The Clipping Boundary | 86
model within the area on the map, the clipping boundary should be limited to the region
indicated by the map.
If the map is the only object in the project, it can easily be used to set the clipping boundary by
selecting <Everything> from the Enclose Object list:
This results in a clipping boundary that is limited to the extents of the map:
Once the clipping boundary has been set, further data imported into the project will be clipped
to it. For example, importing the elevation grid and using it to create a topography only after the
clipping boundary has been set to the map extents will result in a topography (with the map
draped) that looks like this:

Once the clipping boundary has been set, a good next step is defining the topography. See
Defining a Topography.
Defining a Topography
It is not necessary to define a topography to model in Leapfrog Geo, but a defined topography
can be used as an upper boundary for all models built in the project.
A key advantage of defining a topography is that it provides consistent elevation data for objects
imported to and created in the project. The quality of elevation information can be poor
compared to X- and Y-coordinates, which can create problems when using objects to build a
model. A topography can be created from the most reliable elevation data, and other objects
can have elevation set from this topography.
An important consideration when defining the topography is ensuring that it is large enough to
encompass the models you will be building in the project. If you create a small topography but
then later create a model that extends outside the topography, you will need to enlarge the
topography, which can result in considerable reprocessing of all objects in the project that use
the topography as a boundary. See Extending a Surface for more information.
This topic describes creating and working with a topography. It is divided into:
l Topography From Elevation Grid
l Topography From Surfaces, Points or GIS Vector Data
l Fixed Elevation Topography
l Adding Height Data to the Topography
l Changing Topography Settings
l Changing the Size of the Topography
l Topography Resolution
l Applying a Trend to the Topography
l Topography Display Options
l Projecting Collars onto the Topography
The topography can be created from an imported elevation grid, points data, surfaces and GIS
data. It is not necessary to decide on a single source of information, as information can be
combined, and you can add and remove data as required.
Once defined, you can export the topography as a mesh or as an elevation grid. See:
l Mesh Export
l Elevation Grid Export
Topography From Elevation Grid

There are two ways to create the topography from an elevation grid:
l Right-click on the Topographies folder and select New Topography > Import Elevation
Grid. Import the grid as described in Importing an Elevation Grid.

Topography From Surfaces, Points or GIS Vector Data | 88
l Import the grid using the Meshes folder and then right-click on the Topographies folder and
select New Topography > From Surface.
Enter a name for the topography and click OK. A hyperlink to the elevation grid will appear in
the Topographies folder under the defined topography.
Once the topography has been defined, additional height data can be added by right-clicking
on the topography and selecting from the options available. See See "Adding Height Data to
the Topography" for more information.
Topography From Surfaces, Points or GIS Vector Data

To create the topography from a surface, points or GIS data, first import the data into the
project.
l Import surfaces into the Meshes folder.
l Import drillhole data into the project or points data into the Points folder.
l Import GIS vector data into the GIS Data, Maps and Photos folder.
Next, right-click on the Topographies folder and select one of the New Topography options. A
list of suitable objects available in the project will be displayed. Select the required object and
click OK. Enter a name for the topography and click OK. A hyperlink to the source object will
appear in the Topographies folder under the defined topography.
Once the topography has been defined, additional height data can be added by right-clicking
on the topography and selecting from the options available. See See "Adding Height Data to
the Topography" for more information.
See also Changing Topography Settings below.
Fixed Elevation Topography

If you dont have any data suitable for creating a topography, you can set a fixed elevation. To
do this, right-click on the Topographies folder and select New Topography > Fixed Elevation.
In the window that appears, enter a value for the elevation and click OK. Enter a name for the
new topography and click OK.
The new topography will appear in the project tree under the Topographies folder.
Once a topography has been defined, the only way to set a fixed elevation is to remove the
objects that have been used to define the topography. To do this, right-click on the hyperlinked
object and click Remove. You will then be able to set a fixed elevation for the topography.

Adding Height Data to the Topography

When creating the topography, it is not necessary to decide on a single source of information,
as information can be combined. Once the topography has been defined, additional height
data can be added by right-clicking on the topography and selecting from the options
available:
For points, surfaces and GIS vector data, you will be prompted to select from the data sources
available in the project. For an elevation grid, see Importing an Elevation Grid.
All data objects used to define the topography will appear under the topography, hyperlinked
to their parent objects:
When you have added data to the topography, you may need to enlarge the topography
extents. See Changing Topography Settings below.
To remove data objects from the topography, either:
l Delete the object from the topography. To do this, right-click on the hyperlinked object and
click Remove.
l Delete the object from the project. If you choose this option, consider carefully the effects on
other objects in the project, as once an object is deleted, it cannot be recovered.
When the topography is defined from multiple objects, you can set the resolution of the
topography by double-clicking on it. See Changing Topography Settings below.

Changing Topography Settings | 90
Changing Topography Settings

When the topography is created from points or GIS data or when the topography is created by
combining data, you can change its boundary and resolution and apply a trend. To do this,
double-click on the topography in the project tree. The Edit Topography window will appear:
Changing the Size of the Topography

In the General tab, you can change the topography extents. Use the controls in the scene or
enter the required values in the Bounding Box fields.
Topography Resolution
The resolution of the topography depends on how it was created.
l When the topography is created from a single mesh, the resolution of the topography is set
from the resolution of the mesh and can only be changed when the mesh is imported. If you
wish to change the resolution of the topography, you must first add more height data to the
topography. See Adding Height Data to the Topography.
l When the topography is created by setting a fixed elevation, the resolution cannot be set.
When the topography is created from points or GIS data or when the topography is created
from combining data, you can set its resolution in the Edit Topography window.
When you set a specific Surface resolution without enabling the Adaptive option, the triangles
used will be the same size for the whole topography. When you enable the Adaptive option, the
resolution of the topography will be affected by the availability and density of real data. See
Surface Resolution in Leapfrog Geo for more information on these settings.

Applying a Trend to the Topography

In the Trend tab, you can apply a trend to the topography:
See Global Trends for more information.
Topography Display Options

To display the topography in the scene window, either:
l Right-click on the topography in the project tree and select View Object.
l Click on the topography object and drag it into the scene.
The topography will be displayed in the scene window and in the shape list:

Projecting Collars onto the Topography | 92
The topography object in the shape list provides additional controls that can be used to change
the way the topography is displayed and highlight features of interest. For example, selecting an
imported map from the dropdown list results in it being displayed draped onto the topography:
The dropdown list is organised into:

l Views. This contains options for creating and editing custom topography views and also lists
any views already defined. With custom topography views, you can view multiple GIS objects,
maps and contours. See Custom Topography Views for more information.
l Maps and Photos. This lists all images stored in the GIS Data, Maps and Photos folder.
l GIS objects. This lists all GIS data objects stored in the GIS Data, Maps and Photos folder.
Projecting Collars onto the Topography

If the collars are not lying on the topography, Leapfrog Geo can make adjustments to the collar
depth values so that the collars lie on the topography. This adjustment is reversible.
To make this adjustment, right-click on the collars table and tick the box for the Project Collars
Onto Topography option. If you then open the collar table, the depth values will reflect the
topography. Right-click on the collar table and untick the box for Project Collars Onto
Topography to return to the uncorrected collar depth values.
Object Extents
Part of creating many objects in Leapfrog Geo is defining the basic rectangular boundary that
defines the objects extents. There are generally two options for defining an objects extents:
l The first option is to define extents that are independent of other objects in the project. You
can do this by entering coordinates or adjusting controls in the scene to set the size and
shape of the extents. The new objects extents are fixed to the specified size. This is a good
choice if, for example, you are building a geological model from a map and wish to define the
model extents based on information on the map.
l The second option is to define extents based on other objects in the project. This is done by
selecting the other object from the Enclose Object dropdown list that appears in many
Leapfrog Geo screens.
For both methods, the new objects extents are fixed to the selected size. Using the Enclose
Object list does not link the two objects, it is simply using the X-Y-Z coordinates of the
original object as the basis for the new extents.

For example, here, a geological models extents could be defined using the lithology segments
used as the base lithology:
When creating some objects, you have the option of sharing extents with another object. This is
the case with editable meshes ( ), where you can choose whether the mesh has its own extents
or shares extents with other objects in the project. Shared extents are updated when the original
objects extents are updated.
If you are unsure about relationships between objects, expand them in the project tree to view
more information. Here, two meshes have been defined from the same set of points:
The first mesh shares its extents with another object in the project, which is indicated by the
hyperlink. The second mesh has no hyperlink; it has its own extents that are not updated by
other objects in the project.
Geological models and interpolants are created with a basic set of rectangular extents that can
then be refined by adding extents created from other data in the project. Creating extents is a
useful way of restricting modelling to a particular area of interest. For example, modelling can
be restricted to a known distance from drillhole data by applying a distance function as a lateral
extent. See Modifying the Models Boundary for more information.

Interpolant Functions
Leapfrog Geos powerful 3D interpolation engine can interpolate any numeric data (e.g. ore
grade or piezometric head measurements) to describe how a real, numerical quantity varies in
three dimensional space. Interpolation produces an estimate or interpolated value of a
quantity that is not known at a point of interest but is known at other points.
The simplest way to estimate values is to take the average of known values. Using this method,
estimated values are the same everywhere, regardless of the distance from known data.
However, this is not ideal as it is reasonable to assume that an estimated value will be more
heavily influenced by nearby known values than by those that are further away. The estimates
for unknown points when varying the distance from known point values is controlled by the
interpolant function. Any interpolation function and the various parameters that can be set for
each will produce a model that fits all the known values, but they will produce different
estimates for the unknown points. It is important to select interpolation functions and
parameters that make geologic sense. It may be necessary to identify a location that models
predict differently, and plan drillholes to identify the best fit option.
Leapfrog Geo uses two main interpolant functions: the spheroidal interpolant function and the
linear interpolant function. See The Spheroidal Interpolant Function and The Linear
Interpolant Function for more information.

The Spheroidal Interpolant Function

In common cases, including when modelling most metallic ores, there is a finite range beyond
which the influence of the data should fall to zero. The spheriodal interpolant function can be
used when modelling in these cases.
The spheroidal interpolant function closely resembles a spherical variogram, which has a fixed
range beyond which the value is the constant sill. Similarly, the spheroidal interpolant function
flattens out when the distance from X is greater than a defined distance, the range. At the
range, the function value is 96% of the sill with no nugget, and beyond the range the function
asymptotically approaches the sill. The chart below labels the y-axis interpolant. A high value
on this axis represents a greater uncertainty relating to the known value, given its distance from
X. Another way to think of this is that higher values on this axis represent a decreasing weight
given to the known value.
Known values within the range are weighted proportionally to the distance from X. Known
values further from X than the range will all be given approximately the same weight, and have
about the same influence on the unknown value. Here, points A and B are near X and so have
the greatest influence on the estimated value of point X. Points C and D, however, are outside
the range, which puts them on the flat part of the spheroidal interpolant curve; they have
roughly the same influence on the value of X, and both have significantly less influence than A
or B:
The rest of this topic describes the parameters used to define a spheroidal interpolant. These
parameters are:
l Sill
l Nugget
l Nugget to Sill Ratio
l Base Range
l Alpha
l Drift
l Accuracy

Sill | 96
To edit the parameters for an interpolant, double-click on the interpolant in the project tree and
click on the Interpolant tab. The graph on the tab shows how the interpolant function values
vary with distance and is updated as you change interpolant parameters:
The yellow line indicates the Base Range. For this interpolant, the value of the interpolant is
offset by the value of Nugget.
Sill
The Sill defines the upper limit of the spheroidal interpolant function, where there ceases to be
any correlation between values. A spherical variogram reaches the sill at the range and stays
there for increasing distances beyond the range. A spheroidal interpolant approaches the sill
near the range, and approaches it asymptotically for increasing distances beyond the range.
The distinction is insignificant.
Nugget
The Nugget represents a local anomaly in sampled values, one that is substantially different
from what would be predicted at that point, based on the surrounding data. Increasing the
value of Nugget effectively places more emphasis on the average values of surrounding
samples and less on the actual data point, and can be used to reduce noise caused by
inaccurately measured samples.

Nugget to Sill Ratio

It is the Nugget to Sill ratio that determines the shape of the interpolant function. Multiplying
both these parameters by the same constant will result in an identical interpolant. Here, the
interpolant on the left has a nugget of 3 and a sill of 10; the one on the right has a nugget of 9
and a sill of 30. Note that because the nugget and sill have been increased by the same factor,
the function has the same shape.
Base Range
The Base Range is the distance at which the interpolant value is 96% of the Sill, with no Nugget.
The Base Range should be set to a distance that is not significantly less or greater than the
distance between drillholes, so it can reach between them. As a rule of thumb, it may be set to
approximately twice the average distance between drillholes.

Base Range | 98
Here the effect of different range settings on the value of X is demonstrated using our trivial
example of four drillholes:
When the range is set to 1, it is too small to describe any real effect between drillholes. When the
range is set to 30, distant drillholes have more influence, increasing the spatial continuity. Also
illustrated is the range set to approximately the average distance between drillholes (range = 4)
and the range set to about twice the average distance between drillholes (range = 8). Of these,
the range set to 8 might be the best choice.

Alpha
The Alpha constant determines how steeply the interpolant rises toward the Sill. A low Alpha
value will produce an interpolant function that rises more steeply than a high Alpha value. A
high Alpha value gives points at intermediate distances more weighting, compared to lower
Alpha values. This figure charts an interpolant function for each alpha setting, using a nugget of
8, sill of 28, and range of 5000. A spherical variogram function is included for comparative
purposes. The inset provides a detailed view near the intersection of the sill and range.
An alpha of 9 provides the curve that is closest in shape to a spherical variogram. In ideal
situations, it would probably be the first choice; however, high alpha values require more
computation and processing time, as more complex approximation calculations are required. A
smaller value for alpha will result in shorter times to evaluate the interpolant.
The following demonstrates the difference between alpha = 3 and alpha = 9:
There is a measurable difference between the estimates at the point being examined, but for
many purposes, using a lower alpha will result in satisfactory estimates and reduced processing
time.

Drift | 100
The effect of the alpha parameter on the spheroidal interpolant in Leapfrog Geo is different
to the effect of the alpha parameter in Leapfrog Mining 2.x. If Alpha is set to 9 in Leapfrog
Geo, the range corresponds to the range in Leapfrog Mining 2.x. To convert from Leapfrog
Mining 2.x to Leapfrog Geo where the alpha is not 9, apply the following scale factors to the
Leapfrog Mining 2.x range value to find the corresponding range in Leapfrog Geo:
Alpha Scale factor
3 1.39
5 1.11
7 1.03
For example, if in a Leapfrog Mining 2.x project, the alpha is 5 for a range of 100, the
corresponding range in Leapfrog Geo will be 111.
Drift
The Drift is a model of the value distribution away from data. It determines the behaviour a long
way from sampled data.
l When set to Constant, the interpolant will go to the approximated declustered mean of the
data.
l When set to Linear, the interpolant will behave linearly away from data. This may result in
negative values.
l When set to None, the interpolant will pull down to zero away from data.

Here, the three Drift options for the interpolant are shown evaluated on grids:
In this example, the boundary is larger than the extent of the data to illustrate the effect of
different Drift settings.
Away from the data, the value of the interpolant when Drift is Constant and Linear is not
reasonable in this case, given the distance from the data. The low value when Drift is None is
more realistic, given the distance from the data.

Accuracy | 102
If when using the spheroidal interpolant you get a grade shell that fills the model extents, it is
likely that the mean value of the data is higher than the threshold chosen for the grade shell in
question. If this occurs, try setting the Drift to None.
Accuracy
Leapfrog Geo estimates the Accuracy from the data values by taking a fraction of the smallest
difference between measured data values. Although there is the temptation to set the Accuracy
as low as possible, there is little point to specifying an Accuracy significantly smaller than the
errors in the measured data. For example, if values are specified to two decimal places, setting
the Accuracy to 0.001 is more than adequate. Smaller values will cause the interpolation to run
more slowly and will degrade the interpolation result. For example, when recording to two
decimals, the range 0.035 to 0.044 will be recorded as 0.04. There is little point in setting the
accuracy to plus or minus 0.000001 when intrinsically values are only accurate to plus or minus
0.005.
The Linear Interpolant Function

Generally, estimates produced using the linear interpolant will strongly reflect values at nearby
points and the linear interpolant is a useful general-purpose interpolant for sparsely and/or
irregularly sampled data. It works well for lithology data, but is not appropriate for values with a
distinct finite range of influence.
The linear interpolant function is multi-scale, and, therefore, is a good general purpose model.
It works well for lithology data, which often has localised pockets of high-resolution data. It can
be used to quickly visualise data trends and whether or not compositing or transforming values
will be required. It is not appropriate for values with a distinct finite range of influence as it
aggressively extrapolates out from the data. Most ore grade data is not well interpolated using a
linear interpolant function.
The linear interpolant function simply assumes that known values closer to the point you wish
to estimate have a proportionally greater influence than points that are further away:
In the above diagram, points A and B will have the most effect on point X as they are closer to X
than points C and D. Using the linear interpolant function in Leapfrog Geo gives a value of 7.85,

which is between the nearby high grade values of A (10) and B (7). Because of their distance
from X, the low grade values at C and D have a much weaker effect on the estimate of point X,
and they have not dragged the estimate for X lower.
This topic describes the parameters used to define a linear interpolant. These parameters are:
l Sill and Base Range
l Nugget
l Drift
l Accuracy
To edit the parameters for an interpolant, double-click on the interpolant in the project tree and
click on the Interpolant tab. The graph on the tab shows how the interpolant function values
vary with distance and is updated as you change interpolant parameters:

Sill and Base Range | 104
The yellow line indicates the Base Range. For this interpolant, the value of the interpolant is
offset by the value of Nugget.
Sill and Base Range

A linear interpolant has no sill or range in the traditional sense. Instead, the Sill and Base Range
set the slope of the interpolant. The Base Range is the distance at which the interpolant value is
the Sill. The two parameters sill and range are used instead of a single gradient parameter to
permit switching between linear and spheroidal interpolant functions without also
manipulating these settings.
Nugget
The Nugget represents a local anomaly in values, one that is substantially different from what
would be predicted at that point based on the surrounding data. Increasing the value of
Nugget effectively places more emphasis on the average values of surrounding samples and
less on the actual data point, and can be used to reduce noise caused by inaccurately measured
samples.
Drift
The Drift is a model of the value distribution away from data. It determines the behaviour a long
way from sampled data.
l When set to Constant, the interpolant will go to the approximated declustered mean of the
data.
l When set to Linear, the interpolant will behave linearly away from data. This may result in
negative values.

Here, the two Drift options for the interpolant are shown evaluated on grids:
In this example, the boundary is larger than the extent of the data to illustrate the effect of
different Drift settings.
Accuracy
Leapfrog Geo estimates the Accuracy from the data values by taking a fraction of the smallest
difference between measured data values. Although there is the temptation to set the Accuracy
as low as possible, there is little point to specifying an Accuracy significantly smaller than the
errors in the measured data. For example, if values are specified to two decimal places, setting
the Accuracy to 0.001 is more than adequate. Smaller values will cause the interpolation to run
more slowly and will degrade the interpolation result. For example, when recording to two
decimals, the range 0.035 to 0.044 will be recorded as 0.04. There is little point in asking
Leapfrog Geo to match a value to plus or minus 0.000001 when intrinsically that value is only
accurate to plus or minus 0.005.

Data Types
This section describes how to import and work with data in Leapfrog Geo. The first section
describes how to use the table dialog, how to fix errors in data tables and how to build queries.
Later sections describe working with the different types of data Leapfrog Geo supports.
See Visualising Data in Analysing Data for information about using the shape list and shape
properties panel to display data.
The Table Dialog

To view the contents of a data table, double-click on it in the project tree. The Table window
will appear:
Click on Query to open up the query editor. See Query Filters for more information on how to
build and use queries.
If the Ignored column is ticked, then Leapfrog Geo completely ignores that row, as though it
had been deleted. This is useful for suppressing erroneous data from being processed. If a hole
in a collar table is ignored, then all other data associated with that hole (e.g. surveys and interval
measurements) are also ignored.
Collar tables have a trench column that indicates whether or not the drillhole is from a trench.
When the trench column is ticked for a drillhole, the trench will be desurveyed in a different
manner from other drillholes. Survey tables have Compatibility options for changing the
desurveying method for the survey table as a whole. See Survey Table Options for more
information.
Correcting Data Errors

Leapfrog Geo automatically identifies and flags common data errors when data tables are
imported. There are three ways Leapfrog Geo marks tables that contain conflicts or errors:
l Tables marked with a red X ( ) contain errors that mean data cannot be used for processing.
These errors can be corrected by opening the Database Errors window, which is described in

Correcting Errors in Leapfrog Geo.

l Numeric data columns marked with a red X ( ) contain non-numeric values, which means
that the rules that are used to handle non-numeric and negative values need to be reviewed.
If a table has data that contain non-numeric and negative values, the affected rows cannot
be used for further processing until the rules are verified, which is described in Special Values.
l Tables marked with a yellow exclamation mark ( ) contain warnings. Affected rows can be
used for further processing, but the information in the warning can indicate that the data
requires further attention. For example, if a warning indicates there is data missing for a
drillhole defined in the collar table, it may be that a drillhole has been duplicated or that not
all required data files have been loaded. Warnings are listed along with table errors in the
Database Errors window.
Until errors are corrected, the rows that contain those errors are excluded for all processing that
uses the table, including viewing in the scene. For example, if the ID for a collar position
contains an invalid coordinate, that collar will not be displayed in the scene as its location is not
known. Likewise, any processing will ignore data associated with this drillhole.
It is worth correcting errors as soon as possible, as correcting them later can result in significant
recomputation time.
When a table contains errors and warnings, only the errors will be apparent in the project
tree view. However, all errors and warnings relevant to a particular table will be displayed in
the Database Errors window.
There are two approaches to correcting errors in data:

l Correct the data in the primary source. Export the errors as described in Exporting Data
Errors. Then, when the errors have been corrected, reload the drillhole data as described in
Reloading Drillhole Data.
l Correct the data in Leapfrog Geo. If you need a record of corrected errors, first export the
errors as described in Exporting Data Errors. This must be done first, as once errors have
been corrected in Leapfrog Geo, they cannot be exported, as they no longer exist. Then
correct errors as described in Correcting Errors in Leapfrog Geo.
Exporting Data Errors

If you need a record of corrected errors, first export the errors. This must be done first, as
once errors have been corrected in Leapfrog Geo, they cannot be exported, as they no
longer exist.
There are two options for exporting drillhole data errors:

l Export all errors in the drillhole data set.
l Export only the errors from a single table.

Correcting Errors in Leapfrog Geo | 108
To export all errors in the drillhole data, right-click on the Drillholes object and select Export
Errors. The Export Drillhole Errors window will appear:
The list shows the files that will be created, one for each table that contains errors. Choose a
folder where the files will be saved, then enter a Base file name, which will be added to the
front of each file name.
Click Export to export the error files.
To export errors from a single table, right-click on that table and select Export Errors. Choose a
location where the file will be saved and click Save.
Correcting Errors in Leapfrog Geo

If you require a record of the errors in drillhole data, export the errors as described in
Exporting Data Errors before starting to correct the errors in Leapfrog Geo.
To correct errors in a data table, right-click on the table and select Fix Errors. The Errors
window will appear. Expand the list to view the details of the selected error:
When a row that contains an error is selected, a red box indicates the source of the error.
Errors are automatically grouped by Type when the Errors window is opened. If there are many
errors, you may find it useful to view them grouped by Table or HoleID. You can change the size
of the Errors window and the columns in the table to view more information easily. When you
have finished fixing errors, click the Save button ( ). Leapfrog Geo will then update the
database.

There are many possible sources of errors. Some useful techniques for fixing errors are:
l Checking for Missing Files
l Ignoring Errors
l Modifying Data
l Fixing Collar Max Depths
l Replacing All
l Replacing a Selection
Checking for Missing Files

Sometimes data is spread across several files and not all files have been imported. When you
have many errors in freshly imported data, make sure that all necessary files have been
imported.
Ignoring Errors
Ticking the Ignored box for a row results in that row being omitted from all processing, as
though it has been deleted.
Modifying Data
You can double click on any cell to edit its content, except for the id column. If the cell you wish
to edit is already selected, press the space bar to start editing.
Changes made to data in this way are immediately saved to the database.
Fixing Collar Max Depths

If there is a drillhole segment that falls beyond the maximum depth defined in the collar table, a
maxdepth exceeded error will be reported. To fix this error, click on the Fix Max Depths button (
). This results in the collar table being updated with a maximum depth value that reflects the
data in the interval tables.
Replacing All
With Replace All, you can replace an incorrect value that occurs multiple times in a column. To
do this, click the Replace All button ( ). Select the Column to search and enter the new value:

Replacing a Selection | 110
Click Replace All Occurrences to make the changes.
Replacing a Selection
You can also select a number of rows and replace values in a selected column with a single
value. To do this, use the Shift and Ctrl keys to select the rows you wish to edit, then click the
Edit button and select Write to Selected Rows:
In the fields that appear, enter the New value, then click the Write to Selected Rows button:
Special Values
Assay data often contains special values to represent different situations, such as grade values
that are below a detection limit, cores that have been lost or segments that were not sampled.
In addition, it is not uncommon for a drillhole to contain some intervals that have no values.

When drillhole data tables and points data are imported, Leapfrog Geo will mark columns
containing non-numeric special values and missing intervals so that you can review these
missing and non-numeric values and determine how Leapfrog Geo will handle them. For
example, here numeric data columns that contain errors are marked with a red X:
To review these errors, double-click on the column. The Invalid Value Handling window will
appear:
Leapfrog Geo will automatically set missing and non-numeric intervals to be omitted from
further processing. Negative values are automatically set to keep. To change the Action, select
another action from the dropdown list:
l Select replace to enter a numeric value to be used for further processing.
l Select keep to use a negative value in further processing.
For non-numeric and negative values, all values are initially treated as a single rule. However, if
values have different meanings, you can define specific rules to determine how each value is
handled. To do this, click on the Add Rule button. The window that appears will show the
values present in the data. To define a new rule for a specific value:
l Select that value in the list.
l Tick the box for The value I want is not in the list.

Query Filters | 112
l Enter the Value.

l Click OK.
In the Invalid Value Handling window, the value will be listed separately and you can choose
the Action to apply.
Once you have reviewed the rules that will be applied to the column, tick the These rules have
been reviewed box and click OK. The rules will be applied and used in further processing.
When you open a data table, the original values will be displayed. In all further processing of
that data, the assigned special values will be used.
Query Filters
Query filters can be used to select or view a subset of rows in a table. When used on a collar
table, this amounts to selecting collars. When used on an interval table, measurement intervals
are selected. Query filters can be used to model using a subset of data and to filter information
displayed in the scene window.
A query can be created for any type of table in a project, including GIS data, points data and
structural data.
When a query filter has been defined for an object and the object is displayed in the scene, the
query filter can be applied by clicking on the object in the shape list and selecting the query filter
in the shape properties panel:
For a drillhole data table, this displays only the data selected by the filter. The trace lines
remain displayed in the scene. To filter trace lines, tick the Filter trace lines box:
Query filters defined for collar tables are available to all other drillhole data tables.

The rest of this topic describes how to build queries. It is divided into:
l Creating a New Query Filter
l Leapfrog Geo Query Syntax
l Building a Query
l Advanced Queries
Creating a New Query Filter

To create a query filter, right-click on the required table in the project tree and select New
Query Filter. The Query Filter window will appear:
Type the required criteria into the Query box, using the query syntax described below. Press
Ctrl-Enter for a new line in longer queries. Click the ... button for more advanced query building
options, which are described in Building a Query and Advanced Queries below.
Assign the filter a name and click OK to save it. It will appear in the project tree under the table to
which it applies. To apply a query filter to the scene, select the object in the shape list, then
select the filter from the Query filter dropdown list in the shape properties panel:
In this case, because the query filter was created for the collar table, it is also available for the
lithology table.
Leapfrog Geo Query Syntax

The Leapfrog Geo query syntax is based on the WHERE clause of the Structured Query
Language (SQL) with some restrictions:
l Unary operators are not allowed
l SQL functions cannot be used
l The SELECT statement should not be used (as in 'holeid in (SELECT holeid FROM ...)')
l Following statements are also prohibited: CASE, WHEN or MATCH

Leapfrog Geo Query Syntax | 114
There is also one main SQL extension:

l IN and NOT IN will accept a partition group for the value list. E.g. 'zone IN layers.weathered'
where "layers" is a partition of the "zone" column that has a group called 'weathered'.
These are some examples of valid Leapfrog Geo query statements:
l holeid in ('m-001', 'm-002')
l holeid not in ('m-001', 'm-002')
l holeid not like 'MAR%'
To enter a query that contains an apostrophe, enter two apostrophes. For example, the
following query will result in an error:
Adding the second apostrophe results in a valid query:
The Query box allows the following shortcut queries:

l Typing a single word will match all hole-ids starting with that string. For example, typing
"MAR" is a shortcut for "holeid like 'MAR%'"
l Typing a comma-separated list of words will match all hole-ids that exactly match the given
words. For example typing "M001, M002" is a shortcut for "holeid in ('M001', 'M002')".

Building a Query
Many common queries can be built using the Build Query window:
This window aims to be easy to use rather than comprehensive in its support for the full
Leapfrog Geo query syntax. For more advanced queries, click on the Advanced button. See
Advanced Queries for more information.
To add a criteria, click Column to view a dropdown list of columns available in the table. Select
a Test and enter a Value. What can be entered for the Value depends on the type of column
and test selected.
Quotes are not required around text values entered in the value column as they are in SQL.
Leapfrog Geo will add quotes and brackets to the value "MX, PM" to make a valid SQL list of
strings "('MX', 'PM')" when the query is saved.
Click on the Apply button to apply to query to the context in which the dialog was opened.
Use the Delete button to delete the criteria in the selected row and the Add button to add a
blank row.

Advanced Queries | 116
Advanced Queries
The Advanced Query window provides a powerful and flexible query building using the
Leapfrog Geo query language.
Enter the query in the Criteria to Match area on the left. The query is displayed as a tree
structure with AND and OR terms as the branch nodes and conditions as the leaves. Use the
Delete button to delete a row from the query and the Add button to add a blank row. The
Check button can be used at any time to check if the current query statement is valid. Below the
buttons is a box showing the raw SQL form of the query.
Except for the arrow buttons, the buttons down the middle of the dialog are used for entering
values into the query. The arrow buttons are used for moving the currently selected criteria to a
different position in the query. The Date, List and Value buttons will open a builder dialog for
the column selected in the current row. If there is no column found or the column is of the
wrong type, an error message is displayed.
The tree on the right contains all the columns available to the query. Double-click on a column
name to insert it into the query.

GIS Data, Maps and Images
Often the first data imported into a new project is information that sets the coordinates for the
project as a whole. This includes GIS data, maps, aerial photos and 2D grids. This section
describes importing and working with GIS data and images.
You can view the attribute table for most GIS data objects by right-clicking and selecting
Attribute Table. You can also create query filters that can be used when displaying the GIS
object. See The Table Dialog and Query Filters for more information.
If, during the course of a project, GISdata changes, it can be reloaded and models that are
dependent on that data will automatically be updated.
Importing Vector Data

Vector data formats Leapfrog Geo supports include:
l ESRI Shape files (*.shp)
l MapInfo files (*.tab, *.mif)
l ESRI Personal GeoDatabase files (*.mdb)
You can also import data from MapInfo and ESRI databases. See Importing a MapInfo
Batch File and Importing Data from an ESRI Geodatabase for more information.
To import vector data, right-click on the GIS Data, Maps and Photos folder and select Import
Vector Data. Navigate to the folder that contains the GIS data and select the file. You can select
multiple files using the Shift and Ctrl keys.
Click Open to begin importing the data.
If you are importing a single file, the Import GIS Vector Data window will show a summary of
the data in the selected file:
You can choose what field in the data to use for the Elevation Field from the dropdown list.

Importing a MapInfo Batch File | 118
If you are importing multiple files, all files being imported are listed in the Import GIS Vector
Data window and no summary of each file is displayed:
Data is automatically clipped to the clipping boundary, but you can change how the data is
filtered to suit any bounding box that exists in the project. If you do not wish to clip the data,
untick the Filter Data box.
Click OK to add the data to the project. The object or objects will appear in the project tree
under the GIS Data, Maps and Photos folder. You can then view an objects attributes by right-
clicking on it and selecting Attribute Table.
When importing files, you may be prompted to select whether or not to filter elevation data.
If you wish to use another data source for your elevation data, select Filter Data. For
example, if you import a GIS line that has suspect elevation data, you can discard the
elevation data and set the elevation from the topography, as described in Setting Elevation
for GIS Objects and Images.
If data changes outside the project, it can be reloaded as described in Reloading GIS Data.
Importing a MapInfo Batch File

You can import a collection of GIS data exported from MapInfo. The MapInfo file can include
points, lines, polygons, images and elevation grids.
To import GIS data in this way, right-click on the GIS Data, Maps and Photos folder and select
Batch Import > from MapInfo. In the window that appears, navigate to the folder that contains
the MapInfo batch file, which is an XML file. Click Open.

The data that can be imported will be displayed and you can select which files to import:
You can select multiple files using the Shift and Ctrl keys.
Click OK to import the selected files, which will be added to the GIS Data, Maps and Photos
folder as a group ( ), with the exception of elevation grids, which will be added to the Meshes
folder.
Points, lines and polygons can be reloaded on an individual basis, which is described in
Reloading GIS Data.
Importing Data from an ESRI Geodatabase

You can import points, lines and polygons from an ESRI geodatabase. However, the importation
of raster data is not supported.
To import GIS points, lines and polygons in this way, right-click on the GIS Data, Maps and
Photos folder and select Batch Import > from ESRI Geodatabase. In the window that appears,
navigate to the folder that contains the database and click Open.
Leapfrog Geo imports uncompressed ESRI geodatabases.

Reloading GIS Data | 120
The data that can be imported will be displayed and you can select which files to import:
You can select multiple files using the Shift and Ctrl keys.
Click OK to import the selected files, which will be added to the GIS Data, Maps and Photos
folder as a group ( ). Data in the group can be reloaded individually or as a group, which is
described in Reloading GIS Data.
Reloading GIS Data

If, during the course of a project, GISpoints, lines and polygons change, they can be reloaded
and dependent models will automatically be updated. Objects originally imported as part of an
ESRI database ( ) can be reloaded individually or as part of the group.
Although the GISdata will be overwritten, any elevation data set in Leapfrog Geo will be
retained.
Reloading Points, Lines and Polygons

To reload a GIS point, line or polygon, right-click on it in the project tree and select Reload
Data. Navigate to the folder containing the GISfile and select the file. Click Open.
The process is the same as importing GIS data. Click OKto reload the data. The original data will
be overwritten and dependent objects will be updated to reflect the new data.
Reloading an ESRIDatabase
To reload an ESRI database, right-click on it in the project tree and select Reload Data. In the
window that appears, select the layers to reload, then click OK.
Points, lines and polygons imported as part of an ESRI database can also be reloaded on an

individual basis.
Importing 2D Grids
Leapfrog Geo imports the following 2D grid formats:
l Arc/Info ASCII Grid (*.asc, *.txt)
l Arco/Info Binary Grid (*.adf)
l Digital Elevation Model (*.dem)
l Intergraph ERDAS ER Mapper 2D Grid (*.ers)
l ESRI .hdr Labelled Image (*.img, *.bil)
l SRTM .hgt (*.hgt)
l Surfer ASCII or Binary Grid (*.grd)
2D grids can also be imported from MapInfo files. See Importing a MapInfo Batch File for
more information.
To import a 2D grid, right-click on the GIS Data, Maps and Photos folder and select Import 2D
Grid. Navigate to the folder that contains grid and select the file. Click Open to begin importing
the data.
The Import 2D Grid window will appear, displaying the grid and each of the bands available.
Select the data type for each band and set the georeference information, if necessary. See
Importing a Map or Image for information on georeferencing imported files.
Once the grid has been imported, you can set its elevation, which is described in Setting
Elevation for GIS Objects and Images.
When you display the grid in the scene, select the imported bands from the shape list:
Grids can be displayed as points ( ) or as cells and the values filtered, as described in Displaying
Points.
Importing a Map or Image

Image formats Leapfrog Geo supports include:

Importing a Map or Image | 122
l PNG files (*.png)

l JPEG files (*.jpg, *.jpeg)
l TIFF and GeoTIFF files (*.tiff, *.tif)
l Windows Bitmap files (*.bmp)
Images larger than 16384 by 16384 pixels will be scaled down. Reducing your images in size
below this limit will avoid scaling; you can do this by cropping the image during the import
process or by scaling down the image in an external image editor.
If the file contains georeference information, it too will be imported.

To import a map or image, right-click on the GIS Data, Maps and Photos folder and select
Import Map. Navigate to the folder that contains the GIS data file and select the file. The
Import Image window will be displayed:
The rest of this topic describes georeferencing images. It is divided into:

l Georeferencing in Leapfrog Geo
l Manual Georeferencing
l Automatic Georeferencing
l Exporting a Georeferenced Image
The three reference markers ( , , ) are used to set coordinates for the image in the scene. If
the image is the first object added to the project, this will, in effect, set the coordinate system for
the project.
The scene markers ( , , ) let you copy georeference information from the scene.

Cropping the image to only the area of interest will reduce video RAM usage and may improve
graphics performance. To crop the image, click on the Crop Image button ( ) at the top of the
window, then drag around the part of the image you wish to use. Click on the Remove Crop
button ( ) to clear the cropping.
Georeferencing in Leapfrog Geo

Leapfrog Geo imports georeference information as X, Y, Z coordinates. It is not necessary to
specify what georeferencing standard is being used.
If the data you are importing uses, for example, latitude and longitude for X and Y, but feet for
elevation, you can scale the Z axis to a value that provides a better picture of the information
being displayed. See Z Axis Scale in Settings for more information.
If you are importing data that uses different coordinate systems, you will need to pre-process
the data so that it is using the same coordinate system.
Adding georeference data to a map will set the location of the map in the three-dimensional
viewer. It is often used as a first step in setting the coordinates for the project as a whole.
Manual Georeferencing
If the image does not contain georeference information, you will need to add it manually by
adding the three reference markers ( , , ) to the image. To select a marker, click on its
marker button (Marker 1, Marker 2 or Marker 3), then move it to the required location on the
image using the mouse or the arrow keys.
Once each marker is correctly positioned, enter the real-world X and Y coordinates for each
marker:

Automatic Georeferencing | 124
There are two ways to do this:

l Enter the coordinates for each marker in the East (X) and North (Y) fields. As you enter the
coordinates, the positions of the markers will be displayed in the scene.
l Copy coordinates from the scene using the three scene markers ( , , ).
The second method is useful when you already have other objects correctly georeferenced in
the project. For example, if you have a larger map in the project and wish to import a more
detailed map, you can copy the coordinates from the georeferenced map to the detailed one.
To do this, move the Import Map tab so you can see enough of the scene to work in both
windows. Next:
l In the Import Map tab, position the marker ( , , ) on the image being imported.
l Click the corresponding copy coordinates marker ( , , ).
l Zoom in to the point in the scene window where you wish to place the marker and click.
The coordinates in the scene will be copied to the Import Map tab.
Once you have set the coordinates for each marker, click OK to return to the main window.
Once Leapfrog Geo saves the image, it will appear in the project tree under the GIS Data, Maps
and Photos folder.
Automatic Georeferencing
If the image contains georeference data, it will automatically be displayed. If the georeference
data in the imported image uses a different coordinate system than that used for the project,
you can change the georeference data by ticking the Override georeference data from image
box, then editing the information.
Click OK to import the image. It will appear in the project tree under the GIS Data, Maps and
Photos folder.
Exporting a Georeferenced Image

Leapfrog Geo exports georeferenced images as GeoTIFFs. To do this, right-click on it in the
project tree and select Export. You will be prompted for a filename and location. Click Save.
Setting Elevation for GIS Objects and Images

You can set the elevation for GIS objects and images by:
l Using a fixed elevation
l Using the elevation data from one of the objects attributes
l Using the elevation data from a surface in the project
The options available depend upon the type of object.
Fixed Elevation From Attribute From Surface
GIS lines X X X

Fixed Elevation From Attribute From Surface
GIS points X X X
2D grids X - X
GIS lines drawn in Leapfrog Geo X - -
GIS lines extracted from polylines X - X
Images X - -
To set the elevation for a GIS object or an image, right-click on it in the project tree and select
Set Elevation. The Set Elevation window will appear, displaying the available options. Select
the option required and click OK.
Creating a New GIS Line

There are three ways to create a new GIS lines object in Leapfrog Geo:
l If you do not have GIS data for a topographical feature you wish to use in model building, you
can draw a new GIS line. See Drawing a New GIS Line
l If you have two surfaces that intersect, you can generate a new GIS line from their
intersection. You can use any surface in the project, including those that are generated in
building models. See Creating a New GIS Line from Intersecting Meshes.
l If you have a polyline you wish to use as a GIS lines object, right-click on it in the project tree
and select Extract GIS Line. The new GIS line ( ) will appear in the GIS Data, Maps and
Photos folder. It is not linked to the original polyline.
To view new GIS line draped on the topography, select the object from the GIS data > GIS
objects dropdown list, as described in Topography Display Options.

Drawing a New GIS Line | 126
Drawing a New GIS Line

GISlines can be drawn on the slicer or on a surface.
Right-click on the GIS Data, Maps and Photos folder and select New GIS Line > From New
Drawing. In the window that appears, enter a name for the new object and click OK.
The object will be created in the project tree and added to the shape list. The scene view will
change to view the objects in the scene from above and tools for drawing polylines will appear.
Click on the Draw lines button ( ) and start drawing in the scene, as described in Drawing in
the Scene.
When you have finished drawing, click the Save button ( ). The new line ( ) will be saved in the
project tree.
You can edit the GIS line by right-clicking on it in the project tree and selecting Edit. If it is in the
shape list, you can edit it by clicking on the Edit button ( ).
Creating a New GIS Line from Intersecting Meshes

You can create a new GIS line from two intersecting meshes. You can use any surface in the
project, including those that are generated in building models.
To create a new GIS line from two intersecting meshes, right-click on the GIS Data, Maps and
Photos folder and select New GIS Line > From Intersecting Meshes. In the window that
appears, select the meshes to use, enter a name for the new object and click OK.
The new line ( ) will be saved in the project tree. It is not linked to the meshes used to create it
and will not be updated when the meshes are updated.

Exporting GIS Data

To export GIS data, right-click on the GIS data object in the GIS Data, Maps and Photos folder
and select Export. The Export GIS window will be displayed:
Select whether elevation information will come from the topography or from the GIS object
itself, or untick the Use 2.5D format with elevations from box to export the object without
elevation information.
Click Export. You be prompted for a filename and location.

Drillhole Data
Drillhole data forms the basis for creating models in Leapfrog Geo. Because drillhole data often
contains errors that reduce the reliability of a model, Leapfrog Geo has tools that help you to
identify and correct errors in the data and work with the data.
In Leapfrog Geo, drillhole data defines the physical 3D shape of drillholes. It is made up of:
l A collar table, containing information on the location of the drillhole.
l A survey table, containing information that describes the deviation of each drillhole.
l At least one interval table, containing information on measurements such as lithology, date
or any numeric or textual values. An interval table must also include collar IDs that
correspond to those in the collar table and sample start and end depth.
If you have the Hydrogeology module, a screens table can also be imported.
When a project is first created, the only options available via the Drillhole Data folder are for
importing data. See Importing Drillhole Data for more information on these options.
Once data has been added to the project, a Drillholes object will be created that serves as a
container for the tables imported:
When there are errors in the data, the relevant table will be marked with a red X ( ). See
Correcting Data Errors for more information on fixing drillhole data errors.
Leapfrog Geo also has tools for creating new lithology data columns from existing columns in
order to solve problems with the drillhole data. See Processing Drillhole Data for more
information.
You can open each table by double-clicking on the table ( ). The table will be displayed and
you can make changes. See The Table Dialog.
See Displaying Drillholes in Visualising Data for information about displaying drillhole data in
the scene.
With Leapfrog Geo, you can also plan drillholes and evaluate them against any model in the
project. See Planning Drillholes for more information.

Importing Drillhole Data

Drillhole data can be imported from:
l Files stored on your computer or a network location. This process is described below.
l From any database that runs an ODBC interface. See Selecting the ODBC Data Source.
l From an acQuire database. See Connecting to an acQuire Database.
For each of these options, once the data source is selected, the process of importing drillhole
data is the same.
Leapfrog Geo expects drillhole data that is stored in a collar table, a survey table and at least
one interval table. Each project can have only one collar file and survey table, but multiple
interval tables can be imported.
A screens table can be imported if you have the Hydrogeology module.
Leapfrog Geo imports tables from text files in CSV, ASCII and text formats. See Expected
Drillhole Data Format below for more detailed information on the information required in each
file type.
To import drillhole data, right-click on the Drillhole Data folder and select Import Drillholes.
The Import Drillhole Data window will appear:
For the Collar, click on the Browse button to locate the collar file.
When a collar file is added to the Import Drillhole Data window, Leapfrog Geo will look for
interval tables with names such as lithology or geology in the same location and will add
them to the Interval Tables list. If an interval table file is not automatically added to the list,
click Add and browse for the required file.
If you have the Hydrogeology module, you can also add any screens to import by clicking on
the Screens Browse button.

Importing Drillhole Data | 130
In the screen below, a collar file, a survey file and two interval tables have been selected for
import:
Clicking on Import starts the process of importing data. Leapfrog Geo will display a series of
windows, one for each file, and will attempt to match the data found in the files with the
columns expected, based on the header row in each file. Progress in working through the files is
shown at the top of the window:
The file currently displayed is shown in bold.
For *.csv files that use characters other than the comma as the separator, you can specify the
delimiter, comment leader, quote and decimal characters in the Import Drillhole Data
window. Click on CSV characters to enter the characters used in the data files:
The row at the top of the table indicates the data type to which Leapfrog Geo will assign each
column:

Click at the top of a column to view the column assignments available. The columns
highlighted below are the column types required for the collar table:
Each type of table being imported will have different column assignments available, but all
table types will display:
l The categories columns can be assigned to (top of the list)
l The option to not import the column
l The required columns, e.g. Hole Id, East (X), North (Y) and Elev (Z) for the collar table
l Any optional columns, e.g. Max Depth and Trench
l The option to select a custom name
If the header row for a column cannot be matched, Leapfrog Geo will mark the column as Not
Imported and you can select from the column assignments available. If you choose not to
import a column then wish to do so later, you can add it later using the Import Column option.
See Importing Columns.
You can also work with the Column Summary:
If you wish to import all columns, click on the Import All Columns button, then check that all
columns have been correctly mapped.

Expected Drillhole Data Format | 132
You can select a column for import, then use it as a Unique Row ID. This can specify the
column being used in other data systems to uniquely identify rows in a table. The column must
not contain duplicate values. If a Unique Row ID is specified, Leapfrog Geo will use this column
to match rows when appending columns or reloading tables.
If the data contains date and time information and the date and time format is not detected,
click on Date and Time Formats to reveal more information:
If the date and time format you wish to use is not among the options, you can create a custom
format.
For each file, check the column mapping and click Next to proceed to the next step. If any of
the information Leapfrog Geo expects is missing, an error message will appear. Return to the
table and correct the problem described.
Once you have checked the last file, click on Finish. Once Leapfrog Geo has imported the data,
it will appear in the project tree under a new Drillholes object.
See Correcting Data Errors.
Expected Drillhole Data Format

Drillhole data can be imported from files stored on your computer or a network location, from
any database that runs an ODBC interface or from an acQuire database. Once the data source
is selected, the process of importing drillhole data is similar for each data source.
l See Selecting the ODBC Data Source for information on using the ODBC interface.
l See Connecting to an acQuire Database for information on importing from an acQuire
database.
Leapfrog Geo expects drillhole data that is stored in a collar table and at least one interval table.
Each project can have only one collar file, but multiple interval tables can be imported. This
topic describes the expected format for each type of file:
l The Collar Table
l Interval Tables
l The Screens Table (Hydrogeology module only)
l The Survey Table
Leapfrog Geo imports tables from text files in CSV, ASCII and text formats.
The Collar Table

The collar table should contain five columns:

l A drillhole identifier
l The location of the drillhole in X, Y and Z coordinates
l The maximum depth of the drillhole
A collar table can also contain a trench column, and collars marked as trenches will be
desurveyed in a manner different from other drillholes.
The Hole ID is used to associate data in different tables with a single drillhole. The Hole ID for a
drillhole must be identical in all tables in order for data to be associated with that drillhole.
Inconsistencies in the way drillholes are identified are common sources of errors.
The maximum depth column is optional. If it is present, is used to validate the data imported for
the interval tables. The maximum depth specified in the collar table is often a planned quantity,
whereas the interval table records actual measurements. For this reason, Leapfrog Geo has an
option for fixing the maximum depth value in the collar table to match the data in an interval
table.
If maximum depth information is not included in a collar file, Leapfrog Geo will determine it
from the maximum depth sampled as indicated by data in the interval tables.
Interval Tables
For interval tables, Leapfrog Geo expects, at minimum, four columns:
l Start/from and end/to depths
l A column of measurements
If a drillhole ID in an interval table does not correspond to one in the collar file, the file can still
be imported but the interval table will contain errors.
Supported column types are:
l Lithology columns containing lithologic data, which can be used for geological modelling.
l Numeric columns containing numeric values, which can be used for interpolating data.
l Category columns, which is text representing categories such as company, geologist, or
mineralisation.
l Text columns containing text data that is not categorical, such as comments. Text columns
are not validated when imported.
l Date columns containing date data. Custom date and timestamps formats are supported.
The Screens Table
A screens table can only be imported if you have the Hydrogeology module.
For the screens table, Leapfrog Geo expects a minimum of four columns:

The Survey Table | 134
l A value column
The Survey Table

For the survey table, Leapfrog Geo expects a minimum of four columns:
l Depth, dip and azimuth values
By default, Leapfrog Geo assumes that negative dip values point up. If this is not the case, tick
the Negative survey dip points down option.
See Survey Table Options for more information on the drillhole desurveying algorithms used in
Leapfrog Geo.
Selecting the ODBC Data Source

To import drillhole data directly from any database that uses an ODBC interface, right-click on
the Drillhole Data folder and select Import Drillhole Data via ODBC. The Select ODBC Data
Source window will appear:
Enter the information supplied by your database administrator and click OK.
Once the data source is selected, the importation process is similar to that described in
Importing Drillhole Data.
Connecting to an acQuire Database

There are two options for connecting to an acQuire database:
l Create a new connection. To do this, right-click on the Drillhole Data folder and select
Import Drillhole Data via acQuire > New Selection. In the window that appears, choose
whether to connect using ODBC or DAP. Select the server and click Connect. Next, enter the
login details supplied by your database administrator.
l Create a connection from an existing selection file. Right-click on the Drillhole Data folder
and select Import Drillhole Data via acQuire > Existing Selection. Navigate to the location
where the selection file is stored and open the file.

Once connected to the database, you will be able to select the required data. When you have
finished specifying the selection, click OK to import the data. The importation process is similar
to that described in Importing Drillhole Data.
Once the drillhole data has been loaded, you can:
l Import additional interval tables. See Importing Interval Tables.
l Appending drillhole data. See Appending Drillholes.
l Reload drillhole data. See Reloading Drillhole Data.
Saving a Selection
Saving a selection saves the acQuire database in its current state. You can use a selection to
import the same set of drillhole data in new Leapfrog Geo projects.
To save an acQuire selection, right-click on the Drillholes object in the project tree and select
Save Selection. You will be prompted for a filename and location.
Appending Drillholes
If drillhole data is stored in multiple files or new drillhole data is available, you can import other
files into the project and add them to the existing drillhole data. To do this, right-click on the
Drillholes object and select Append Drillholes.
Append drillhole data when you have new drillholes or wish to add extra length to existing
drillholes. If you wish to refresh drillhole data, overwriting all existing drillhole data, use the
Reload Drillholes option.
The Append Drillholes window will be displayed. Appending drillhole data is similar to
importing the original data (see Importing Drillhole Data):
l If the drillhole data was loaded from a file on your computer or a network location, you will
be asked to specify the file locations. Step through the files, checking the Column Summary
for each file to ensure that the correct information will be imported, then click Finish to add
the new files.
l If the interval table is stored in an ODBC database, you will be prompted to connect to the
database. See Selecting the ODBC Data Source.
l If your drillhole data is stored in an acQuire database, you will be prompted to connect to the
database. See Connecting to an acQuire Database.
Importing Interval Tables

Interval tables that have not been imported during the drillhole data import process can be
added to the project at any time. To add an interval table, right-click on the Drillholes object in
the project tree and select from the options available:
l If the interval table is stored in a file on your computer or a network location, select Import
From File > Interval Values. Leapfrog Geo will ask you to specify the file location, and then
will display the data in the file in the Import Interval window.

Importing Columns | 136
l If the interval table is stored in an ODBC database, select Import From ODBC > Interval
Values. You will be prompted to select the data source. See Selecting the ODBC Data
Source.
l If your drillhole data is stored in an acQuire database, select Import From acQuire > Interval
Values. See Connecting to an acQuire Database.
Columns required are:
l A column of measurements
See Expected Drillhole Data Format for more information on the supported column types.
Select the required columns and assign the data type for each column. Click Finish to import
the file, which will appear under the Drillholes object.
Importing Columns
Columns of an interval table that have not been imported during the drillhole data import or
that are stored in a separate file can be added to the table at any time. To do this, right-click on
the interval table in the project tree and select New Column > Import Column.
Importing a column is similar to importing interval tables themselves. Leapfrog Geo will ask you
to specify the file location, and then will display the data in the file in the Add Column To Table
window. Select as many columns to import as required and assign the appropriate data type.
Before finishing, check the Column Summary to ensure that the correct information will be
imported.
It is not necessary to re-import any columns that are already part of the project. The drillhole ID
and To and From data columns, however, will be used to check the validity of the new column
against existing data. Any rows that do not match will not be imported.
Click Finish to import the new column.
Importing Screens
This feature is only available as part of the Hydrogeology module. See Flow Modelling for
more information.
Screens that have not been imported during the drillhole data import process can be added to
the project at any time. To do this, right-click on the Drillholes object in the project tree and
select Import From File > Screens or Import From ODBC > Screens.
When importing from a file, Leapfrog Geo will ask you to specify the file location, and then will
display the data in the file in the Import Screen window.
When importing from ODBC, you will first be prompted to select the data source. See Selecting
the ODBC Data Source.

l A value column
A Leapfrog Geo project can have only one screens table.
Importing Point Values Down Drillholes

To import a set of points on drillholes, right-click on the Drillholes object in the project tree and
select Import From File > Point Values or Import From ODBC > Point Values.
When importing from a file, Leapfrog Geo will ask you to specify the file location and then will
display the data in the file in the Import Depth Points window.
l Depth
Importing LAS Points Down Drillholes

Leapfrog Geo imports LAS points down drillholes in LAS 1.2 and LAS 2.0 formats. An imported
set of LAS files appears as one object with its associated data columns plus a LAS Drillholes
folder that contains a filter for each drillhole. Importing the data preserves the metadata from
the LAS files, which can be viewed in the Properties window for the LAS points object and in the
Properties window for each drillhole.
To import LAS points down drillholes, right-click on the Drillholes object and select Import
From File > LAS Data. Select the files you wish to import and click Open.
Next, the Import LAS Data window will appear. The data displayed in this window is combined
from the selected files, with blank and invalid values indicated by nan. For example, if a
drillhole file does not contain columns that are included in other drillhole files, those missing
columns will be marked as nan.
Leapfrog Geo expects HoleID and Depth columns and will attempt to match the data in the
files with the expected format. Select the columns to import, then click Finish. The files will be
added to the project tree as part of the Drillholes object, as described above.
To view LAS points, add the LAS points object ( ) to the scene. You can also display individual
drillholes by adding their filters to the scene.

LAS File Mapping | 138
LAS File Mapping

The Properties window for LAS drillholes includes a LAS Mapping tab that shows what data
files have been used for the selected drillhole:
Right-click on the drillhole and select Properties. This is useful when data for a drillhole
originates in different files.
LAS File Inconsistencies

When importing LAS files, inconsistencies in the files are handled as follows:
l If there are two files with the same curve values at the same depth, the duplicate values will
be added to the existing column and flagged as overlapping segments. See Correcting Data
Errors for more information about correcting drillhole data errors.
l If there are more than two files with the same curve values at the same depth, Leapfrog Geo
will not be able to import the files. Note the conflicting files shown in the error message and
reimport the files, leaving the conflicting files out.
l If there are multiple logs of the same name in the files, Leapfrog Geo will not be able to
import the data. Edit the LAS file header outside of Leapfrog Geo to change the names.
Importing Downhole Structural Data

Leapfrog Geo supports structural measurements in .csv or text formats. This topic describes
importing downhole structural data tables. Structural data tables that include location
information can also be imported to the Structural Modelling folder. See Importing Planar
Structural Data.

To import a set of structural data on drillholes, right-click on the Drillholes object in the project
tree and select Import From File > Planar Structural Data or Import From ODBC > Planar
Structural Data.
When importing from a file, Leapfrog Geo will ask you to specify the file location and then will
display the data in the file in the Import Planar Structural Data window.
Leapfrog Geo expects columns describing the drillhole identifier, the depth and the structural
orientation. Structural orientation can be specified using either dip and azimuth or alpha and
beta.
Match the values in the file to the required column headers, then click Finish to import the file.
The table will appear under the Drillholes object.
If the structural orientation is specified using alpha and beta, the reference line from which the
beta is measured can be the bottom or top of the drillhole. When the table is imported, the
default setting is Bottom of core. To change this, double-click on the structural data table in
the project tree. Next, click on Compatibility to change the Beta reference mark setting to Top
of core:

Survey Table Options | 140
Survey Table Options

To view drillhole desurveying options, double-click on the survey table to open it, then click on
Compatibility. There are two options for changing the way survey table data is handled in
Leapfrog Geo:
When the survey table is imported, Leapfrog Geo sets the Negative survey dip points down
value according to the data in the imported table. When the majority of the dip data in the table
is positive, Leapfrog Geo assumes all these drillholes will point down and leaves the field
Negative survey dip points down disabled. When most of the values are negative, the field is
enabled. If you are going to change the automatically set value of this field, consider carefully
the implications if there is a mix of drillholes pointing down and up.
When drillhole data is imported, the Desurveying method applied is Leapfrog spherical arc
approximation. The Balanced tangent algorithm option is compatible with Vulcan and
Minesight. These options are described in more detail below.
Drillhole desurveying computes the geometry of a drillhole in three-dimensional space based
on the data contained in the survey table.
Under ideal conditions, the drillhole path follows the original dip and azimuth established at the
top of the drillhole. Usually, though, the path deflects away from the original direction as a
result of layering in the rock, variation in the hardness of the layers and the angle of the drill bit
relative to those layers. The drill bit will be able to penetrate softer layers more easily than harder
layers, resulting in a preferential direction of drill bit deviation.
There are a number of paths a drillhole could take through available survey measurements, but
the physical constraints imposed by drilling are more likely to produce smoother paths.
Selecting the desurveying method that gives the best likely approximation of the actual path of
the drillhole will ensure that subsequent modelling is as accurate as possible.
Leapfrog Geo implements three algorithms for desurveying drillholes.

Spherical Arc Approximation

The default algorithm used in Leapfrog Geo is spherical arc approximation, which is sometimes
referred to as the minimum curvature algorithm. Downhole distances are desurveyed exactly as
distances along a circular arc:
The algorithm matches the survey at the starting and end positions exactly and the curvature is
constant between these two measurements. At the survey points, the direction remains
continous and, therefore, there are no unrealistic sharp changes in direction.
If you wish to use spherical arc approximation, there is no need to change any settings.
Raw Tangent
The raw tangent algorithm assumes the drillhole maintains the direction given by the last survey
measurement until the next new measurement is reached:
This implies that the drillhole makes sharp jumps in direction whenever a measurement is taken,
which is unlikely, except when the drillhole is being used to define a trench.
To use the raw tangent algorithm for a drillhole, double-click on the collar table in the project
tree. Tick the trench box for the drillholes you wish to desurvey using the raw tangent
algorithm.
Balanced Tangent
The balanced tangent algorithm uses straight lines but attempts to improve the accuracy of the
raw tangent algorithm by assigning equal weights to the starting and end survey

Processing Drillhole Data | 142
measurements:
It is an improvement on the raw tangent algorithm but still suffers from an unrealistic
discontinuity in the drillhole path. It is, however, a better approximation of the overall drillhole
path and is reasonably accurate when the spacing between measurements is small.
To use the balanced tangent algorithm, double-click on the survey table in the project tree.
Click on Compatibility tab and change the Desurveying method.
Processing Drillhole Data

Once imported and corrected, drillhole data usually requires further processing before any
models are built. Use the techniques described in Displaying Drillholes and Drillhole
Correlation Tool to aid in making decisions on what further processing is required.
Often, selecting a small portion of intervals can be achieved using a query filter (see Query
Filters). In some cases, however, you may wish to composite data to focus on a single unit.
There may also be issues with how drillhole data has been recorded; for example, two units
have been catalogued as one, or a single unit may be divided into multiple units.
Leapfrog Geo has a number of tools for processing drillhole data, including:
l Category Composites. Sometimes unit boundaries are poorly defined, with fragments of
other lithologies within the lithology of interest. This can result in very small segments near
the edges of the lithology of interest. Modelling the fine detail is not always necessary, and so
compositing can be used to smooth these boundaries.
l Numeric Composites. Compositing numeric data takes unevenly-spaced drillhole data and
turns it into regularly-spaced data, which is then interpolated. Numeric data can be
composited along the entire drillhole or in selected regions. You can also set the compositing
length from the base interval table.
l Majority Composites. Category data can be composited into interval lengths from another
table or into fixed interval lengths. The compositing is based on a majority percentage where
each interval is assigned a category based on the category that makes up the highest
percentage of the new interval.
l Grouping Lithologies. The group lithologies tool lets you define a new unit to which existing
units are added. For example, a sandstone deposit might appear in an interval table as
poorly-sorted and well-sorted units. The group lithologies tool lets you group both units into
a single sandstone unit.

l Splitting Lithologies. Lithology units may be incorrectly grouped, which can become
apparent when you display drillholes in the scene. The split lithologies tool lets you create
new units by selecting from intervals displayed in the scene.
l Interval Selection. If the lithologies in a column are poorly sorted, you can display the
column in the scene and use the interval selection tool to work with all the segments and sort
them into new units.
l Overlaid Lithology Column. You may have two versions of an interval column, one that
contains draft data and one that contains the final version. The final version may contain
gaps, which can be filled in using the draft version. The overlaid lithology tool lets you
combine the two columns to create a new column.
l Category Column from Numeric Data. When you have numeric data you wish to use with
the lithology and category modelling tools, you can convert the numeric data to a category
column.
l Back-flagging Drillhole Data. Evaluating geological models on drillholes creates a new
lithology table containing the lithologies from the selected model.
Each of these tools creates a new interval table or creates a new column in an existing interval
table, preserving the original data. New tables and columns can be used as the basis for new
models in the project and can be incorporated into existing models using From Other Contacts
options. When a new table is created, you can view it in the scene along with the original table
to see the differences between the processed and the unprocessed data.
If you are working with columns in different interval tables, you can create a new merged table
that includes columns from these different tables. Columns created in Leapfrog Geo can be
included in a merged table. See Merged Drillhole Data Tables.
Category Composites
Sometimes unit boundaries are poorly defined, with fragments of other lithologies within the
lithology of interest. This can result in very small segments near the edges of the lithology of
interest. Modelling the fine detail is not always necessary, and so compositing can be used to
smooth these boundaries.
In Leapfrog Geo, you can composite category data in two ways:
l Composite the drillhole data directly. This creates a new interval table that can be used to
build models, and changes made to the table will be reflected in all models based on that
table. This process is described below.
l Composite the points used to create deposit, erosion or intrusion contact surfaces in a
geological model. See Contact Surfaces.

Converting Ignored Segments | 144
Drillhole data is composited from the Composites folder, which is in the project tree as part of
the Drillholes object. To create a category composite, right-click on the Composites folder and
select New Category Composite. You will be prompted to select from the category columns
available in the drillhole data. Next, the New Composited Table window will appear, showing
the options for sorting intervals in the selected column:
Compositing category data sorts segments into three categories:

l Primary. This is the unit of interest. In the case of compositing on intrusion contact surfaces,
this will be the interior/intrusive lithology.
l Ignored. These are units that are, generally, younger than the unit of interest and should,
therefore, be ignored in generating contact surfaces.
l Exterior. These are units that occur outside of the unit of interest. For an intrusive lithology,
other lithologies the intrusion contacts should be classified as Exterior.
Unspecified intervals can be handled as Ignored, Primary or Exterior.
The additional compositing parameters determine how ignored segments flanked by interior or
exterior segments are handled and the length of segments that will be filtered. Each of these
settings is discussed below.
Click OK to create the table. Once you have created a composited table, you can edit it by right-
clicking on it and selecting Edit Composited Table.
Converting Ignored Segments

The Convert enclosed ignored segments setting determines how ignored segments are
handled when they are flanked by either two interior segments or two exterior segments. If
Convert enclosed ignored segments is enabled, Leapfrog Geo will convert enclosed ignored
segments to match the surrounding segments. In cases where an ignored segment does not lie
between two interior or exterior segments, it will remain ignored.

If you wish to set a maximum size for ignored enclosed segments, tick the Shorter than box and
set the maximum length.
If Convert enclosed ignored segments is disabled, this processing does not occur and ignored
segments are never converted. When an intrusive contact surface is created, this setting is
disabled by default.
For example, this scene shows two ignored segments that are flanked by the unit of interest.
Because Convert enclosed ignored segments is disabled, the segments remain ignored:

Converting Ignored Segments | 146
Enabling Convert enclosed ignored segments results in the segments being converted to the
Primary unit:
Enabling Shorter than and setting it to 4 results in the shorter segment being converted to the
Primary unit and the longer segment remaining Ignored:

Zooming out, we can see that the ignored segments at the top of the drillholes have not been
converted:
Filtering Short Segments

The Filter primary segments and Filter exterior segments parameters determine how short a
segment must be before it is composited:
l Short Exterior segments flanked by Primary segments will be converted to Primary
segments.
l Short Primary segments flanked by Exterior segments will be converted to Exterior
segments.
When the value is set the zero, no segments will be converted.
To see how these parameters can smooth the shape of a unit of interest, lets look at a series of
drillholes where we wish to create an intrusion boundary based on the red segments. Short
segments are highlighted in the uncomposited intervals:

Numeric Composites | 148
An intrusion generated from these uncomposited intervals will have more detail than is
necessary for modelling. However, when compositing settings are applied and the short
intervals are converted, we can see that the intrusion boundary is more geologically reasonable:
Numeric Composites
Compositing numeric data takes unevenly-spaced drillhole data and turns it into regularly-
spaced data, which is then interpolated. Compositing parameters can be applied to entire
drillholes or only within a selected region of the drillhole. For example, you may wish to
composite Au values only within a specific lithology. There are several methods for selecting
categories in which to composite, which are discussed below.
There are two approaches to compositing numeric data in Leapfrog Geo:
l Composite the drillhole data directly. This creates a new interval table that can be used to
build models, and changes made to the table will be reflected in all models based on that
table. This process is described below.
l Composite the points used to create an interpolant. This is carried out by generating a
contact surface and then setting compositing parameters for the interpolants values object.
This isolates the effects of the compositing as the compositing settings are only applied to the
interpolant.
The rest of this topic describes compositing drillhole data directly. It is divided into:
l Selecting the Compositing Region
l Compositing in the Entire Drillhole
l Compositing in a Subset of Codes

l Compositing in Intervals
l Compositing Parameters
To create a numeric composite, right-click on the Composites folder and select New Numeric
Composite. The New Composited Table window will appear:

Selecting the Compositing Region

Compositing parameters can be applied to entire drillholes or only within a selected region of
the drillhole. There are four options for selecting the region in which numeric data will be
composited, and each is discussed below. For information on how the different compositing
parameters are applied, see Compositing Parameters.
Compositing in the Entire Drillhole

For this option, compositing parameters are applied to all values down the length of drillholes.
Select Entire drillhole, then set the compositing parameters, as described in Compositing
Parameters. Click on the Output Columns tab to select from the available columns of numeric
data, then click OK to create the table. Edit the table by right-clicking on it and selecting Edit
Composited Table.
Compositing in a Subset of Codes

If you wish to select specific category codes in which to composite numeric data, there are two
options:
l Subset of codes, grouped
l Subset of codes, ungrouped
The difference between the two is that for the grouped option, the selected codes are
combined and the same compositing parameters are applied to the grouped intervals:

Compositing in Intervals | 150
For the ungrouped option, however, you can set compositing parameters for each code in the
selected Base column:
For the Action column, the options are:

l Composite. Numeric data that falls within the selected code will be composited according to
the parameters set.
l No compositing. Numeric data is not composited within the selected code. The raw,
uncomposited data will be used in creating the new data table.
l Filter out. Numeric data within the selected code will not be included in the new data table.
Set the compositing parameters and click on the Output Columns tab to select from the
available columns of numeric data. Click OK to create the table. You can edit the table by right-
clicking on it and selecting Edit Composited Table.
Compositing in Intervals
For the Intervals from table option, the interval lengths from the Base table are used to
determine composite lengths. The value assigned to each interval is the length-weighted
average value, and there are no further compositing parameters to set.
Click on the Output Columns tab to select from the available columns of numeric data. Click
OK to create the table. Edit the table by right-clicking on it and selecting Edit Composited
Table.
Compositing Parameters
Compositing numeric data using the Entire drillhole and Subset of codes options regularises
the data by applying two parameters, Compositing Length and Minimum Coverage, in the
following stages:
l Compositing divides drillholes into intervals wherever numeric data occurs. The Compositing
Length determines the length of each composite interval, and the Minimum Coverage value
determines whether or not lengths shorter than the Compositing Length are retained for
further processing. Composite lengths are generated from the collar down the drillhole, so

any short segments produced will be at the bottom of the drillhole.

l Composite values are calculated for each composite interval. This is simply the length-
weighted average of all numeric drillhole data that falls within the composite interval.
l Composite points are generated at the centre of each composite interval from the composite
values. If the Minimum Coverage threshold is not reached, no composite point will be
generated.
For example, the following illustration shows how the Compositing Length and Minimum
Coverage values can be applied in dividing two drillholes covered by numeric data into
composite intervals. Compositing is set to the Entire drillhole option. In both cases, the
Compositing Length is set to 10 and numeric data occurs in all intervals.
In the first example, any intervals that have numeric data and are at least 1m long (10%) will be
retained, so both the 2m and 7m lengths are retained. In the second example, intervals with
numeric data must be at least 5m long (50%) to be retained, and so the 2m interval in the first
drillhole is removed.
Omitted segments are drillhole segments for which no replacement action have been
assigned in the Invalid Value Handling window. Omitted segments are excluded from
numeric compositing so that composite values will not be diluted. See Special Values for
more information.
Majority Composites
Category data can be composited into interval lengths from another table or into fixed interval
lengths. The compositing is based on a majority percentage where each interval is assigned a
category based on the category that makes up the highest percentage of the new interval. If
two categories are equally represented, the category that occurs further up the drillhole
(closest to the collar) is assigned.
This is useful for comparing lithology and assay data; the intervals from an assay table can be
applied to a category column to produce a new lithology column with the shorter intervals
typical of assay tables. The majority composite column can then be used to create a merged
table containing both lithology and assay data.

Majority Composites | 152
Drillhole data is composited from the Composites folder, which is in the project tree as part of
the Drillholes object. To create a majority composite, right-click on the Composites folder and
select New Majority Composite. The New Composited Table window will appear:
Select the interval table that will be used to specify the intervals for the new majority composite
or specify a fixed Compositing Length. Next, select the columns that will be composited. Click
OK to create the composite. The composite will be added to the Composites folder in the
project tree. You can edit it by right-clicking on it and selecting Edit Composited Table.
Here assay intervals are shown inside the much longer lithology intervals. The selected interval
goes from 14.0 to 23.7 metres:

Here a majority composite has been created based on the lithology table using the assay table
intervals. The category column displayed in the scene appears similar to the category column
used to create it, but selecting an interval in the scene shows that the lithology has been
composited into smaller intervals that match the assay intervals:
Grouping Lithologies
The group lithologies tool lets you define a new unit to which existing units are added. For
example, a sandstone deposit might appear in an interval table as poorly-sorted and well-
sorted units. With the group lithologies tool, you can group both units into a single sandstone
unit.
When you group lithologies, the original lithology column is preserved and a new lithology
column is added to the interval table. You can then select the original lithology column or the
new one when displaying data and creating models.
To start grouping two or more lithologies, right-click on the interval table in the project tree and
select New Column > Group Lithologies. The New Lithology Column window will appear:
Select the lithology column you wish to use from the Base Column list, then enter a Name for
the new lithology column. Click OK.

Grouping Lithologies | 154
A window will appear displaying all lithologies in the base lithology column:
In this example, two spellings of Alluvium have been used and these lithologies should be
combined into a single lithology.
The most straightforward way to group lithologies is to select the first of the lithologies, then
click New Group. A group will be created for the selected lithology with only that lithology as a
member:

Next, click on a lithology in the Ungrouped Lithologies pane and drag it onto the group:
Grouping lithologies creates a new lithology column and any lithologies left in the
Ungrouped Lithologies pane will be excluded from the new column. For this reason, once
you have grouped the required lithologies, move all remaining lithologies to the Groups
pane by clicking on each lithology, then on the New Group button. This will make each
remaining lithology a new group with a single member:
When you are finished, click OK to create the new lithology column. It will appear in the project
tree as an additional lithology column in the interval table.
Select the new column from the shape list to display it:
Click on the Edit button ( ) to start editing the selected column.

The other way to group lithologies is to let Leapfrog Geo create the lithology groups.

Automatic Lithology Groups | 156
Automatic Lithology Groups

Leapfrog Geo can automatically create lithology groups. To do this, create a new lithology
column, as described above. Click the Auto Group button to reveal more options:
The First letter(s) and Last letter(s) options let you create groups according the names of the
existing lithologies. Click Group to create the new groups.
Here, the first two letters have been used to created a new set of lithologies:
The two alluvium lithologies have been added to a single group.

The One group per value option creates a group for each original lithology. You can then drag
and drop lithologies into different groups, move lithologies you do not wish to group back into
the Ungrouped Lithologies pane and use the Delete Groups options to remove any empty
groups.
Splitting Lithologies
With the split lithologies tool, you can create new units from a single unit by selecting from
intervals displayed in the scene. When you split lithologies, the original lithology column is

preserved and a new lithology column is added to the interval table. You can then select the
original lithology column or the new one when displaying data and creating models.
The difference between the interval selection tool and the split lithologies tool is that with
splitting lithologies, you are limited to selecting intervals from a single lithology. If you wish to
select intervals from multiple lithologies, see Interval Selection.
To start splitting a lithology, first add the drillhole data to the scene. Then right-click on the
interval table in the project tree and select New Column > Split Lithologies. The New
Lithology Column window will appear:
The Lithologies and Splits window will appear, together with a set of tools that will help you to
select intervals in the scene:
Alluvium (gold) appears both above and below Coarse Sand (blue) and so should be split into
two separate lithologies.
The first step is to select the lithology that will be split in the Lithologies and Splits window. In
the example above, Alluvium is already selected.

Splitting Lithologies | 158
Next, click on the Select Intervals button ( ) and click the Add Intervals button ( ). In the
scene, draw a line across each interval you wish to select.
To change the width of the line used to select intervals, click on the Change Line Width
button ( ) and enter a new value. You can keep the Set Line Width window open while you
select intervals so you can change the line width as required.
Selected intervals are highlighted in the scene. If you accidentally select the wrong interval,
either:
l Click the Remove Intervals button ( ) and draw across the interval once again.
l Hold the Ctrl key while drawing across the interval.
You can also:
l Select all visible intervals by clicking on the Select All button ( ) or by pressing Ctrl+A.
l Clear all selected intervals by clicking on the Clear Selection button ( ) or by pressing
Ctrl+Shift+A.
l Swap the selected intervals for the unselected intervals by clicking on the Invert Selection
button ( ) or by pressing Ctrl+I.

Once you have selected some segments, click on the Assign to button in the Lithologies and
Splits window and select Create New Split:
The New Split window will appear:
Enter a Name for the new lithology, then click OK. The new lithology will be created and the
scene updated to reflect the changes:

Interval Selection | 160
Once you have created a new lithology, you can add to it by selecting intervals, then selecting
the lithology from the Assign to list.
When you are finished, click the Save button ( ) and close the Lithologies and Splits window.
The new lithology column will appear in the project tree as an additional lithology column in
the interval table.
Select the new column from the shape list to display it:
Click on the Edit button ( ) to start editing the selected column.
Interval Selection
When you wish to select a small portion of intervals or you dont have suitable parameters to use
a query filter, you can select intervals from drillholes displayed in the scene to create a new
lithology column. The original lithology column is preserved and a new lithology column is
added to the interval table. You can then select the original lithology column or the new one
when displaying data and creating models.
The difference between the interval selection tool and the split lithologies tool is that with
splitting lithologies, you are limited to selecting intervals from a single lithology. With interval
selection, you can choose intervals from any lithology displayed in the scene.
To start selecting intervals, first add the drillhole data to the scene. Then right-click on the
interval table in the project tree and select New Column > Interval Selection. For a merged
table, right-click on it and select Interval Selection.
The New Lithology Column window will appear:

The Interval Selection window will appear, together with a set of tools that will help you to
select intervals in the scene. To select intervals, click on the Select Intervals button ( ) and
click the Add Intervals button ( ). In the scene, draw a line across each interval you wish to
select:
Selected intervals are highlighted in the scene. If you accidentally select the wrong interval,
either:
l Click the Remove Intervals button ( ) and draw across the interval once again.
l Hold the Ctrl key while drawing across the interval.
You can also:
l Select all visible intervals by clicking on the Select All button ( ) or by pressing Ctrl+A.
l Clear all selected intervals by clicking on the Clear Selection button ( ) or by pressing
Ctrl+Shift+A.
l Swap the selected intervals for the unselected intervals by clicking on the Invert Selection
button ( ) or by pressing Ctrl+I.
To change the width of the line used to select intervals, click on the Change Line Width
select intervals so you can change the line width as required.

Interval Selection | 162
When you have selected at least one interval, click on the Assign to button, then select Create
New Lithology:
Enter a Name for the new lithology, then click OK:
The new lithology will be created and the scene updated to reflect the changes:
Once you have created a new lithology, you can add to it by selecting intervals, then selecting
the lithology from the Assign to list.

When you are finished, click the Save button ( ) and close the Interval Selection window. The
new lithology column will appear in the project tree as an additional lithology column in the
interval table. Select the new column from the shape list to display it:
Overlaid Lithology Column

You may have two versions of an interval column, one that contains draft data and one that
contains the final version. The final version may contain gaps, which can be filled in using the
draft version. The overlaid lithology tool lets you combine the two columns to create a new
column.
Both columns must be part of the same interval table. If they are not, use the merged table tool
to create a new table that contains both columns. See Merged Drillhole Data Tables.
To create an overlaid lithology column, right-click on the interval table in the project tree and
select New Column > Overlaid Lithology Column. For a merged table, right-click on it and
select Overlaid Lithology Column.
The New Overlaid Lithology Column window will appear:
For the Primary column, select the column that you wish to have precedence. Data in the
Fallback column will be used when no data is available from the Primary column.
Click Create to create the new column. The new column will appear in the project tree.
You can display drillhole data with the new column by selecting it from the shape list:

Category Column from Numeric Data | 164
Category Column from Numeric Data

When you have numeric data you wish to use with the lithology and category modelling tools,
you can convert the numeric data to a category column. To do this, right-click on the numeric
data column and select New Column > Category From Numeric. In the window that appears,
select the Base Column, then enter a name for the new column. Click OK.
The next step is to sort the numeric data into categories:
Leapfrog Geo automatically assigns three categories calculated from the distribution of data.
To add a new category, click the Add button and enter the required value. Click the Show
Histogram button to view the distribution of data in deciding what categories to define.
Click OK to create the new column, which will appear in the project tree as part of the original
interval table.
Back-flagging Drillhole Data

Evaluating geological models on drillholes creates a new lithology table containing the
lithologies from the selected model. This is useful for validating models created from drillhole
data as you can generate statistics for the correlation between modelled geology and drilling
data.
To created a back-flagged drillhole data table, right-click on the Drillholes object in the project
tree and select New Evaluation. The New Evaluation window will appear:
Select the model to use and enter names for the column and table.

When the selected model is a faulted model, the Evaluation Type setting determines whether
the models output volumes, faulted output volumes or fault blocks are evaluated.
Click OK to create the new table, which will appear in the project tree as part of the Drillholes
object. The new table contains From, To and Lithology columns defined using the intersection
between the models output volumes and the drillholes.
For output volume evaluations, you can view the correlation between modelled geology and
actual logged drillhole segments. To do this, right-click on the table and select Statistics. In the
Correlation Statistics window, you can compare model values to drilled lithologies or vice
versa.
See:
l Comparing Modelled Values to Drilling Lithologies
l Comparing Drilling Lithologies to Modelled Values
l Refining the Geological Model to Improve Correlation Statistics
You can export the information displayed in the Correlation Statistics window in CSV
format for use in other applications. To do this, click Export.
Comparing Modelled Values to Drilling Lithologies

Comparing model values to drilling lithologies shows how accurately drilling lithologies are
modelled in the selected geological model. High matching percentages for drilling lithologies
in the lefthand side of the window mean the model closely matches the drilling data for that
lithology:

Comparing Modelled Values to Drilling Lithologies | 166
The righthand side of the window shows the composition of the modelled values for the
selected Drilling Lithology. Here, D1 in the geological model corresponds to D1 in the lithology
data for 88.2% of the length of the drillhole:
D1 in the model is actually D2 for 2.37% of the length of the drillholes, and 9.44% of the drilled
D1 values fall outside of the boundary of the geological model.
In the images that follow, we will look at the correlation between the D5 drilling lithology and
modelled D5. Here, two drillhole data tables are displayed with the D5-D4 contact surface from
the geological model:

The inner drillholes show the original drillhole data. The outer drillholes show the geological
model back-flagged onto the drillhole data table. In the highlighted drillhole, we can see there
is a discrepancy between the actual lithology data and that modelled. When we view
correlation statistics for this model, we can see that this discrepancy is explained by the fact that
17.97% of the D5 drilling length is modelled as D4:
You might consider this an acceptable match, but if it is too low, there are several ways to refine
the geological model so that the geological model more closely reflects the original drillholes,
which are discussed below. For this example, we will adjust the resolution of the geological
model. The modelled segment now corresponds more closely to the original drillhole data:
Viewing the correlation statistics shows that 99.62% of modelled drillholes now match the
original data:

Comparing Drilling Lithologies to Modelled Values | 168
Comparing Drilling Lithologies to Modelled Values

Comparing drilling lithologies to model values shows the lithological composition of
modelled values. Again, high matching percentages in the lefthand side of the window mean
the model closely matches the drilling data for that modelled lithology:
The non-matching percentage indicates how much of the modelled lithology is not the
drillhole lithology. You can see in the righthand side of the window the lithologies that make up
the non-matching portions of the modelled value.
In the images that follow, we will look at the correlation between the D5 drilling lithology and
modelled D5 once again. The non-matching percentage is 4.8, and on the righthand side of
the window, we can see that this is exclusively drilling lithology I2:

Adjusting the resolution of the geological model improves the matching percentage to the
point where only 0.09 percent of the D5 modelled value is drilling lithology I2:
Refining the Geological Model to Improve Correlation Statistics

If the matching percentages are too low for the lithologies of interest, there are several ways to
refine the geological model so that the geological model more closely matches the drillholes:
l Reduce the resolution of the geological model or of its contact surfaces. See Surface
Resolution for a Geological Model and Surface Resolution in Leapfrog Geo.
l Add more data to the models surfaces. See Adding Data to Surfaces.
l Snap surfaces to the data used to create them. See Contact Honouring.
Merged Drillhole Data Tables

When you have more than one drillhole interval table in a project, you can create a new table
using selected columns from existing interval tables. You can include columns created by, for
example, grouping or splitting lithologies or compositing.
To create a merged table, right-click on the Drillholes object in the project tree and select New
Merged Table. The New Merged Table window will appear showing all interval columns
available in the project:

Core Photo Links | 170
You can change the columns included once you have created the table.
Select the columns you wish to include in the new table and click OK. The new table will appear
in the project tree as part of the Drillholes object.
You can create query filters for a merged data table, as described in Query Filters. You can also
select intervals (see Interval Selection) and create an overlaid lithology column (see Overlaid
Lithology Column). You cannot, however, use the group lithologies and split lithology tools on
a merged table.
To edit the table, right-click on it and select Edit Merged Table.
Core Photo Links

Leapfrog Geo can link drillhole data to ALS Webtrieve and Coreshed core photo databases.
When drillhole data has been linked, a photo link object will appear in the project tree:
You can only have one type of core photo link associated with the drillhole data. To add a link,
right-click on the Drillholes object and select Add Core Photo Link. In the window that
appears, select the core photo provider and click OK:
For information on setting up the links, see:

l Setting Up the ALS Interface
l Setting Up the Coreshed Interface
To use the core photo links, see:
l Using the ALS Interface
l Using the Coreshed Interface

The ALS Core Photo Interface

This topic describes how to set up and use the ALS core photo interface.
Setting Up the ALS Interface

Before you can view core photos, you must first log in to the ALS database. Two levels of
security are provided, one set up in Leapfrog Geo and the next via your browser.
To set up the interface between Leapfrog Geo and the ALS database, right-click on the
Drillholes object and select Add Core Photo Link. In the window that appears, select ALS
Webtrieve and click OK. The ALS Core Photo Settings window will appear. Information
required to access core data is the Project Name and the Encryption Key. This information
provides the first level of security for information in the ALS database. Click on each field and
enter the required information. The information is case-sensitive, so ensure that the characters
entered are correctly capitalised.
For Leapfrog depths measured in, ensure that the units used for depth match in Leapfrog Geo
and ALS.
For Open selection in new browser, choose whether each core photo will be opened in a
separate browser Window or Tab.
Click OK to save the information. If login is successful, the ALS Core Photos button ( ) will
appear in the toolbar:
A link will also appear in the project tree as part of the Drillholes object:
You can edit the link by double-clicking on it.

Using the ALS Interface | 172
Using the ALS Interface

To view core photos, click on a drillhole in the scene, then click on the ALS Core Photo Link
button in the window that appears:
Your browser will be launched and you will be prompted to log in to the ALS database. Enter
the User Name and Password, which are case-sensitive. Remember to allow the browser to
save the details so that you will not be prompted to log in each time you wish to view a photo.
Your browser settings may require that you install a plugin or make changes to settings in
order to view core photos. If you are not able to access the ALS database from Leapfrog Geo
and have ensured your Project Name, Encryption Key, User Name and Password have
been entered correctly, contact Customer Support as described in Getting Support.
If you want to view core photos in rapid succession, click on the ALS Core Photos button ( ) in
the toolbar, then click on a drillhole in the scene. This will simultaneously:
l Display information on the segment selected in Leapfrog Geo
l Display the core photo in your browser
Removing the ALS Link

To remove an ALS link, right-click on it in the project tree and select Delete.
The Coreshed Core Photo Interface

This topic describes how to set up and use the Coreshed core photo interface.
Setting Up the Coreshed Interface

Before you can view core photos, you must first set up the Coreshed interface. To do this, right-
click on the Drillholes object and select Add Core Photo Link. In the window that appears,
select Coreshed and click OK. The Coreshed Photo Settings window will appear. Select
whether each core photo will be opened in a separate browser Window or Tab.

Click OK to save the information. The Coreshed Core Photos button ( ) will appear in the
toolbar:
A link will also appear in the project tree as part of the Drillholes object:
You can edit the link by double-clicking on it.
Using the Coreshed Interface

To view core photos, click on a drillhole in the scene, then click on the Coreshed Photo Link
button in the window that appears:
Your browser will be launched and you will be prompted to log in to the Coreshed database.
Enter the Username and Password, which are case-sensitive. Remember to allow the browser
to save the details so that you will not be prompted to log in each time you wish to view a photo.
Your browser settings may require that you install a plugin or make changes to settings in

Removing the Coreshed Link | 174
order to view core photos. If you are not able to access the Coreshed database from
Leapfrog Geo and have ensured your Username and Password have been entered correctly,
contact Customer Support as described in Getting Support.
If you want to view core photos in rapid succession, click on the Coreshed Photo Link button (
) in the toolbar, then click on a drillhole in the scene. This will simultaneously:
l Display information on the segment selected in Leapfrog Geo
l Display the core photo in your browser
Removing the Coreshed Link

To remove a Coreshed link, right-click on it in the project tree and select Delete.
Deleting Drillhole Data

To delete a lithology or numeric data table, right-click on the table in the project tree and select
Delete. You will be asked to confirm your choice.
When you right-click on the drillhole or collar table object in the project tree and select Delete,
the resulting action will also remove all lithology and numeric data tables from the project. You
will be asked to confirm your choice.
Reloading Drillhole Data

Reloading data is necessary when the imported data is modified externally. All drillhole data can
be reloaded by right-clicking on the Drillholes object and selecting Reload Drillholes. If you
only need to reload a single table, right-click on that table and select Reload Data.
Reloading drillhole data overwrites all existing drillhole data. If you have data you wish to
add to the project without overwriting existing data, use the Append Drillholes option.
The process is similar to that for importing drillhole data:

l If the drillhole data was loaded from a file on your computer or a network location, you will
be prompted to specify the file locations.
l If the interval table is stored in an ODBC database, you will be prompted to connect to the
database. See Selecting the ODBC Data Source.
l If your drillhole data is stored in an acQuire database, you will be prompted to connect to the
database. See Connecting to an acQuire Database.
When you reload data, Leapfrog Geo retains the table structure and refreshes the data
contained in the tables. This ensures that you do not need to reassign the data type for each
column and select the columns to be imported.

Exporting Drillhole Data

Changes made to the drillhole data in Leapfrog Geo only affect the Leapfrog Geo database,
not the original data files. You can export Leapfrog Geo drillhole data, which is useful if you
wish to keep a copy of drillhole data outside the project.
You can:
l Export all data. See Exporting All Drillhole Data.
l Export only a single data table. See Exporting a Single Drillhole Data Table.
These export options export the drillhole data tables using To and From values to indicate
location information. If you wish to export data with X-Y-Z values, extract points data using
one of the following options:
l Extracting Contact Points from Drillhole Data
l Extracting Intrusion Values from Drillhole Data
l Extracting Interval Midpoints from Drillhole Data
Then export the data object as described in Exporting Points Data.
Exporting All Drillhole Data

To export all drillhole data, right-click on the Drillholes object and select Export. The Export
Drillhole Data window will appear:
Once you have selected how you wish to export the data, click OK. The Export Drillhole Data
Files window will appear:

Exporting a Single Drillhole Data Table | 176
The list shows the files that will be created, one for each data table. Choose the Folder where
the files will be saved, then enter a Base file name, which will be added to the front of each file
name.
Click Export to save the files.
Exporting drillhole data in this way uses To and From values to indicate location information.
If you wish to export data with X-Y-Z values, extract points data using one of the following
options:
Exporting a Single Drillhole Data Table

To export a single drillhole data table, right-click on that table and select Export. The Export
Drillhole Data window will appear:
Once you have selected how you wish to export the data, click OK. You will be prompted for a
filename and location.
Exporting a single drillhole data uses To and From values to indicate location information. If
you wish to export data with X-Y-Z values, extract points data using one of the following
options:

Points Data
Points are sets of X-Y-Z coordinates, with or without associated values. In Leapfrog Geo, points
are used to define surfaces and for interpolation.
The Points folder can be used to import points data, extract contact points, intrusion values and
interval midpoints from drillhole data, create guide points and import distribution data and
geophysical data. You can also create a grid of points that can be evaluated against geological
models and interpolants and exported for use in other modelling packages.
Importing Points Data

Leapfrog Geo supports the following file types for points data:
l CSV files (*.csv)
l ASCII text files (*.asc)
l DXF files (*.dxf)
l Leapfrog Geo 3D Point Data files (*.pl3, *.ara)
Points data can be imported from:
l Files stored on your computer or a network location. Right-click on the Points folder and
select Import Points. You will be prompted to select a file.
l From any database that runs an ODBC interface. Right-click on the Points folder and select
Import Points via ODBC. See Selecting the ODBC Data Source below.
For each of these options, once the data source is selected, the process of importing the data is
the same.
When importing a file that has multiple features, you will be prompted to select which ones to
import. You can also choose to:
l Import the features as separate objects. Each feature will appear in the project tree as a
separate object.
l Flatten all features into one object. Leapfrog Geo will treat all features as a single object.
Once imported, the file will be added to the Points folder. If there are errors in the data, the
errors can be corrected as described in Correcting Data Errors.
To view the imported data, double-click on the object that has been added to the Points folder.
Once points data has been imported to the project, it can be modified and evaluated against
geological models, interpolants and distance functions, as described in Evaluating Points
Data.

When importing points data from an ODBC database, you will need to specify the ODBC data
source. Enter the information supplied by your database administrator and click OK.
Once the data source is selected, the importation process is similar to that described above.

Appending Points Data | 178
Appending Points Data

If points data is stored in multiple files, you can import these files into the project and add them
to existing points data. To do this, right-click on the object you wish to append and select
Append Data. You will be prompted to select a file.
Next, the Import Tables For Appending window will be displayed.
Check the data to ensure that the correct information will be imported, then click Finish to add
the new file.
Setting Elevation for Points

You can set the elevation for points objects ( )by projecting them onto a surface. Any elevation
data in the points table will be overwritten by the elevation values from the selected surface.
To set the elevation for points, right-click on it in the project tree and select Set Elevation. The
Set Elevation from Surface window will appear:
Select from the surfaces available in the project.

Unprojected points are points that do not vertically intersect the selected surface. There are two
options for handling these points:
l Leave the elevation field empty.
l Assign a fixed elevation value.
Click OK to set elevation values.
Extracting Points from Drillhole Data

In Leapfrog Geo, you can extract different types of points from imported drillhole data. See:
l Intrusion Point Generation Parameters
If you wish to save and export points data with X-Y-Z information, use these options, then

right-click on the data object to export the data as described in Exporting Points Data.
Extracting Contact Points from Drillhole Data

Contact points define the boundary between two lithology layers. You can extract contact
points from interval tables to create a new points object in the Points folder. The values
extracted are the x-y-z values of the contact points.
To extract contact points from an interval table, right-click on the Points folder and select New
Contact Points. A window will appear listing the lithology and category columns available in
the project:
Select the required column and click OK.

Next, the New Contact Points window will appear:

Extracting Contact Points from Drillhole Data | 180
Select the lithology required from the Select primary lithology list, then select the adjacent
lithologies you wish to extract in the Contacting lithologies list.
Unspecified intervals are intervals that have no data. By default, unspecified intervals are
ignored when creating new contact points, but you can also treat them as the primary lithology
or as contacting lithologies.
For complex geologies, the up and down directions for the surface may not be clear. If this is the
case, untick the Horizontal Plane box. A reference plane will appear in the scene, with the up-
facing surface labelled A and the downward-facing surface labelled B:
Controlling the position of the reference plane is similar to controlling the position of the
moving plane:
l Use the handles in the scene window to move the plane.
l Set the Dip and Dip Azimuth values in the New Contact Points window. The reference
plane will be updated in the scene.
Once the reference plane is correctly oriented, click the Set From Plane button.
A reference plane set for contact points in the Points folder will be applied wherever the
contact points are used.
Click OK to create the points, which will appear in the project tree under the Points folder. To
edit the points, double-click on them.

Extracted contact points can be exported as described in Exporting Points Data.
Extracting Intrusion Values from Drillhole Data

You can extract intrusion points from interval tables to create a new points object in the Points
folder.
To extract intrusion values from an interval table, right-click on the Points folder and select
New Intrusion Values. A window will appear listing the lithology and category columns
available in the project:
Select the required column and click OK.

Next, the New Intrusion window will appear:
Select the intrusion lithology, then move any younger lithologies to the Ignore list.
ignored when extracting intrusion values, but you can also treat them as the interior lithology or
as exterior lithologies.
The settings in the Compositing tab are described in Category Composites.

Intrusion Point Generation Parameters | 182
Click OK to create the new points object, which will appear in the project tree under the Points
folder. To edit the points, double-click on the points object ( ) in the project tree. See Intrusion
Point Generation Parameters.
When you view the intrusion points in the scene, you can display only the contact points or all
the points used determining the extrusion values. To display all points, click on the points object
in the shape list and tick the box for Show volume points:
Extracted intrusion points and values can be exported as described in Exporting Points Data.
Intrusion Point Generation Parameters

To change the way intrusion values are generated, double-click on the points object ( ) in the
project tree:
The Edit Intrusion window will appear, displaying the Point Generation tab.
Here, the surface and volume points are displayed to show the effects of the Surface offset
distance and Background fill spacing parameters:
The Surface offset distance parameter sets the top and bottom ends of the interval and affects
how a surface behaves when it approaches a contact point. A smaller distance restricts the
angles that an approaching surface can take. Another factor that affects the angles a surface
will take is whether or not a trend has been applied to the surface.

The Background Fill Spacing parameter determines the approximate length of segments in the
remaining intervals. If the remaining interval is not a multiple of the Background Fill Spacing
value, Leapfrog Geo will automatically adjust the spacing to an appropriate value. A smaller
value for Background Fill Spacing means higher resolution and, therefore, slightly smoother
surfaces. However, computation can take longer.
Extracting Interval Midpoints from Drillhole Data

You can extract interval midpoints from raw or composited numeric and category tables to
create a new points object in the Points folder. The extracted points will be dynamically linked
to the original drillhole segments and can be evaluated against other data in the project. The
values extracted are the midpoints of each segment, the X-Y-Z values and the hole ID.
If you are exporting points data for use in Snowden Supervisor, use this option for extracting
points from drillhole data. If you wish to export midpoints from an interpolant, see
Interpolant Midpoints Export.
To extract midpoints from an interval table, right-click on the Points folder and select New
Interval Mid Points. In the window that appears, select the required Source table, then select
which data columns to use:
Apply a query filter, if required, then click OK. The new points object will appear in the project
tree under the Points folder. To edit the points, double-click on the points object ( ) in the
project tree.

Creating Guide Points | 184
Changes made to the source data table, such as changes to compositing parameters or special
values rules, will be reflected in the extracted points object.
Extracted interval midpoints can be exported as described in Exporting Points Data.
Creating Guide Points

Guide points can be created from any category data in the project and added to surfaces.
Category data that can be used to create guide points includes:
l Downhole category data
l LAS points
l Category data on imported points
l Interval midpoints
Guide points are classified into interior or exterior, and each guide point is assigned a distance
value that is the distance to the nearest point on the opposite side. Interior values are positive
and exterior values are negative.
Guide points are a good way of using blasthole data to control surfaces: create the guide points
from the downhole points, then add the guide points to the surface.
To create guide points, right-click on the Points folder and select New Guide Points. A window
will appear listing the category columns available in the project:
Select the categories to assign to Interior (the positive side) and Exterior (the negative side).
You can also filter out distant values by ticking the Ignore distant values box and entering a
value. Often distant values have little effect on a surface and filtering out these values can
improve processing time.
Click OK. The guide points will appear in the project tree under the Points folder. To edit the
points, double-click on them.

Guide points can be exported as described in Exporting Points Data.
Importing Geophysical Data

Leapfrog Geo can import geophysical data as points. To do this, right-click on the Points folder
and select Import Geophysical Data. You will be prompted to select a *.dfn file. Click Open to
continue.
You will then be prompted to name the table. Enter a name and click OK.
Next, select the columns for the grid coordinates and click OK.
The file will be imported and added to the Points folder.
To view the imported data, double-click on the object that has been added to the Points folder.
Creating a Grid of Points

You can create a grid of points that can be evaluated against geological models and
interpolants and exported for use in other modelling packages.
To create a grid of points, right-click on the Points folder and select New Grid of Points. The
New Grid of Points window will appear, together with controls in the scene that will help in
setting the grids boundary:
If there are objects displayed in the scene, the initial grid dimensions will be based on those
objects.
The controls in the scene adjust the size and position of the grid as follows:
l Red and pink handles adjust the Boundary Size.
l The orange handle adjusts the Base Point.
l The blue handles adjust the Azimuth.
Set the Spacing and Reference Point, which will control the number of points in the grid. You
can set the Reference Point by clicking in the scene. To do this, first click on the Select button (

Evaluating a Grid of Points | 186
) for the Reference Point, then click in the scene. The coordinates in the scene will be copied
to the New Grid of Points window.
If the number of points will be very large, rendering of the grid in the scene will be disabled.
You will be able to change the settings in this window once the grid has been created.
Click OK to create the grid, which will appear in the Points folder. Double-click on the grid to
change its settings.
Evaluating a Grid of Points

Once you have created the grid, you will be able to evaluate it against geological models,
interpolants and distance functions in the project.
Evaluations will be exported with the grid. See Exporting a Grid of Points for more information.
Exporting a Grid of Points

You can export a grid of points in the following formats:
l CSV file (*.csv)
l GSLIB Data file (*.dat)
l Surpac Block Model file (*.mdl)
l Isatis Block Model file (*.asc)
l Geo 3D Point Data file (*.pl3, *.ara)
For CSV, Surpac Block Model and Isatis format files, all evaluations on the grid of points will be
exported as part of the file. For all other file types, only numeric evaluations will be exported.
To export a grid of points, right-click on it in the project tree and select Export. Select the
format required, enter a filename and location, then click Save.
Categorising Points
When you wish to select a small portion of points and you dont have suitable parameters to use
a query filter, you can select points in the scene and assign them to categories. This adds a new
column to the points object, preserving the original data.
To start categorising points, right-click on the points object ( ) in the project tree and select
New Category Selection.
The New Category Selection window will appear:

If you select an existing column as the Source Column, you can assign selected points to the
existing categories or create new categories. If you select <None> for the Source Column, you
will have to define each category manually.
When you click OK, the points object will be added to the scene, along with a set of tools for
selecting points. To select points, click on the Select Points button ( ) and click the Add Points
button ( ). In the scene, draw a line across each point you wish to select:
Selected points are highlighted in the scene. If you accidentally select the wrong point, either:
l Click the Remove Points button ( ) and draw across the point once again.
l Hold the Ctrl key while drawing across the point.
You can also:
l Select all visible points by clicking on the Select All button ( ) or by pressing Ctrl+A.
l Clear all selected points by clicking on the Clear Selection button ( ) or by pressing
Ctrl+Shift+A.
l Swap the selected points for the unselected points by clicking on the Invert Selection button (
) or by pressing Ctrl+I.
To change the width of the line used to select points, click on the Change Line Width
select points so you can change the line width as required.

Categorising Points | 188
When you have selected at least one point, click on the Assign to button, then select Create
New Lithology:
Enter a Name for the new category, then click OK:
The new category will be created and the scene updated to reflect the changes:
Once you have created a new category, you can add to it by selecting further points, then
selecting the category from the Assign to list.
When you are finished, click the Save button ( ) and close the Category Selection window.
The new category column will appear in the project tree as an additional column in the points
table. Select the new column from the shape list to display it.

Evaluating Points Data

Once points data has been imported to a project, it can be evaluated against geological
models, interpolants and distance functions created in the project, as described in Evaluations.
In the case of geological models, you can also combine two or more models to evaluate the
points data and set the priority used for evaluation. To do this, click on the Combined
Evaluation button in the Select Models To Evaluate window. In the window that appears,
select the evaluations to combined, then set their priority. Click OK to create the combined
evaluation, then click OK in the Select Models To Evaluate window. The combined evaluation
will be available from the colour dropdown list.
To delete a combined evaluation, click on the Delete Combined button in the Select Models
To Evaluate window.
Exporting Points Data

To export points data, right-click on the points data object in the project tree and select Export.
For many points objects, you will be prompted to select which rows to include. Points data can
be exported in CSV format (*.csv) or DXF format (*.dxf). Additional export options are available
for some types of points, which are described below.
Once you have selected how you wish to export the data, click Export. You will be prompted for
a filename and location.
Exporting Intrusion Values

Intrusion values can be extracted from drillhole data as described in Extracting Intrusion
Values from Drillhole Data.
There are two options for exporting intrusion values:

l Export only the contact points. To do this, right-click on the intrusion values object and select
Export. If you choose this option, you can export the points in CSV format (*.csv) or DXF
format (*.dxf).
l Export all the points used in creating an intrusion. To do this, right-click on the intrusion
values object and select Export Volume Points. If you choose this option, you can only
export the points in CSV format (*.csv).
In both cases, you will be prompted for a filename and location.
Exporting Interval Midpoints

Interval midpoints can be extracted from drillhole data, which is described in Extracting
Interval Midpoints from Drillhole Data. You can also export midpoints directly from a
numeric or indicator interpolant, which is described in Interpolant Midpoints Export.

Exporting Interval Midpoints | 190
To export interval midpoints, right-click on the points data object in the project tree and select
Export. Interval midpoints can be exported in the following formats:
l CSV text file (*.csv)
l Snowden Supervisor CSV file (*.csv)
l Isatis 3D points file (*.asc)
The values exported are the midpoints of each segment, the X-Y-Z values and the hole ID. The
Snowden Supervisor and Isatis 3D points formats also include the interval length.
In each case, you will be prompted for a filename and location.

Structural Data
In Leapfrog Geo, you can create and edit planar structural data tables directly or from other
objects in the project. Structural data can also be used to create and edit many surfaces.
Downhole planar structural data and lineations can also be imported, although structural data
imported in this way cannot be edited.
This topic describes how to work with structural data in Leapfrog Geo. It covers:
l Creating New Planar Structural Data Tables
l Importing Planar Structural Data
l Importing Lineations
l Assigning Structural Data to Categories
l Editing the Orientation of Planar Structural Data
l Declustering Planar Structural Data
l Setting Elevation for Structural Data
l Estimating Planar Structural Data
See Stereonets and Form Interpolants for information on tools for analysing structural data.
Creating New Planar Structural Data Tables

There are two ways to create a new planar structural data table in Leapfrog Geo:
l Create a new table as part of creating or editing another object. See Extent from Structural
Data and Editing Surfaces with Structural Data.
l Create a new table using the Structural Modelling folder. Use this technique when, for
example, you are creating structural data points from a map or image. Right-click on the
Structural Modelling folder and select New Planar Structural Data. In the window that
appears, enter a name for the new table and click OK.
Before creating the new data table, add the map, image or data object you wish to work from to
the scene and orient the scene for drawing the new data points.

Creating New Planar Structural Data Tables | 192
When a new structural data table is created, it will be added to the scene. The Planar Structural
Data window will open, together with a set of tools for adding structural data points:
Click on the New Structural Data Point button ( ) and click and drag along the strike line in
the scene to add a new data point:

You can adjust the data point using the controls in the Planar Structural Data window:
Importing Planar Structural Data

Leapfrog Geo supports planar structural measurements in .csv or text formats. This topic
describes importing structural data tables that include location information. Downhole
structural data can also be imported, as described in Importing Downhole Structural Data.
Structural data containing location information can be imported from:
l Files stored on your computer or a network location. Right-click on the Structural Modelling
folder and select Import Planar Structural Data. You will be prompted to select a file.
l From any database that runs an ODBC interface. Right-click on the Structural Modelling
folder and select Import Planar Structural Data via ODBC. See Selecting the ODBC Data
Source below.

Selecting the ODBC Data Source | 194
For each of these options, once the data source is selected, the process of importing the data is
the same. Leapfrog Geo will display the data and you can select which columns to import:
Leapfrog Geo expects East (X), North (Y), Elev (Z), Dip and Dip Azimuth columns. The Polarity
column is optional. The Base Category column can be used for filtering data once it has been
imported.
Click Finish to import the data. The structural measurements will appear in the Structural
Modelling folder.
Once the data has been imported, you can reload and append the data in a similar manner to
drillhole data. See Appending Drillholes and Reloading Drillhole Data for more information.

When importing planar structural data from an ODBC database, you will need to specify the
ODBC data source. Enter the information supplied by your database administrator and click OK.
Once the data source is selected, the importation process is similar to that described above.
Importing Lineations
Lineations containing location information can be imported from files stored on your computer
or a network location in .csv or text formats. To do this, right-click on the Structural Modelling
folder and select Import Lineations. You will be prompted to select a file.
Leapfrog Geo expects East (X), North (Y), Elev (Z), Trend and Plunge columns. The Polarity
column is optional. The Category column can be used for filtering data once it has been
imported.
Click Finish to import the data. The lineations will appear in the Structural Modelling folder.

Once the data has been imported, you can reload and append the data in a similar manner to
drillhole data. See Appending Drillholes and Reloading Drillhole Data for more information.
Assigning Structural Data to Categories

If you wish to assign planar structural data points or lineations to categories, right-click on the
data table in the project tree and select New Category Selection. First, select the Source
Column. If you select an existing column as the Source Column, you can assign selected data
points to existing categories or create new categories. If you select <None> for the Source
Column, you will have to define each category manually.
Select points by clicking on the Select points tool ( ), then drawing over those points in the
scene:
Once you have selected points, you can assign them to existing categories or create new ones.
To create a new category, click on the Assign to > Create New Category button:
Enter a name for the new category and click OK.

Editing the Orientation of Planar Structural Data | 196
When you have finished selecting points and adding them to categories, close the Category
Selection window to close the editor.
Editing the Orientation of Planar Structural Data

If you need to edit the orientation of planar structural data points, you can do so in two ways:
l Edit the data in the table directly by double-clicking on the structural data table in the project
tree. See The Table Dialog.
l Edit the structural data orientation in the scene.
To edit the structural data in the scene, right-click on the table in the project tree and select Edit
Orientation in Scene. If the table is displayed in the scene, in the shape list, click on the Edit
button ( ). The Planar Structural Data window will appear in the scene, together with controls
for editing the data points. To edit a data point, click on it. Information about the selected point
will be displayed in the Planar Structural Data window, together with controls in the scene you
can use to adjust the point:
You can also add new data points in the same manner described in Creating New Planar
Structural Data Tables.
Declustering Planar Structural Data

If a planar structural data table contains multiple duplicate or near-duplicate measurements,
you can create a declustered structural data set that will make the table easier to work with.
Declustering is intended to work with large, machine-collected data sets rather than smaller
sets that might be edited manually.
Declustering preserves the original data table and creates the set as a filter by applying two
parameters: the Spatial search radius and the Angular tolerance.
l The Spatial search radius determines the size of the declustering space. All points inside the
Spatial search radius are compared searching for duplicates.
l The Angular tolerance measures whether points have the same or similar orientation. The
orientation of all points inside the Spatial search radius is measured and the mean taken. If a
points orientation is less than the Angular tolerance from the mean, then the point is
regarded as a duplicate. The point that is retained is the one that is closest to the mean.

When a structural data set has a numeric column that gives some indication of the
measurements uncertainty, this column can be used to prioritise values. Select the Priority
column and set how the values should be handled.
Another factor in declustering the points is the category columns selected. When you choose
multiple category columns, all criteria must match for points to be regarded as duplicates. What
this means is that points will be kept if they have different category values in just one column,
even if they meet the criteria for duplicates established by the Spatial search radius and the
Angular tolerance and match in other columns. For example, in this table, assume that
applying the Spatial search radius and the Angular tolerance parameters without using the
Lithology category results in three points. However, including the Lithology column results in
five points, indicated by the colours:
The more columns you select, the lower the likelihood that points will be regarded as duplicate.
The declustered set can be used like an ordinary structural data table. However, it is a filter on a
planar structural data table and can be used as such when the parent table is displayed in the
scene. For example, here the filters available for the planar structural data table include the
query filters ( ) defined for the table as well as the declustered set ( ):
To create a declustered structural data set, right-click on the Structural Modelling folder and
select New Declustered Structural Data. Select the source data table and a query filter, if
required. Set the parameters and the columns you wish to use, then click OK. The declustered
set will be added to the Structural Modelling folder.
Edit the set by right-clicking on it in the project tree and selecting Edit Declustered Structural
Data.

Setting Elevation for Structural Data | 198
Setting Elevation for Structural Data

You can set the elevation for planar structural data points or lineations by projecting the data
onto a surface. Any elevation data in the data table will be overwritten by the elevation values
from the selected surface.
To set the elevation for planar structural data points or lineations, right-click on the table in the
project tree and select Set Elevation. The Set Elevation from Surface window will appear:
Select from the surfaces available in the project.

Unprojected points are data points that do not vertically intersect the selected surface. There
are two options for handling these points:
l Leave the elevation field empty.
l Assign a fixed elevation value.
Click OK to set elevation values.
Estimating Planar Structural Data

You can generate a set of planar structural measurements from points, polylines and GISlines.
To do this, right-click on the points or lines object in the project tree and select Estimate
Structural Data. In the window that appears, enter a name for the structural data table, then
click OK. The new structural data table will appear in the project tree and you can view and edit
it as described in Displaying Structural Data and Editing the Orientation of Planar Structural
Data.

Meshes
The Meshes folder contains all meshes imported into Leapfrog Geo and created in Leapfrog
Geo outside of the model building process.
Two types of meshes are stored in the Meshes folder:
l Non-editable meshes ( ) are meshes imported into Leapfrog Geo and meshes created in
Leapfrog Geo from the moving plane, Meshes > Mesh Operations tools and by extracting
mesh parts from other surfaces in the project.
l Editable meshes ( ) are created in Leapfrog Geo from data objects such as points data, GIS
data and polylines. Editable meshes can be refined by adding more data. Editable meshes can
be interpolated meshes (using FastRBF) or triangulated meshes (using Delaunay
triangulation). Interpolated meshes can also be created from structural data and values
objects.
This topic describes importing meshes, creating meshes and modifying editable meshes. See
Adding Data to Surfaces, Global Trends and Editing Surfaces with Polylines for information
about different techniques for refining other surfaces in the project.
Importing a Mesh
Mesh formats Leapfrog Geo supports include:
l Leapfrog Geo files (*.msh, *.ara)
l Datamine mesh files (*tr.asc, *tr.dm)
l DXF files (*.dxf)
l Gemcom files (*.tri)
l Alias Wavefront Object files (*.obj)
l Surpac files (*.dtm)
l GOCAD files (*.ts)
l Leapfrog Model files (*.lfm)
l Micromine files (*.dat)
If you have the Maptek Link module, you can also import meshes in VULCAN .00t format.
Contact Customer Support as described in Getting Support for more information about
licensing this module.
Once a mesh has been imported to the project, you can evaluate it against any interpolant or
distance function in the project. See Evaluations for more information.
To import a mesh, right-click on the Meshes folder and select Import Mesh. Navigate to the
folder that contains the mesh file and select the file. You can select multiple files using the Shift
and Ctrl keys. Click Open to import the file.
The Cleanup Mesh window will be displayed. See Cleaning Up a Mesh below.

Meshes with Textures | 200
Meshes with Textures

Leapfrog Geo can import OBJ meshes with textures. If you have the Maptek Link module, you
can also import Vulcan 8 meshes with textures.
Textured OBJ Meshes

For OBJ meshes, a materials file (.mtl) is required, together with the referenced images. Image
formats supported include:
l PNG files (*.png)
The texture is automatically imported when the mesh is imported and will appear in the project
tree under the mesh.
Textured Vulcan 8 Meshes
This feature is only available if you have the Maptek Link module.
When importing a Vulcan 8 mesh that contains a path to an associated texture, Leapfrog Geo
will also import the texture. If the path to the texture does not exist, you can import it once the
mesh has been imported. Do this by right-clicking on the mesh in the project tree and selecting
Import Texture. Navigate to the folder containing the texture file and click Open. The texture
will be imported and stored in the project tree as part of the mesh.
Cleaning Up a Mesh
There are several options for cleaning up a mesh that can be applied to meshes imported into
Leapfrog Geo and to non-editable meshes created in Leapfrog Geo.
To clean up a mesh, double-click on the mesh in the Meshes folder or right-click on the mesh
and select Open. The Cleanup Mesh window will be displayed:

The Cleanup Mesh window will also be displayed when you import meshes.
The first four options are automatically applied to meshes created in or imported into Leapfrog
Geo:
l Consistently orient faces ensures that a mesh can be used for inside/outside testing.
l Remove non-vertex points removes points that are not used by any triangles.
l Remove degenerate faces removes triangles with duplicate vertices.
l Orient concentric parts ensures that internal parts have the correct orientation.
Other options are:
l Invert mesh orientation reverses the polarity of the mesh.
l Remove vertical edges removes any vertical faces from the mesh boundary.
l Rotate locations about X axis lets you rotate the mesh 90 degrees clockwise or
anticlockwise.
l Move Mesh lets you offset the mesh by a vector. Tick the Move Mesh box and enter the
required values. The offset values can be changed by opening the Clean Mesh window once
again.
Select the options required, then click OK.
The mesh will be added to the project tree under the Meshes folder.
Importing an Elevation Grid

Elevation grid formats Leapfrog Geo supports include:
l Arc/Info ASCII Grid files (*.asc, *.txt)
l Arc/Info Binary Grid files (*.adf)
l Digital Elevation Model files (*.dem)
l Surfer ASCII or Binary Grid files (*.grd)
l SRTM files (*.hgt)
l ESRI.hdr Labelled Image files (*.img, *.bil)
l GeoTIFF Image files (*.tiff, *.tif)
There are two ways to import an elevation grid:
l Import the grid to the Meshes folder. Right-click on the Meshes folder and select Import
Elevation Grid.
l Import the grid as part of creating a topography. Right-click on the Topographies folder and
select New Topography > Import Elevation Grid.

Creating a Mesh | 202
Navigate to the folder that contains the elevation grid file and open the file. The Import
Elevation Grid window will be displayed:
Leapfrog Geo automatically sets a Surface resolution based on the information in the file, but
you can change the value if you wish. A lower value will produce more detail, but calculations
will take longer. See Surface Resolution in Leapfrog Geo for more information.
When importing an elevation grid, note that the resolution cannot be changed once the file
has been imported.
untick Clip data to bounding box.
The Margin value determines how far outside the selected Bounding box the elevation grid will
extend.
The No Data Handling option determines whether NoData values are displayed as gaps or at a
fixed elevation setting.
Click Import. If you are creating a new topography, you will then be prompted to enter a name
for it and click OK.
The elevation grid will be added to the Meshes folder. If you imported the grid as part of
creating a topography, a hyperlink to the grid in the Meshes folder will appear as part of the
defined topography.
Creating a Mesh
Leapfrog Geo provides you with several tools for creating meshes:
l Mesh from the Moving Plane
l Combining Meshes
l Clipping a Volume
l Clipping a Mesh
l Extracting Mesh Parts

These tools produce non-editable meshes ( ).

You can also create editable meshes ( ) that are interpolated or triangulated:
l An interpolated mesh uses FastRBF to fit and interpolate surface data. The FastRBF is useful
for creating meshes from sparse datasets or when data has large areas where there are no
points. Interpolated meshes can be created from points data, GIS data, polylines, structural
data and values objects.
l A triangulated mesh uses Delaunay triangulation to create the mesh. Triangulated meshes
can be created from points data, GIS data and polylines. A triangulated mesh is suitable only
for horizontal surfaces.
Editable meshes can be modified using other data in the project. See:
l Interpolated Meshes
l Triangulated Meshes
l Offset Meshes
Mesh from the Moving Plane

When a vertical wall, flat fault plane or other flat geological surface is required, the moving
plane can be used to create a simple mesh.
To create a new mesh from the moving plane, first display the plane in the scene by clicking on
the Show Plane button ( ). Use the controls in the scene to position the plane, then right-click
on the Meshes folder and select Mesh From Moving Plane. The Mesh From Plane window will
appear:
Set the Resolution for the mesh, enter a name and click OK. The new mesh will appear in the
Meshes folder.
See Surface Resolution in Leapfrog Geo for more information on the resolution setting.

Combining Meshes | 204
Combining Meshes
To create a new mesh from two existing closed meshes, right-click on the Meshes folder and
select Mesh Operations > Boolean Volume. The Boolean Volume window will appear:
The Available list shows all closed meshes available in the project. Select a mesh by double-
clicking on it or by clicking on it, then on the arrow.
The Operation type can be Intersect or Union.
Click OK to save the new mesh, which will appear in the Meshes folder. To edit the mesh,
double-click on it. The Boolean Volume window will appear.
When any of the meshes used to create the volume is modified, the volume will be updated.
Clipping a Volume
To clip a closed mesh using another mesh, right-click on the Meshes folder and select Mesh
Operations > Clip Volume. The Clip Volume window will appear. Select the meshes you wish
to use and whether to retain the inside or outside of the clipped mesh.
double-click on it.
When either of the meshes used to create the clipped volume is modified, the clipped volume
will also be updated.

Clipping a Mesh
This option creates a new mesh that consists of the parts of a Clip mesh that are inside, outside
or overlap with the Using mesh. To clip one mesh using another mesh or boundary in this
manner, right-click on the Meshes folder and select Mesh Operations > Clip Mesh. The Clip
Mesh window will appear:
Select the meshes to use, then choose whether to retain the inside or the outside of the clipped
mesh. Tick the Include overlap box to include the overlap between the two meshes as part of
the new mesh.
double-click on it. The Clip Mesh window will appear.
When either of the meshes used to create the clipped mesh is modified, the clipped mesh will be
updated.
Extracting Mesh Parts

To extract the triangles from a mesh and create a new mesh, right-click on the surface and
select Extract Mesh Parts. The Extract Mesh Parts window will appear:
The Extract clipped mesh option is only available for meshes that are clipped to a boundary.
The largest part is initially selected. You can sort the mesh parts by Volume or by Area by clicking
the heading of the respective column. Other options are:
l Select all parts by clicking the Select All button. To de-select all parts click the Remove All
button.

Interpolated Meshes | 206
l Inside-out parts have negative volume. To remove them, click the Remove Inside-Out
button.
l To remove parts smaller than a given size, first click the Select All button. Select the last item
you want to keep and click the Remove Below Current button.
Click OK to save the new mesh, which will appear in the Meshes folder. The mesh generated is a
non-editable mesh ( ).
Meshes created in this way are not connected to the mesh they were created from. Changes
to the original mesh will not be reflected in the selected parts.
If the quality of the mesh produced is not acceptable, clip the mesh as described in Clipping a
Mesh.
Interpolated Meshes
An interpolated mesh is a type of editable mesh ( ). An interpolated mesh uses FastRBF to fit
and interpolate surface data. The FastRBF is useful for creating meshes from sparse datasets or
when data has large areas where there are no points. Interpolated meshes can be created from
points data, GIS data, polylines, structural data and values objects.
Interpolated meshes can be edited by adding more data to the mesh and changing settings.
This topic describes creating and working with interpolated meshes. It is divided into:
l Creating an Interpolated Mesh
l Refining an Interpolated Mesh
l Surface Resolution Settings
l Snap Settings
l Other Options
Creating an Interpolated Mesh

The steps for creating a mesh from data in the project are similar, regardless of the data used to
create the mesh. The exception is creating an offset mesh, which requires additional
parameters. See Offset Meshes for more information.
To create an interpolated mesh from data in the project, right-click on the Meshes folder and
select from the New Mesh options.
Here, a new mesh is being created from points:

Select the required object from the list.

When defining the meshs extents, you can set the extents to be independent of other objects in
the project (Own extents) or you can use the extents of another object (Shared with). When
you select the Shared with option, the mesh will be updated when the extents object it shares is
updated.
Leapfrog Geo automatically sets the surface resolution based on the data available in the
project. You can experiment with the surface resolution and adaptive settings once you have
created the mesh. See Surface Resolution in Leapfrog Geo for more information on the effects
of these settings.
Enter a name for the new mesh and click OK.
If you are creating the mesh from a polyline, you will be prompted to select an existing polyline
or draw a new one. If you draw a new polyline, it will not be able to be used elsewhere in the
project unless it has been shared. To share the polyline, expand the mesh in the project tree,
right-click on the polyline and select Share.
The new mesh will appear in the Meshes folder. Expand the mesh in the project tree to see how
it was made. As further refinements are made to the mesh, that information will also be added to
the mesh in the project tree.
Refining an Interpolated Mesh

Editable interpolated meshes ( ) can be refined by adding data, as described in Adding Data to
Surfaces. The options available depend on how the mesh was created.
To add data to an editable mesh, right-click on it and select one of the options from the Add
menu. A list of objects available in the project will be displayed. Select the required object and
click OK. The mesh will be updated and the object used to modify it will appear under it in the
project tree.
You can also refine editable interpolated meshes by changing the trend, transforming values,
adjusting the interpolant and changing the boundary. To do this, double-click on the mesh.
The Edit Mesh window will be opened:

Surface Resolution Settings | 208
See Offset Meshes for the options available for meshes from offset points.
Surface Resolution Settings

See Surface Resolution in Leapfrog Geo for more information on the Surface resolution
settings in the General tab.
Snap Settings
The mesh can be set to snap to the data objects used to create it. There are four options:
l Off. The mesh does not snap to the data.
l All data. The mesh snaps to data within the Maximum snap distance.
l Drilling only. The mesh snaps only to drillhole data and data objects derived from drillhole
data within the Maximum snap distance but not to other data. For example, the mesh will
honour points data derived from drillhole data, but not points data imported into the Points
folder.
l Custom. The mesh snaps to selected data objects within the Maximum snap distance.
When Snap to data is set to Custom, you can then set whether or not Snap is enabled for the
objects used to create the mesh, as discussed in Contact Honouring. Custom is the most
flexible options as you can select the specific data objects the mesh will or will not snap to.
If you will be exporting the mesh for use in another application, you may wish to adjust the snap
settings.
Data used to create the mesh will appear in the Input list. When you add more data to the mesh,
those objects will also be listed. You can remove those additional objects by expanding the
mesh in the project tree, then right-clicking on the data object and selecting Remove.
Other Options
In the Boundary tab, you can change whether the mesh boundary is independent of other
objects in the project (Own extents) or you can use the extents of another object (Shared with).
When you select the Shared with option, the mesh will be updated when the extents object it
shares is updated.
Options available in other tabs are similar to those available for interpolants. See:
l Structural Trends
l Clipping and Transforming Values for a Numeric Interpolant
For information on the parameters in the Interpolants tab, see:
l Interpolant Functions
l The Spheroidal Interpolant Function
l The Linear Interpolant Function

Triangulated Meshes
A triangulated mesh is a type of editable mesh ( ). A triangulated mesh uses Delaunay
triangulation to create the mesh and can handle more points than an interpolated mesh.
Triangulated meshes can be created from points data, GIS data and polylines. Large datasets
representing horizontal surfaces can be used to create a triangulated mesh.
The steps for creating a mesh from data in the project are similar, regardless of the data used to
create the mesh. To create a triangulated mesh from data in the project, right-click on the
Meshes folder and select from the New Triangulated Mesh options.
Here, a new triangulated mesh is being created from points:
Select the required object from the list.

When defining the meshs extents, you can set the extents to be independent of other objects in
the project (Own extents) or you can use the extents of another object (Shared with). When
you select the Shared with option, the mesh will be updated when the extents object it shares is
updated.
The Use error threshold setting lets you exclude data points that fall within the threshold. This
can be useful if you are using a large dataset and you require a more coarse surface that omits
some data. When Use error threshold is disabled, the mesh will follow all the data.
Here, a mesh created from points has the Use error threshold disabled. The mesh follows all
the points:

Offset Meshes | 210
Here, a mesh has been created with the Distance set to 20. The mesh ignores points that fall
outside the threshold:
You will be able to change the Use error threshold setting once the mesh has been created.
Enter a name for the new mesh and click OK.
If you are creating the mesh from a polyline, you will be prompted to select an existing polyline
or draw a new one. If you draw a new polyline, it will not be able to be used elsewhere in the
project unless it has been shared. To share the polyline, expand the mesh in the project tree,
right-click on the polyline and select Share.
The new mesh will appear in the Meshes folder and you can edit its settings by double-clicking
on it.
To add data to a triangulated mesh, right-click on it and select one of the options from the Add
menu. A list of objects available in the project will be displayed. Select the required object and
click OK. The mesh will be updated and the object used to modify it will appear under it in the
project tree.
Offset Meshes
You can create a new interpolated mesh by offsetting an existing mesh with any points object in
the project. To do this, first ensure the points and mesh you wish to use are already in the
project. Next, right-click on the Meshes folder and select New Mesh > From Offset Points. In
the window that appears, select the Mesh and Points to use:

When the mesh is created, it will automatically snap to the points, and points outside the
Distance Limits will be ignored. These settings can be changed once the mesh has been
created.
An offset mesh may be distorted if points used to offset the mesh lie too far outside the mesh
extents. If this occurs, set a Maximum distance to exclude points far away from the mesh
extents.
Enter a name for the new mesh and click OK. The new mesh will appear in the Meshes folder.
Editing an Offset Mesh

To edit the mesh, double-click on it. The Edit Offset Mesh window will appear:
The mesh can be set to snap to the data objects used to create it. There are four options:
l Off. The mesh does not snap to the data.
l All data. The mesh snaps to data within the Maximum snap distance.
l Drilling only. The mesh snaps only to drillhole data and data objects derived from drillhole
data within the Maximum snap distance but not to other data. For example, the mesh will
honour points data derived from drillhole data, but not points data imported into the Points
folder.
l Custom. The mesh snaps to selected data objects within the Maximum snap distance.
When Snap to data is set to Custom, you can then set whether or not Snap is enabled for the
objects used to create the mesh, as discussed in Contact Honouring. Custom is the most
flexible options as you can select the specific data objects the mesh will or will not snap to.
If you will be exporting the mesh for use in another application, you may wish to adjust the snap
settings.
Data used to create the mesh will appear in the Input list. When you add more data to the mesh,
those objects will also be listed. You can remove those additional objects by expanding the
mesh in the project tree, then right-clicking on the data object and selecting Remove.

Draping an Image on a Mesh | 212
You can modify an offset mesh by adding data, as described in Refining an Interpolated Mesh.
You can also edit the meshs boundary, but you cannot apply a trend, clip and transform values
or adjust the interpolant as you can for other interpolated editable meshes.
Draping an Image on a Mesh

You can drape images on any mesh in the Meshes folder. To do this, right-click on the mesh in
the Meshes folder and select one of the Drape Image options.
l For the Import Image option, you will be prompted for a file location. Navigate to the folder
containing the image you wish to drape, select the file and click Open. Set georeferencing
information for the image, if required, then click OK. See Importing a Map or Image for more
information on georeferencing images. The imported image will appear in the project tree
under the mesh.
l For the Select Existing Image option, select from the images available in the project and click
OK. A hyperlink to the image will appear in the project tree under the mesh.
You can drape as many images as required. When the mesh is displayed in the scene, you will be
able to select any draped images from the list of display options.
When you import and georeference an image, you can then export it as a GeoTIFF. To do
this, right-click on it in the project tree and select Export. You will be prompted for a
filename and location. Click Save.
Mesh Export
You can export a mesh created in Leapfrog Geo for use in other software. Formats Leapfrog
Geo can export are:
l Leapfrog Geo Attribute Binary Mesh format (*.msh, *.ara)
l GOCAD ASCII (*.ts)
l Drawing Exchange (*.dxf)
l Surpac ASCII (*.dtm, *.str)
l Gemcom TRI ASCII (*.tri)
l Datamine ASCII (*tr.asc, *pt.asc)
l Micromine ASCII (*MMpt.dat, *MMtr.dat)
l DXF Polyface Mesh (MineCAD) (*.dxf)
l Alias Wavefront Object (*.obj)
If you have the Maptek Link module, you can also export meshes in VULCAN .00t format.
Contact Customer Support as described in Getting Support for more information about
licensing this module.

The rest of this topic describes the different ways to export meshes. It is divided into:
l Exporting a Single Mesh
l Exporting Multiple Meshes from the Meshes Folder
l Exporting Multiple Meshes from Models and Interpolants
Exporting a Single Mesh

To export a mesh, right-click on the mesh and select Export. The Export Mesh Parts window
will appear:
The Export clipped mesh option is only available for meshes that are clipped to a boundary.
If the quality of the mesh produced is not acceptable, clip the mesh as described in Clipping
a Mesh, then export the mesh.
Select the Parts to Export and Number of Significant Digits, then click OK. You will be
prompted for a filename and location.

Exporting Multiple Meshes from the Meshes Folder | 214
Exporting Multiple Meshes from the Meshes Folder

To export multiple meshes from those in the Meshes folder, right-click on the Meshes folder
and select Export Meshes. In the window that appears, select the meshes you wish to export:
The filename that will be used for each mesh is shown in the Filenames column. To change the
filename for any of the meshes, click on its name in the Filenames column.
Next, select the format required and where to save the exported meshes. Click Export to save
the meshes.

Exporting Multiple Meshes from Models and Interpolants

You can export multiple meshes from individual geological models, interpolants, combined
models and static models. To export meshes in this way, right-click on a model or interpolant
and select Export. In the window that appears, select the volumes and surfaces you wish to
export:
For geological models, if you wish to export surfaces other than the output volumes, untick the
Only Output Volumes option. For faulted geological models, you also can select from the
faulted volumes by ticking the Faulted Volumes box.
The filename that will be used for each mesh is shown in the Filenames column. To change the
filename for any of the meshes, click on its name in the Filenames column.
Next, select the format required and where to save the exported meshes. For any of the export
options other than Leapfrog Model Files format, you can save the meshes as a zip file.
The Leapfrog Model File format exports a single *.lfm file. If the file is imported into the
Meshes folder, each output volume will appear as a single mesh.
Click Export to save the meshes.
Elevation Grid Export

For any mesh in a project, you can export an elevation grid for use in other software. Formats
Leapfrog Geo can export are:

Thickness Grid Export | 216
l ARC/Info ASCII Grid (*.asc)

l ESRI.hdr Labelled (*.bil)
l ENVI Raster Image (*.img)
l Surfer ASCII Grid (*.grd)
If you have the Maptek Link module, you can also export an elevation grid in VULCAN v7
.00g format. Contact Customer Support as described in Getting Support for more
information about licensing this module.
To export an elevation grid, right-click on the mesh and select Export Elevation Grid. The
Export Grid window will appear:
The Snap to Grid option changes the extents of the exported grid so that they coincide with the
elevation grid spacing.
Enter the information required, then click Export to enter a filename and choose a location and
format for the file.
Thickness Grid Export

For any mesh in a project, you can export a grid made up of the area between two surfaces.
Formats Leapfrog Geo can export are:
l ARC/Info ASCII Grid (*.asc)
l ESRI.hdr Labelled (*.bil)
l ENVI Raster Image (*.img)
l Surfer ASCII Grid (*.grd)

To export a thickness grid, right-click on the mesh and select Export Thickness Grid. The
Export Thickness Grid window will appear:
Select the surfaces required from the dropdown lists.

Enter the information required, then click Export. You will be prompted for a filename and
location.

Polylines
Leapfrog Geo imports many common polyline formats and also has tools for drawing and
exporting polylines. See Polyline Import below. Polylines imported into Leapfrog Geo are
stored in the Polylines folder.
There are three ways to create polylines in Leapfrog Geo:
l Create a new polyline using the Polylines folder. These polylines are stored in the Polylines
folder.
l Create a new polyline as part of working with another tool. For example, a polyline can be
drawn to create a lateral extent in a geological model. These polylines are stored in the tool
used to create them and cannot be used elsewhere in the project unless they have been
shared. To share a polyline, right-click on it and select Share. The polyline will be moved to
the Polylines folder and can be used elsewhere in the project.
l Create a new polyline from a GIS line. To do this, right-click on the GIS lines object ( or ) in
the GIS Data, Maps and Photos folder and select Extract Polyline. The new polyline object
will appear in the Polylines folder. It is not linked to the original GIS lines object.
Polylines can be drawn using the curved polyline drawing tool or the straight line drawing tool.
See Drawing in the Scene for more information on both tools.
Polylines can be exported in the formats described in Polyline Export below.
Polyline Import
Polyline formats Leapfrog Geo supports include:
l Datamine Polylines (*.asc)
l Surpac String Polylines (*.str)
l Gemcom Polylines (*.asc)
l Micromine Polylines (*.asc, *.str)
l MineSight Polylines (*.srg)
l Gocad Polylines (*.pl, *.ts)
l Drawing Interchange Polylines (*.dxf)
l Leapfrog Geo 3D Polylines (*.csv, *.txt)
There are two ways to import a polyline:
l Right-click on the Polylines folder and select Import Polyline. In the Import Polyline
window, navigate to the location where the polyline file is saved and select it. Click Open.
l Drag and drop polyline files directly into Leapfrog Geo.
If the polyline file is in Leapfrog, Gocad or DXF formats, the importing will start immediately. For
all other formats, the Polyline Import window will appear. If the polyline file is in one of the
standard formats listed above, the default settings can be used. Click Import to finish the

process. If, however, you wish to specify polyline import parameters, two pieces of information
are required:
l The columns the polyline vertex coordinates are in
l How the polyline sections are separated in the file
Select the vertex coordinate columns by clicking on the heading at the top of a column and
selecting one of East (X), North (Y) or Elev (Z) from the list.
When importing a file that has multiple features, you will be prompted to select which ones to
import. You can also choose to:
l Import the features as separate objects. Each feature will appear in the project tree as a
separate object.
l Flatten all features into one object. Leapfrog Geo will treat all features as a single object.
The polyline will be imported and added to the project tree under the Polylines folder.
Polyline Export
Export a polyline by right-clicking on it and selecting Export. Leapfrog Geo exports polylines in
the following formats:
l CSV Text (*.csv)
l Drawing Interchange Polylines (*.dxf)
l Surpac String Polylines (*.str)
l Gocad Polylines (*.pl, *.ts)
l MineSight Polylines (*.srg)
l Datamine Polylines (*.asc)
l Micromine Polylines (*.str, *.asc)

Geochemical Data
With the Geochemistry folder, you can establish a live link to ioGAS and visualise geochemical
data in real time. You can also transfer data between Leapfrog Geo and ioGAS, including data
to which query filters have been applied.
The Geochemistry folder and related features are only available as part of the Geochemistry
module. Contact Customer Support as described in Getting Support for more information
about licensing this module.
To connect to ioGAS, make sure ioGAS is running. Next, right-click on the ioGAS object in the
project tree and select Connect:
Once the connection is established, any dataset open in ioGAS will be available from the ioGAS
object and can be displayed in the Leapfrog Geo scene window:
The status of the connection to ioGAS is indicated in Leapfrog Geo, and the data file open in
ioGAS appears in the Geochemistry folder (e.g. demo.gas).

You can view the data in Leapfrog Geo by adding the ioGAS data object to the scene. When
attributes are changed in ioGAS, the display will be updated in Leapfrog Geo. You can also:
l Send from and to data columns across the ioGASlink, analyse the data in ioGAS and import
calculated columns as interval tables. This data can then be used for modelling in Leapfrog
Geo. See Sending Data to ioGAS.
l Import ioGAS data into Leapfrog Geo as points or intervals. See Importing ioGAS Data.
To terminate the connection to ioGAS, right-click on the ioGAS object and select Disconnect:
Once the connection to ioGAS is terminated, ioGAS data (*.gas) will no longer be available in
Leapfrog Geo.
Sending Data to ioGAS

This feature is only available as part of the Geochemistry module. See Geochemical Data for
more information.
This topic describes sending data to ioGAS and return it to Leapfrog Geo. Topics are:
l Creating a New ioGAS Data Object
l Opening the Data in ioGAS
l Sending a New Data Column Back to Leapfrog Geo
ioGAS version 6.1 and later recognise holeid, From and To columns sent from Leapfrog Geo.
Earlier versions of ioGAS can only import point data.
Creating a New ioGAS Data Object

To send data to ioGAS, you must first create a data object from the drillhole data in the project.
This process uses data from a single interval table to create a new ioGAS object that can then be
opened in ioGAS.
Note that interpretation tables cannot be used to send data to ioGAS. If you wish to send an
interpretation table to ioGAS, export it from Leapfrog Geo and then import it back into the
project.
There are two considerations when creating an ioGAS data object:

l Are all data columns you wish to send over the ioGAS link in the same table? Creating an
ioGAS data object uses a single interval table. If the data you wish to send is in different tables,
create a merged table.

Creating a New ioGAS Data Object | 222
l Are lithology intervals similar in length to assay data intervals or are there significant
differences? The solution is to apply a majority composite to the lithology data using the
interval lengths from the assay table and then create a merged table containing all the data
columns you wish to send over the link.
See Merged Drillhole Data Tables and Majority Composites for more information.
To create a new ioGASdata object, right-click on the ioGAS object and select New ioGAS Data:
You can filter the data you send to ioGAS using any of the query filters defined in the project.
Make sure the query filter you wish to use has been defined before you start creating a new
data column.
In the window that appears, select the table you wish to use for the Base table, then select the
columns to send to ioGAS. If you wish to filter the data, select the query filter required from the
dropdown list.

Enter a Name for the data column and click OK. The new data column will appear as part of the
ioGAS folder:
Note that any filter applied to the data is part of the new data object and will be sent to ioGAS
over the link.
The next step is to open the data in ioGAS.
Opening the Data in ioGAS

Ensure that Leapfrog Geo is connected to ioGAS.
Make sure no tasks are being processed in Leapfrog Geo before opening the link from ioGAS.
An error may result in ioGAS if Leapfrog Geo is processing tasks.
In ioGAS, select File > Open Link Data. Once the column has been opened, you can use the
tools available in ioGAS to analyse the data. That the data is open in ioGAS is indicated in the
project tree:
If a connection cannot be made between Leapfrog Geo and ioGAS, it could be that the
Timeout setting in ioGAS is too low. To change this, navigate to the folder
C:\Users\....\AppData\Roaming\ioGAS\userConfig. Open the file link.ini in a text editor and
set the Timeout parameter to a higher value. The Timeout is in milliseconds.

Sending a New Data Column Back to Leapfrog Geo | 224
If you have the data visible in the Leapfrog Geo scene, changes made will be displayed in
Leapfrog Geo. Here the ioGAS attribute manager has been used to assign colours to the
selected values in ten equal ranges:
The changes to attributes are automatically updated in the Leapfrog Geo scene window as
long as the link is live.
Sending a New Data Column Back to Leapfrog Geo

To save the changes and send a new data column back to Leapfrog Geo while the ioGAS link is
live, select one of the Make Variable From options from the Data menu in ioGAS.
In Leapfrog Geo, the column will be added to the base interval table used to create the new
lithology. Here, a column called MRV_Au ( ) has been added to the base table:
When the connection to ioGAS is terminated, the ioGAS data column will remain in the
project tree as part of the ioGAS folder. Data columns created in ioGAS will also be available
and will appear in the base interval table.
Importing ioGAS Data

This feature is only available as part of the Geochemistry module. See Geochemical Data for
more information.

When Leapfrog Geo is connected to ioGAS and a dataset is open, you can import the ioGAS
data into Leapfrog Geo. There are two options:
l Importing ioGAS Data as Points
l Importing ioGAS Data as Intervals
When data is imported as points, it is added to the Points folder. When imported as intervals,
data is added to an existing interval table or used to create a new interval table. Whichever
method is selected, if the data is changed in ioGAS, it will need to be reimported.
ioGAS version 6.1 and later can send a Filter attribute to Leapfrog Geo. If you wish to import
this attribute, set it to a category column. This imported column will appear in Leapfrog Geo as
a query filter:
Importing ioGAS Data as Points

To import ioGAS data as points, right-click on the ioGAS data object in the project tree and
select Import as Points:
In the window that appears, select the data columns you wish to import and how they will be
imported. Click Finish to import the data, which will appear in the Points folder. You can then
display the points in the scene and work with them as you would any other points object. The
new points object will remain in Leapfrog Geo once the connection to ioGAS is terminated.
Importing ioGAS Data as Intervals

To import ioGAS data as intervals, right-click on the ioGAS data object in the project tree and
select Import as Interval Values. Select the table to which the imported column will be added
or select the option to create a new table. Click Import.
l For a new table, select the columns you wish to import and enter a name for the table. Click
Finish. The new table will be added to the Drillholes object.
l For adding the data to an existing table, the process is similar to that for adding a column.
Select the columns to import, then click Finish.

Analysing Data
This part describes the tools available in Leapfrog Geo for analysing data.
l Visualising data using the shape list and the shape properties panel is an important part of
interpreting and refining data and making modelling decisions. The tools available depend
on the type of object being displayed, and many objects can be displayed evaluated on other
objects.
l Stereonets are useful for visualising structural data and identifying trends in 2D. Errors in
categorisation of structural data can also become apparent when the data is viewed on a
stereonet.
l Form interpolants are useful for visualising structural data and identifying broad trends in 3D.
The form interpolants meshes can then be used to control other surfaces in the project.
l With the drillhole correlation tool, you can view and compare selected drillholes in a 2D view.
You can then create interpretation tables in which you can assign and adjust intervals and
create new intervals. Interpretation tables are like any other interval table in a project and can
be used to create models.
l You can plan drillholes, view prognoses for models in the project and export planned
drillholes in .csv format. Leapfrog Geo can also import planned drillholes.

Visualising Data
Visualising data is an important part of interpreting and refining data and making modelling
decisions.
This part describes the tools available in Leapfrog Geo for visualising data. These tools are
accessed via the shape list and the shape properties panel:
The tools available depend on the type of object being displayed:

l Drillholes can be displayed as lines or points and with the data associated with each segment.
Data can be filtered using the shape properties panel controls and by applying query filters.
l Multiple drillhole data tables can be displayed in the scene so that relationships between data
in different tables can be explored.
l Some data can be displayed using a colour gradient, with the colourmap adjusted to
enhance values of interest. Discrete colourmaps can also be applied to view numeric data in
groups.
l Points data can be viewed as simple points or using the size of spheres to display associated
values.
l GIS data can be viewed in its native form, on the topography or as part of a custom
topography view.
Many objects in Leapfrog Geo can be displayed evaluated on other objects. See Evaluations.
Presentation describes how to display data and create scenes, movies and scene files for
presentation purposes.

The Shape List and Shape Properties Panel | 228
The Shape List and Shape Properties Panel

Once objects have been added to the scene window, they will appear in the shape list, which
can be treated as a working set of objects:
You can use controls in the shape list and the shape properties panel to change the way those
objects are displayed. This is useful in interpreting data and making modelling decisions.
Changing how you view objects in the scene window does not change those objects in the
project tree.
This topic is divided into:

l Removing Objects from the Scene
l The View List
l Colour Options
l Opacity
l Property Buttons
l Legends
l The Shape Properties Panel
Removing Objects from the Scene

All objects in the shape list have a button ( ) that will remove the object from the scene. Most
objects also have a visibility button ( ) that can temporarily hide that object in the scene. It is
often easier to make an object temporarily invisible than to remove it from the list. Some objects
have an edit button ( ) that you can click to begin editing the object.

The View List

The view list is available for objects that can be displayed in different ways. For example, a
lithology data table may contain several columns and the column displayed can be selected
from the view list:
Geological model, interpolant and distance function evaluations are also selected from the
view list. See Evaluations.
Colour Options
The colour options for an object depend on the type of object. Three different colour display
options are shown below:
l The Contaminant table uses a continuous colourmap to display the numeric data. See
Colourmaps and Colour Gradients for more information.
l The collar table is displayed using a single colour. Click the colour chip to change the colour.
See Display Colours.
l The Geology table is displayed according to a colourmap of the categories in the table. These
colours can be changed by clicking on the Edit Colours button, then clicking on each colour
chip in the Legend window.
If your organisation uses standard colour coding for category and numeric data, you can import
colourmaps for these data types. See Colourmap Import and Colour Gradients in Colourmaps
and Colour Gradients.

Opacity | 230
Opacity
The opacity slider controls the transparency of objects in the scene:
Property Buttons
Property buttons vary according to the type of object. For example, property buttons can show
or hide the triangles on a mesh, render points as spheres or display a surface clipped to a model
boundary. You can always find out what a button does by holding the cursor over the button:
Legends
You can display a legend for many objects, including lithologies. To do this, click the legend
button in the shape list:
To remove the legend from the scene, either click the legend button again or click the red X in
the scene window:

The Shape Properties Panel

The shape properties panel adjacent to the shape list provides more detailed control of the
appearance of the selected object:
Slice Mode
The properties available depend on the type of object, but the Slice mode appears for all
objects. See Displaying Sliced Data for more information.
Filtering Data Using Queries

When a data table is selected in the shape list, you can use the controls in the shape properties
panel to apply filters to the data in the scene. If query filters are available for the selected object,
they will be listed in the Query filter list:
Filtering Data Using Values and Categories

You can also filter the range of values displayed by ticking the Value filter box, then setting the
upper and lower limits of the range of data displayed:

Selecting Multiple Objects | 232
If the data includes date information, you can use the Value filter option to restrict the display
to a range of dates.
Selecting Multiple Objects

You can select multiple objects in the shape list and change their display properties using the
shape properties panel. To do this, hold down the Shift or Ctrl key while clicking each object
you wish to change:
Only controls common to the selected objects are available.
Display Colours
Many objects viewed in the scene are displayed using a single colour. To change the colour,
add the object to the scene window, then click on the colour chip in the shape list. A window
will appear in which you can change the colour:
You can:
l Click and drag the ring to pick a colour, then select the darkness or lightness of the colour
from the triangle.
l Click on the eyedropper tool ( ), then click on something elsewhere on the screen to select
the colour of that part of the screen.
l Select a colour chip from the palette.
l Set a random colour.
l Enter specific values for the colour to use.
Changes made are automatically applied to the scene. The Revert button changes back to the
colour assigned when the window was first opened.

Colourmaps and Colour Gradients

Some objects viewed in the scene are displayed using a colourmap based on continuous colour
mapping or discrete categories. Leapfrog Geo automatically generates a colourmap based on
the data, but manually altering a colourmap often helps in understanding the data. In addition,
if your organisation uses standard colourmaps, you can import colourmaps and colour
gradients to standardise the display of data across projects.
l Category data colourmaps can be edited by adding the data column to the scene, then
clicking on the Edit Colours button in the shape list, as described in Colour Options. Then
click on each colour chip in the Legend window. Category colourmaps can also be imported
and exported.
l Numeric data colourmaps can be continuous and discrete and can also be used to display
date information. Numeric colourmaps can be imported and exported and can also use
imported colour gradients.
This topic describes how to use colourmaps and colour gradients. It is divided into:
l Colourmap Import and Export
l Colourmap Import
l Colourmap Export
l Editing a Colourmap
l Continuous Colourmaps
l Discrete Colourmaps
l Displaying Dates
l Colour Gradients
l Deleting Colour Gradients
For information on the colour display options available for different objects, see Colour
Options in The Shape List and Shape Properties Panel.
Colourmap Import and Export

Colourmaps for category and numeric data can easily be shared between projects on a
column-by-column basis. To import or export a colourmap, expand the data object in the
project tree and right-click on a column. The Import and Export options are available from the
Colours menu:

Colourmap Import | 234
Colourmap Import
When you import a colourmap:
l For category colourmaps, the existing colourmap will be overwritten.
l For numeric colourmaps, the imported colourmap will be added to those already defined.
To import a colourmap, right-click on the data object and select Colours > Import. Navigate to
the folder containing the colourmap file and click Open.
If the object has more than one colourmap associated with it, you will be prompted to choose
which one to overwrite.
If the column you expected is not listed, check to see if you have selected the correct file.
The columns displayed are those that correspond to the type of data in the selected file
(category or numeric).
Click Import.
Leapfrog Geo will map the information in the file to the information in the selected data
column.
Colourmap Export
To export a colourmap, right-click on the data object and select Colours > Export. If more than
one colourmap is associated with the selected object, you will be prompted to choose from
those available. Click Export.
In the window that appears, navigate to the folder where you wish to save the colourmap. Enter
a filename and click Save. The colourmap will be saved in *.lfc format.
Editing a Colourmap
To edit the colourmap for an object, add the object to the scene. Click on the colourmap in the
shape list and select Edit Colourmaps:
The Edit Colourmaps window will display the colourmap that is currently being used to display
the data. Changes you make in this window will be updated in the scene.
To save the currently displayed colourmap and return to the main window, click Close.
Clicking Revert All deletes all custom colourmaps and cannot be undone.

Continuous Colourmaps
When using a continuous colourmap, the Gradient dropdown list includes built-in gradients as
well as any that have been imported into the Colour Gradients folder. The scene will be
updated to reflect the changes you make in this screen.
Once you have selected a gradient, you can change how it is used to display the data by
adjusting the limits and the curve points.
The values that lie outside the Limits are coloured with the last colour at the relevant end of the
colourmap. If the Dynamic box is ticked, the gradient will be updated when the data is updated,
such as when drillhole data is appended. If the box is unticked, the values manually set for the
Minimum and Maximum limits will control the lower and upper bounds of the colourmap.
Reducing the range of the upper and lower bounds is useful if the bulk of the data points have
values in a range much smaller than the overall range of the data. This is common in skewed
data.
The From Input Data button automatically adjusts the Minimum and Maximum Limit values so
that the colourmap would follow the actual data distribution of the input data. Click this button
and see if these values are adjusted.
The transformation of the colourmap can be adjusted by dragging the dots:
It can be helpful to view the histogram of the data when adjusting the curve points. Both the
Properties window and the Edit Colourmaps window can be open at the same time.
Discrete Colourmaps
When you create new colourmaps, there are two types to choose from: continuous and
discrete.

Displaying Dates | 236
When you create a discrete colourmap, categories are defined and applied to the data
displayed in the scene:
Click the Add button to add new categories. The scene will be updated to reflect the new
categories:
Displaying Dates
A colourmap can be used to display date information:

If a date is displayed using a continuous colourmap, the curve points represent the start and end
dates.
If you use a discrete colourmap, you can use the colours to show the different stages of, for
example, a drilling campaign:
Colour Gradients
Colour gradients can be imported in the following formats:
l Geosoft Colour files (*.tbl)
l ERMapper Lookup tables (*.lut)
l MapInfo Colour files (*.clr)
l Leapfrog Colour files (*.lfc)
Perceptually uniform colourmaps are availabe at

http://peterkovesi.com/projects/colourmaps/, where they can be downloaded in
ERMapper (*.lut), Geosoft (*.tbl) and Golden Software Surfer (*.clr) format.
To import a colour gradient right-click on the Colour Gradients folder in the project tree and
select Import Gradient. In the window that appears, navigate to the folder containing the
gradient file and click Open. The gradient will be added to the Colour Gradients folder.

Deleting Colour Gradients | 238
To apply a gradient to a colourmap, add an object to the scene and click on the colourmap in
the shape list. Select Edit Colourmaps. All colour gradients in the Colour Gradients folder are
available from the Gradient dropdown list:
Deleting Colour Gradients

If you delete a colour gradient from the Colour Gradients folder and it is in use in the project,
you will need to select a replacement gradient for all colourmaps that use that gradient. Select
the replacement colour gradient from those available in the project:
Displaying Drillholes
Viewing drillhole data in the scene is an important part of refining drillhole data and building a
geological model. Therefore, Leapfrog Geo has a number of different tools for displaying
drillhole data that can help in making drillhole data processing and modelling decisions. This
topic describes those display options and is divided into:
l Displaying Drillholes as Lines or Cylinders
l Hiding Lithologies
l Displaying a Legend

l Changing Colourmaps
l Viewing Multiple Interval Tables
l Selecting from Multiple Columns
l Displaying Interval Data in the Scene
Display drillhole data in the scene by dragging the Drillholes object into the scene. You can also
drag individual tables into the scene.
Once drillhole data is visible in the scene, click on a drillhole to view the data being displayed.
You can also display the data associated with each interval by clicking on the Show text button (
) in the shape list. Here, data display is enabled for two interval tables:
The Show trace lines button ( ) in the shape list displays all trace lines, even if there is no data
defined for some intervals. The Filter trace lines option in the shape properties panel displays
only trace lines for drillholes selected by a query filter. See Query Filters for more information.

Displaying Drillholes as Lines or Cylinders | 240
Displaying Drillholes as Lines or Cylinders

You can display drillholes as lines or points. You can also display the data associated with each
segment. Here, the drillholes are displayed as flat lines:
The width of the lines is set in the shape properties panel.

When the Make lines solid button ( ) is enabled, the drillhole data is displayed as cylinders and
the property that can be controlled is the Line radius:

Hiding Lithologies
When lithology tables are displayed, you can hide some of the lithologies to help make better
sense of the information in the scene. Click on the Edit Colours button in the shape list. In the
window that appears, use the Show/Hide buttons ( ) to determine what segments are
displayed:
To select multiple lithologies, use the Shift or Ctrl keys while clicking. You can then change the
visibility of all selected lithologies by clicking one of the visibility ( ) buttons.
Hiding lithologies in this way only changes how the data is displayed in the scene. Another
way of limiting the data displayed is to use a query filter (see Query Filters), which can later
be used in selecting a subset of data for further processing.
Displaying a Legend
To display a legend in the scene, click the Show legend button ( ) for the table:
The legend in the scene will be updated to reflect lithologies that are hidden in the scene when
you click Edit Colours and hide some lithologies.

Changing Colourmaps | 242
Changing Colourmaps
To change the colours used to display lithologies, click on the Edit Colours button in the shape
list. In the window that appears, click on the colour chip for each lithology and change it as
described in Display Colours.
To set multiple lithologies to a single colour, use the Shift or Ctrl keys to select the colour
chips you wish to change, then click on one of the colour chips. The colour changes you
make will be made to all selected lithologies.
You can also import a colourmap, which is described in Colourmap Import.
Viewing Multiple Interval Tables

When viewing multiple interval tables, use the line and point size controls and the transparency
settings to see all the data at once. For example, here, the geology table has been made
transparent to show the contaminant intervals inside:
Selecting from Multiple Columns

When an interval table has more than one column of data, select the column to view from the
view list:

Some columns are editable, in which case you can click on the Edit button ( ) to start editing
the table:
Displaying Interval Data in the Scene

Drillholes can be displayed with the data associated with each segment. For example, in the
scene below, contaminant values are displayed along the drillhole:
To view data in this way, select the table in the shape list, then click on the Format Text button.
In the Text Format window, click Insert Column to choose from the columns available:
You can display multiple columns and add text:
Click OK to update the formatting in the scene. You can conceal the formatting in the scene by
clicking on the Show text button ( ) in the shape list:
Clear text formatting by clicking on the Format Text button, then on Clear.

Displaying Points | 244
Displaying Points
Points data can be displayed using a single flat colour, using a colour gradient (see Colourmaps
and Colour Gradients) or using the points values. You can also import a colourmap, which is
described in Colourmap Import.
As with drillholes, points data can be displayed as flat points or as spheres. When Make points
solid button ( ) is enabled for points data, the data points are displayed as spheres. Here, the
values are displayed as flat points:
You can restrict the range of values displayed using the Value filter in the properties panel.
When using the spheres option ( ), the points can be displayed using the values. To do this, the
Radius values list displays the columns available:
Select the column that will be used to determine the point size.

The Point radius control then determines the maximum point size displayed in the scene.
Displaying Surfaces
Leapfrog Geo assigns different colours to each side of a surface.
A basic mesh will have an inside (coloured red) and an outside (coloured blue):
In the case of contact surfaces, each side will be assigned a lithology. Unknown will be used if
multiple lithologies are contacted. Contact surfaces can be displayed using the assigned
lithologies or the younging direction:
Veins can also be displayed coloured with the thickness values.

Surfaces that are part of a geological model or interpolant are, by default, displayed clipped to
the model boundary:
Disable the Clipped surface button ( ) to view the surface unclipped.
Displaying Structural Data

Planar structural data is displayed as disks and lineations are displayed as cones. There are
several ways to change how this data is displayed.

Planar Structural Data | 246
Planar Structural Data

In the scene below, planar structural data is displayed using the Flat colour option, with positive
(red) and negative (blue) sides shown:
You can change the colours used to display the positive and negative sides using the controls in
the shape list. You can also display the data points as Thick disks, Flat disks or as Outlined flat
disks. You can change the Disk radius and the Disk size using the controls in the shape
properties panel.
Another way of displaying planar structural data is to display the categories as different colours:
You can change the colours used to display the different categories by clicking on Edit Colours
in the shape list. In the window that appears, click on the colour chip for each category and
change it as described in Display Colours.
To set multiple categories to a single colour, use the Shift or Ctrl keys to select the colour

make will be made to all selected categories.
The categories displayed can also be filtered by other columns in the data table, as described in
Filtering Data Using Values and Categories.
Lineations
In the scene below, lineations are displayed using the Flat colour option in green:
Click the colour chip to change the colour used to display the cones in the shape list or select
one of the tables columns:

Lineations | 248
The length of the cones displayed in the scene is set in the properties panel. This can be a Fixed
Length, defined by the Cone length setting, or it can be scaled using the values from one of the
tables columns:
Another way of displaying lineations is to display the categories as different colours:
You can change the colours used to display the different categories by clicking on Edit Colours
in the shape list. In the window that appears, click on the colour chip for each category and
change it as described in Display Colours.
To set multiple categories to a single colour, use the Shift or Ctrl keys to select the colour
The categories displayed can also be filtered by other columns in the data table, as described in
Filtering Data Using Values and Categories.

Displaying Sliced Data

When you draw a slice in the scene, how objects in the scene are displayed in relation to the
slicer is controlled in the properties panel:
The From Scene setting is the default; the object is sliced according to the properties set for the
slicer.
By changing the Slice mode for objects in the scene, you can illustrate how a model has been
constructed:
Displaying GIS Data

In Leapfrog Geo, there are three ways of viewing GIS data:
l In its native form, as it was imported to the project. Add the GIS data object to the scene as
you would any other object.
l On the topography. GIS data objects added to a project are automatically projected onto the
topography and saved in the Topographies > Draped GIS Objects folder. Add the draped
GISobject to the scene.

Custom Topography Views | 250
l Combined with other data draped on the topography. See Custom Topography Views
below.
The reason for having different ways of displaying GIS data is the difficulty posed by inconsistent
height data. Not all height data is correct or wanted. In practice, it is important for all the data to
be consistent. For this reason, a single elevation field is defined as part of the topography and
available data is assigned heights from this object. The native height information is available and
can be used to define the height of layers in the models.
Custom Topography Views

In Leapfrog Geo, topography can be displayed with any of the GIS data and images available in
the project. With a custom view, you can display multiple GIS data objects, maps and aerial
photos.
To create a custom view, add the topography object to the scene. Select Views > Edit views
from the GIS data dropdown list:
The Edit GIS Views window will appear. Click New to create a new view. Enter a name for the
new view and click Create:

The new view will be created in the Edit GIS Views window, together with a list of Available
layers. Click the Add button to move layers into the Current layers list and use the Raise and
Lower buttons to arrange them:
Use the transparency and point and line size controls to emphasise data.
Click Close. The topography will be displayed in the scene with the new view applied:

Evaluations | 252
Evaluations
Many objects in Leapfrog Geo can be evaluated on geological models, interpolants, blocks
models, flow models and surfaces. To do this, right-click on an object and select Evaluations:
See Back-flagging Drillhole Data for information on evaluating drillholes on geological

models, and see Sections for information on evaluating surfaces on cross sections and fence
sections.
A window will appear listing all objects in the project that can be used for an evaluation. Once
you have selected one or more objects, click OK.
The evaluations will be added to the object in the project tree:
When you display objects in the scene, you can select the evaluations from the view list:

Drillhole Correlation Tool
With the drillhole correlation tool, you can view and compare selected drillholes in a 2D view.
You can then create interpretation tables in which you can assign and adjust intervals and
create new intervals. Interpretation tables are like any other interval table in a project and can be
used to create models. You can also save and export correlation set layouts and styles that can
be exported and used in other Leapfrog Geo projects.
This topic describes creating correlation sets and creating interpretation tables. It is divided into:
l Selecting Collars
l The Correlation Set Window
l Navigating in the Correlation Set Window
l Correlation Column Layouts

l Managing Styles
l Interpretation Tables
l Assigning Lithologies
l Modifying the Interpretation Table
Selecting Collars
To select collars, you need to create a drillhole correlation set, which you can do from the
scene. First, add the collars you wish to work with to the scene. A useful way of limiting the
number of collars displayed is to draw a slice in the scene and set it to a thick slice ( ) and set the
slice width to hide collars on either side of the slice.
Next, right-click on the Drillhole Correlation folder and select New Drillhole Set. The new set
will be created and opened, but is empty until you select collars. Click the Select Collars button (
) to switch to the scene and begin selecting collars:

Selecting Collars | 254
The line in the scene indicates the order in which collars will appear in the set.
l To select collars one-by-one, click on the Select collar button ( ), then on the Add collar
button ( ). Click on a collar to add it to the nearest end of the set. Hold down the Ctrl key
while clicking to remove a collar from the set.
l To temporarily switch to the Select button ( ), hold down the Shift key while clicking.
l To select all collars visible in the scene, click on the Select all collars button ( ). This will
select collars using the best fit line.
l To remove a collar from the selection, click on the Remove collar button ( ), then click on
the collar you wish to remove from the set.
l To clear the selection, click on the Clear collar selection button ( ).
If you want to change the order, you can easily do so in the set tab once you have selected
collars.
Once you have selected the required collars, click the Save button ( ). The selected collars will
be added to the set window:

The Correlation Set Window

Remove collars from the correlation set by either editing the set in the scene, as described in
Selecting Collars above, or right-click on a column and select Remove collar:
You can change how data is displayed by clicking on the column header, then selecting
Format:
The options available depend on the type of column being formatted.

The Correlation Set Window | 256
Click on drillholes and drag them in the correlation set window to change the order in which
they appear:
Add columns to the set by dragging them from the project tree:

Here, four columns have been added to the set. From right to left they are a lithology column,
an assay data column, a points data column formatted as a line and a points data column
formatted as points:
You can then format the columns to get a better view of relationships between them. Format
columns by right-clicking on their headers and selecting Format:
The styles used to display columns can be used by other sets in the project and can be exported
to other projects. See Managing Styles below.
You can also drag some types of columns on top of other columns, although it is not possible to
display category data on top of other category data. You can select multiple columns using the
Shift and Ctrl keys.
Navigating in the Correlation Set Window

Navigate in the correlation set window using the following mouse and keyboard combinations:
l Use the scroll wheel to move up and down.
l Hold down the Shift key while scrolling to move right and left.

Correlation Column Layouts | 258
l Hold down the Ctrl key while scrolling to zoom in and out.
l Hold down the Alt key while scrolling to stretch the data vertically.
Correlation Column Layouts

Once you have organised data columns and how they are displayed, you can save this
information as a column layout that can be applied to other correlation sets. To do this, click the
Layout button in the toolbar and select Save Current Layout from the dropdown list:
You will be prompted for a name. Click OK to save the layout, which can then be applied to
other correlation sets by selecting the layout from the dropdown list.
To view the layouts available in the project, right-click on the Drillhole Correlation folder in the
project tree and select Layout Manager. In the window that appears, you can easily see what
columns are used for each layout and apply a layout to all correlation sets in a project:
You can also export column layouts for use in other projects and import layouts from other
projects. Clicking Export all exports layouts as a text file.

Managing Styles
The styles used to display data columns can also be exported to other projects. To view the
styles used in the project, right-click on the Drillhole Correlation folder in the project tree and
select Style Manager:
Click Edit to change a style, which will update objects that use the selected style throughout
the project.
Click Export all to export the styles in the project as a text file that can be imported into other
projects.
Interpretation Tables
With interpretation tables, you can assign and adjust intervals and create new intervals.
Interpretation tables are like any other interval table in a project and can be used to create
models.
To create an interpretation table, click the New Interpretation button in the correlation set
window. The New Interpretation Table window will be displayed:

Assigning Lithologies | 260
There are three options for creating an interpretation table:

l Create the table without using a base table. Each drillhole will have an empty legend and a
single empty interval from 0 to its maximum depth. Select <None> for the Source Column.
l Create the table from a base column but have no intervals. This copies the base columns
legend but no intervals. Select the Source Column, then select Empty Table.
l Create a copy of a table. Select the Source Column, then select All Intervals.
Click OK to create the table. A new interpretation table will be added to the project tree under
the Drillholes object and the column will be added to the correlation set window:
Assigning Lithologies
If you have created the interpretation table without using a base table, you will need to assign
lithologies to the new table. Do this as part of working with the table in the correlation set
window, which is described below.
Modifying the Interpretation Table

In the correlation set window, the blue line is used to create intervals. Position the blue line then
right-click on it and select one of the options:

l The Copy fromoption assigns intervals from the base table.

l The Insert interval option adds an empty interval that overrides any intervals already defined.
l The Unassign interval option clears the lithology assigned to the interval.
l The Assign interval option opens the legend for the interpretation table so you can select a
lithology to assign to the interval. If you need to add lithologies, you can do so in this window.
For example, to create an interval at the top of the table called High Density, move the blue
line near to where you wish to create the interval. You do not need to be precise as you can
adjust the interval once you have added it. Right-click and select Insert interval:
In the legend window, click the Add button and add a lithology called High Density:

Modifying the Interpretation Table | 262
Click OK, then select the new lithology to close the legend window. The new lithology has
been assigned to the interval:
To resize the interval, click and drag the interval end points:
You can move the interval end point and snap it to a data point in another column. To do this:
1. Click on the interval end point and drag it into position without releasing the mouse button.
2. Move the mouse across to the data point you wish to snap to.
3. Release the mouse.
You can also snap to points along the depth axis.
Continue making changes to the interpretation table, using the Undo button to step backwards
if necessary. Save changes to update the table.

Stereonets | 263
Stereonets
Stereonets are useful for visualising structural data and identifying trends in 2D. Errors in
categorisation of structural data can also become apparent when the data is viewed on a
stereonet.
This topic describes how to work with stereonets in Leapfrog Geo. It covers:
l Creating a Stereonet
l Plot Options
l Data Display Options
l Viewing Stereonet Statistics
l Selecting Categories in the Stereonet
l Exporting a Stereonet
Creating a Stereonet
Create a stereonet by right-clicking on the Stereonets folder (in the Structural Modelling
folder) and selecting New Stereonet. The stereonet is created and opened in a new tab. Click
the Add button to add any structural data table in the project to the stereonet:
You can also drag and drop structural data objects from the project tree into the stereonet.

Plot Options
Click Options to change plot options:
You can change the title and axes labels and select between Schmidt (equal area) and Wulff
(equal angle) plot types.
The Desample rate affects how quickly data is displayed by combining points with duplicate
orientations, as determined by the Desample rate value. A low value will filter fewer data points,
whereas a higher value will filter out more data. Setting the Desample rate to 0 plots all points,
which may be slow for very large data sets that have not been declustered. The Desample rate
applies only to how data is displayed; it does not affect the data in the table.
Data Display Options

Planar structural data can be can be displayed as planes ( ), poles ( ) or contours ( ), using
the colouring from any column in the structural data table. Lineations can be displayed as poles (
) or contours ( ). Contour methods available are Schmidt, Exponential Kamb and Kamb,
and contours can be displayed filled or outlined.

Data Display Options | 265
Click on a line or pole to view information about the data point:
The information displayed includes whether or not there are duplicates of the selected data
point in the data set.
Click the mean button ( ) to view the mean on the stereonet, which is displayed as a line for
planar structural data and as an X for lineations.

A legend can be displayed for the stereonet as a whole ( ) and for the contours ( ). The
stereonets legend is generated from the categories that are visible in the list of colourings. Here,
the categories displayed are from the Bedding column:
You can also apply query filters from those available in the project.
Declustered data can be viewed on stereonets in two ways:
l Declustered data can be viewed directly on the stereonet. Simply drag the declustered table
into the stereonet.
l If the declustered datas parent data table is displayed on the stereonet, the declustered data
is available as a filter.
For example, here a structural data table is displayed on a stereonet along with a declustered
table. The declustered table is available as a query filter for its parent object:

Viewing Stereonet Statistics | 267
Viewing Stereonet Statistics

Click the Statistics button to view statistics on the data displayed on the stereonet:
You can select specific rows and copy them to the clipboard or copy all data to the clipboard.
Selecting Categories in the Stereonet

You can select data in the stereonet and assign it to new categories or existing ones. To do this,
click on the data table in the stereonet window and select New selection from the colouring
dropdown list:

The New Category Selection window will appear:
The poles will be displayed in the stereonet, if they are not already visible, and the data table
will also be added to the scene window. Organising the stereonet tab and the Scene View
tab so they are displayed side-by-side can be useful in working with the data.
If you select an existing column as the Source Column, you can assign selected points to the
existing categories or create new categories. If you select <None> for the Source Column, you
will have to define each category manually.
When you click OK, a set of tools for selecting data will be added to the stereonet window:
There are two tools for selecting data in the stereonet, the polygon tool ( ) and the bullseye ( )
tool.
l Use the polygon tool ( ) to draw around the points you wish to select. Closing the polygon
will select the points, and you can click on the vertices to refine the shape of the selection.
Click outside of the selection to clear the polygon.
l Use the bullseye tool ( ) to:
l Click on points one-by-one.
l Click and drag around points.

The scene window will be updated to reflect the selected points.
The Add button ( ) and the Remove button ( ) determine whether selected points are being
added to or removed from the selection. For example, if you draw a polygon around a set of
points with the Add button enabled, the points will be added to the selection.

Selecting Categories in the Stereonet | 269
You can also:

l Remove points from a selection while the Add button ( ) is enabled by holding down the Ctrl
key and selecting points.
l Select all visible points by clicking on the Select All button ( ) or by pressing Ctrl+A.
l Clear all selected points by clicking on the Clear Selection button ( ) or by pressing
Ctrl+Shift+A.
l Swap the selected points for the unselected points by clicking on the Invert Selection button (
) or by pressing Ctrl+I.
l Show or hide all unassigned points using the Unspecified Measurements button ( ).
Statistics are shown for the currently selected set of points:

Once you have selected a set of points, click the Assign to button, then select Create New
Category. In the window that appears, enter a name for the category and assign a colour:
Click OK. The new category will be created and the stereonet will be updated to reflect the
changes:
The scene window will also be updated.

Exporting a Stereonet | 271
Once you have created a new category, you can add to it by selecting further points, then
selecting the category from the Assign to list.
When you are finished, click the Save button ( ) and close the category editor. You can make
further edits by clicking the Edit button ( ) in the stereonet window.
Exporting a Stereonet
Stereonets can be exported in the following formats:
l PDF file (*.pdf)
l Scalable Vector Graphics file (*.svg)
l PNG image (*.png)
Click the Export button. Select a format and navigate to the folder where you wish to save the
file. Enter a name and click Save.

Form Interpolants | 272
Form Interpolants
Form interpolants are useful for visualising structural data and identifying broad trends in 3D.
The form interpolants meshes can then be used to control other surfaces in the project.
This topic describes how to work with form interpolants in Leapfrog Geo. It covers:
l Creating a Form Interpolant
l The Form Interpolant in the Project Tree
l Form Interpolant Statistics
Once a form interpolant has been created, experiment with different Distance values. To do
this, double-click on the interpolant in the project tree and click on the Outputs tab.
Creating a Form Interpolant

To create a form interpolant, right-click on the Form Interpolants folder (in the Structural
Modelling folder) and select New Form Interpolant. In the window that appears, click the Add
button to add structural data tables to the interpolant:
You can easily add and remove structural data tables and change the filtering and once the
interpolant has been created.

Data can be filtered using the query filters defined for the selected structural data tables:
When generating the form interpolant, you can use the tangents and polarity or only the
tangents. To use both, leave the Use Polarity box ticked. To use only the tangents, untick the
box.
The Boundary filter setting determines how data is handled when it lies outside the
interpolants boundary:
l Boundary filter enabled. The interpolant is only influenced by the data that falls inside the
boundary.
l Boundary filter disabled. The interpolant is influenced by the data both inside and outside
the boundary.
Setting a Trend
In the Trend tab, you can set a trend using the moving plane or by entering the required values.
You can also use the Set to list to choose different options used in the project. Isotropic is the
default option used when the function is created.
where:
plane.
the moving plane.
Adding Isosurfaces
The isosurfaces generated for the form interpolant are determined by the settings in the
Outputs tab. If you wish to add more isosurfaces to the interpolant, click the Add button and
enter the required Distance value. Click on an isosurface and then on the Remove button to
delete it.
The Default resolution setting is used for all new isosurfaces.

The Form Interpolant in the Project Tree | 274
The Form Interpolant in the Project Tree

In the project tree, the form interpolant contains objects that represent different parts of the
interpolant:
l The Extents object represents the interpolants boundary settings, from the Boundary tab.
l The Trend object describes the trend applied in the interpolant. See Global Trends for more
information.
l The structural data object ( ) contains a link to the data used in generating the interpolant.
See Form Interpolant Statistics for more information.
l The Isosurfaces folder contains the isosurfaces defined in the Outputs tab.
To display the form interpolant:
l Drag the interpolant into the scene.
l Right-click on the interpolant and select View Isosurfaces.

Form Interpolant Statistics

To view information about the data used for the form interpolant, right-click on the structural
data object ( ) under the interpolant and select Properties. The General tab includes
information about how the data has been declustered:
You cannot change how data is declustered in the form interpolant, but if you wish to have
more control over this, create a declustered structural data set and use it as the input for the
form interpolant. See Declustering Planar Structural Data for more information.

Planning Drillholes
In Leapfrog Geo, you can plan drillholes, view prognoses for models in the project and export
planned drillholes in .csv format. Leapfrog Geo can also import planned drillholes.
Planned drillholes are added to a project from the Planned Drillholes folder, which is in the
Drillhole Data folder. When displayed in the scene, the planned drillhole is made up of a collar
point, a target location and a path defined by lift and drift parameters:
You can change the default settings used for defining planned drillholes in the Drillhole
Planning Options window. See Planning Options.

Adding Planned Drillholes

To plan a drillhole, first add the data objects to the scene that you will use in helping to define
the drillhole, such as the topography and any existing drillholes. Next, right click on the Planned
Drillholes folder and select Plan Drillhole. In the window that appears, you can define the
drillhole by specifying its collar or its target:
You can change whether Collar or Target is selected when this window is opened by
clicking on the Defaults button. See Planning Options.
A name is automatically generated for the new planned drillhole based on the IDs in the collar
table. If there is more than one phase available, you can select a different phase from the
dropdown list.
There are three ways to define the drillhole collar or target:
l Click in the scene to set the collar or target location. First, click on the Select button ( ) for
the Collar or Target, then click in the scene to define the Collar or Target. The drillhole will
appear in the scene and you can adjust the coordinates using the controls in the Drillhole
Planning window. Click the Slice along drillhole button to draw a slice in the scene. This is
useful in adjusting the drillhole path and in defining subsequent drillholes.
l Draw the drillhole in the scene. Click on the Select button ( ) for the Collar or Target, then
click and drag in the scene to define a basic path for the drillhole. If you are defining the
drillhole from the collar down, click first on or near the topography. Likewise, if you are
defining the drillhole from the target up, click first at or near the target point.
l Enter the coordinates for the Collar or the Target in the Drillhole Planning window.

Planning Options | 278
Clicking the Move collar onto the Topography button adjusts the elevation of the drillhole so
that it lies on the topography.
Click the Next Hole button to create another planned drillhole. The new planned drillhole will
be created at a specific distance from the currently displayed planned drillhole using the Path
settings for the currently displayed drillhole. The distance is determined by the Offset To Next
Hole settings in the Drillhole Planning Options window. See Planning Options.
Once you have specified the collar or target, adjust the drillhole path:
l Lift is how much the drillhole deviates upward.
l Drift is how much the drillhole deviates laterally.
l Leapfrog Geo automatically calculates the Depth value when the drillhole is defined by the
Target location.
l Adding an End of hole length extends the drillhole past the Target location.
Planned drillholes will appear in the Planned Drillholes folder. You can change a planned
drillhole by right-clicking on it and select Edit Drillhole.
Planning Options
When planning drillholes using the Drillhole Planning window, the Path values entered apply
only to the current drillhole. If you wish to set default values for these parameters for new
planned drillholes, either right-click on the Planned Drillholes folder and select Edit Planned
Drillholes Defaults or click on the Defaults button in the Drillhole Planning window. The
Drillhole Planning Options window will appear:
Select whether new planned drillholes are specified by the Collar or by the Target.
In the Drillhole Planning window, clicking Next adds a new planned drillhole. In the Drillhole
Planning Options window, the Offset To Next Hole values determine how far the new
planned drillhole is from the selected planned drillhole.
Enter the information required and click OK. The new settings will be applied to the next new
planned drillhole added to the project.

Drilling Prognoses
Planned drillholes can be evaluated against any model in the project. To view drilling prognoses
for a drillhole, right-click on it and select Drilling Prognoses. The Drilling Prognoses window
will appear:
You can display prognoses for different models by selecting them from the dropdown list. For
interpolants, you can view a plot of the data by clicking on the Plot tab.
In each tab, you can copy the information displayed to your computers clipboard by clicking
the Copy to Clipboard button. The information in the Data tab will be copied as tab delimited
text, which can be copied into a spreadsheet application such as Excel. The plot displayed in the
Plot tab will be copied as a bitmap image.
Exporting Planned Drillholes

To export planned drillholes, either right-click on the Planned Drillholes object and select
Export Planned Drillholes or right-click on a planned drillhole and select Export. The Export
Planned Drillholes window will appear:
Selecting a phase from the Show Phase list will select all planned drillholes in that phase.
The total length will be updated as you add or remove drillholes.

Importing Planned Drillholes | 280
In Leapfrog Geo, positive dip points down for planned drillholes. To invert the dip for exported
planned drillholes so that negative dip points down, tick the box for Invert dip on export.
Click Export. You will be prompted for a filename and location.
Importing Planned Drillholes

Planned deep drillholes cannot be imported into Leapfrog Geo.
Leapfrog Geo imports planned drillholes from files in CSV format. The columns expected are:
l X-Y-Z coordinates for the planned drillhole
l Azimuth
l Dip
l Lift rate
l Drift rate
l Distance
l Extension
l Target Depth
l Comment
To import planned drillholes, right-click on the Planned Drillholes folder and select Import
Planned Drillholes. If the IDs in the file are already in the project, you will be prompted to
resolve the conflict:
You can:
l Rename the imported drillholes. Leapfrog Geo will automatically assign new names and
import the planned drillholes.
l Exclude planned drillholes that already exist in the project. Planned drillholes will only be
imported if they have an identifier that does not already exist in the project.
l Replace existing planned drillholes with the imported drillholes. Use this option if you are
importing information previously exported from the project and subsequently updated in an
external application.
Click OK to process the file.
If there are no conflicts, the planned drillholes will be imported and added to the Planned
Drillholes folder.

Modelling
This section describes how to build models in Leapfrog Geo.
l Geological models can be built from lithology data or from any other suitable data in the
project. Visualising data in the scene is an important step in determining the model that will
be built, and the tools for doing this are described in Visualising Data. Once this has been
determined, the next step is to define a basic geological model and refine its boundaries.
Modelling contact surfaces and setting their cutting relationships determine how the basic
model volume is divided into lithologies. Models can also have a fault system that, once
activated, will subdivided the model into fault blocks.
l With the Interpolants folder, you can interpolate downhole numeric data, composited
drillhole data and points data.
l Combined models use information from up to four geological models, interpolants and
distance functions in order to visualise relationships between different types of data in the
project.
l Geological models created in Leapfrog Geo can be used as the basis for ModFlow and
FEFLOW models. You can create flow models directly in Leapfrog Geo and assign
hydrological/material properties based on the lithologies in the geological model. Flow
models can be exported for use in other applications, and you can import existing flow
models and use them as the basis for the construction of new models. Flow models can be
displayed in the scene, and time-dependent data can also be visualised.
l Leapfrog Geo can import Isatis files and UBCgrids. Block models and sub-blocked models
can also be created directly in Leapfrog Geo and exported for use in other applications.
Creating block models within Leapfrog Geo has the advantage that the resolution can easily
be changed. Block models can be evaluated against geological models and interpolants as
described in Evaluations.

Geological Models
The model building process involves several key steps:
l Creating the project and setting up the modelling environment
l Importing drillhole data and correcting errors
l Importing other required data
l Visualising the data in the scene and inspecting it to make sense of the model that will be
built. It is at this stage that you might create new drillhole data columns to select data that
will be the basis of geological models.
l Creating a basic GM, then refining its boundary and defining a fault system
l Modelling the contact surfaces
l Setting the cutting relationships between the different contact surfaces and generating
volumes
A fault system can also be defined that divides the geological model into subunits in which the
internal structure can be defined independent of the other subunits in the model.
The rest of this topic describes the process of creating a geological model. It is divided into:
l Creating a New Geological Model
l Surface Resolution
l Model Extents
l The Geological Model in the Project Tree
l Geological Model Display
l Copying a Geological Model
l Creating a Static Copy of a Geological Model
l Geological Model Volumes and Surfaces Export Options
A geological model can be created using only a basic set of parameters. The only parameter
that cannot be changed once the model has been created is the base lithology.
Creating a New Geological Model

To create a new geological model, right-click on the Geological Models folder and select New
Geological Model. The New Geological Model window will open, together with a set of
controls in the scene that help in defining the model extents.
The Base Lithology

Select the drillhole data column that will be used as the basis of a model from the Base
Lithology Column dropdown list. If you do not wish to use lithology data as the basis for the
model, select <None>. This may be the case if, for example, you want to build a model from
points data or from an imported map. If you select <None>, you will need to manually define
the lithologies that will be modelled.

Surface Resolution | 283
If more than one column of lithology data is available for creating models, be sure to choose
the correct one as it cannot be changed once the initial model has been created. If after
creating and modifying the model, you find you need to modify the drillhole data, resulting
in a new lithology column, you can use that new column to create contact surfaces using
Other Contacts options.
You can also filter the drillhole data used to build the geological model using query filters. To
do so, tick the Filter Data box and select the required query filter from the dropdown list. Once
the model has been created, you can remove the filter or select a different filter.
Surface Resolution
The surface resolution setting Leapfrog Geo automatically uses as the default is based on the
data available in the project. Set the surface resolution for the model as a whole and choose
whether or not the resolution will be adaptive. See Surface Resolution in Leapfrog Geo for
more information on the effects of these settings.
Later, while refining the model, you can change the resolution of each surface and enable or
disable adaptive resolution. See Surface Resolution for a Geological Model.
Model Extents
A geological model is initially created with a basic rectangular set of extents aligned with the
south/north and east/west axes. You can define the models extents in three ways:
l Enter the coordinates.
l Select Enclose Object and choose from the list of objects in the project. If the model is based
on drillhole data, select the lithology segments from the Enclose Object list.
l Use the controls that appear in the scene. The orange handle adjusts the centre of the plane
and the red handles adjust the size.
See Object Extents for more information.
Enter a Name for the model that describes the purpose of the model. This Name will be used in
naming the objects that will be added to the model. Click OK to create the new model. The new
geological model will be created and added to the Geological Models folder.
See Editing a Geological Model for information on how to change the basic settings for the
model.

The Geological Model in the Project Tree

The objects under the geological model in the project tree represent different parts of the
model:
l The Boundary object defines the limits of the geological model. When the model is first
created, this is the rectangular model extents. If a topography has been defined, it is
automatically used for as the upper boundary. See Modifying the Models Boundary for
more information about modifying the boundary.
l The Fault System object defines faults and their interactions in the model. See Faulted
Models.
l The Lithologies object describes all the lithological units to be modelled and the colours that
are used to display them on the screen. It is generated automatically from all the lithologies
identified in drillhole data selected when the model is created. If no column was selected,
you will need to define the lithologies manually before you start modelling the lithology
layers.
l The Surface Chronology object describes the contact surfaces in the model, organised in
chronological order, from youngest to oldest. These surfaces and their chronology
determine how the volume inside the model extents is divided into lithological units. When
the model is first created, the Surface Chronology is empty, but it will eventually hold all
contact surfaces and inputs to them.
l The Output Volumes folder contains all the volumes generated in building the geological
model in chronological order, from youngest to oldest. When the model is first created, the
Surface Chronology is empty and so there is only a single output volume that fills the models
extents, called Unknown.
Geological Model Display

Display the geological model by dragging it into the scene or by right-clicking on it and
selecting View Output Volumes.
When a geological model is first created, the only volume that appears under the Output
Volumes folder will be a volume called Unknown. Once contact surfaces have been
generated and added to the Surface Chronology object, new volumes will be generated and
added to the Output Volumes folder. To view the generated volumes in the scene, you can:
l Drag the volumes into the scene, one by one
l Drag the geological model object into the scene

Copying a Geological Model | 285
l Right-click on the Output Volumes folder and select View All

See Meshes for more information on some of the options available for the individual Output
Volumes.
You can export all of the output volumes for a geological model in a single file. See Geological
Model Volumes and Surfaces Export Options below for more information.
Copying a Geological Model

Creating a copy of a geological model is a useful way of experimenting with changes to a
model.
To copy a geological model, right-click on it in the project tree and select Copy. Enter a name
for the copy of the model and click OK. The copy will be added to the project tree.
Creating a Static Copy of a Geological Model

Creating a static copy preserves a snapshot of a geological model that does not change, even
when changes are made to the data on which the original model was dependent. This is a
useful way of storing historical models and comparing models. Static copies can be exported
from Leapfrog Geo, as described in Geological Model Volumes and Surfaces Export Options
below.
To create a static copy of a geological model, right-click on it in the project tree and select
Static Copy. Enter a name for the copy of the model and click OK. The copy will be added to
the Geological Models folder.
In the project tree, the static copy ( ) is made up of a Legend object ( ), the output volumes ( )
and all surfaces created in building the model.
Static models created in versions of Leapfrog Geo before 2.2 copied only the output volumes
and the legend, and the static model appeared in the shape list only as a single line. When
these static models are upgraded and displayed in the scene, the individual output volumes
will be added to the shape list.
To view the date a static copy was created, right-click on it in the project tree and select
Properties. The date the copy was created is shown in the General tab.
Geological Model Volumes and Surfaces Export Options

There are three options for exporting a geological models output volumes and surfaces. These
are:
l Export an output volume or a surface as a mesh. Right-click on it in the project tree and click
Export. You will be prompted for a file name and location. See Exporting a Single Mesh.
l Export an output volume as a thickness grid. Right-click on it in the project tree and click
Export Thickness Grid. See Thickness Grid Export.

l Export multiple output volumes and surfaces. Right-click on the geological model in the
project tree and select Export. See Exporting Multiple Meshes from Models and
Interpolants.
When exporting output volumes, the Merge output lithology volumes setting in the
geological models General tab (see Editing a Geological Model) determines how the output
volumes are handled when they are exported. If this setting is enabled, internal walls and
surface seams will be removed from volumes of the same lithology.
Editing a Geological Model

Once a geological model has been created, you can change the models resolution and other
basic settings by double-clicking on the model in the project tree. The Geological Model
window will open with the General tab selected. The other tabs in the Geological Model
window represent the different parts of the geological model. It is generally more useful,
however, to work with these parts of the model on an individual basis by either double-clicking
on the object in the project tree or right-clicking and seeing what options are available.
The rest of this topic describes how to change the basic settings for a geological model. It is
divided into:
l Changing the Query Filter
l Surface Generation Options
l Volume Generation Options
Changing the Query Filter

Although the Base lithology column cannot be changed once a geological model has been
created, you can change the filters applied to the data. Any filters defined for the lithology table
used to define the model can be applied to the Base lithology column.
Individual surfaces in the geological model can inherit the query filter from the parent
geological model or can use a different filter. To change what query filter is used for a surface,
double-click on the points used to create the surface and change the Query filter setting in the
Lithology tab:
Surface Generation Options

The Surface resolution and Adaptive settings in the General tab apply to the model as a whole.
These settings can be overridden for individual surfaces. See Surface Resolution in Leapfrog
Geo and Surface Resolution for a Geological Model.
Surfaces created in building the geological model can be set to snap to the data used in the
model. There are three options:
l Off. Surfaces do not snap to the data used to create them.
l All data. Surfaces snap to all data within the Maximum snap distance, which includes
drillhole data and any data added to surfaces as part of the model refinement process.

Volume Generation Options | 287
l Drilling only. Surfaces snap to drillhole data within the Maximum snap distance but not to
other data used to modify surfaces.
If you need surfaces to honour drillhole data but treat other data objects as interpretations,
select Drilling only. If you want finer control over what objects are snapped to, you can do this
on a surface-by-surface basis. See:
l Surfacing Options for Deposits and Erosions
l Surfacing Options for Intrusions
l Surfacing Options for Veins
When Exact clipping is enabled, model surfaces will be generated without tags that overhang
the model boundary. This setting is enabled by default when you create geological model.
Volume Generation Options

The Merge output volumes setting determines whether or not output volumes of the same
lithology are merged when the volumes are exported. If Merge output volumes is set to Fast or
Robust, internal walls and surface seams will be removed from volumes of the same lithology.
Either option is suitable when you are using output volumes as extents for other models.
The difference between Fast and Robust is the algorithm used:
l Fast removes back-to-back triangles before generating output volumes. This option is new in
Leapfrog Geo version 4.0 and is the default option selected when a geological model is
created.
l Robust is the Merge output lithology volumes option from versions of Leapfrog Geo before
4.0. Robust uses the volume cutter, which tracks where the triangles originated and is,
therefore, a slow option for building output volumes.
If there are issues with surfaces exported to other modelling packages using the Do not merge
output volumes setting, try the Fast setting. If there are still issues, try the Robust setting.
When projects created in earlier versions of Leapfrog Geo are opened in Leapfrog Geo 4.0,
the Volume Generation setting for any existing geological models will not be changed.
Surface Resolution for a Geological Model

When you create a geological model (see Creating a New Geological Model), the surface
resolution is set for the model as a whole. When surfaces and boundaries are created as part of
the model-building process, their resolution is inherited from the geological model:
l For deposit and erosion contact surfaces, stratigraphic sequences and model boundaries, the
resolution is the same as the geological model.
l For intrusion contact surfaces, the resolution is half that set for the geological model.
l For vein contact surfaces, the resolution is the same as the geological model, but the
Adaptive option does not apply.

You can change the resolution and enable or disable the adaptive isosurfacer on a surface-by-
surface basis. This is useful if you want to build a detailed model of some lithologies without
increasing processing time for other volumes.
To change the resolution settings for a contact surface, double-click on the surface in the
project tree, then click on the Surfacing tab:
For a lateral extent or fault, simply double-click on the surface in the project tree to change its
resolution settings.
Untick the Inherit resolution from GM box to change the resolution settings for a surface. This
setting may be disabled, depending on the data used to create the boundary or surface.
The resolution of intrusion contact surfaces is also affected by the point generation parameters.
See Intrusion Point Generation Parameters for more information.
Modifying the Models Boundary

Geological models and interpolants are created with a basic set of rectangular extents that can
then be refined using other data in the project. These extents usually correspond to the ground
surface and known boundaries. Creating extents can also be used to restrict modelling to a
particular area of interest; for example, modelling can be restricted to a known distance from
drillholes by applying a distance function as a lateral extent. Extents do not need to be strictly
vertical surfaces, and can be model volumes. For geological models, it is also possible to define
a base that serves as the models lower boundary.
When a topography is defined for the project, it will be automatically applied as a geological
models upper boundary when the model is created. This is not the case for interpolants, and
so if you wish to use the topography as the upper boundary, double-click on the interpolant
in the project tree and tick Use topography in the Boundary tab.

Modifying the Models Boundary | 289
To create an extent, expand the model in the project tree. Right-click on the Boundary object
and select from the New Lateral Extent or New Base options. Follow the prompts to create the
extent, which will then appear in the project tree under the models Boundary object. For
example, this geological model has two lateral extents, one from a polyline and the other from
GIS data:
Creating extents using the different types of data is described in further detail in the following
topics:
l Extent from a Polyline
l Extent from GIS Vector Data
l Extent from Points Data
l Extent from Structural Data
l Extent from a Surface
l Extent from a Distance to Points
l Extent from a Distance Function
l Base from Lithology Contacts
New extents are automatically applied to the boundary being modified. Leapfrog Geo usually
orients a new extent correctly, with red presenting the inside face of the extent and blue
representing the outside face. If this is not the case, you can change the orientation by right-
clicking on the extent in the project tree and selecting Swap Inside.
If you have defined an extent and want to remove it from the model, there are two options. The
first is to right-click on the extent in the project tree and click Delete. This deletes the extent
from the model, but does not delete parent objects from the project unless they were created as
part of the model, e.g. a polyline used as a lateral extent but not shared within the project. Use
this option only if you are sure you do not want to use the extent.

The second method is useful if you are making changes to the extent and do not want to
recompute the model with each change. Double-click on the models Boundary object or
double-click on the model and click on the Boundary tab. The Boundaries part of the window
lists all objects used as extents for a geological model:
Untick the box for extents to temporarily disable them in the model. The model will be
reprocessed, but you can then work on the extent without reprocessing the model. Disabled
extents will be marked as inactive in the project tree:
Extent from a Polyline

This topic describes using a polyline to create a lateral extent for a geological model or an
interpolant or a base for a geological model. The topic is divided into:
l Creating an Extent from a Polyline
l Changing the Extents Settings
o Surface Resolution
o Contact Honouring
o Applying a Trend
l Adding Data
l Editing the Extent with a Polyline
l Editing the Extent with Structural Data
See Modifying the Models Boundary for more general information about model extents.

Creating an Extent from a Polyline | 291
Creating an Extent from a Polyline

You can create an extent from a polyline that already exists in the project or you can draw a new
one. If you want to use an imported polyline, import it into the Polylines folder before creating
the new extent.
To create a new extent from a polyline, right-click on the Boundary object for the model you
are working on and select one of the polyline options from the New Lateral Extent > From
Polyline or New Base > From Polyline menus. In the window that appears, select whether you
will create a new polyline or use an existing one:
For lateral extents, you can create the extent as a Vertical Wall or Surface. If you create the
lateral extent as a Surface, you will be able to modify it using additional data, as described
below. A lateral extent created as a Vertical Wall, however, cannot be modified. A base is
always created as a surface and so can be modified as described below.
Click OK to generate the new extent. If you have chosen to create a New Drawing, the drawing
controls will appear in the scene and you can begin drawing, as described in Drawing in the
Scene.
The new extent will appear in the project tree as part of the Boundary object.
If the surface generated does not fit the polyline adequately, you can increase the quality of
the fit by adding more points to the polyline. See Drawing in the Scene for information on
adding points to polylines.

Changing the Extents Settings

To change the extents settings, expand the models Boundary object in the project tree and
double-click on the extent.
In the Surfacing tab, you can change surface resolution and contact honouring options, which
are described below. In the Trend tab, you can apply a trend to the extent, which is described in
Applying a Trend.
Surface Resolution
For geological models, the resolution of extents and whether or not the adaptive isosurfacer is
used is automatically inherited from the geological model. You can change these settings for an
extent if you want more or less detail than for the geological model as a whole. To do so, untick
the box for Inherit resolution from GM and make the required changes.
For interpolants, the resolution is inherited from the settings in the interpolants Outputs tab,
but the adaptive isosurfacer is automatically disabled. Enter a different Surface resolution
value, if required, and tick Adaptive to enable the adaptive isosurfacer.
Contact Honouring
Often, surfaces should honour drillhole data and treat data objects such as polylines and GIS
data as interpretations. For extents, the Snap to data setting in the Surfacing tab determines
whether or not the extent honours the data used to create it. Options are:
l Off. The extent does not snap to the data used to create it. This is the default setting.
l All data. The extent snaps to all data within the Maximum snap distance, which includes
drillhole data and any data added to the extent.
l Drilling only. The extent snaps to drillhole data and data objects derived from drillhole data
within the Maximum snap distance, but not to other data used to modify the extent. For
example, the extent will honour points data derived from drillhole data, but not points data
l Custom. The extent snaps to the data objects indicated in the Inputs tab that are within the
Maximum snap distance.

Applying a Trend | 293
For geological model extents, the snap setting for the geological model will be used if Snap to
data is set to Inherit from GM.
Whatever the setting, you can see what objects are snapped to by clicking on the Inputs tab.
If you need the extent to honour drillhole data but treat other data objects as interpretations,
select Drilling only. To honour some data objects while treating others as interpretations, select
Custom, then click on the Inputs tab to enable snapping for individual objects.
Applying a Trend
You can adjust an extent created from a polyline by applying a trend to it. To do this, add the
extent to the scene. Next, double-click on the extent in the project tree and click the Trend tab.
where:
plane.
the moving plane.
data used in the project. Isotropic is the default option used when the extent was created.
Adding Data
Extents created from polylines can be modified by adding points data objects, GIS vector data
and structural data. To do this, right-click on the extent in the project tree and select the data
type you wish to use from the Add menu.
l Points data. Select from the points data objects available in the project and click OK.
l GIS vector data. Select from the GIS vector data available in the project and click OK.
l Structural data. Select from the structural data tables available in the project. If the selected
table has query filters defined, you can apply one of these filters by ticking Use query filter
and then selecting the required filter from the dropdown list. Click OK to add the selected
data to the extent. An alternative to adding an existing structural data table to an extent is to

edit the extent with structural data. This is described in Editing the Extent with Structural
Data below.
For geological model extents, you can also add a polyline that already exists in the project. To
do this, right-click on the extent in the project tree and select Add > Polyline. You will be
prompted to choose from the polylines in the Polylines folder.
Editing the Extent with a Polyline

You can edit an extent using a polyline, which is described in Surfaces. A polyline used to edit an
extent will be added to the project tree as part of the extent. To edit the polyline, right-click on it
and select Edit Polyline or add it to the scene and click the Edit button ( ) in the shape list. If
you wish to remove the polyline from the extent, right-click on it in the project tree and select
Delete or Remove.
To add an existing polyline to a geological model extent, use the Add > Polyline option.
Editing the Extent with Structural Data

You can edit an extent using structural data, which is described in Surfaces. A structural data
table will be added to the project tree as part of the extent. To edit the table, right-click on it
and select Edit In Scene or add it to the scene and click the Edit button ( ) in the shape list. If
you wish to remove the table from the extent, right-click on it in the project tree and select
Delete or Remove.
Extent from GIS Vector Data

This topic describes using GIS data to create a lateral extent for a geological model or an
l Creating an Extent from GIS Data
o Contact Honouring
o Applying a Trend
l Adding Data to the Extent
Creating an Extent from GIS Data

Once the data you wish to use has been imported into the project, right-click on the models
Boundary object and select New Lateral Extent > From GIS Vector Data or New Base > From
GIS Vector Data.

Creating an Extent from GIS Data | 295
In the window that appears, select the data object you wish to use:
For lateral extents, you can create the extent as a Vertical Wall or Surface. If you create the
lateral extent as a Surface, you will be able to modify it using additional data, as described
below. A lateral extent created as a Vertical Wall, however, cannot be modified. A base is
always created as a surface and so can be modified as described below.
If you select the Surface option, you can use the GIS data object with its own elevation data or
projected onto the topography:
Using the On Topography option makes sense for GIS data as it is, by nature, on the
topography. The On Topography option also mitigates any issues that may occur if elevation
information in the GIS data object conflicts with that in the project.
Click OK to create the new extent. The new extent will appear in the project tree as part of the
Boundary object.


If the extent has been created as a surface, its settings can be changed by double-clicking on it
in the project tree.
Applying a Trend.
Surface Resolution
Contact Honouring

Applying a Trend | 297
Applying a Trend
You can adjust an extent created from a polyline by applying a trend to it. To do this, add the
where:
plane.
the moving plane.
Adding Data to the Extent

Extents created from polylines can be modified by adding points data objects, GIS vector data
and structural data. To do this, right-click on the extent in the project tree and select the data
type you wish to use from the Add menu.

Data below.

Delete or Remove.

Delete or Remove.
Extent from Points Data

This topic describes using points data to create a lateral extent for a geological model or an
l Creating an Extent from Points Data
o Contact Honouring
o Applying a Trend

Creating an Extent from Points Data | 299
Creating an Extent from Points Data

To create a new extent from points, right-click on the Boundary object for the model you are
working on and select New Lateral Extent > From Points or New Base > From Points. The
Select Points To Add window will be displayed, showing points data available in the project:
Select the information you wish to use and click OK.


Applying a Trend.
Surface Resolution

Contact Honouring
Applying a Trend
You can adjust an extent created from points data by applying a trend to it. To do this, add the
where:
plane.
the moving plane.

Adding Data to the Extent | 301

Extents created from points data can be modified by adding other points data objects, GIS
vector data and structural data. To do this, right-click on the extent in the project tree and
select the data type you wish to use from the Add menu.
l More points data objects. Select from the points data objects available in the project that are
not already part of the extent and click OK.
Data below.

Delete or Remove.

Delete or Remove.

Extent from Structural Data

This topic describes using planar structural data to create a lateral extent for a geological model
or an interpolant or a base for a geological model. The topic is divided into:
l Creating an Extent from Structural Data
o Contact Honouring
o Extent from Structural Data
Creating an Extent from Structural Data

When creating a lateral extent from structural data, you can create a new structural data table
or use a table that already exists in the project. If you want to use categories of structural data in
creating the extent, use an existing table and create filters for those categories before creating
the lateral extent.
To start, right-click on the Boundary object for the model you are working on and select New
Lateral Extent > From Structural Data or New Base > From Structural Data. The New
Structural Data window will be displayed, showing structural data available in the project:
Select the New Drawing option to draw the structural data points directly in the scene.

Changing the Extents Settings | 303
Select the Existing Structural Data option to use a table in the Structural Modelling folder.
With this option, you will be able to select from the categories available in the data table, if
query filters have been created for those categories:
Click OK to generate the new extent. If you have chosen to create a New Drawing, the drawing
controls will appear in the scene and you can begin drawing, as described in Creating New
Planar Structural Data Tables. To share the new structural data table, right-click on it and
select Share. The table will be saved to the Structural Modelling folder.

Applying a Trend.
Surface Resolution

Contact Honouring
Applying a Trend
You can adjust an extent created from structural data by applying a trend to it. To do this, add
the extent to the scene. Next, double-click on the extent in the project tree and click the Trend
tab.
where:
plane.
the moving plane.

Adding Data to the Extent | 305

Extents created from structural data can be modified by adding points data objects, GIS vector
data and other structural data tables. To do this, right-click on the extent in the project tree and
select the data type you wish to use from the Add menu.
l Structural data. Select whether you will create a new structural data table or use an existing
one.
o If you select an existing table that has categories defined, you can apply one of these filters
by ticking Use query filter and then selecting the required category from the dropdown
list. Click OK to add the selected data to the extent.
o If you have chosen to create a New Drawing, click OK and the drawing controls will
appear in the scene and you can begin drawing, as described in Creating New Planar
Structural Data Tables.

Delete or Remove.

Delete or Remove.

Extent from a Surface

This topic describes using a surface to create a lateral extent for a geological model or an
interpolant or a base for a geological model.
To use a surface as an extent, right-click on the models Boundary object and select New
Lateral Extent > From Surface or New Base > From Surface. The Select Boundary window
will appear, showing all the meshes that can be used as an extent:
Select the required mesh and click OK. The extent will be added to the models Boundary
object.
You cannot modify an extent created from a mesh by adding data, editing with polylines or
structural data or by applying a trend. However, the extent is linked to the mesh used to create
it, and updating the mesh will update the extent.
Extent from a Distance to Points

Leapfrog Geo can calculate the distance to set of points and use the resulting distance buffer as
a lateral extent for a geological model or an interpolant. This topic describes how to create a
lateral extent from a distance to points and how to change its settings. The topic is divided into:
l Creating an Extent from a Distance to Points

Creating an Extent from a Distance to Points | 307
Creating an Extent from a Distance to Points

To create a new lateral extent from a distance buffer, right-click on the Boundary object for the
model you are working on and select New Lateral Extent > From Distance To Points. The
Smoothed Distance Buffer window will appear:
Select the Distance and set an Anisotropy, if required.

where:
plane.
the moving plane.
You can also use the Set to list to choose different options Leapfrog Geo has generated based
on the data used to build the model. Isotropic is the default option used when the model is
created.
Click OK to create the new extent, which will appear in the project tree as part of the Boundary
object.

Adjust the Distance and Anisotropy, if required.

For geological models, the resolution of extents is automatically inherited from the geological
model. You can change the resolution for an extent if you want more or less detail than for the

geological model as a whole. To do so, untick the box for Inherit resolution from GM and
change the setting.

Extents created from a distance to points function can be modified by adding points data and
GIS vector data. To do this, right-click on the extent in the project tree and select the data type
you wish to use from the Add menu.
l Points data. Select from the points data objects available in the project that are not already
part of the extent and click OK.
To remove a data object that has been added to the extent, expand the extent in the project
tree. Right-click on the data object and select Remove.
Extent from a Distance Function

A distance function calculates the distance to a set of points and can be used to bound a
geological model or an interpolant. This topic describes how to create a lateral extent from a
distance function and how to change its settings. The topic is divided into:
l Creating an Extent from a Distance Function
Creating an Extent from a Distance Function

You can use an existing distance function as a lateral extent or create a new one.
To use a distance function as a lateral extent, right-click on the Boundary object for the model
you are working on and select New Lateral Extent > From Distance Function. If there are no
distance functions in the project, you will be prompted to create a new one. See Distance
Functions for information on defining and editing the distance function.
When there are already distance functions in the project, you will be prompted to choose
between creating a new function or using an existing one:

Changing the Extents Settings | 309
To use an existing function, select it from the dropdown list and set a Buffer distance. Click OK
to create the lateral extent.
When you create a new distance function, it will be part of the models Boundary object and
will not be available elsewhere in the project. To share it within the project, expand the lateral
extent in the project tree and right-click on the distance function. Select Share. The distance
function will be saved to the Interpolants folder.

Adjust the Distance and Anisotropy, if required.

For geological models, the resolution of extents is automatically inherited from the geological
model. You can change the resolution for an extent if you want more or less detail than for the
geological model as a whole. To do so, untick the box for Inherit resolution from GM and
change the setting.
Base from Lithology Contacts

This topic describes using lithology contact data to create a base for a geological model. The
topic is divided into:
l Creating a Base from Lithology Contacts
l Changing the Bases Settings
o Contact Honouring
o Applying a Trend
l Adding Data to the Base
l Editing the Base with a Polyline
l Editing the Base with Structural Data

Creating a Base from Lithology Contacts

To create a base from lithlogy contacts, right-click on the Boundary object and select either
New Base > From Base Lithology or New Base > From Other Contacts.
The only difference in the two methods is that when creating a base from other contacts,
you must first select the lithology column from those available in the project.
When defining the base, select the primary lithology and the contacts to use:
For complex geologies, the up and down directions for the base may not be clear. If this is the
facing surface labelled A and the downward-facing surface labelled B. Controlling the position
of the reference plane is similar to controlling the position of the moving plane:
Click OK to create the base, which will appear under the Boundary object. The new base will
automatically be added to the model.
Each geological model can have only one base defined, so if you wish to define a new base,
you must first delete the existing base from the model. Do this by right-clicking on the Base
object and selecting Delete. You can also choose not to use the base you have defined. See

Changing the Bases Settings | 311
Modifying the Models Boundary for more information.
Changing the Bases Settings

To change the bases settings, expand the models Boundary object in the project tree and
double-click on the base.
Applying a Trend.
Surface Resolution
The resolution of a base and whether or not the adaptive isosurfacer is used is automatically
inherited from the geological model. You can change these settings for the base if you want
more or less detail than for the geological model as a whole. To do so, untick the box for Inherit
resolution from GM and make the required changes.
Contact Honouring
data as interpretations. For a geological models base, the Snap to data setting in the Surfacing
tab determines whether or not the base honours the data used to create it. Options are:
l Inherit from GM. The setting for the geological model itself is used.
within the Maximum snap distance, but not to other data used to modify the extent.

If you need the base to honour drillhole data but treat other data objects as interpretations,
Applying a Trend
You can adjust a base created from lithology data by applying a trend to it. To do this, add the
base to the scene. Next, double-click on the base in the project tree and click the Trend tab.
where:
plane.
the moving plane.
Adding Data to the Base

When the base is created from lithology data, it can be modified by adding points data, GIS
vector data, structural data and polylines. To do this, right-click on the base in the project tree
and select the data type you wish to use from the Add menu.
data to the base. An alternative to adding an existing structural data table to the base is to edit
the base with structural data. This is described in Editing the Base with Structural Data
below.
l Polylines. Choose from the polylines available in the Polylines folder.

Editing the Base with a Polyline | 313
Editing the Base with a Polyline

You can edit the base using a polyline, which is described in Surfaces. A polyline used to edit the
base will be added to the project tree as part of the base. To edit the polyline, right-click on it
you wish to remove the polyline from the base, right-click on it in the project tree and select
Delete or Remove.
To add an existing polyline to a geological model base, use the Add > Polyline option.
Editing the Base with Structural Data

You can edit the base using structural data, which is described in Surfaces. A structural data
table will be added to the project tree as part of the base. To edit the table, right-click on it and
select Edit In Scene or add it to the scene and click the Edit button ( ) in the shape list. If you
wish to remove the table from the base, right-click on it in the project tree and select Delete or
Remove.
Model Lithologies
To view the lithologies used for a geological model, you can:
l Double-click on the geological model in the project tree and then click on the Lithologies
tab.
l Double-click on the Lithologies object for the geological model in the project tree.
All the lithologies defined for the geological model are displayed, together with the colours
used to display them:
Click a colour chip to change the colours used to display the lithologies.
To set multiple lithologies to a single colour, use the Shift or Ctrl keys to select the colour

make will be made to all selected lithologies.
If the geological model was created from drillhole data, the lithologies are automatically
generated from that data. There is also an additional lithology, Unknown, which is used to
label lithologies that cannot be labelled using known lithologies. This is the case when a
geological model is first created and no contact surfaces have been defined. The entire model
volume has no identified lithologies and so is assigned as Unknown.
An alternative to setting unidentified lithologies to Unknown is to select one of the defined
lithologies as the background lithology. To do this, double-click on the models Surface
Chronology and set Background lithology to one of the available lithologies. When you set the
background lithology for a geological model and then enable the fault system, the background
lithology will be copied to each fault block.
If there is no drillhole data in the project or if the model is not based on drillhole data, you will
need to define the lithologies one-by-one. To do this, click on the Add button, enter a name for
the lithology and choose a colour.
Faulted Models
This topic describes how to use the fault system to create and organise faults:
l The Fault System
l Fault Interactions
l Activating the Fault System
l Copying the Surface Chronology to an Empty Fault Block
l Faulted Model Display Options
Each geological model is created with a Fault System object that is used to construct faults.
Once the faults are active in the geological model, the geological model will be divided into
separate fault blocks, which will appear in the project tree as part of the model:

The Fault System | 315
Each fault block has its own Surface Chronology, which can be modified without affecting
other fault blocks in the geological model. There is no top-level Surface Chronology for the
geological model once the Fault System has been activated. This means that lithology layers
can be constructed for a faulted model in two ways:
l Define the Surface Chronology before enabling the Fault System. All surfaces defined for
the unfaulted model will automatically be copied to each fault block. Some surfaces defined
for the model as a whole will not occur in every fault block, which can be corrected by
working with the surfaces in each fault block.
l Enable the Fault System before any surfaces are defined in the unfaulted model, then define
the Surface Chronology for each fault block. An aid to working with a faulted model in this
way is the ability to copy contact surfaces from one faulted block to another. See Copying
the Surface Chronology to an Empty Fault Block below.
Which approach is best depends on the model being built. You may already know where the
faults are and choose to define them and subdivide the geological model before defining any
lithology layers. On the other hand, sometimes it is not apparent where the faults are until the
layers have been built, in which case you can add the new fault, activate it in the model, then
work with the surfaces in each fault block.
The Fault System

When a geological model is first created, the Fault System object is empty. To create faults,
right-click on the Fault System object and select from the options available. Many of these
options are similar to those for creating lateral extents. For more information, see:
l Extent from a Polyline
l Extent from GIS Vector Data
l Extent from Points Data
l Extent from Structural Data
l Extent from a Surface
Faults created from polylines and GIS vector data can be created as vertical walls or surfaces.
Faults created as surfaces can be modified by adding further data, as described in Editing
Faults.
Creating a fault from the base lithology or other contacts is similar to creating contact surfaces.
See Deposits and Erosions From the Base Lithology and Deposits and Erosions From Other
Lithology Contacts for more information.

Faults will appear in the project tree as part of the Fault System object and can be expanded to
show how they were created:
Once faults have been created, you can modify them as described in Editing Faults.
Fault Interactions
Once all the faults required have been created, you can start defining the interactions between
the faults by double-clicking on the Fault System object. The Geological Model will be opened
with the Fault System tab displayed:

Activating the Fault System | 317
To add an interaction, click on a fault, then click the Add button. Select the Interaction Type
and set how the faults interact:
Once you have defined each fault interaction, click OK to generate the fault system. Add the
Fault System object to the scene to check that the faults interact correctly.
You can also edit fault interactions by double-clicking on individual faults. The Edit Fault
window will open, which shows only the interactions for the selected fault:
Faults are not active in the geological model until the box is ticked for each fault in the Fault
System window, as described in Editing Faults. This means you can check the fault system
without regenerating the geological model.
Activating the Fault System

Activating the fault system divides the geological model into fault blocks, which can result in
considerable processing time for complex models. It is important, therefore, to define fault
interactions before enabling the fault system, otherwise a large number of fault blocks could
be generated that significantly increase processing time. See Fault Interactions above.

To activate the fault system in the geological model, double-click on the Fault System object
once again and tick the box for each fault. The model will be divided into separate fault blocks
that can be worked with in a similar manner to the geological model as a whole.
Copying the Surface Chronology to an Empty Fault Block

If you are working with a faulted model and have defined the Surface Chronology for one fault
block, you can copy the Surface Chronology to the empty fault blocks. To do this, right-click
on the Surface Chronology for which you have defined surfaces and select Copy Chronology
To. In the window that appears, select the fault blocks you want to copy contacts to and click
OK. The surfaces will be copied and you can modify them without affecting the surfaces in the
other fault blocks.
Faulted Model Display Options

To view the faulted model in the scene, right-click on the model and select View Output
Volumes. To view the fault blocks without displaying the lithology layers, right-click on the
model and select View Fault Block Boundaries.
To work with a specific fault block, click on it in the scene. The window that appears displays the
name of the selected fault block:
You can also view the output volumes for each individual fault block by right-clicking on the
fault block in the project tree and selecting View Output Volumes.
Editing Faults
Once a fault has been defined, you can refine it in several ways:
l Add other data. This option is available for faults created as surfaces, but not for those
created as vertical walls. Right-click on the surface to see the options available, which will
depend on how the surface was created.
l Edit the surface with a polyline. Right-click on the surface in the project tree and select either
Edit > With Polyline. See Editing Surfaces with Polylines for more information.
l Edit the surface using structural data. Right-click on the surface and select Edit > With
Structural Data. See Editing Surfaces with Structural Data for more information.

Surfacing Options for Faults | 319
The rest of this topic describes other options for editing faults. It is divided into:
l Surfacing Options for Faults
l Boundary Filtering
l Snapping to Data
l Changing Fault Inputs
l Replacing Fault Inputs with a Single Mesh
l Adding Data to the Fault

l Snap Settings for Individual Inputs
l Boundary Filtering Settings for Individual Inputs
l Applying a Trend to a Fault
Surfacing Options for Faults

To change surfacing options for a fault, double-click on the fault in the project tree, then click
on the Surfacing tab.
See Surface Resolution for a Geological Model and Contact Honouring for information
about the settings in the Surfacing tab.
The settings in the Surfacing tab will be disabled if the fault inputs have been replaced with a
mesh.
Boundary Filtering
When data objects are added to a fault, there are two ways to handle the data that lies outside
the fault boundary:
l Filter the data. The fault is only influenced by the data that falls inside the fault boundary.
l Leave the data unfiltered. The fault is influenced by the data both inside and outside the fault
boundary.
The Boundary filter setting determines how data used to define the fault is filtered:
l Off. Data is not filtered.
l All data. All data is filtered.
l Drilling only. Only drillhole data and data objects derived from drillhole data are filtered.
l Custom. Only the data objects specified in the Inputs tab are filtered.
Snapping to Data
There is a Snap to data setting for a geological model as a whole that is set in the Geological
Model > General tab (see Editing a Geological Model). Snap-to-data can also be set on a
surface-by-surface basis by double-clicking on the surface in the project tree and then clicking

For faults, the options are:

l Inherit from GM. The setting for the geological model as a whole is used. This is the default
setting.
l Off. The fault does not snap to the data used to create it.
l All data. The fault surface snaps to all data within the Maximum snap distance, which
includes drillhole data and any data added to the fault.
l Drilling only. The fault surface snaps to drillhole data and data objects derived from drillhole
data within the Maximum snap distance but not to other data used to modify the fault. For
example, the fault surface will honour points data derived from drillhole data, but not points
data imported into the Points folder.
l Custom. The fault snaps to the data objects indicated in the Inputs tab.
If you need the fault surface to honour drillhole data but treat other data objects as
interpretations, select Drilling only. To honour some data objects while treating others as
interpretations, select Custom, then click on the Inputs tab to enable snapping for individual
objects.
Changing Fault Inputs

For faults, the Inputs tab shows all the data objects used to create the fault and whether the
Snap and Boundary filter options are enabled for each object used to define the fault:
You can also replace the faults inputs with a single mesh or add more data to the fault.
Replacing Fault Inputs with a Single Mesh

To replace the fault inputs with a single mesh, click on the Mesh option, then select from the
meshes available in the project.
When you select a single mesh to define the fault, all other inputs listed in the Inputs tab will
be removed from the fault. This can result in objects being deleted from the project. For
example, if the fault has been edited using a polyline, the polyline will be deleted when the
inputs are replaced with the mesh. If you wish to retain such inputs, be sure to share the
object before changing the inputs. See Sharing Objects for more information.

Adding Data to the Fault | 321
The snap and boundary filtering controls in the Surfacing tab will be disabled as the settings
from the geological model will be used. The settings in the Trend tab will also be disabled as it is
not possible to set a trend for a fault defined from a mesh.
Adding Data to the Fault

To add more data to the fault, click on the Select Objects button, then select from the suitable
objects available in the project.
Snap Settings for Individual Inputs

The Snap setting determines whether or not the faults surface honours a particular data object.
data as interpretations, as discussed in Contact Honouring. To change snap settings for a fault,
click on the Surfacing tab and set Snap to data to Custom. You will then be able to change
Snap settings in the Inputs tab.
Boundary Filtering Settings for Individual Inputs

When data objects are added to a fault, there are two ways to handle the data that lies outside
the fault boundary:
l Filter the data. The fault is only influenced by the data that falls inside the fault boundary.
l Leave the data unfiltered. The fault is influenced by the data both inside and outside the fault
boundary.
To change the Boundary filter settings for each object used to define a fault, click on the
Surfacing tab and set Boundary filter to Custom. You will then be able to change Boundary
filter settings in the Inputs tab.
Applying a Trend to a Fault

To apply a trend to a fault, either:
l Double-click on the fault in the project tree, then click on the Trend tab.
l Right-click on the fault in the project tree and select Adjust Surface. This opens the Edit
Fault window with the Trend tab displayed.
See Global Trends for information on using the controls in this tab.
The settings in the Trend tab will be disabled if the fault inputs have been replaced with a
mesh.
Contact Surfaces
Defining the internal structure of a geological model involves generating contact surfaces that
correspond to the boundaries between lithological units, refining the contact surfaces,
arranging them in chronological order and then using the surfaces and the chronological order
to divide the geological model into units. The Surface Chronology object represents the
collection of contact surfaces and defines how they interact to produce the volumes of the

geological model. Factors that influence the interaction of contact surfaces with the volumes
of the geological model are:
l The order of the contact surfaces in the Surface Chronology. See Contact Surfaces in the
Surface Chronology.
l The type of contact surface. See Contact Surfaces Types for more information.
l The orientation of the older and younger sides of the surface. See Younging Direction.
The remainder of this topic describes how the different types of contact surface interact and will
help you in deciding how to model different units. For specific information on creating the
different types of contact surfaces, see:
l Deposits and Erosions
l Intrusions
l Veins
l Vein Systems
l Stratigraphic Sequences
Contact Surfaces in the Surface Chronology

When a geological model is first created, it is simply a volume that is assigned the background
lithology. This background lithology is intially Unknown, as although the model has
lithologies defined, Leapfrog Geo cannot determine what lithology to use for the background
lithology.
The contact surfaces and their order in the Surface Chronology determine how they divide this
larger Unknown volume into known lithological units. The scene below shows the Surface
Chronology for four deposit contact surfaces and two intrusion contact surfaces, bounded by
the geological model extents (pink). The two intrusion contacts are labelled as Unknown on the
outside and the intrusion lithology on the inside:

Contact Surfaces in the Surface Chronology | 323
The Surface Chronology is open, showing the contact surfaces in chronological order, with the
youngest at the top of the list. This is the order in which contact surfaces will be used to cut the
Unknown volume of a newly created model. The different types of contact surfaces cut older
volumes in different ways, which are described below in Contact Surfaces Types.
For the model shown above, the first contact surface to cut the geological model volume is the
oldest surface, D5 - D4 contacts. The volume is divided into D5 (red) below and D4 (green)
above:
When the next contact surface (D4 - D3 contacts) is enabled in the model, the volume above
the contact surface is labelled with the lithology assigned to the surfaces younger side (blue):
Therefore, any volume in a geological model is labelled with the lithology assigned to the
youngest side of the surface that last cut the volume.

With a simple deposit geological model, as long as each side of each contact surface is assigned
a lithology, all volumes will be labelled with known lithologies. Intrusive contact surfaces,
however, are often of unknown lithology on the outside, as they contact multiple lithologies.
When the two intrusive surfaces in the model above are enabled but all deposit surfaces are
disabled, the unknown lithology is replaced with each intrusive lithology on the inner sides of
each contact surface, but outside each intrusive contact surface the lithology is not known:
If the outside of the older contact surface (green) is assigned a lithology (red), the volume
outside each intrusion is known and, therefore, the surrounding volume can be labelled:
If, however, the outside of the younger intrusion is known but the outside of the older intrusion
is unknown, it is not possible to determine the lithology of the surrounding volume as the
lithology on the outer side of the surface making the first cut is not known:

Contact Surfaces Types | 325
Contact Surfaces Types

The different types of contact surfaces result in different shapes and cut older volumes in
different ways. The contact surface types are:
l Deposit. Deposit contact surfaces tend to be sheet-like, with the primary lithology on the
young side and the contacting/avoided lithologies on the older side. Deposits do not cut
older volumes. A volume defined by a deposit contact surface will, therefore, appear
conformably on top of older volumes.
l Erosion. Erosion contact surfaces are similar to deposits, but cut away other contact surfaces
on the older side of the erosion contact surface.
l Intrusion. Intrusion contact surfaces are rounder in shape, with an interior lithology that
represents the intrusion lithology. The intrusion removes existing lithologies and replaces
them with the intrusive lithology on the younger side of the contact surface. Often, the older
side of an intrusion contact surface is labelled Unknown as typically intrusions displace
multiple older lithologies.
l Vein. Vein contact surfaces remove existing lithologies and replace them with the vein
lithology within the boundaries defined by hangingwall and footwall surfaces and points and
a reference surface.
These terms are indicative of the resulting shape and cutting behaviour of a surface rather than
of the geological formations that can be modelled. In fact, it might make sense to model
something like basement granite as a deposit rather than as an intrusion when it forms the
lowest layer in the geological model. If there are no older layers for an intrusion-type contact
surface to remove and it is apparent from the drillhole data that the lithology simply fills the
lowermost parts of the model, then it makes sense to model it as a deposit.
An important consideration in building contact surfaces is that they have an older side and a
younger side. This is described in more detail in Younging Direction below, but it is sufficient to
understand, at this point, that younging direction is one factor in determining how the different
types of contact surfaces cut older surfaces.
Deposit and Erosion Contact Surfaces

Deposits and erosions are both roughly flat surfaces. The difference between the two is that
deposits appear conformably on top of underlying older volumes and do not occur in regions
defined by older deposits, while erosions remove existing lithologies on the older side of the
erosion. This difference is illustrated here, using a model made up of three deposits, A, B and C:

The contact surfaces that define the three output volumes are the B-C contacts surface (pink)
toward the top of the model extents and the A-B contacts surface (gold) lower down:
An erosion contact surface (C-D contacts) added to the model cuts across the A-B and B-C
contacts. The younger (purple) side of the C-D contact surface faces up:
Once the model is recalculated, the erosion (D) has cut away the deposits on the older side of
the erosion:

Intrusion Contact Surfaces | 327
However, if the C-D contact surface is changed to be a deposit surface, D only occurs on the
younger side of the C-D contact surface and does not cut away the A, B and C volumes:
See Deposits and Erosions for information on techniques for creating deposits and erosions.
Intrusion Contact Surfaces

An intrusion is a type of contact surface that removes existing lithologies and replaces them
with the intrusive lithology. Intrusions are rounder in shape than deposits and erosions, with an
interior lithology that represents the intrusion lithology on the inside of the shape.
Adding an intrusion (E) surface added to the example model above as the youngest surface cuts
away the other lithologies on the inside of the surface:
Note that the intrusion contacts multiple units. This is typical of intrusion contact surfaces as an
intrusion will usually displace multiple older lithologies. Although the outside of the intrusion is
not labelled with a lithology, the lithology of each volume the intrusion comes into contact with
can be known from the lithologies assigned to the deposit contact surfaces.
However, when all contact surfaces are intrusions, the lithology of the surrounding volume
cannot be known, which results in intrusion volumes surrounded by an Unknown volume:

In this instance, the contact surfaces each have a known side and an unknown side:
Adding the drillholes to the scene helps in understanding what lithology the outside of each
intrusion should be:
In this case, opening the Surface Chronology and assigning AvT as the background lithology
results in a model for which all volumes are labelled with a known lithology:
See Intrusions for information on techniques for creating intrusions.

Vein Contact Surfaces | 329
Vein Contact Surfaces

Veins remove existing lithologies and replace them with the vein lithology within the boundaries
defined by hangingwall and footwall surfaces and points and a reference surface. Here, a slice
has been made horizontally through a model made up of three deposits:
Adding five dykes modelled as veins and enabling them in the model results in the veins cutting
away each deposit at the point of contact:
Here the sliced deposits are displayed but the veins are hidden in order to show how they cut
away the deposits:
See Veins for information on techniques for creating veins.

Younging Direction
An important factor in determining how surfaces interact is the younging direction of each
surface. Each contact surface has a younger side and an older side. For deposit and erosion
contact surfaces, Leapfrog Geo will, by default, put the younger side up, since this is
geologically reasonable in most situations. If, for example, you know that the geology is
overturned, you can change the younging direction once the surface has been created.
For intrusion contact surfaces, the younger side of the surface is the inside, although this can be
swapped if Leapfrog Geo has assigned it incorrectly, as may be the case with flatter intrusion
surfaces.
When contact surfaces are displayed in the scene, you can choose whether to display the
surfaces using the lithology or the younging direction. When the younging direction is
displayed, the younger side is typically green and the older side is brown:
When a contact surface is displayed using the younging direction, Leapfrog Geo by default
colours the younger side green and the older side brown.
Deposits and Erosions

This topic describes creating and editing deposits and erosions. The topic is divided into:
l Creating Deposits and Erosions
l Deposits and Erosions From the Base Lithology
l Deposits and Erosions From Other Lithology Contacts

l Deposits and Erosions From Other Data
l Deposits/Erosions in the Project Tree
l Refining Deposits and Erosions
l Snapping to Data
l Setting the Surface Resolution
l Applying a Trend to a Deposit/Erosion

Creating Deposits and Erosions | 331
For a general introduction to how deposits and erosions interact with other contact surfaces,
see Deposit and Erosion Contact Surfaces in Contact Surfaces.
Creating Deposits and Erosions

Lithology data is often the most reliable data source to use when building geological surfaces,
and it is best to derive contact surfaces from lithology data when it is available. If no lithology
data is available, you can create deposits and erosions from other data in the project. You can
also create offset surfaces from other surfaces in the project, which is useful for creating a series
of surfaces. See Offset Surfaces for more information.
Deposits and Erosions From the Base Lithology

It is best to derive contact surfaces from lithology data, when it is available. There are two ways
to create contact surfaces from lithology data:
l Using the base lithology column assigned when the model was created. This is the process
described below.
l Using other lithology information available in the project. This is useful when you have
created an additional lithology column as part of correcting and working with the drillhole
data. For example, if when building a geological model it becomes apparent that changes
need to be made to the drillhole data, you can import additional data or create a new column
using the split lithology, group lithology or interval selection tools. See Deposits and
Erosions From Other Lithology Contacts for more information.
Selecting the From Base Lithology option opens the New Contact Points window:

Select the lithology you wish to use to create the surface from the Select primary lithology list;
this will be the older lithology (lower down) in the geological model. The Contacting/Avoided
lithologies list shows the lithologies that contact the primary lithology and the number of
contacts. This helps in selecting which contacts to use to create the contact surface.
The options in the Lithology tab are useful for creating a surface when one lithology is
interbedded with another. For example, here we can see that the coarse sand is interbedded
with alluvium:
The solution to this is to create two surfaces from the Alluvium contacts, one using the contacts
above (younger contacts) and the other using the contacts below (older contacts):

Deposits and Erosions From the Base Lithology | 333
Note that the gravel contacts should be excluded for the surface created from the Use
contacts below option, as we can see from the drillhole data that gravel appears lower down in
the model than the surface we are creating. Do this by dragging the contacts that should be
excluded to the Ignored lithologies list:
ignored when creating a contact surface, but you can also treat them as the primary lithology or
as avoided lithologies.

For complex geologies, the up and down directions for the surface may not be clear. If this is the
facing surface labelled A and the downward-facing surface labelled B:
Controlling the position of the reference plane is similar to controlling the position of the
moving plane:
Setting a reference plane for contact points is different from applying a global trend to a
surface. To apply a global trend to a surface, double-click on the surface in the project tree
and click on the Trend tab. See Global Trends.
Data can be composited at the drillhole level or on a surface-by-surface basis. To composite

the data used to generate the contact surface, click on the Compositing tab. See Category
Composites for more information.
Click OK to create the contact surface, which will appear in the project tree under the Surface
Chronology. See Refining Deposits and Erosions below for more information on refining the
contact surface.

Deposits and Erosions From Other Lithology Contacts | 335
Deposits and Erosions From Other Lithology Contacts

Creating deposit and erosion contact surfaces using the From Other Contacts option is useful
when you have created an additional lithology column as part of correcting and working with
the drillhole data. For example, if when building a geological model it becomes apparent that
changes need to be made to the drillhole data, you can import additional data or create a new
column using the split lithology, group lithology or interval selection tools. See Splitting
Lithologies, Grouping Lithologies and Interval Selection for more information.
The process is similar to creating a surface from the base lithology column, but you must first
select the lithology column you will use:
Select the First Lithology and Second Lithology, if known. Click OK. The New Contact Points
window will appear. Assign the Primary lithology, Contacting/Avoided lithologies and the
Ignored lithologies. These can only be selected from the models base lithology.
The rest of the process is similar to defining a contact surface from the base lithology. See
Deposits and Erosions From the Base Lithology above for more information.
Be sure to add the contact surface to the scene to view it and check that it is oriented correctly.
See Refining Deposits and Erosions below for more information on the different techniques
that can be used for adjusting a contact surface.
Deposits and Erosions From Other Data

If suitable lithology data is not available, deposits and erosions can be created from other data
in the project, such as GIS data, structural data, points, polylines and surfaces. The steps for
creating deposits and erosions from other data are similar, regardless of the data used to create
the surface:
l Right-click on the Surface Chronology and select one of the data types from the New
Deposit/Erosion menu.
l Select the data object that will be used to define the surface. This must already be in the
project, unless you are using a polyline, in which case you are given the option to create a
new polyline.
l Select the First lithology and Second lithology. These are the lithologies that will be
assigned to each side of the contact surface. The lithologies you can choose from are those
defined for the geological model in the Lithologies object (see Model Lithologies).
l Set whether the First lithology is older or younger than the Second lithology. Leapfrog Geo
will, by default, put the younger side of a contact surface up, but this can be changed later.

Here, a points data object is being used to create a deposit:
For polylines, you first set the lithologies and the younging order:
Click OK to move on to the next step:
You can draw the polyline in the scene directly by selecting the New Drawing option. You can
also use any polyline in the project by selecting the Existing Polyline option. You can then
select the required polyline from the dropdown list.
The new contact surface will appear in the project tree under the Surface Chronology. Add the
contact surface to the scene to view it and check that it is oriented correctly.
Expand the surface in the project tree to see how it was made. Here, a number of surfaces have
been created using different types of data:
If creating a surface from a new polyline, the polyline will not be able to be used elsewhere in
the project unless it has been shared. To share the polyline, expand the contact surface in the

Deposits/Erosions in the Project Tree | 337
project tree, right-click on the polyline and select Share. The polyline will then be available
elsewhere in the project.
As further refinements are made to the surface, that information will also be added to the
contact surface in the project tree.
Deposits/Erosions in the Project Tree

The name Leapfrog Geo automatically assigns to a deposit or an erosion is the lithologies
assigned to each side of the surface. In the project tree, expand the surface to see how it was
made:
Double-click on the surface to edit it. Double-click on the contact points object ( ) to edit the
lithology and change compositing parameters.
project tree. See Refining Deposits and Erosions below for more information.
Refining Deposits and Erosions

You can refine deposits and erosions in several ways:
l Add other data. Right-click on the surface to see the options available, which will depend on
how the surface was created. See Adding Data to Surfaces for more information.
Structural Data. This option is available for deposits and erosions created from lithology data
and other data in the project, but not for offset surfaces. See Editing Surfaces with
Structural Data for more information.
To edit the surfaces settings, double-click on it in the project tree. In the Lithologies tab,
change the lithologies assigned to each side of the surface, if required.
You can swap the younging direction if the direction was assigned incorrectly when the surface
was created. The change will be reflected in the scene. Note that changing the younging
direction does not change which lithology is older or younger.
The difference between deposit and erosion contact surfaces is how they cut older lithologies,
as described in Contact Surfaces. For this reason, it is possible to change between the two types
using the Contact Type setting.
For information on other techniques for refining deposits and erosions, see:
l Offset Surfaces

Surfacing Options for Deposits and Erosions

Surfacing options for deposits and erosions can be changed by double-clicking on the surface
in the project tree and then clicking on the Surfacing tab. There are additional settings related
to boundary filtering and snapping to data in the Inputs tab.
Boundary Filtering
When data objects are added to a surface, there are two ways to handle the data that lies
outside the surfaces boundary:
l Filter the data. The surface is only influenced by the data that falls inside the surfaces
boundary.
l Leave the data unfiltered. The surface is influenced by the data both inside and outside the
surfaces boundary.
The Boundary filter setting determines how data used to define the surface is filtered:
Snapping to Data
data as interpretations. See Contact Honouring.
For individual contact surfaces, the options are:
setting.
drillhole data and any data added to the surfaces.
l Drilling only. Surfaces snap to drillhole data and data objects derived from drillhole data
within the Maximum snap distance but not to other data used to modify the surfaces.
l Custom. Surfaces snap to the data objects indicated in the Inputs tab for each surface.
If you need a surface to honour drillhole data but treat other data objects as interpretations,

Setting the Surface Resolution | 339
Setting the Surface Resolution

See Surface Resolution for a Geological Model for information about the surface resolution
settings in the Surfacing tab.
Applying a Trend to a Deposit/Erosion

There are two ways to change the trend for a deposit or an erosion:
l Right-click on the surface in the project tree and select Adjust Surface.
l Double-click on the surface in the project tree and then click on the Trend tab.
Intrusions
This topic describes creating and editing intrusions. The topic is divided into:
l Creating Intrusions
l Intrusions from Lithology Contacts
l Intrusions from Other Data

l Intrusions in the Project Tree
l Displaying Intrusion Points
l Refining Intrusions
l Surfacing Options for Intrusions
l Snapping to Data
l Applying a Trend to an Intrusion
l Clipping Values for Intrusions
l Interpolation Settings
For a general introduction to how intrusions interact with other contact surfaces, see Intrusion
Contact Surfaces in Contact Surfaces.
Creating Intrusions
and it is best to derive contact surfaces from lithology data when it is available. If no lithology
data is available, you can create intrusions from other data in the project.
One thing to keep in mind for all intrusion contact surfaces is that an intrusion removes all the
existing material on the younger side of the contact surface. Therefore:
l An intrusion should always have the younger side of its surface labelled with the intruded
material. This is called the interior lithology.

l The older side will typically be labelled Unknown as an intrusion will usually displace
multiple older lithologies. This is called the exterior lithology.
Intrusions from Lithology Contacts

and it is best to derive contact surfaces from lithology data when it is available. There are two
ways to create intrusions from lithology data:
l Using the base lithology column assigned when the model was created.
l Using other lithology information available in the project. This is useful when you have
created an additional lithology column as part of correcting and working with the drillhole
data. For example, if when building a geological model it becomes apparent that changes
need to be made to the drillhole data, you can import additional data or create a new column
using the split lithology, group lithology or interval selection tools.
To create a new intrusion from lithology contacts, right-click on the Surface Chronology
object and select either New Intrusion > From Base Lithology or New Intrusion > From Other
Contacts. The only difference in the two methods is that when creating an intrusion from other
contacts, you must first select the lithology column from those available in the project and
specify the First lithology and the Second lithology.
Select the intrusive lithology as the interior lithology. Other lithologies will be displayed in the
Exterior lithologies list. Drag any younger lithologies to the Ignore list.
ignored when creating an intrusion, but you can also treat them as the interior lithology or as
exterior lithologies.

Intrusions from Other Data | 341
Sometimes intrusive boundaries are poorly defined, with fragments of country rock intermixed
with the intrusive body. This can result in very small segments near the edges of the intrusion.
Modelling the fine detail is not always necessary, and so compositing can be used to smooth
these boundaries. Compositing parameters are set in the Compositing tab:
The settings in this tab are described in Category Composites.

Click OK to create the intrusion, which will be added to the project tree as part of the Surface
Chronology object.
Intrusions from Other Data

If suitable lithology data is not available, intrusions can be created from other data in the
project, such as GIS data, structural data, points, polylines and surfaces. The steps for creating
intrusions from other data are similar, regardless of the data used to create the surface:
l Right-click on the Surface Chronology and select one of the data types from the New
Intrusion menu.
l Select the data object that will be used to define the surface. This must already be in the
project, unless you are using a polyline, in which case you are given the option to create a
new polyline.
l Select the First lithology and Second lithology. These are the lithologies that will be
assigned to each side of the contact surface. The lithologies you can choose from are those
defined for the geological model in the Lithologies object (see Model Lithologies).
l Set whether the First lithology is older or younger than the Second lithology. Leapfrog Geo
will, by default, put the younger side of a contact surface up, but this can be changed later.
Here, a points data object is being used to create an intrusion:

For polylines, you first set the lithologies and the younging order:
Click OK to move on to the next step:
You can draw the polyline in the scene directly by selecting the New Drawing option. You can
also use any polyline in the project by selecting the Existing Polyline option. You can then
select the required polyline from the dropdown list.
The new intrusion will appear in the project tree under the Surface Chronology. Add the
contact surface to the scene to view it and check that it is oriented correctly.
Expand the surface in the project tree to see how it was made.
If creating a surface from a new polyline, the polyline will not be able to be used elsewhere in
the project unless it has been shared. To share the polyline, expand the contact surface in the
project tree, right-click on the polyline and select Share. The polyline will then be available
elsewhere in the project.
contact surface in the project tree.
Intrusions in the Project Tree

The name Leapfrog Geo automatically assigns to an intrusion is the name of the intrusive
lithology. In the project tee, expand the intrusion to see how it was made:
Double-click on the intrusion to edit it. Double-click on the points object ( ) to edit the
intrusion lithology, change compositing parameters and change point generation options.
project tree. See Refining Intrusions below for more information.

Displaying Intrusion Points | 343
Displaying Intrusion Points

When you view the intrusion points in the scene, you can display only the contact points or all
the points used in creating the intrusion. To display all points, click on the points object ( ) in
the shape list and tick the box for Show volume points:
When the volume points are displayed, points with negative values are those outside the
surface, while points with positive values are those inside.
You can change the way intrusion points are generated by double-clicking on the points object (
) in the project tree. See Intrusion Point Generation Parameters.
Refining Intrusions
You can refine intrusions in several ways:
To edit an intrusions settings, double-click on it in the project tree. In the Lithologies tab,
Surfacing Options for Intrusions

Surfacing options for an intrusion can be changed by double-clicking on the surface in the
project tree and then clicking on the Surfacing tab. There are additional settings related to

boundary filtering and snapping to data in the Inputs tab.
Boundary Filtering
boundary.
surfaces boundary.
The boundary of an intrusion can be the geological model boundary or a fault block boundary.
Snapping to Data
data as interpretations, as discussed in Contact Honouring.
setting.
Surface Resolution

Applying a Trend to an Intrusion | 345
Clicking Additional options adds Value Clipping and Interpolant tabs to the window and also
allows the use of a structural trend in the Trend tab:
These are described in Applying a Trend to an Intrusion, Clipping Values for Intrusions and
Interpolation Settings below.
Applying a Trend to an Intrusion

There are two ways to change the trend for an intrusion:
You can also use a structural trend for an intrusion. To do this, click the Additional options
button in the Surfacing tab, then click on the Trend tab.
Click on Structural Trend, then select the required trend from the dropdown list. See
Structural Trends for more information.

Clipping Values for Intrusions

You can change settings for intrusions by double-clicking on the contact surface in the project
tree. The Value Clipping tab is only available for intrusion contact surfaces.
In the Value Clipping tab, you can manipulate the data distribution by clipping the data:
Clipping cuts off values that are outside the range set by the Lower bound and Upper bound
values. For example, if you change the Upper bound from 16.00 to 10.00, distance values
above 10.00 will be regarded as 10.00.
The Automatic clipping setting has different effects based on whether a global trend or
structural trend is set in the Trend tab:
l When a global trend is applied, Leapfrog Geo automatically clips the values. That is, the
Automatic clipping setting is Do clipping and Leapfrog Geo sets the Lower bound and
Upper bound from the data. To disable clipping, untick Automatic clipping, then untick Do
clipping. To change the Lower bound and Upper bound, untick Automatic clipping, then
change the values.
l When a structural trend is applied, Leapfrog Geo automatically does not clip the values. To
clip values, untick Automatic clipping, then tick Do clipping. Again, Leapfrog Geo sets the
Lower bound and Upper bound values from the data and you can change them, if required.
Interpolation Settings
You can change settings for an intrusion by double-clicking on the intrusion in the project tree
and clicking on the Interpolant tab. For more information on the settings in this tab, see:
l Interpolant Functions
l The Spheroidal Interpolant Function
l The Linear Interpolant Function

Veins | 347
Veins
This topic describes creating and editing veins. It is divided into:
l Creating Veins
l Veins From Lithology Contacts
l Veins From Other Data

l Veins in the Project Tree
l Displaying Veins
l Refining Veins
l Surfacing Options for Veins
l Snapping to Data
l Vein Thickness
l Vein Pinch Out
l The Vein Reference Surface
l Adding Data to the Reference Surface
l Using a Planar Reference Surface

l The Vein Boundary
l Adding a Polyline to the Vein Boundary
l Adjusting the Vein Boundary Plane

l Editing Vein Segments
For a general introduction to how veins interact with other contact surfaces, see Vein Contact
Surfaces in Contact Surfaces.
A vein is a type of contact surface that removes existing lithologies and replaces them with the
vein lithology within the boundaries defined by hangingwall and footwall surfaces constructed
from selected input data. A reference surface is defined that is the best fit for the hangingwall
and footwall surfaces. The reference surface can be curved or planar.
Creating Veins
Options for creating veins are:
l From lithology data, using the base lithology used to define the geological model or other
contacts available in the project. See Veins From Lithology Contacts below.
l From GIS vector data, point data and polylines. See Veins From Other Data below.
l Creating a vein system. This results in a single lithology that represents all the veins in a model.
Veins and their interactions are defined within the vein system. See Vein Systems.

Veins From Lithology Contacts

To create a new vein from lithology contacts, right-click on the Surface Chronology object and
select either New Vein > From Base Lithology or New Vein > From Other Contacts. The only
difference in the two methods is that when creating a vein from other contacts, you must first
select the lithology column from those available in the project and specify the Vein lithology
and Outside lithology.
In the New Vein window, select the Vein lithology:
When extracting the hangingwall and footwall points, Leapfrog Geo automatically includes
points at the ends of the drillholes. To exclude these points, untick the Include points at the
ends of holes. Once the vein has been created, this setting can be changed by double-clicking
on the vein segments object ( ) in the project tree.
Click OK to create the vein, which will be added to the project tree as part of the Surface
Chronology object.
Veins From Other Data

If suitable lithology data is not available, veins can be created from other data in the project,
such as GIS data, points and polylines. The steps for creating veins from other data are similar,
regardless of the data used to create the surface:
l Right-click on the Surface Chronology and select one of the data types from the New Vein
menu.
l Select the data objects for the Hangingwall and Footwall. These objects must already be in
the project.
l Select the Vein lithology and the Outside lithology. The lithologies you can choose from are
those defined for the geological model in the Lithologies object (see Model Lithologies).
Here, a points data object is being used to create a vein:

Veins in the Project Tree | 349
Click OK to create the new vein. The new contact surface will appear in the project tree under
the Surface Chronology. Expand the vein in the project tree to see how it was made.
Veins in the Project Tree

Veins are stored in the project tree as part of the Surface Chronology object. Further
modifications can be made to the vein by working on the objects that make up the vein. Expand
the vein in the project tree to view these objects.
Here, the hangingwall and footwall surfaces and points are displayed in the scene for a vein
defined from lithology data. The reference surface (yellow) and the vein segments (red and blue
cylinders) used to create the vein are also shown:
This vein is made up of:

l Hangingwall and footwall surfaces ( ), which, when expanded, show the hangingwall and
footwall data objects used to create the surfaces.
o Export hangingwall and footwall surfaces as described in Mesh Export and Elevation Grid
Export.
o Add points and GIS vector data to the meshes by right-clicking on them and selecting Add.
o Edit the hangingwall and footwall surfaces with polylines by right-clicking on the surface
and selecting one of the Edit options.
o Change contact honouring and boundary filtering options as described in Surfacing
Options for Veins below.
l Vein segments and pinch out segments ( ) extracted from drillhole data. These are only
included when a vein is created from lithology contacts.
l A reference surface ( ) calculated as the best fit surface using the hangingwall and footwall
surfaces.
o The reference surface can be curved or planar.
o You can add points, GIS vector data and polylines to a curved reference surface.
o If a curved reference surface is made up of multiple objects, you can switch between the
objects and change how they are filtered in order to see the effects on the vein.
l A boundary object ( ), which is empty when the vein is first created.

Displaying Veins
You can change the way the different objects that make up the vein are displayed using options
in the shape list:
Refining Veins
To edit a veins settings, double-click on it in the project tree. In the Lithologies tab, change the
lithologies assigned to each side of the surface, if required. For information on the settings in the
Surfacing and Inputs tabs, see Surfacing Options for Veins below.
Surfacing Options for Veins

Surfacing options for veins can be changed by double-clicking on the surface in the project tree
and then clicking on the Surfacing tab. There are additional settings related to boundary
filtering and snapping to data in the Inputs tab.
Boundary Filtering
boundary.
surfaces boundary.
The boundary of a vein can be the geological model boundary or a fault block boundary.
The Filter segments by boundary setting in the Inputs tab is enabled by default when the
Boundary filter setting in the Surfacing tab is All data or Drilling only. When Filter segments
by boundary is enabled, the vein surface will only be influenced by the segments that falls
inside the vein boundary.

Snapping to Data | 351
Snapping to Data
setting.
Surface Resolution
Note that although you can change the Surface resolution for a vein, the Adaptive option is
not available, even when the resolution for the geological model is set to be Adaptive.
Vein Thickness
Veins have two thickness settings that force the vein to maintain a minimum or maximum
thickness. If footwall and hangingwall points are in pairs, it is not usually necessary to set the
Minimum thickness or Maximum thickness.
l If the vein intersects itself, set the Minimum thickness to a value that is less than the minimum
distance between any two contact points.
l If the vein widens out toward the edges of the geological model set the Maximum thickness
to a value that limits the effects of long segments.
If the Pinch out option is enabled, you will not be able to set the Minimum thickness.
If you set the Maximum thickness and Pinch out, the Pinch out is applied before the Maximum
thickness.
Vein Pinch Out

Vein walls can be set to pinch out where drillhole data indicates they do not occur. This is
achieved by creating outside intervals on drillholes that do not have an interior vein segment.

These intervals are then flipped with respect to interior vein intervals, which, in effect means the
footwall and hangingwall orientation has the opposite sense to the nearest interior intervals.
This forces the hangingwall and footwall surfaces to cross, thereby pinching out.
The Pinch out option is disabled when a vein is first created. To enable it, double-click on the
vein in the project tree and click on the Surfacing tab. Tick the box for Pinch out. Click OK to
process the changes. The vein will be updated and pinch out points ( ) will be added to the
vein in the project tree.
For this vein, the surface occurs even where the vein lithology (green cylinders) does not occur
and terminates at the boundary of the geological model:
When the vein is set to pinch out, it tapers out where the vein lithology does not occur:
You can change how much the vein pinches out by excluding some pinch out segments. To do
this, right-click on the pinch out segments ( ) in the project tree and select Edit in Scene. The
Pinch Out Properties window will appear in the scene. Click on a segment to view information
about it and set it to be Excluded, if required. Note that the segments displayed in the scene
below are the pinch out segments rather than the drillhole segments shown in earlier scenes.
The grey segments are excluded and the currently selected segment is highlighted in the scene:

The Vein Reference Surface | 353
Click the Save button ( ) to view the effect of the excluded pinch out segments on the vein.
Excluding the two segments results in the vein terminating at the boundary of the geological
model:
The Vein Reference Surface

A vein includes a reference surface ( ) that is the best fit for the objects that make up the
hangingwall and footwall surfaces. There are two types of reference surface.
l Curved. A curved reference surface can be used to make a vein follow the medial trend of the
source data, which leads to a more natural modelled shape. This is the type of reference
surface used by default for veins created from lithology data. A curved reference surface can
be used for veins created from other types of data by adding data to the reference surface, as
described in Adding Data to the Reference Surface.
l Planar. A planar reference surface is simply the best linear fit between the hangingwall and
footwall surfaces. See Using a Planar Reference Surface.
To adjust the reference surface ( ), double-click on it in the project tree or right-click on it and
select Open. The Reference Surface window will appear, showing the data used to for the
reference surface. This is the reference surface for a vein created from lithology data, and so the
midpoints for the vein lithology are used as Input values:
Boundary filtering for the midpoints used to create a curved reference is controlled by the
setting for the vein itself. See Boundary Filtering in Surfacing Options for Veins for more
information.

Adding Data to the Reference Surface

In order for a vein created from data other than lithology data to use a curved reference surface,
other data must be added to it. To add data, right-click on the reference surface in the project
tree and select Add or Edit. Once you have added data, the Curved reference surface option
will be enabled in the Reference Data window and the objects used to adjust the surface will
appear in the list of Input values:
You can enable or disable the different data objects to see their effects on the vein by ticking
and unticking the Active box.
The Boundary filter setting for each object determines whether or not the data that lies outside
the reference surfaces boundary is filtered.
l Tick Boundary filter so that the surface is only influenced by the data that falls inside the
reference surfaces boundary.
l Untick Boundary filter if you want the surface to be influenced by the data both inside and
outside the reference surfaces boundary.
Click OK to process the changes.

Using a Planar Reference Surface | 355
Using a Planar Reference Surface

Veins created from objects other than lithology data use a planar reference surface, and this
option can also be selected for veins created from lithology data. To use a planar reference
surface, select the Planar reference surface option in the Reference Surface window. The
plane will be displayed in the scene, together with handles that can be used to adjust it:
These handles work in the same manner as the moving plane controls, as described in The
Moving Plane.
Click OK to update the reference surface and view the results.
The Vein Boundary

Once a vein has been created, you can change its boundary by:
l Adding a Polyline to the Vein Boundary
l Adjusting the Vein Boundary Plane

Adding a Polyline to the Vein Boundary

To change the boundary using a polyline, right-click on the boundary object ( ) in the project
tree and select Edit. The current vein boundary will appear in the scene, together with drawing
controls. Begin drawing the new boundary, as described in Drawing in the Scene, ensuring
that the polyline drawn closes and does not intersect itself.
When you save the boundary, the vein will be updated to reflect the changes to the boundary.
If you want to revert to the original boundary, right-click on the boundary object ( ) and select
Delete Polyline.
Adjusting the Vein Boundary Plane

To adjust the boundary plane, right-click on the boundary object ( ) in the project tree and
select Adjust Plane. The Adjust Boundary Plane window will appear and handles to adjust the
plane will appear in the scene:

Editing Vein Segments | 357
Click OK to apply the changes to the vein. To revert to the original boundary plane, right-click
on the boundary object and select Adjust Plane. In the Adjust Boundary Plane window, click
on the Set to Default button and click OK.
Editing Vein Segments

When a vein has been created from contact points, you can change the vein segment settings
by double-clicking on the vein segments object ( ) in the project tree. This opens the Edit Vein
window.
When extracting the hangingwall and footwall points, Leapfrog Geo automatically includes
points at the ends of the drillholes. To exclude these points, untick the Include points at the
ends of holes.
Vein Segment Orientation

If you need to change the orientation of individual vein segments, e.g. for curved veins, you can
do this by right-clicking on the vein segments object ( ) in the project tree and selecting Edit In
Scene. If the vein segments object is already in the scene, you can edit it by clicking the Edit
button ( ) in the shape list.
The Vein Segment Orientations window will appear in the scene. Click on a vein segment to
view information about that segment:
Points A and B are labelled in the scene and can be changed by unticking the box for each point
and choosing whether to exclude the point or make it a hangingwall or footwall point. Once
you have finished editing vein segments, click the Save button ( ).
If you wish to return to the default settings, ensure the Auto box is ticked for each point.
Vein Systems
This topic describes creating a vein system for a geological model. The topic is divided into:
l Creating a Vein System
l Adding Veins to the Vein System
l Editing the Veins

l Vein System Lithology Settings

l Vein Interactions
An alternative to defining veins one-by-one is to create a vein system. The vein system
represents a single lithology within the geological model. For example, for a model of a
sedimentary system cross-cut by vertical intersecting dykes, we could model the veins one-by-
one, in which case each vein in the model is represented by a separate lithology:
Modelled as a vein system, however, the veins are grouped into a vein system object ( ) that
defines the lithology for the vein system as a whole:
Note that the individual veins are part of the vein system.
The vein system defines how the veins interact, and veins can be added to it using the same
techniques used to create individual veins.

Creating a Vein System | 359
Creating a Vein System

To create a vein system, right-click on the Surface Chronology and select New Vein System. In
the window that appears, select the Vein lithology:
If the vein system contacts only one lithology, set the Outside lithology. Otherwise, leave
Outside lithology set to Unknown.
Click OK. An empty vein system ( ) will be added to the project tree under the Surface
Chronology. Double-click on it to change the lithologies.
Adding Veins to the Vein System

Once the vein system has been created, you can create veins using the same techniques
described in Veins From Lithology Contacts and Veins From Other Data.
To add veins to the vein system, right-click on the vein system and select one of the New Vein
options. Veins will appear in the project tree as part of the vein system object and can be
expanded to show how they were created.
Editing the Veins

The techniques for editing vein system veins are the same as those for veins created one-by-
one. See Refining Veins.
Vein System Lithology Settings

You can change the lithology settings for a vein system by double-clicking on the vein system (
) in the project tree. In the Lithology tab, change the Vein lithology or the Outside lithology.

Vein Interactions
Once all the veins required have been created, you can start defining the interactions between
them by double-clicking on the vein system ( ), then clicking on the Vein System tab:
The veins appear in the list from highest priority to lowest. Organise the veins in chronological
order before defining interactions. You cannot define an interaction for the highest priority vein
in the list.
To add an interaction, click on a vein, then click the Add button. Select the Interaction Type
and set how the veins interact:

Stratigraphic Sequences | 361
Once you have defined the required vein interactions, tick the box for each vein, then click OK.
Add the Vein System object to the scene to check that the veins interact correctly.
You can also edit vein interactions by double-clicking on the individual veins.
Veins and the vein system are not active in the geological model until the box is ticked for
each vein in the Edit Vein System window and the vein system is enabled in the Surface
Chronology. This means you can check the vein system without regenerating the geological
model.
Stratigraphic Sequences
When you have a series of continuous layers in a geological model, you can model each layer
separately, as part of a single stratigraphic sequence or using the offset surface tool. Modelling
a stratigraphic sequence works best for sequences uniform in thickness with a consistent
stacking order. If a layer varies in thickness, the contact surface may not match the contact
points in some places. This will be a consideration when choosing whether to model layers as
separate layers, as offset surfaces or as part of a stratigraphic sequence. For information on the
offset surface tool, see Offset Surfaces.
Once you have created a stratigraphic sequence, you can refine it by adding and removing
layers and by adjusting the surfaces produced.
This topic describes using the stratigraphic sequence tool and is divided into:
l Creating a Stratigraphic Sequence
l Snapping to Data
l Surface Stiffness
l Editing the Stratigraphic Sequence
l Correcting Pinch-out Errors
l Surfacing Options
l Applying a Trend
l Editing Individual Surfaces
l Contact Honouring and Boundary Filtering for Individual Surfaces
l Adding Data to Individual Surfaces

l Editing Surface Contacts

Creating a Stratigraphic Sequence

To create a stratigraphic sequence, right-click on the Surface Chronology object and select
New Stratigraphy. The New Stratigraphic Sequence window will appear:
Select the lithologies at the top and bottom of the stratigraphic sequence. To do this, select the
Lithology Above and Lithology Below from the lithologies available in the geological model:

Creating a Stratigraphic Sequence | 363
Next, click the Add Lithologies button to view available lithologies:
Select the lithologies that you want to use in the stratigraphic sequence, then click OK to add
the layers to the Stratigraphic Lithologies list. Make sure they arranged in the correct order.
In the New Stratigraphic Sequence window, select whether the Bottom Contact Type is an
erosion or a deposit.
When the Surfaces avoid drillhole segments option is enabled, the surfaces in the stratigraphic
sequence will not cut through intervals of lithologies that are selected for the stratigraphic
sequence.
Stratigraphic sequences created in earlier versions of Leapfrog Geo (before 3.0) used only the
contact information; intervals were ignored and stratigraphic sequence surfaces could cut
through intervals. To upgrade a stratigraphic sequence created in earlier versions, edit the
stratigraphic sequence to enable Surfaces avoid drillhole segments.
Next, click on the Surfacing tab to set the surfacing settings for each surface created for the
sequence:

For the Boundary filter and Snap to data options, it is possible to override these settings for the
individual contact surfaces that are part of the stratigraphic sequence. To do this, select
Custom. Once the stratigraphic sequence has been created, expand it in the project tree and
double-click on each surface to change its surfacing options, as described in Contact
Honouring and Boundary Filtering for Individual Surfaces below.
Boundary Filtering
boundary.
surfaces boundary.
All contact surfaces that make up a stratigraphic sequence will inherit the Boundary filter
setting from the stratigraphy unless Boundary filter is set to Custom.
Snapping to Data
For a stratigraphic sequence, the options are:
setting.
All contact surfaces that make up a stratigraphic sequence will inherit the Snap to data setting
from the stratigraphy unless Snap to data is set to Custom.

Surface Stiffness | 365
Surface Stiffness
The Surface Stiffness controls the smallest bend a surface will make, where a higher value will
result in a smoother surface that bends less. The default value is 0, which is no stiffening.
Click OK to create the stratigraphy, which will be added to the project tree as part of the Surface
Chronology object.
Editing the Stratigraphic Sequence

The objects that make up the stratigraphic sequence include the generated contact surfaces
and any points that result in pinch-out errors:
Correcting Pinch-out Errors

Add the pinch-out errors object ( ) to the scene to view the points that are causing errors. To
find out more about the errors, right-click on the sequence and select List Errors.
In the Stratigraphic Errors window, information is provided about the different errors that
occur in the stratigraphic sequence, with pinch-out errors and other errors listed separately:
Use this information, together with the pinch-out error points, to either remove lithologies from
the sequence or adjust surfaces using any of the tools available for individual surfaces, as
described in Editing Individual Surfaces below.

Remove lithologies from the sequence by double-clicking on the sequence in the project tree,
then reorganising the lithologies in the Chronology tab. For example, here, the pinch-out errors
shown in the window above have been corrected by removing the affected surfaces from the
sequence and changing the Lithology Above and Lithology Below:
You can also ignore an error by ticking the Ignored box in the Stratigraphic Errors window.
Surfacing Options
To change a stratigraphic sequences surfacing options, double-click on the sequence in the
project tree and click on the Surfacing tab. See Boundary Filtering and Snapping to Data
above for more information on the settings in this tab. Note that boundary filtering and snap
settings can also be set for the individual surfaces that make up the stratigraphic sequence,
which is described in Contact Honouring and Boundary Filtering for Individual Surfaces
below.
Applying a Trend
To apply a global trend to a stratigraphic sequence either right-click on it in the project tree and
select Adjust Surface or double-click on the stratigraphic sequence and then click on the
Trend tab. You can then apply a trend to the surface as described in Global Trends.
Editing Individual Surfaces

Individual surfaces that make up a stratigraphic sequence can be modified by:
l Contact Honouring and Boundary Filtering for Individual Surfaces
l Adding Data to Individual Surfaces
l Editing Surface Contacts
Contact Honouring and Boundary Filtering for Individual Surfaces

There are general boundary filtering and snap settings for the stratigraphic sequence as a
whole, but it is possible to override these settings for the individual surfaces that are part of the

Adding Data to Individual Surfaces | 367
stratigraphic sequence. To do this, first double-click on the stratigraphic sequence itself, then
click on the Surfacing tab.
l To change boundary filtering for an individual surface, Boundary filter must be set to
Custom for the stratigraphic sequence.
l To change the snap setting for an individual surface, Snap to data must be set to Custom for
the stratigraphic sequence.
Next, double-click on an individual surface in the project tree. The window that appears shows
all the data objects used to create the surface:
See Boundary Filtering and Snapping to Data for more information.
Adding Data to Individual Surfaces

You can also refine the individual surfaces in a stratigraphic sequence in several ways:
Editing Surface Contacts

You can edit the contacts used to generate the surface by expanding the contact surface in the
project tree and double-clicking on the points object ( ). See Extracting Contact Points from
Drillhole Data for more information on the settings in the Edit Contacts window.

Offset Surfaces
The offset surface tool is useful way of creating a series of deposit or erosion contact surfaces
from a reference mesh. The surface can be offset from the reference mesh by points or by a
fixed distance, and additional options for offsetting to points can be adjusted once the surface
has been created.
Here a deposit contact surface (blue) has been created using the reference mesh (green) offset
to points (red):
Important considerations when creating offset surfaces is the characteristics of the reference
mesh, especially in relation to the geological models boundary.
l It is best to use a reference mesh that extends beyond the models boundary. If the reference
mesh is too small, the offset surface may be distorted where the reference mesh does not
occur.
l If the reference mesh changes significantly near the models boundary, offset surfaces may
show unexpected changes. Offset surfaces are projected in the direction the reference mesh
is going, and if the reference mesh changes direction just inside the boundary, that change
will be reflected in the offset surface. This is normal if there is data that takes the reference
mesh in a different direction, but if this is not desirable for the offset surface, consider making
the geological models boundary smaller.
The rest of this topic describes creating and working with an offset surface. It is divided into:
l Creating an Offset Surface
l The Offset Surface in the Project Tree
l Refining an Offset Surface

Creating an Offset Surface | 369
l Changing Surfacing Options for an Offset Surface

l Snapping to Data
l Smoothing
l Changing Offset Limits
l Changing to a Constant Offset
l Changing to an Offset to Points

l Changing the Reference Mesh
l Editing the Reference Mesh
Creating an Offset Surface

To start creating an offset surface, right-click on the Surface Chronology and select New
Deposit/Erosion > From Offset Surface. The New Offset Surface window will appear:
In the window that appears, you need to select a reference mesh, then either select Surface
points to offset to or set a Constant offset.
Click Select reference mesh to view the meshes available in the project.
If you wish to offset from the reference mesh using a fixed distance, click Constant offset and
set the Distance. For Direction, selecting Forward offsets the surface on the younger side of
the reference mesh, and selecting Backward offsets on the older side.
If you wish to offset to points, click Add. You can offset to:
l Base lithology contacts or other lithology contacts in the project.
l Other data in the project. GIS data, points data and polylines can be used.
If you offset to points, you will be able to set additional options such as distance limits once the
surface has been created. See Changing Offset Limits below for more information.

Select the First Lithology and Second Lithology from the lithologies defined for the model. If
you have added base lithology contacts or other contacts to the surface, these will be set
automatically from the data used.
Click OK to create the surface, which will appear in the project tree as part of the Surface
Chronology.
The Offset Surface in the Project Tree

The name Leapfrog Geo automatically assigns to an offset surface is the lithologies assigned to
each side of the surface. In the project tree, expand the surface to see how it was made:
Double-click on the surface to edit it. Double-click on the contact points object ( ) to edit the
lithology and change compositing parameters.
project tree. See Refining an Offset Surface below for more information.
Refining an Offset Surface

You can refine an offset surface by:
l Adding other data. Right-click on the surface to see the options available, which will depend
on how the surface was created. See Adding Data to Surfaces for more information.
l Editing the surface with a polyline. Right-click on the surface in the project tree and select
either Edit. See Editing Surfaces with Polylines for more information.
An offset surface can be created as a deposit or as an erosion. The difference between deposit
and erosion contact surfaces is how they cut older lithologies, as described in Contact
Surfaces. For this reason, it is possible to change between the two types using the Contact
Type setting.
An offset surface cannot be adjusted by applying a trend.
Changing Surfacing Options for an Offset Surface

Surfacing options for an offset surface can be changed by double-clicking on the surface in the
project tree and then clicking on the Surfacing tab. There are additional settings related to

Boundary Filtering | 371
boundary filtering and snapping to data in the Inputs tab.
Boundary Filtering
boundary.
surfaces boundary.
Snapping to Data
setting.
There is also a snap setting that can be used when offset limits are used. This option is discussed
in Offset Surfaces below.
Surface Resolution
The surface resolution for an offset surface can be inherited from the geological model or it can
be set specifically for the surface. To change the surface resolution for an offset surface,

double-click on the surface in the project tree and then click on the Surfacing tab. See Surface
Resolution for a Geological Model for information about the surface resolution settings in the
Surfacing tab.
Smoothing
The Smoothing parameter in the Surfacing tab can be used for all offset types other than
Constant. If your reference surface is highly curved, you may see distortions in the offset
surface. If this is the case, set Smoothing to a higher value.
Increasing the Smoothing parameter will generally result in faster processing when offsetting to
large distances. If you are finding that processing time is excessively long for an offset surface,
consider increasing Smoothing. In some situations, however, increasing Smoothing can
exaggerate imperfections in the reference surface.
If you are offsetting by a small distance and processing is taking longer than expected, consider
setting Smoothing to None.
Changing Offset Limits

There are four options for Offset limits in the Surfacing tab. Three relate to offsetting to points
and the fourth to offsetting to a fixed distance from the reference mesh.
l The None option is the default setting used when a surface is created as an offset to points.
No distance limits are used in creating the offset surface, and it simply follows the points used.
l The Unidirectional limits option allows you to set distance limits in one direction. Points
outside the limits will be disregarded.
l The Bidirectional limits option allows you to set distance limits in both directions, and points
outside these limits are disregarded. This setting is useful for modelling folded surfaces such
as veins.
l The Constant offset option offsets the surface to a fixed distance from the reference mesh.
The Forward direction is the younger side of the reference mesh.
If the Snap to data outside limits setting is enabled, the surface will honour data, even if it is
outside the distance limits. This option will be greyed out if Snap to data is off.
Changing to a Constant Offset

To use a constant offset rather than points, select the Constant offset option and set the
Distance and Direction to offset the surface. Selecting Forward offsets the surface on the
younger side of the reference mesh, whereas selecting Backward offsets on the older side.
If you created a surface as an offset to points and switch to using a constant offset, the points
added to the surface when it was created will be disabled.
Changing to an Offset to Points

If you created an offset surface using a constant offset, you can change the surface to offset to
points, but you must first add data to it. Do this by right-clicking on it in the project tree and
selecting Add. Once you have added the data you wish to use, double-click on the surface and

Changing the Reference Mesh | 373
click on the Surfacing tab. Change the Offset limits option from Constant offset to one of the
other three options.
Changing the Reference Mesh

To change the surface used as the reference mesh, click on the Inputs tab, then click on the
reference mesh:
Select from the surfaces available in the project, keeping in mind the considerations discussed in
Changing the Reference Mesh.
Editing the Reference Mesh

You can also edit the reference mesh as you would other surfaces. All dependent offset surfaces
will be updated as you make changes to the reference mesh.
Changing the younging direction of the reference mesh affects how offset surfaces are
generated.
l For a constant offset surface, the younging direction of the reference mesh determines the
forward and backward direction of the offset surface and, therefore, determines the location
of the offset surface. Changing the younging direction of the reference mesh results in
dependent offset surfaces changing location; the updated offset surface will be the mirror
image of the original relative to the reference mesh.
l For surfaces offset to points, the location is determined by the points themselves. If the
reference meshs younging direction is changed, the offset surfaces younging direction will
also be flipped. The offset surface will still honour the contact data and will still appear at the
same location relative to the reference mesh.
Structural Surfaces
A structural surface uses contact data and non-contact structural data to create a surface. A
structural surface can interact with other volumes in the model as a deposit, an erosion or an
intrusion contact surface. The shape of the structural surface is suggested by the non-contact
structural data used.
When creating a structural surface, there are two options for declustering the non-contact
structural data:
l The input data is automatically declustered as part of creating the structural surface. There
are no additional controls that determine how the data is declustered.

l Use a declustered structural data set as the non-contact input to the surface. This approach
is recommended over the first approach as you can change how the data is declustered.
The rest of this topic describes how to create and work with a structural surface. It is divided
into:
l Creating a Structural Surface
l The Structural Surface in the Project Tree
l Refining a Structural Surface
l Surfacing Options for a Structural Surface
l Setting the Surface Resolution
l Snapping to Input Data
l Non-contact Structural Inputs Settings
l Applying a Trend to a Structural Surface
l Value Clipping
Creating a Structural Surface

To create a new structural surface, right-click on the Surface Chronology and select New
Structural Surface. The New Structural Surface window will appear:
Use the Add buttons to add non-contact structural data and on-surface contacts, then set the
First lithology and Second lithology. Other settings are:
l Query Filter. Select from the query filters defined for the selected structural data object.
l Use Polarity. Untick the box to use tangents only.

The Structural Surface in the Project Tree | 375
l Contact Type. Structural surfaces can be deposit, erosion or intrusion contacts. The same
algorithm is used for each setting; the only difference is in how the surface interacts with
other surfaces.
The Structural Surface in the Project Tree

The name Leapfrog Geo automatically assigns to a structural surface is the lithologies assigned
to each side of the surface. In the project tree, expand the surface to see how it was made:
project tree. See Refining a Structural Surface below for more information.
To add more non-contact structural data to the surface, right-click on it in the project tree
and select Add > Structural Data. In the window that appears, tick the box for Non-contact
Structural Data:
Refining a Structural Surface

You can refine structural surfaces in several ways:

The Contact Type setting determines how the structural surface interacts with other
lithologies, as described in Contact Surfaces. A structural surface can be a deposit, erosion or
intrusion contact surface.
For information on other techniques for refining structural surfaces, see Surfacing Options for
a Structural Surface below.
Surfacing Options for a Structural Surface

Surfacing options for a structural surface are accessed by double-clicking on the surface in the
project tree and clicking on the Surfacing tab. There are additional settings related to boundary
filtering and snapping to data in the Inputs tab.
Setting the Surface Resolution

Boundary Filtering
boundary.
surfaces boundary.
The boundary of a structural surface can be the geological model boundary or a fault block
boundary.
Snapping to Input Data

data as interpretations. See Contact Honouring.

Non-contact Structural Inputs Settings | 377

setting.
If you need a surface to honour drillhole data but treat other input data objects as
interpretations, select Drilling only. To honour some data objects while treating others as
interpretations, select Custom, then click on the Inputs tab to enable snapping for individual
objects.
Non-contact Structural Inputs Settings

For the non-contact structural inputs, you can:
l Change the Query Filter setting. Select from the query filters defined for the selected
structural data object.
l Change the Use Polarity setting. Untick the box to use tangents only.
l Change the Boundary filter setting, if the Boundary filter setting in the Surfacing tab is set to
Custom.
Applying a Trend to a Structural Surface

There are two ways to change the trend for a structural surface:
Value Clipping
In the Value Clipping tab, you can manipulate the data distribution by clipping the data.
Clipping cuts off values that are outside the range set by the Lower bound and Upper bound
values. For example, if you change the Upper bound from 16.00 to 10.00, distance values
above 10.00 will be regarded as 10.00.
When Automatic clipping and Do clipping are enabled, Leapfrog Geo sets the Lower bound
and Upper bound from the data. To change the Lower bound and Upper bound, untick
Automatic clipping, tick Do clipping and then change the values.

The Surface Chronology

When you create a contact surface, it appears in the project tree under the Surface
Chronology object, but it is not enabled and, therefore, does not affect the geological
model volumes. This means you can work on the surface without having to reprocess the
model whenever you make a change to the surface. In Leapfrog Geo, you can easily define,
enable and remove contact surfaces from a model, and you can experiment with modelling
lithologies using different techniques in order to arrive at a geologically reasonable model.
To add a contact surface to the surface chronology, double-click on the Surface Chronology
object. The Surface Chronology window will be displayed:
In the project tree, the surfaces are also arranged in chronological order:
The Surface Chronology determines the overall chronological order of the contact surfaces in
the model. If you build your models from the bottom up, you will find that often the contact
surfaces are in the correct chronological order when you first open the Surface Chronology
window. However, you can easily rearrange the chronology using the Younger and Older
buttons. Tick the boxes for surfaces you wish to include in the model. When you click OK, the
included surfaces will be used to subdivide the geological model into lithological volumes. The
volumes will appear in the Output Volumes folder.

Refined Lithological Volumes | 379
Output volumes are named according to the lithologies assigned to each side of the contact
surfaces that bound each volume. If the lithology assigned to an output volume cannot be
determined, it will be assigned the Background lithology.
If you are working with a faulted model and have defined the Surface Chronology for one
fault block, you can copy the Surface Chronology to the empty fault blocks. See Copying
the Surface Chronology to an Empty Fault Block.
Refined Lithological Volumes

When you have built a geological model and want to model further within one of the volumes,
you can do this by creating a refined geological model. This changes the way the original
(parent) geological model is organised in the project tree and makes it possible to create a sub-
model within one or more of the lithological volumes.
Before starting to refine lithological volumes, it is a good idea to make a copy of the original
geological model.
To start refining a lithological volume, first create the refined geological model. To do this,
right-click on the Geological Models folder and select New Refined Model:
In the window that appears, select the geological model to refine and then select from its
lithologies.
Next, set the Base lithology column, Filter data and Surface resolution. You cannot change
the Base lithology column once the refined geological model has been established, but you
will be able to change the resolution and data filter settings.
Click OK to create the refined lithology.

A new refined model ( ) will be created in the project tree and the parent geological model will
be moved into it. Here, a model called M Campaign GM has been used to created a new
refined model, with the QzP volume selected as the refined lithology ( ):
The sub-model ( ) is created inside the refined geological model and has its own Boundary,
Lithologies, Surface Chronology and Output Volumes objects.
You can work with the sub-model in the same manner you would a normal geological model.
The exceptions are:
l The sub-models boundary cannot be refined directly. However, changes to the parent
geological model will be updated in the sub-models boundary.
l The sub-model cannot have its own fault system. If the parent geological model is faulted,
the sub-model will have its own fault blocks in which you can work.
See Editing the Sub-Model for information on refining the sub-model.
You can still work with the parent geological model in the usual manner. Any changes to the
parent geological model that change the extents of the sub-model will be reflected in the sub-
models boundary.
You can create additional sub-models by right-clicking on the refined model ( ) and selecting
Refine Lithology.
A sub-model can be viewed and evaluated in the same manner as normal geological models.
However, sub-models cannot be used as layer guides for flow models.
Deleting the refined geological model deletes all models it contains. To return to the original
project tree organisation for a geological model, delete the sub-models:

Editing the Sub-Model | 381
Once there are no more sub-models, the refined model object is also deleted, leaving the
parent geological model.
The refined model has its own Lithologies table, which contains all the lithologies from the
parent model and any sub-model lithologies. You cannot add lithologies to this table, but you
can change the colours used to display them in the scene, as described in Model Lithologies.
To add more lithologies to a refined model, add them to the lithology table in either the sub-
model or the parent geological model.
The refined model also has its own Output Volumes folder that combines information from the
parent geological model and the sub-model. If no surfaces have been created in the sub-
model, adding the refined model to the scene will simply display the volumes from the parent
geological model. If surfaces have been created in the sub-model, then the volumes of the
sub-model will be displayed alongside the volumes from the parent geological model.
Editing the Sub-Model

Work with the sub-model in the same manner described in Editing a Geological Model. See
Contact Surfaces and The Surface Chronology.
The sub-model can have resolution settings that are different from those of the parent model.
See Surface Resolution in Leapfrog Geo and Surface Resolution for a Geological Model.

To change the lithologys resolution settings, double-click on the sub-model ( ) in the project
tree. The Geological Model window appears:
This window has only three tabs:

l There is no Boundary tab because the sub-models boundary can only be modified by
modifying the parent geological model.
l There is no Fault System tab because a sub-model cannot have its own fault system.

Interpolants
The FastRBF algorithm employs interpolation functions to estimate values from known data.
From these estimated values, geological surfaces are constructed as part of the model-building
process.
With the Interpolants folder, you can create interpolants and change their parameters. There
are four different types of interpolant you can work with in the Interpolants folder:
l A numeric interpolant describes a physical quantity that varies continuously in space. A
numeric interpolant can be used to model, for example, grade distribution, with isosurface
values set to represent both minimum concentrations of interest and regions of high value.
See Creating a Numeric Interpolant and Editing a Numeric Interpolant.
l A multi-domained interpolant is a numeric interpolant that has a number of individual sub-
interpolants that are bounded by the fault blocks or output volumes of a selected geological
model. Changes to all sub-interpolants can be made by editing the parent interpolant, while
sub-interpolants can be edited to account for local influences on the values used, the trend
and interpolation parameters. See Multi-domained Interpolants.
l An indicator interpolant calculates the likelihood that values will fall above and below a
specific threshold. An indicator interpolant can be used to produce a volume inside which
further modelling is carried out. For example, you can create an indicator interpolant for
grade values above a certain threshold, and then use the inside volume as a lateral extent for
another model. See Creating an Indicator Interpolant and Editing an Indicator
Interpolant.
l A distance function calculates the distance to a set of points. As with an indicator interpolant,
a distance function is useful for restricting processing to a specific region. To do this, create a
distance function, select the objects to use, then add at least one buffer. You can then use
one of the distance functions isosurfaces as a lateral extent for another model. See Distance
Functions.
Values that can be interpolated include downhole numeric data, composited drillhole data and
points data.
This section describes creating these different types of interpolants in the Interpolants folder.
See Interpolant Functions for a general introduction to interpolation.
Creating a Numeric Interpolant

If the data is both regularly and adequately sampled, different interpolants will produce similar
results. In practice, however, it is rarely the case that data is so abundant and input is required to
ensure an interpolant produces geologically reasonable results. For this reason, only a basic set
of parameters are required when a numeric interpolant is first created. Once the model has
been created, you can refine the model to factor in real-world observations and account for
limitations in the data.

To create a numeric interpolant, right-click on the Interpolants folder and select New
Interpolant. The New Interpolant window will be displayed:
This window is divided into four parts that determine the values used to create the interpolant,
the interpolant boundary, any compositing options and general interpolant properties. The rest
of this topic describes the parameters that can be set when creating a numeric interpolant:
l Values Used
o Applying a Query Filter
o Applying a Surface Filter

l The Interpolant Boundary
l Compositing Options
l General Interpolant Properties
l The Numeric Interpolant in the Project Tree
l Interpolant Display
l Numeric Interpolant Statistics
If you are unsure of some settings, most can be changed later. However, the Numeric values
object selected when the interpolant is created cannot be changed.
Values Used
In the Values To Interpolate part of the New Interpolant window, you can select the values
that will be used and choose whether or not to filter the data and use a subset of those values in
the interpolant.
You can build an interpolant from either:
l Numeric data contained in imported drillhole data.
l Points data imported into the Points folder.
All suitable data in the project is available from the Numeric values dropdown list.

Applying a Query Filter | 385
Applying a Query Filter

If you have defined a query filter and wish to use it to create the interpolant, select the filter from
the Query filter list. Once the model has been created, you can remove the filter or select a
different filter.
Applying a Surface Filter

All available data can be used to generate the interpolant or the data can be filtered so that only
the data that is within the interpolant boundary or another boundary in the project influences
the model. The Surface Filter option is enabled by default, but if you wish to use all data in the
project, untick the box for Surface Filter. Otherwise, you can select the Interpolant Boundary
or another boundary in the project.
You can use both the Query Filter option and the Surface Filter option together.
The Interpolant Boundary

There are several ways to set the Interpolant Boundary:
l Enter values to set a Custom boundary.
l Use the controls in the scene to set the Custom boundary dimensions.
l Select another object in the project from the Enclose Object list, which could be the numeric
values object being interpolated. The extents for that object will be used as the basis for the
Custom boundary dimensions.
l Select another object in the project to use as the Interpolant Boundary. Click the Existing
model boundary or volume option and select the required object from the dropdown list.
Once the interpolant has been created, you can further modify its boundary. See Adjusting the
Interpolant Boundary.
Compositing Options
When numeric values from drillhole data are used to create an interpolant, there are two
approaches to compositing that data:
l Composite the drillhole data, then use the composited values to create an interpolant. If you
select composited values to create an interpolant, compositing options will be disabled.
l Use uncomposited drillhole data to create an interpolant, then apply compositing settings to
the interpolated values. If you are interpolating uncomposited values and do not have
specific Compositing values in mind, you may wish to leave this option blank as it can be
changed once the model has been created.
If you are interpolating points, compositing options will be disabled.
See Numeric Composites for more information on the effects of the Compositing Length and
Minimum Coverage settings.

General Interpolant Properties

Set the Surface resolution for the interpolant and whether or not the resolution is adaptive. See
Surface Resolution in Leapfrog Geo for more information on the effects of these settings. The
resolution can be changed once the interpolant has been created, so setting a value in the New
Interpolant window is not vital. A lower value will produce more detail, but calculations will
take longer.
The Volumes enclose option determines whether the interpolant volumes enclose Higher
Values, Lower Values or Intervals. Again, this option can be changed once the interpolant has
been created.
Enter a Name for the new model and click OK.
The Numeric Interpolant in the Project Tree

The new interpolant will be created and added to the Interpolants folder. The new interpolant
contains objects that represent different parts of the interpolant:
l The Boundary object defines the limits of the interpolant. See Adjusting the Interpolant
Boundary.
l The Trend object describes the trend applied in the interpolant. See Changing the Trend for
a Numeric Interpolant.
l The points data values object contains all the data used in generating the interpolant. See
Adjusting the Values Used.
l The Isosurfaces folder contains all the meshes generated in building the interpolant.
l The Output Volumes folder contains all the volumes generated in building the interpolant.
Other objects may appear in the project tree under the interpolant as you make changes to it.
Interpolant Display
Display the interpolant by:
l Dragging the interpolant into the scene or right-clicking on the interpolant and selecting
View Output Volumes. Both actions display the parent interpolants output volumes.

Numeric Interpolant Statistics | 387
l Right-clicking on the interpolant and selecting View Isosurfaces.

Once you have created an interpolant, you can adjust its properties by double-clicking on it.
You can also double-click on the individual objects that make up the interpolant. See Editing a
Numeric Interpolant for more information.
See also:
l Copying an Interpolant
l Creating a Static Copy of an Interpolant
l Interpolant Volumes and Surfaces Export
Numeric Interpolant Statistics

You can view the approximated mean for each output volume by right-clicking on the
interpolant and selecting Properties. Click on the Statistics tab:
applications.
Editing a Numeric Interpolant

To edit a numeric interpolant, you can either double-click on the interpolant in the
Interpolants folder or right-click and select Open. When creating an interpolant, only a basic
set of parameters is used. The Edit Interpolant window provides finer controls over these basic
parameters so you can refine the interpolant to factor in real-world observations and account
for limitations in the data.
For a multi-domained interpolant, these parameters can be changed for the parent interpolant,
and the trend, clipping, transformation and interpolation settings can be changed for the sub-
interpolants.
l Adjusting the Values Used
l Adding a Contour Polyline
l Adding Points

l Compositing Parameters for a Numeric Interpolant

l Adjusting the Interpolant Boundary
l Clipping and Transforming Values for a Numeric Interpolant
l Changing the Trend for a Numeric Interpolant
l Using a Global Trend
l Using a Structural Trend

l Adjusting Interpolation Parameters
l Output Settings for a Numeric Interpolant
Adjusting the Values Used

The Values tab in the Edit Interpolant window shows the values used in creating the
interpolant and provides options for filtering the data. Although you cannot change the values
used to create an interpolant, you can filter the values using the Query filter and Surface filter
options.
You can adjust the values using a contour polyline or by adding points. Both options are
available by expanding the interpolant in the project tree, then right-clicking on the values
object:
These options are described below in Adding a Contour Polyline and Adding Points.
To apply a query filter, tick the Query filter box in the Values tab and select the available queries
from the list.
To change the object used as the Surface filter, select the required object from the list. Note
that the list contains an object that defines the interpolants own boundary, which can be
adjusted in the Boundary tab.

Adding a Contour Polyline | 389
Adding a Contour Polyline

Adding a contour polyline is a useful tool for manually adjusting a surface to make it more
geologically reasonable. To start adding a contour polyline, draw a slice where you wish to
adjust the surface and decide what value you will assign to the contour line. Next, right-click on
the values object and select New Contour Polyline. The next step is to choose whether you will
draw a new polyline or use one already in the project:
Only GIS lines, polylines imported into Leapfrog Geo or polylines created using the straight
line drawing tool can be used to create contour lines.
Enter the value to be used for the contour and a name for it. Click OK. If you have chosen the
New Drawing option, the new object will be created in the project tree and drawing tools will
appear in the scene. Start drawing in the scene as described in Drawing in the Scene. When
you have finished drawing, click the Save button ( ). The new contour will automatically be
added to the model and will appear in the project tree as part of the interpolants values object.
To change the value assigned to a contour polyline, double-click on the interpolant in the
project tree. In the Values tab, contour polylines and their assigned values are shown in the
User contour values table:

To change the value on a contour, click in the Value column and edit the entry.
To edit the polyline, right-click on it in the project tree and select Edit Polyline or add it to the
scene and click the Edit button ( ) in the shape list. If you wish to remove a contour polyline
from the interpolant, right-click on it in the project tree and select Delete or Remove.
Adding Points
To add points to a numeric interpolant, right-click on the values object in the project tree and
select Add Values. Leapfrog Geo will display a list of all suitable points objects in the project.
Select an object and click OK.
A hyperlink to the points object will be added to the values object in the project tree. To remove
the points object, right-click on the points object and select Remove.
Compositing Parameters for a Numeric Interpolant

When a numeric interpolant has been created from uncomposited values, compositing
parameters can be changed by double-clicking on the interpolant in the project tree, then
clicking on the Compositing tab.
The Compositing tab will only appear for interpolants created from uncomposited drillhole
data.
You can composite in the entire drillhole or only where the data falls inside the interpolant
boundary. See Numeric Composites for more information on the effects of the Compositing
Length and Minimum Coverage settings.

Adjusting the Interpolant Boundary | 391
Adjusting the Interpolant Boundary

To change a numeric interpolants boundary, double-click on the interpolant in the project
tree, then click on the Boundary tab:
Controls to adjust the boundary will also appear in the scene.

Tick the Use Topography box to use the topography as a boundary. The topography is
normally not used as a boundary for interpolants and so this option is disabled when an
interpolant is first created.
The Boundaries list shows objects that have been used to modify the boundary. You can disable
any of these lateral extents by unticking the box.
Lateral extents can be used to restrict modelling to a particular area of interest; for example,
modelling can be restricted to a known distance from drillholes by applying a distance function
as a lateral extent.
Extents do not need to be strictly vertical surfaces. For example, an interpolant could use a
geological model volume as a lateral extent, which is the case here, where interpolation has
been restricted to a volume of interest from a geological model:

In the project tree, we can see that the QzP volume from a geological model has been used as a
lateral extent.
Techniques for creating lateral extents for interpolants are similar to those for creating lateral
extents for geological models. See Modifying the Models Boundary for more information.
Clipping and Transforming Values for a Numeric Interpolant

To clip data and apply a transformation to a numeric interpolant, double-click on the
interpolant in the project tree, then click on the Value Transform tab:
The options for Transform Type are None and Log. Log uses a natural logarithm to compress
the data values to a smaller range. This may be useful if the data range spans orders of
magnitude. The function used is:
ln(x+s)+c
where s is the Pre-log shift and c is a constant. In order to avoid issues with taking the logarithm
of zero or a negative number, Pre-log shift is a constant added to make the minimum value
positive. The value of the pre-log shift will automatically be chosen to add to the minimum
value in the data set to raise it to 0.001. This constant is then added to all the data samples. You
can modify the value of the Pre-log shift, as increasing this value further away from zero can be
used to reduce the effect of the natural logarithm transformation on the resultant isosurfaces.
Note that a further constant, c, is added to the natural logarithm of the data with the pre-log
shift added to it. If there are any negative numbers that result from taking the natural log of the
data, the absolute value of the most negative number is taken and added to all the transformed
data results. This will raise the value of all the data so the minimum data value is zero. The value
of c is chosen automatically and cannot be modified.
Bin count defines the number of bins, where a larger bin count results in a finer histogram.

Changing the Trend for a Numeric Interpolant | 393
If you tick the Do pre-transform clipping option, you can set the Lower bound and the Upper
bound to cut off values that are too low or too high. For example, if you set the Upper bound
from 14.00 to 10.00, grade values above 10.00 will be regarded as 10.00.
Changing the Trend for a Numeric Interpolant

You can apply a global trend or a structural trend to an interpolant. To do this, add the
interpolant to the scene, then double-click on the interpolant in the project tree. Click on the
Trend tab in the Edit Interpolant window.
Using a Global Trend

The easiest way to change the trend applied to an interpolant is using a global trend set from
the moving plane.
Click View Plane to add the moving plane to the scene, then click on the plane to view its
controls. You may need to hide part of the interpolant to click on the moving plane:
You can also use the Set to list to choose different options Leapfrog Geo has generated based
on the data used to build the model. Isotropic is the default option used when the model is
created.
where:
plane.
the moving plane.
Click OK to regenerate the model and view changes.

Using a Structural Trend

You can also set the trend for an interpolant from a structural trend. First, you must create or
import the required mesh and create a structural trend. See Structural Trends for more
information.
Once the structural trend has been created, add it to the interpolant by double-clicking on the
interpolant in the project tree, then clicking on the Trend tab. Select the Structural Trend
option, then select the required trend from the list:
Click OK. The trend will be added to the model and will appear as part of the model, as shown:
When you apply a structural trend, you cannot use the Linear interpolant. See Interpolant
Functions for more information.
Once a structural trend has been defined for the model, you can edit it by clicking on the trend
hyperlink in the project tree, then opening the structural trend applied to the interpolant. The
Structural Trend window will appear. See Structural Trends for information on the settings in
this screen.
The structural trend information included as part of the interpolant is a link to the original
structural trend. When you change the structural trend that is part of the interpolant, the

Adjusting Interpolation Parameters | 395
changes are also made for the original structural trend.
When a structural trend that is Strongest along meshes or Blending is used, the model will
regress to the global mean trend away from the meshes. The global trend that will be used is set
in the Global Trend tab for the structural trend.
Adjusting Interpolation Parameters

To adjust interpolation parameters for a numeric interpolant, double-click on the interpolant in
the project tree, then click on the Interpolant tab:
Two models are available, the spheroidal interpolant and the linear interpolant. See The
Spheroidal Interpolant Function and The Linear Interpolant Function for more information
on the settings in this tab.

Output Settings for a Numeric Interpolant

You can change the parameters used to generate interpolant outputs by double-clicking on
the interpolant, then clicking on the Outputs tab.
The Evaluation limits apply when interpolants are evaluated against other objects in the
project. When the limits are enabled, all values outside the limits will be set to the Minimum and
Maximum.
When Exact clipping is enabled, the interpolant isosurface will be generated without tags that
overhang the interpolant boundary. This setting is enabled by default when you create an
interpolant.
To add a new isosurface, click the Add button and enter the required value. To delete an
isosurface, click on it in the list, then click the Remove button. You can also change the colours
used to display the isosurfaces by clicking on the colour chips.
If you find that grade shells are overlapping, the resolution may be too coarse. Set Default
resolution to a lower value or enable adaptive resolution in the Outputs tab. See Surface
Resolution in Leapfrog Geo.
Click OK to regenerate the interpolant and view changes.
Multi-domained Interpolants
This topic describes creating and editing multi-domained interpolants:
l Creating a Multi-domained Interpolant
l Compositing and Filtering the Values Used
l Selecting Domains
l Clipping and Transforming Values

Creating a Multi-domained Interpolant | 397
l Setting the Trend

l Interpolation Parameters
l Output Options
l The Multi-domained Interpolant in the Project Tree
l Interpolant and Sub-interpolant Display
l Sub-interpolant Statistics
A multi-domained interpolant is a numeric interpolant that has a number of individual sub-
interpolants bounded by the domains of a geological model.
l Changes to all sub-interpolants can be made by editing the parent interpolant.
l Sub-interpolants can be edited to account for local influences on the values used, the trend
and interpolation parameters.
A multi-domained interpolant is a single object that can be evaluated as a single column on
points and block models.
Creating a Multi-domained Interpolant

Creating a multi-domained interpolant is a two-step process:
l Selecting the values to be used and the domains in which sub-interpolants will be created.
l Setting the multi-domained interpolants properties.
To start creating a multi-domained interpolant, right-click on the Interpolants folder and
select New Multi Domained Interpolant. The New Multi-domained Interpolant window will
be displayed:
In this window, select the basic parameters for the multi-domained interpolant. You will be able
to set additional properties once you click OK.
l Select the Values To Interpolate from the suitable data available in the project. You will be
able to change how data is filtered at the next step, but you will not be able to change the
values used.

l Select the domains used to generate sub-interpolants. These options cannot be changed
once the multi-domained interpolant has been created, although you will be able to select
which volumes are used to generate sub-interpolants.
l Select from the geological models available in the project.
l If the selected Model has no faults defined, the Volume Type will be set to output volumes.
l If the selected Model is a faulted model, the Volume Type can be output volumes, faulted
output volumes or fault blocks.
Click OK to move on to the next step. The Edit Interpolant window will appear:
Compositing and Filtering the Values Used

In the Values tab, you can apply any query filters that have been defined for the data used.

Selecting Domains | 399
Selecting Domains
In the Domains tab, you can select the volumes in which sub-interpolants will be generated.
You cannot, however, change the geological model or the types of volumes used.
Clipping and Transforming Values

In the Value Transform tab, clip data and apply a transformation, if required. See Clipping and
Transforming Values for a Numeric Interpolant for more information about the settings in this
tab.
You will be able to change the Value Transform settings for individual sub-interpolants once
the parent interpolant has been created.
Setting the Trend

In the Trend tab, you can apply a global or structural trend to the interpolant. See Changing
the Trend for a Numeric Interpolant for more information about these options.
You will be able to change the Trend settings for the interpolant and individual sub-
interpolants once the parent interpolant has been created.
Interpolation Parameters
In the Interpolant tab, you can change interpolation parameters. See Adjusting Interpolation
Parameters for more information about these options.
You will be able to change the Interpolant settings or import variogram parameters for the
interpolant and individual sub-interpolants once the parent interpolant has been created.
Output Options
In the Outputs tab, you can change the parameters used to generate interpolant outputs.
The Evaluation limits apply when interpolants are evaluated against other objects in the
project. When the limits are enabled, all values outside the limits will be set to the Minimum and
Maximum.
Set the Default resolution for the interpolant and whether or not the resolution is adaptive. See
resolution can be changed once the interpolant has been created, so setting a value when
creating the parent interpolant is not vital. A lower value will produce more detail, but
calculations will take longer.
interpolant.

To add a new isosurface, click the Add button and enter the required value. To delete an
isosurface, click on it in the list, then click the Remove button. You can also change the colours
used to display the isosurfaces by clicking on the colour chips.
The Volumes enclose option determines whether the interpolant volumes enclose Higher
Values, Lower Values or Intervals. This option can be changed once the interpolant has been
created.
Enter a Name for the new interpolant and click OK.
The Multi-domained Interpolant in the Project Tree

The new multi-domained interpolant will be created and added to the Interpolants folder. It
contains objects that represent different parts of the interpolant:
l There is a link to the geological model from which domains are selected for the sub-
interpolants.
a Numeric Interpolant for more information.
Adjusting the Values Used for more information.
l The Sub-interpolants folder contains the sub-interpolants, which can be edited to change
the trend, clipping, transformation and interpolation settings.
l The Output Volumes folder contains all the volumes generated in building the interpolant.

Interpolant and Sub-interpolant Display | 401
Interpolant and Sub-interpolant Display

l Right-clicking on the interpolant and selecting View Isosurfaces. This displays the
isosurfaces of each sub-interpolant.
Once you have created an interpolant, you can adjust its properties as described in Editing a
Numeric Interpolant. You can also change trend, clipping, transformation and interpolation
settings for a sub-interpolant. To do this, double-click on a sub-interpolant. For the settings
you wish to change, untick the Inherit parameters from parent box:
See also:
l Importing a Variogram Model

Sub-interpolant Statistics
You can view the approximated mean for each output volume of a sub-interpolant by right-
clicking on the sub-interpolant and selecting Properties. Click on the Statistics tab:
applications.
Creating an Indicator Interpolant

An indicator interpolant is a useful way of creating a region of interest in which further
processing can be carried out. For example, you can use an indicator interpolant to define a
volume that encloses the values that are likely to be above a cut-off threshold and then carry
out further interpolation inside that volume.
This topic describes how to create and edit an indicator interpolant. It is divided into:
l Creating an Indicator Interpolant
l Selecting the Values Used
o Setting the Cut-off
o Applying a Query Filter

o Applying a Surface Filter
l The Interpolant Boundary
l Compositing Options
l General Interpolant Properties
l The Indicator Interpolant in the Project Tree
l Indicator Interpolant Display
l Indicator Interpolant Statistics

Creating an Indicator Interpolant | 403
Creating an Indicator Interpolant

To create an indicator interpolant, right-click on the Interpolants folder and select New
Indicator Interpolant. The New Indicator Interpolant window will be displayed:
This window is divided into four parts, which determine the values used to create the
interpolant, the interpolant boundary, any compositing options and general interpolant
properties.
If you are unsure of some settings, most can be changed later. However, the Numeric values
object selected when the interpolant is created cannot be changed.
Selecting the Values Used

In the Values To Interpolate part of the New Indicator Interpolant window, you can select the
values that will be used and choose whether or not to filter the data and use a subset of those
values in the interpolant.
You can build an interpolant from either:
l Numeric data contained in imported drillhole data.
l Points data imported into the Points folder.
All suitable data in the project is available from the Numeric values dropdown list.
Setting the Cut-off

The Cut-off value will be used to create two output volumes:
l An Inside volume that encloses all values likely to be above or equal to the Cut-off value.
l An Outside volume that enclose all values likely to be below the Cut-off value.

If you are unsure of what Cut-off value to use, you can view statistics on the distribution of the
data and change the Cut-off value once the interpolant has been created.
You can change the names of the Inside and Outside volumes once the interpolant has
been created.
Applying a Query Filter

If you have defined a query filter and wish to use it to create the interpolant, select the filter from
the Query filter list. Once the model has been created, you can remove the filter or select a
different filter.
Applying a Surface Filter

All available data can be used to generate the interpolant or the data can be filtered so that only
the data that is within the interpolant boundary or another boundary in the project influences
the interpolant. The Surface Filter option is enabled by default, but if you wish to use all data in
the project, untick the box for Surface Filter. Otherwise, you can select the Interpolant
Boundary or another boundary in the project.
You can use both the Query Filter option and the Surface Filter option together.
The Interpolant Boundary

There are several ways to set the Interpolant Boundary:
l Enter values to set a Custom boundary.
l Use the controls in the scene to set the Custom boundary dimensions.
l Select another object in the project from the Enclose Object list, which could be the numeric
values object being interpolated. The extents for that object will be used as the basis for the
Custom boundary dimensions.
l Select another object in the project to use as the Interpolant Boundary. Click the Existing
model boundary or volume option and select the required object from the dropdown list.
Once the interpolant has been created, you can further modify its boundary. See Adjusting the
Interpolant Boundary.
Compositing Options

General Interpolant Properties | 405
General Interpolant Properties

Set the Surface resolution for the interpolant and whether or not the resolution is adaptive. See
resolution can be changed once the interpolant has been created, so setting a value in the New
Interpolant window is not vital. A lower value will produce more detail, but calculations will
take longer.
An indicator interpolant produces a single isosurface that is used to determine the likelihood of
values falling inside or outside of the cut-off threshold. The Iso value can be set to values from
0.1 to 0.9. Clicking the arrows changes the Iso value in steps of 0.1. To use a different value,
enter it from the keyboard. Again, this option can be changed once the interpolant has been
created.
Enter a Name for the new model and click OK.
The Indicator Interpolant in the Project Tree

The new interpolant will be created and added to the Interpolants folder. The new interpolant
contains other objects that represent different parts of the interpolant:
l The Boundary object defines the limits of the interpolant. See Adjusting the Interpolant
Boundary.
an Indicator Interpolant.
Adjusting the Values Used.
l The isosurface is set to the specified Iso value.
l The Indicator Volumes legend defines the colours used to display the volumes.
l The Output Volumes folder contains the Inside and Outside volumes.
See Editing an Indicator Interpolant for more information on the changes you can make.

Indicator Interpolant Display

l Right-clicking on the interpolant and selecting View Isosurfaces.
You can also display the values ( ) used to create the interpolant, which is useful in making
decisions about the Cut-off value and the Iso value:
Indicator Interpolant Statistics

You can view the statistics for the indicator interpolant by right-clicking on the interpolant and
selecting Statistics. Use the information available to adjust the cut-off value and other
interpolant properties:

Editing an Indicator Interpolant | 407
applications.
Once you have created an interpolant, you can adjust its properties by double-clicking on it.
You can also double-click on the individual objects that make up the interpolant. See Editing a
Numeric Interpolant for more information.
See also:
Editing an Indicator Interpolant

To edit an indicator interpolant, you can either double-click on the interpolant in the
Interpolants folder or right-click and select Open. The window that appears is divided into tabs
that let you change the different objects that make up the interpolant. Many of the options are
the same for numeric and indicator interpolants.
When creating an indicator interpolant, only a basic set of parameters is used. The Edit
Indicator Interpolant windows provide finer controls over these basic parameters so you can
refine the interpolant to factor in real-world observations and account for limitations in the
data.
l Adjusting the Values Used
l Adding a Contour Polyline
l Adding Points
l Compositing Parameters for an Indicator Interpolant
l Adjusting the Interpolant Boundary
l The Cut-off Value
l Changing the Trend for an Indicator Interpolant
l Adjusting Interpolation Parameters
l Indicator Interpolant Surfacing and Volume Options

Adjusting the Values Used

The Values tab in the Edit Indicator Interpolant window shows the values used in creating the
interpolant and provides options for filtering the data. You cannot change the values used, but
you can filter the values using the Query filter and Surface filter options.
You can adjust the values using a contour polyline or by adding points. Both options are
available by expanding the interpolant in the project tree, then right-clicking on the values
object:
These options are described below in Adding a Contour Polyline and Adding Points.
To apply a query filter, tick the Query filter box in the Values tab and select the available queries
from the list.
To change the object used as the Surface filter, select the required object from the list. Note
that the list contains an object that defines the interpolants own boundary, which can be
adjusted in the Boundary tab.
Adding a Contour Polyline

You can adjust the values using contour polylines set to inside (1), outside (0) or to the iso-value.
Adding a contour polyline does not affect the indicators statistics.

Adding a Contour Polyline | 409
Setting a contour to inside or outside is a useful way of controlling blowouts. Here, the inside
volume occurs in the corner of the model because of the high-value points at the bottom of the
drillhole:
This can be adjusted by drawing a contour polyline below the bottom of the drillholes and
setting it to the outside value. For example, adding a polyline (in yellow) below the bottom of
drillhole shown above removes the blowout (the part of the mesh with only the edges shown):
Polylines must be drawn either on an object or on the slicer. Drawing a contour polyline
precisely on the drillhole gives Leapfrog Geo conflicting data at the same location, which is
why the polyline should be drawn below the drillhole. To draw a polyline below a drillhole,
first draw the polyline on the drillhole, then move its nodes so the polyline lies below the
drillhole.

To add a contour polyline, expand the interpolant in the project tree. Right-click on the values
object and select New Contour Polyline:
Next, choose whether you will draw a new polyline or use one already in the project, then select
the contour value:
line drawing tool can be used to create contour lines.
Click OK. If you have chosen the New Drawing option, the new object will be created in the
project tree and drawing tools will appear in the scene. Start drawing in the scene as described
in Drawing in the Scene. When you have finished drawing, click the Save button ( ). The new
contour will automatically be added to the model and will appear in the project tree as part of
the interpolants values object.
To edit the polyline, right-click on it and select Edit Polyline or add it to the scene and click the
Edit button ( ) in the shape list. If you wish to remove a contour polyline from the interpolant,
right-click on it in the project tree and select Delete or Remove.
You cannot change the value on the contour once it has been created. You can, however,
share the polyline and use it to create a new contour polyline. To do this, right-click on it in
the project tree and select Share. The polyline will then be added to the Polylines folder and
can be used elsewhere in the project.
Adding Points
To add points to an indicator interpolant, right-click on the values object in the project tree and
select Add Values. Leapfrog Geo will display a list of all suitable points objects in the project.
Select an object and click OK.

Compositing Parameters for an Indicator Interpolant | 411
A hyperlink to the points object will be added to the values object in the project tree. To remove
the points object, right-click on the points object and select Remove.
Compositing Parameters for an Indicator Interpolant

When an indicator interpolant has been created from uncomposited values, compositing
parameters can be changed by double-clicking on the interpolant in the project tree, then
clicking on the Compositing tab.
The Compositing tab will only appear for interpolants created from uncomposited drillhole
data.
You can composite in the entire drillhole or only where the data falls inside the interpolant
boundary. See Numeric Composites for more information on the effects of the Compositing
Length and Minimum Coverage settings.

Adjusting the Interpolant Boundary

To change an indicator interpolants boundary, double-click on the interpolant in the project
tree, then click on the Boundary tab:
Controls to adjust the boundary will also appear in the scene.

Tick the Use Topography box to use the topography as a boundary. The topography is
normally not used as a boundary for interpolants and so this option is disabled when an
interpolant is first created.
The Boundaries list shows objects that have been used to modify the boundary. You can disable
any of these lateral extents by unticking the box.
Techniques for creating lateral extents for interpolants are similar to those for creating lateral
extents for geological models. See Modifying the Models Boundary for more information.

The Cut-off Value | 413
The Cut-off Value

To change the Cut-off value for an indicator interpolant, double-click on the interpolant in the
project tree, then click on the Cut-off tab. The tab also shows the distribution of the data used
to create an indicator interpolate:
Bin count defines the number of bins, where a larger bin count results in a finer histogram.
Adjust the Cut-off value, if required, and click OK to process the changes.
Changing the Trend for an Indicator Interpolant

You can apply a global trend or a structural trend to an indicator interpolant. To do this, add the
interpolant to the scene, then double-click on the interpolant in the project tree. Click on the
Trend tab in the Edit Indicator Interpolant window.

Techniques for setting a trend for an indicator interpolant are the same as those for a numeric
interpolant. See Using a Global Trend and Using a Structural Trend in Changing the Trend
for a Numeric Interpolant.
Adjusting Interpolation Parameters

To adjust interpolation parameters for an indicator interpolant, double-click on the interpolant
in the project tree, then click on the Interpolant tab:
Two models are available, the spheroidal interpolant and the linear interpolant. See The
Spheroidal Interpolant Function and The Linear Interpolant Function for more information
on the settings in this tab.
Indicator Interpolant Surfacing and Volume Options

To change the properties of the isosurface for an indicator interpolant, double-click on the
interpolant in the project tree, then click on the Volumes tab:

Indicator Interpolant Surfacing and Volume Options | 415
An alternative to double-clicking on the interpolant is to double-click on one of the output

volumes, which opens the Edit Indicator Interpolant window with the Volumes tab displayed.
The Iso value can be set to values from 0.1 to 0.9. Clicking the arrows changes the Iso value in
steps of 0.1. To use a different value, enter it from the keyboard.
Setting a lower value for Resolution will produce more detail, but calculations can take longer.
You can also set the resolution to be adaptive. See Surface Resolution in Leapfrog Geo for
more information.
interpolant.
Use Volume filtering to discard smaller parts of the volumes in which you do not wish to carry
out further processing. For example, this interpolant has numerous small volumes:
Enabling Volume filtering removes the smaller parts:

Distance Functions
A distance function calculates the distance to a set of points.
To create a distance function, right-click on the Interpolants folder and select New Distance
Function. The New Distance Function window will be displayed:
If any of the objects selected are closed surfaces, you can choose whether these surfaces are
treated as Volumes or as Surfaces.
l When treated as Volumes, buffers will be generated only on the outside of the mesh. If the
mesh is inverted, buffers will appear on its inner surface.
l When treated as Surfaces, buffers will be generated on both sides of the mesh.
For example, here a distance function has been created using a sphere and one isosurface set to
100. The inner surface of the sphere is red, indicating that it is the inside of the mesh. The sphere
is treated as a volume and there is a single isosurface (yellow) outside of the sphere:

Setting the Boundary | 417
When the orientation of the sphere is reversed, the isosurface (yellow) is generated on the inner
surface of the sphere:
However, when the sphere is treated as a surface rather than as a volume, isosurfaces are
generated on both sides of the sphere:
If you are unsure of some settings, most can be changed later. For a basic distance function
click Select Objects to select from the suitable objects available in the project, then click on the
Buffers tab to define at least one buffer so that the distance function can be visualised in the
scene.
Setting the Boundary

In the Boundary tab, you can set whether the function boundary is clipped or unclipped. No
distance buffer clipping is the default setting, but if you choose to clip the buffers, you can
choose between:
l Sharing another objects extents
l Defining a set of extents that is independent of other objects in the project.
When you select the Shared with option, the distance function will be updated when the
extents object it shares is updated.

Setting a Trend
In the Trend tab, you can set a trend using the moving plane or by entering the required values.
You can also use the Set to list to choose different options used in the project. Isotropic is the
default option used when the function is created.
where:
plane.
the moving plane.
Adding Buffers
To add buffers, click on the Buffers tab, then click the Add button:
Enter the required value. To delete a buffer, click on it in the list, then click the Remove button.
You can also change the colours used to display the buffers by clicking on the colour chips.
There are two options for Volume Type that affect how the buffers are calculated when more
than one buffer is used. Selecting Concentric produces higher distance buffers that include the
lower distance buffers, whereas selecting Intervals produces discrete, non-intersecting buffers.
The Default resolution setting is used for all new buffers and for existing buffers that use the
default resolution.

The New Distance Function in the Project Tree | 419
The New Distance Function in the Project Tree

Click OK to create the distance function, which will be added to the Interpolants folder. The
new distance function contains objects representing different parts of the function, which can
be expanded to show the inputs to each part of the function:
l The Trend object that describes the trend applied.

l Hyperlinks to objects used for the distance function.
l An Isosurfaces folder that contains all the meshes generated in building the distance
function.
l An Output Volumes folder that contains all the distance buffer meshes.
Other objects may appear in the project tree under the function as you make changes to it.
Display the function by dragging it into the scene or by right-clicking on it and selecting View
Buffers.
Once you have created a distance function, you can adjust its properties by double-clicking on
it. You can also double-click on the individual objects that make up the function.
Importing a Variogram Model

Leapfrog Geo can import spheroidal variogram models exported from Snowden Supervisor.
The settings that can be imported are:
l The anisotropy settings in the Trend tab
l The Nugget, Sill, Base Range and Alpha settings in the Interpolant tab
To import a variogram model, first create an interpolant. Next, right-click on the interpolant and
select Import Variogram Parameters. In the window that appears, navigate to the folder that
contains the XML file and select it. Click Open. The interpolant will be updated with the
parameters in the XML file.
The imported variogram model overwrites the parameters in the interpolant, which cannot
be undone. If you wish to save the original settings, make a copy of the interpolant before
importing the new parameters.
Once the interpolant has been updated, you can edit it further as described in Editing a
Numeric Interpolant.

Copying an Interpolant
Creating a copy of an interpolant is a useful way of experimenting with changes to a model.
To copy an interpolant, right-click on it in the project tree and select Copy. Enter a name for the
copy of the interpolant and click OK. The copy will be added to the project tree.
Creating a Static Copy of an Interpolant

Creating a static copy preserves a snapshot of an interpolant that does not change, even when
changes are made to the data on which the original model was dependent. This is a useful way
of storing historical models and comparing models. Static copies can be exported from
Leapfrog Geo, as described in Interpolant Volumes and Surfaces Export.
To create a static copy of an interpolant, right-click on it in the project tree and select Static
Copy. Enter a name for the copy of the model and click OK. The copy will be added to the
Interpolants folder.
The objects that make up a static copy of an interpolant depend on the type of interpolant:
l For a numeric interpolant, a static copy is made up of a Legend object, a Boundary object,
and all isosurfaces and output volumes created in building the interpolant.
l For a multi-domained interpolant, a static copy is made up of a Legend object, a Boundary
object, and the output volumes created in building the interpolant. There are also static
copies of the sub-interpolants, which are the same as static copies of numeric interpolants.
l For an indicator interpolant, a static copy is made up of a Legend object, a Boundary object,
the interpolants isosurface and the output volumes.
Properties. The date the copy was created is in the General tab.
Interpolant Volumes and Surfaces Export

There are three options for exporting an interpolants output volumes and surfaces. These are:
l Export an output volume or a surface as a mesh. Right-click on it in the project tree and click
Export. You will be prompted for a file name and location. See Exporting a Single Mesh.
l Export an output volume as a thickness grid. Right-click on it in the project tree and click
Export Thickness Grid. See Thickness Grid Export.
l Export multiple output volumes and surfaces. Right-click on the interpolant in the project
tree and select Export. See Exporting Multiple Meshes from Models and Interpolants.

Interpolant Midpoints Export | 421
Interpolant Midpoints Export

To export interval midpoints from a numeric or indicator interpolant, right-click on the
interpolants values object ( ) and select Export. Interval midpoints can be exported in the
following formats:
l CSV text file (*.csv)
l DXF file (*.dxf)
l Snowden Supervisor CSV file (*.csv)
l Isatis 3D points file (*.asc)
The values exported are the midpoints of each segment, the X-Y-Z values and the hole ID. The
Snowden Supervisor and Isatis 3D points formats also include the interval length, when the
interpolant has been created from drillhole data.
In each case, you will be prompted for a filename and location.
You can extract interval midpoints from drillhole data and then export them from the Points
folder. See Extracting Interval Midpoints from Drillhole Data for more information.

Combined Models
This topic describes creating and working with combined models. It is divided into:
l Creating a Combined Model
l The Combined Model in the Project Tree
l Editing a Combined Model
l Displaying a Combined Model
l Creating a Static Copy of a Combined Model
l Combined Model Export
A combined model uses information from up to four geological models, interpolants and
distance functions in order to visualise relationships between different types of data in the
project. For example, you could combine a geological model with an interpolant to see what
lithologies higher grades are occurring in.
Creating a Combined Model

To create a combined model, right-click on the Combined Models folder in the project tree and
select New Combined Model. In the window that appears, select the models you wish to
combine, then click OK:
Once you have created a combined model, you cannot edit it to add new models or remove
existing ones.

The Combined Model in the Project Tree | 423
The next step is to select the output volumes to use in the combined model and arrange them in
order of priority. For this combined model, the QzP volume from the selected geological model
will be subdivided using information from the Au interpolant:
If you are using a distance buffer with concentric buffers, you will be able to select only one
volume.
Click OK to generate the model, which will appear in the project tree in the Combined Models
folder.
Add the model to the scene to view the results:
The Combined Model in the Project Tree

In the project tree, the combined model includes hyperlinks to the models used to create the
combined model:

Changes made in the original models will be reflected in the combined model.
Editing a Combined Model

To change how the volumes from the source models are combined, double-click on the
combined model in the project tree. Once you have created a combined model, you cannot
add new models to it, nor can you remove a selected model.
Displaying a Combined Model

To change the colours used to display the model, double-click on the Legend object ( ). In the
window that appears, click on the colour chip for each category and change it as described in
Display Colours.
To set multiple categories to a single colour, use the Shift and Ctrl keys to select the colour
Creating a Static Copy of a Combined Model

Creating a static copy preserves a snapshot of a combined model that does not change, even
when changes are made to the data on which the original model was dependent. This is a
useful way of storing historical models and comparing models. Static copies can be exported
from Leapfrog Geo, as described in Combined Model Export below.
To create a static copy of a combined model, right-click on it in the project tree and select
Static Copy. Enter a name for the copy of the model and click OK. The copy will be added to
the Combined Models folder.
The static copy ( ) is made up of a Legend object ( ) and the output volumes ( ).
Properties. The date the copy was created is in the General tab.
Combined Model Export

There are two options for exporting a combined models output volumes. These are:
l Export an output volume as a mesh. Right-click on it in the project tree and click Export. You
will be prompted for a file name and location. See Exporting a Single Mesh.
l Export multiple output volumes. Right-click on the combined model in the project tree and
select Export. See Exporting Multiple Meshes from Models and Interpolants.

Flow Modelling
Geological models created in Leapfrog Geo can be used as the basis for ModFlow and FEFLOW
models. You can create flow models directly in Leapfrog Geo and assign hydrological/material
properties based on the lithologies in the geological model. Flow models can be exported for
use in other applications, and you can import existing flow models and use them as the basis for
the construction of new models. Flow models can be displayed in the scene, and time-
dependent data can also be visualised.
Working with ModFlow and FEFLOW models is available as part of the Hydrogeology
module. Contact Customer Support as described in Getting Support for more information
about licensing the Hydrogeology module.
If the Hydrogeology folder appears in the project tree as Restricted, you will be able to
display models in the scene and change how they are displayed, but you will not be able to
make changes to the models themselves.
All tools for building flow models are accessed by right-clicking on the Hydrogeology folder
and the objects in it. Imported objects and objects created while building a flow model are also
stored in the Hydrogeology folder, and more complex functions can be carried out by right-
clicking on individual objects.
ModFlow Models
These features are only available as part of the Hydrogeology module. See Flow Modelling
for more information.
Once you have created a geological model, you can use it as the basis for a ModFlow model.
You can also import existing ModFlow models and assign lithologies from a geological model.
Steps for creating a ModFlow model that can be exported and run outside Leapfrog Geo are:
1. Create a geological model.
2. Create the ModFlow model using the geological model to set the grid spacing and layers.
3. Evaluate the new model against a geological model, if it wasnt when it was created.
4. Edit the hydrological properties.
5. Export the ModFlow model to ModFlow or Groundwater Vistas.
Once the model has been processed outside of Leapfrog Geo, the model can be imported into
Leapfrog Geo and visualised in the scene.
Creating ModFlow models in Leapfrog Geo has the advantage that the resolution can be easily
changed and the properties of the grid can be made to honour boundaries defined in
geological models. See Creating a ModFlow Model.
See ModFlow Model Display for information on options for displaying models in the scene.

Models created in Leapfrog Geo can be evaluated against a geological model when they are
created. Models imported into Leapfrog Geo or that were not evaluated when they were
created can be evaluated as described in ModFlow Evaluations.
Once a model has been defined and evaluated against a geological model, hydrological
properties can be assigned and the grid can be exported. See ModFlow Hydrological
Properties and ModFlow Model Export.
Creating a ModFlow Model

more information.
To create a new ModFlow model, you must first have at least one geological model defined in
the project. Once this has been defined, add the geological model to the scene. Right-click on
the Hydrogeology folder and select New ModFlow Model. The New ModFlow Model window
will be displayed, together with controls in the scene that will help you to set the grid extents:
The new ModFlow grid will be based on the geological model in the Gridding from setting. If
you wish to use a geological model other than the one selected when the window is opened,
select it from the dropdown list. The grid dimensions will be updated in the scene.
If the Evaluate Gridded Model box is ticked, the selected geological model will be evaluated on
the new grid and set as the evaluation for export. If you do not wish to evaluate the geological
model on the grid, untick the box. You will still be able to use the layers in the geological model
to control the grid layers.
The Preserve Existing Grid Lines option is used when setting a non-uniform grid in the scene
window. If you are going to define a non-uniform grid in this way, create the model with the
Default Cell Size set to the smallest cell size you wish to use, then edit it as described in Editing
a ModFlow Model.

Horizontal Grid Spacing | 427
The grid should be slightly smaller than the selected geological model. Any ModFlow cells
that exist outside the geological model will be marked as inactive when the grid is exported
to ModFlow.
Horizontal Grid Spacing

By default, the horizontal grid for the model is uniform, with the size of each cell set by the
Default Cell Size value. You can change the horizontal grid by editing row and column
spacings. When you click on Row Spacings or Column Spacings, the Edit Spacings window
will be displayed:
Changes made in the Edit Spacings window will be reflected in the scene.
There are four ways to change the spacings:
l Click on a value to edit it.
l Divide a row or column. Click on a row or column, then on the Divide Row or Divide Column
button. Two new rows or columns will appear in the list.
l Merge rows or columns. Hold down the Shift key while clicking on each item, then click on
the Merge Rows or Merge Columns button. The selected items will be combined.
l Set uniform spacing on selected rows or columns. You will be prompted to enter the number
of cells you wish to create from the selected rows or columns.

Click OK.
For example, here, the rows and columns away from the model boundary have been divided to
provide more detail. The different spacings are reflected in the scene:
Use close spacing for steep gradients and increase or decrease spacing gradually.
Vertical Grid Layering

The vertical grid layers are based on the geological model selected in the New ModFlow Model
window. Click on the Layers tab to view the layers:

Vertical Grid Layering | 429
Initially, there are two layers equally spaced between the topography and the geological
model. Change the layers by clicking on Select Layer Guides button. The Layer Guides
window will appear, showing the layers available in the selected geological model:
If the grid is required to follow a geological model lithology contact surface, move the layer into
the Selected list and it will be honoured in the gridding process.
Click OK to return to the New ModFlow Model window, in which the selected layers will be
displayed:
Click OK to create the new ModFlow grid, which will appear in the Hydrogeology folder. You
can edit the model by expanding it in the project tree and double-clicking on the grid object (
). See Editing a ModFlow Model.

For further information on working with the new model, see:

l ModFlow Model Display
l ModFlow Evaluations
l ModFlow Hydrological Properties
l Head Values and MT3D Concentrations
l Generating a Head Value Mesh
l ModFlow Model Export
Editing a ModFlow Model

more information.
Once you have created a ModFlow model, you can edit it by expanding the model in the project
tree and double-clicking on the grid object ( ). The Edit ModFlow Grid window will appear.
You can edit the grid spacings as described in Creating a ModFlow Model, using the
information in the scene window as a guide.
Another way to edit the grid is to use the controls in the scene to apply different cell size settings
in different parts of the grid. For example, you may want to define a grid that has smaller cells in
the centre than at the outer edges:
To set cell sizes in this way, it is best to start with a ModFlow model where the Default Cell Size
is set to the smallest cell size you will use in the model.

Editing a ModFlow Model | 431
For this example, we will start with a new grid with a Default Cell Size of 50. We will set the
adjacent cell size to 100 and the cell size at the outer boundary to 200.
First, we need to reduce the area that uses the cell size of 50 by using the red handles in the
scene:
The blue box in the scene is the geological model extents for the model used to define the
ModFlow model and represents the unedited boundary of the ModFlow model.
Next, enter the cell size to use for the area adjacent to the 50.0 cells in the New Cell Size field.
Then, drag the red handles to enlarge the grid. The centre part of the grid is still set to 50, while
the new area is set to 100:
If the Preserve Existing Grid Lines option is enabled, grid lines for cells already defined will
not be moved to account for new cells.

Enter the next cell size in the New Cell Size field and then use the handles to enlarge the grid
again:
Click OK to update the grid.

For further information on working with the new model, see:
l ModFlow Model Display
l ModFlow Evaluations
l ModFlow Hydrological Properties
l Head Values and MT3D Concentrations
l Generating a Head Value Mesh
l ModFlow Model Export
Importing a ModFlow Model

more information.
Leapfrog Geo imports .nam files and .mfi and .mfn variations of .nam files.
To import a ModFlow model, right-click on the Hydrogeology folder and select Import
ModFlow Model. Leapfrog Geo will ask you to specify the file location, and then will display the
data in the file in the Import ModFlow Model window:

ModFlow Evaluations | 433
If the world origin is available, the Grid Position will be displayed but cannot be edited.
Click OK to import the grid. The new ModFlow model will appear in the project tree in the
Hydrogeology folder. See ModFlow Model Display for information on displaying the model.
If the world origin was not available when the model was imported, you can change the Grid
Position. To do this, expand the imported model in the project tree and double-click on its grid
object ( ).
To associate lithologies with the grid, see ModFlow Evaluations.
ModFlow Evaluations
more information.
When a ModFlow model is exported, the evaluated geological model is used to assign
lithologies to the cells in the grid. If the grid has not been evaluated against a geological model,
you must do so before you can edit the hydrological properties and before you can export the
grid.
To evaluate a ModFlow model, expand the model in the project tree, then right-click on the
grid object ( ) and select Evaluations. Although you can evaluate an interpolant or distance
function, they cannot be exported with the grid and are simply used for displaying the grid in
Leapfrog Geo.
you have selected one or more objects, click OK. You will then be able to select the evaluations
from the view list, as described in Evaluations.
Assigning an Evaluation for Export

For ModFlow models created in Leapfrog Geo, the evaluation used when creating the model
will automatically be assigned as the evaluation for export. A hydrological properties table ( )
will appear in the project tree as part of the model.
If the model was imported into Leapfrog Geo or created without being evaluated against a
geological model, you will need to manually set the evaluation for export. To do this:
l Evaluate the grid against one or more geological models, as described above.
l Right-click on the model ( or ) in the project tree and select Set Evaluation for Export.
The Select Evaluation window will appear showing all geological models evaluated on the
grid. Select the required evaluation and click OK.
A hydrological properties table will be added to the model in the project tree. Edit hydrological
properties by double-clicking on the table. See ModFlow Hydrological Properties.
Combined Evaluations
You can combine geological models and set the priority used for evaluation. This is useful when
you have geological models available that describe different parts of the area of interest or if

you have a refined geological model for part of the model. To combine geological models for
evaluation, select the required models in the Select Models To Evaluate window, then click on
the Combined Evaluation button.
In this example, there are three geological models selected:
The GM and GM from contacts models describe similar areas, but GM has more detail. The GM
larger model describes a larger area but with less detail. Tick the models to combine them and
set their priority. Click OK to create the combined evaluation, then click OK in the Select Models
To Evaluate window. The combined evaluation will be available from the view list and can be
selected as the evaluation for export.
To Evaluate window.
ModFlow Hydrological Properties

more information.
When a ModFlow model is evaluated against a geological model, a hydrological properties

table ( ) is added to the model in the project tree. You can edit hydrological properties by
double-clicking on the table. You can also open the table by right-clicking on the model in the
project tree and selecting Edit Hydrological Properties.
If the model has been imported into Leapfrog Geo and has not yet been evaluated against a
geological model, you will be prompted to do so. Expand the model in the project tree, right-
click on the grid object and select Evaluations. See ModFlow Evaluations for more information.
Hydrological properties are assigned to model blocks based on the position of the blocks
centroid relative to the geological model used to evaluate the grid. The position of the centroid
is calculated and Leapfrog Geo then determines which lithology the centroid falls inside. The K
values for the assigned lithology are assigned to the entire block; there is no averaging.

Setting Hydrological Properties | 435
If more than one object has been evaluated on the grid, you can set hydrological properties
separately for each evaluation. Select the required evaluation from the Evaluation dropdown
list:
However, the only hydrological properties information that will be exported is that set for the
evaluation to be exported.
Setting Hydrological Properties

In the Edit Modflow Parameters window, you can enter the values for hydrological properties
manually or you can use the values from an interpolant.
To enter values manually, click on a cell, then enter the value in the Value field:
Press the Enter key to move down the columns.

To use the values from an interpolant, click the Interpolant button, then select an interpolant
from the dropdown list. The interpolant that will be used for the selected value will be displayed
in the field:
To use the interpolant for all the values in the selected column, click the All Lithologies button.
The window will be updated to show that the interpolant values will be used for that column:

Zone Numbers | 437
Zone Numbers
When the model is exported, the zone numbers are used to indicate the assignment of
lithologies to blocks and are written to the ModFlow zoned layer properties flow (*.lpf) file. In
the Edit Modflow Parameters window, you can change the zone number for a lithology by
clicking in a cell and entering a different zone number. If you reorder the zones in this way, zone
number conflicts will be highlighted in red:
Zone numbers must be unique and you will not be able to close the window and save data if
there are conflicts.
If you click on the Sort Zone Numbers button, the zone numbers will be ordered from top to
bottom.
Zone numbers should not be sorted once a model has been exported as the new numbers
will not be reflected in the exported model.
ModFlow Model Display

In the project tree, ModFlow models are made up of a grid object ( ), a Simulation Outputs
folder and a hydrological properties table ( ) object. If there is no hydrological properties table,
an evaluation has not yet been set for export. See ModFlow Evaluations for more information.
For ModFlow models created in and imported into Leapfrog Geo, dragging the model itself into
the scene will display the grid ( ) object. The different parts of the model can also be displayed.

Grid Display Options

Dragging a ModFlow model into the scene displays its grid object. Here, an imported model has
been evaluated against a geological model and added to the scene:
The viewing options available are the flat colour option, the evaluated geological model and
zone data imported with the model. Other inputs imported with a model will also be available
from this list, and once the model has been evaluated against a geological model or
interpolant, you can also display the model using the grids hydrological properties.
Grids are displayed as cells. When a geological model evaluation or lithological zone
information is displayed, you can also display a legend for the grid.
When Show edges ( ) is enabled, the edges of the cells will be displayed.
The Show inactive blocks ( ) option displays inactive cells in grey:

Viewing Block Information | 439
To display a single layer, tick the One layer box in the shape properties panel, then select the
layer to display.
Head values and MT3D concentrations can also be imported and displayed. See Head Values
and MT3D Concentrations.
Viewing Block Information

When a ModFlow model is displayed in the scene, you can view information about the
individual cells in the model by clicking on a block. The window that appears shows information
about the selected block, including its centroid and the lithology assigned to the block from the
evaluated geological model. Information from all geological models and interpolants the grid
has been evaluated against will be displayed:
Head Values and MT3D Concentrations

more information.
Leapfrog Geo imports the following output file formats:

l Head values files in *.hds, *.hhd and *.hed formats
l MT3D concentrations files in *.ucn format
To import head values or MT3D concentration files for a ModFlow model, right-click on the
Simulation Outputs folder and select the required option. Navigate to select the file, then click
Open.

The information will be added to the ModFlow grid, and you can then select the head values
and MT3D concentrations in the shape list when you display the grid in the scene. If the output
is time-dependent, a timestep slider will be available from the shape properties panel. Click and
drag the slider or click along the timeline to view the different timesteps available:
Imported head values and MT3D concentrations are stored in the project tree in the Simulation
Outputs folder:
To delete head values or MT3D concentrations, right-click on the object in the project tree and
select Delete.
Once head values have been imported, you can generate a head value mesh. See Generating a
Head Value Mesh.
Generating a Head Value Mesh

more information.
Once head values have been imported for a ModFlow model, you can generate a head value
mesh. To do this, expand the Simulation Outputs folder. Right-click on the head values object
and select Generate Head Value Mesh. The Generate Head Value Mesh window will appear,
showing the layers in the model and the timesteps available. Select the layer of the model you
wish to generate a head value mesh for, then choose the heads. Click OK to create the mesh,
which will be saved to the Meshes folder.
ModFlow Model Export

more information.
Leapfrog Geo has three options for exporting ModFlow grids:

l Export the grid as a ModFlow file.
l Export for Groundwater Vistas. Use this option the first time you export a grid for use in
Groundwater Vistas.

As a ModFlow File | 441
l Export a Groundwater Vistas update. Use this option to generate a set of files that can be
imported into Groundwater Vistas as an update.
The Groundwater Vistas options include a zoned layer properties flow (*.lpf) file that includes
information about the zones in the grid.
As a ModFlow File
To export a grid as a ModFlow file for use in a package other than Groundwater Vistas, right-
click on the grid in the project tree and select Export to ModFlow. You will be prompted to
choose a File name and location. Select the options required, then click Save.
For Groundwater Vistas

To export a grid for use in Groundwater Vistas for the first time, right-click on the grid in the
project tree and select Export to ModFlow for GWV. You will be prompted to choose a File
name and location. Select the options required, then click Save.
If you have previously exported the grid to Groundwater Vistas and have made changes to the
grid, use the Export to GWV Updates option.
As a Groundwater Vistas Update

If you have exported a grid to Groundwater Vistas but then make changes to the Leapfrog Geo
model, you can export the changes to the model. The set of files containing the changes can
then be imported to Groundwater Vistas.
To export a Groundwater Vistas update, right-click on the grid in the project tree and select
Export GWV Updates. The Update Groundwater Vistas window will appear listing the files
that will be exported. Enter a Base file name to differentiate the original files from the updates.
Click Export. The files will be saved in the specified directory.
FEFLOW Models
These features are only available as part of the Hydrogeology module. See Flow Modelling
for more information.
In Leapfrog Geo, creating a 3D FEFLOW model requires:

l A geological model that will be used to assign lithologies to the FEFLOW models blocks.
l A 2D grid that defines the block size, boundaries and surface features.
Steps for creating a 3D FEFLOW model that can be exported and run outside Leapfrog Geo are:
1. Create a geological model.
2. Create and refine a 2D model in Leapfrog Geo or import a FEFLOW model.
3. Create the 3D model from the 2D model or another 3D model in the project.
4. Evaluate the new 3D model against a geological model.

5. Edit the material types.

6. Export the 3D FEFLOW model.
Once the model has been processed outside of Leapfrog Geo, a results file can be saved that
can be imported into Leapfrog Geo and visualised in the scene.
A 2D grid can be created in or imported into Leapfrog Geo. A 3D grid can also be used, in which
case the layer information is not used in creating the 3D grid. Creating the 2D grid in Leapfrog
Geo provides the most flexibility, as the block sizes can easily be changed, the boundaries
modified and features added to provide finer resolution where there is more data available.
For information about creating 2D and 3D grids, see Creating a 2D FEFLOW Model and
Creating a 3D FEFLOW Model.
You can also import FEFLOW problem files and result files, visualise them in Leapfrog Geo and
use them as the basis for new models. See Importing a FEFLOW Grid.
See FEFLOW Model Display for information on options for displaying FEFLOW models in the
scene.
3D grids created in Leapfrog Geo can be evaluated against a geological model when they are
created. Grids imported into Leapfrog Geo or that were not evaluated when they were created
can be evaluated as described in FEFLOW Evaluations.
Once a model has been defined and evaluated against a geological model, material types can
be assigned and the grid can be exported. See FEFLOW Material Types and FEFLOW Model
Export.
FEFLOW Model Display

In the project tree, 3D FEFLOW models are made up of a grid object representing the finite
elements, a nodes object and a material types table ( ) object. If there is no material types table,
an evaluation has not yet been set for export. See FEFLOW Evaluations for more information.
A 2D FEFLOW grid is made up of a grid object and a nodes object. Here, three types of FEFLOW
models are shown expanded in the project tree:
l Feflow 3D Simulation is a 3D model created in Leapfrog Geo.
l Feflow 2D Simulation is a 2D model created in Leapfrog Geo.
l Feflow Results is an imported 3D model (DAC file).

FEFLOW Model Display | 443
From the information in the project tree, we can see that:

l The 3D simulation created in Leapfrog Geo ( ) uses the GM geological model to define the
layers.
l The 2D simulation created in Leapfrog Geo ( ) uses the GM geological model as a boundary
and has had collar points added as a feature.
l The imported results model ( ) includes a number of simulation outputs.
For each type of FEFLOW model, dragging the model itself into the scene will display the grid (
) object. The different parts of the model can also be displayed.

Displaying a 3D Model
Dragging a 3D simulation into the scene displays its grid object, which represents the finite
elements. Here, a 3D model created in Leapfrog Geo ( ) has been added to the scene:
For 3D models imported into Leapfrog Geo, you can display the model using other information
available for the grid, such as conductivity data. This is available from the view list.
Grids for 3D models are displayed as blocks. You can also display a legend for the grid when a
geological model evaluation is displayed.
When Show edges ( ) is enabled, the edges of the blocks will be displayed.
To display a single layer, tick the One layer box in the shape properties panel, then select the
layer to display.

Displaying a 2D Model | 445
You can display the nodes by adding the nodes ( ) object to the scene. When a model with
results is displayed, the simulation outputs can be displayed when the nodes are viewed in the
scene. Here, the nodes for an imported results file have been added to the scene. The heads are
displayed for a single layer:
When the results are time-dependent, a timestep slider will be available from the shape
properties panel. Click and drag the slider or click along the timeline to view the different
timesteps available.
Displaying a 2D Model
As with 3D models, dragging a 2D model into the scene displays its grid object. Here, a 2D
model created in Leapfrog Geo (( ) has been added to the scene and viewed from above:
Also in the scene is a collar points object that shows collar points that have been added to the
grid as a feature.

2D grids can be viewed as points or as blocks. As with imported 3D grids, an imported 2D grid
can also be displayed using other information available for the grid.
Other viewing options are available for 2D grids created in Leapfrog Geo. These are useful in
refining a 2D grid and are described in Creating a 2D FEFLOW Model.
Viewing Block Information

When a FEFLOW model is displayed in the scene, you can view information about the individual
blocks in the model by clicking on a block. The window that appears shows information about
the selected block, including its centroid and the lithology assigned to the block from all
evaluated geological models and interpolants:
Information from all geological models and interpolants the grid has been evaluated against
will be displayed:
Importing a FEFLOW Grid

more information.
You can import 2D and 3D FEFLOW grids and use them as the basis for new models. Leapfrog
Geo imports two types of FEFLOW files:
l FEFLOW problem files (*.fem) in ASCII format. Importing these files results in a new 2D or 3D
model with a grid and nodes.
l FEFLOW results files (*.dac). Importing these files results in a new 3D model with a grid, nodes
and simulation outputs.
To import a FEFLOW grid or results file, right-click on the Hydrogeology folder and select one
of the Import FEFLOW options. Leapfrog Geo will ask you to specify the file location. Click
Open to import the file.
The new FEFLOW grid will appear in the project tree under the Hydrogeology folder. To use
the imported grid or results file as the basis for a new FEFLOW model, see Creating a 3D
FEFLOW Model.
To associate lithologies with a 3D grid, see FEFLOW Material Types.

Creating a 2D FEFLOW Model | 447
See FEFLOW Model Display for information about displaying the FEFLOW grid in the scene
window.
Creating a 2D FEFLOW Model

more information.
A 2D FEFLOW model defines the block size, boundaries and surface features for a 3D FEFLOW
model. Although existing 2D grids can be imported into Leapfrog Geo and used for creating 3D
models, creating the 2D grid in Leapfrog Geo provides the most flexibility, as the block sizes can
easily be changed, the boundaries modified and features added to provide finer resolution
where there is more data available.
It is not necessary to create a geological model before creating a 2D grid. However, you will not
be able to create a 3D grid until a geological model has been created. Therefore, it is a good
idea to create the geological model first, and its dimensions can be used in defining the
boundary of the 2D grid.
To create a 2D grid, right-click on the Hydrogeology folder and select New 2D FEFLOW
Model. The New 2D FEFLOW Grid window will appear:
All settings can be changed once the grid has been created. It is, therefore, reasonable to
accept the default settings and create the grid, then add it to the scene and begin refining it.
Click OK to create the initial grid.
In the project tree, a 2D FEFLOW grid is made up of a grid object and a nodes object, as
described in FEFLOW Model Display. Here, a newly-created grid with a rectangular boundary
appears in the project tree:

Expand the grid in the project tree and double-click on the grid object ( ) to open the Edit 2D
FEFLOW Grid window. The Features tab will be displayed. When a grid is first created, this
window will be empty, but once features have been added, you can enable them in this tab.
Click on the Boundary tab to modify the boundary:
Click the Apply button to view the effect of changes made without closing this window.
Boundary Options
When setting the Boundary, you can set a rectangular boundary defined by the From
rectangle settings. You can use the extents of any other object in the project by selecting from
the Enclose Object list, but the grid boundary will always be a rectangle.
To define a non-rectangular boundary, use the From another object options and select from
the list of objects available in the project. This is useful if, for example, you wish to define a grid
using the boundary of a geological model.
The Simplify boundary option reduces the number of points along the boundary. Reducing the
Tolerance value increases the number of points along the boundary. The two settings together
let you define a basic boundary with elements that are roughly uniform in size, set by the value
of Element size. Here, a grid has been created from a geological model with the Simplify
boundary option enabled:

Element Size | 449
Disabling the Simplify boundary option results in more detail around the edges of the grid:
Element Size
The Element size setting determines the basic size of the triangles that make up the grid,
although the size will vary according to features applied to the grid and the Feature vertex
snapping distance. The size will also vary if the Simplify boundary option is unticked, in which
case the Element size setting is the maximum size of the triangles.
The Feature vertex snapping distance is automatically set to 1 percent of the Element size. To
use a smaller snapping distance, untick the Auto box and set the value required. You cannot set
a value that is larger than 1 percent of the Element size.
The effects of the Feature vertex snapping distance do not become apparent until features
have been added to the grid.
Adding Features to the Grid

To add features to the grid, right-click on the grid in the project tree and select New Feature.
The New FEFLOW Feature window will appear:
You can add Point, Line and Polygon features, and the Feature Object list will display all
suitable objects available in the project. Ticking the Simplify Feature option will reduce the
number of points used.

Click OK to add the feature, which will appear in the project tree under the FEFLOW grid object:
You can edit the feature by double-clicking on it or by right-clicking and selecting Open.
However, the feature has not yet been applied to the grid. To enable the feature, double-click
on the grid to open the Edit 2D FEFLOW Grid window. Tick the box to enable the feature, then
adjust the number of Refinement Steps:
More Refinement Steps will produce more detail near the feature.
Click Apply or OK to view the effect the feature and its settings have on the grid.
If you want to modify a feature without having to reprocess the grid, untick it in the Features
tab. If you want to delete a feature, right-click on it in the project tree and select Delete.
The images below show a grid displayed with collar points (in red) to demonstrate the effects of
no features and collars applied with different refinement steps:
No features Collars with 2 refinement steps Collars with 10 refinement steps

To view all features added to a grid, right-click on the grid and select View Snapped Features. A
Snapped Features object will appear in the shape list that represents all objects used to add
features to the grid:
Here, four snapped objects appear in the scene: the three features listed in the Features tab and
the grids boundary.
See Creating a 3D FEFLOW Model for information on using the 2D grid as the basis for a 3D
model.
Creating a 3D FEFLOW Model

more information.

To create a new 3D FEFLOW model, you must first create or import a 2D FEFLOW grid as
described in Creating a 2D FEFLOW Model and Importing a FEFLOW Grid.
Once you have created or imported a 2D FEFLOW grid, right-click on the Hydrogeology folder
and select New FEFLOW Model. The Extrude 3D FEFLOW Grid window will appear:
The dimensions and resolution of the grid are set by the 2D or 3D grid selected from the
FEFLOW Grid list. See Creating a 2D FEFLOW Model for information on creating and refining a
2D grid that can be used as the basis for a 3D grid.
The Gridding from setting determines the geological model used for layer guides. Ticking the
Evaluate Gridded Model box will evaluate the new 3D model against the selected geological
model and set it as the evaluation for export. See FEFLOW Evaluations for more information. If
you do not wish to evaluate the geological model on the grid, untick the box. You will still be
able to use the layers in the geological model to control the grid layers.

The FEFLOW grid is initially made up of two layers equally spaced between the topography and
the geological model, with the minimum thickness of each layer determined by the Minimum
Thickness setting. You can add layers to the grid by clicking on the Select Layer Guides button
and then selecting from the layers available in the geological model:
If the grid is required to follow a geological model lithology contact surface, move the layer into
the Selected list and it will be honoured in the gridding process.
Click OK to return to the Extrude 3D FEFLOW Grid window. The selected layers will be
displayed:
Click OK to generate the new FEFLOW grid, which will appear in the project tree under the
Hydrogeology folder.
Once the model has been created, you can edit it by expanding the model in the project tree
and double-clicking on its grid object. The layer guides selected, the number defined and the
Minimum Thickness can be modified, but the FEFLOW grid on which the model is based and
the geological model used for gridding cannot be changed.

The boundaries of the selected geological model must be larger than the FEFLOW grid used
as the basis for the new model. If this is not the case, you can change the geological models
extents so that they enclose the FEFLOW grid.
For further information on working with the new grid, see:

l FEFLOW Model Display
l FEFLOW Evaluations
l FEFLOW Material Types
l FEFLOW Model Export
FEFLOW Evaluations
more information.
When a 3D FEFLOW model is exported, the evaluated geological model is used to assign
lithologies to the blocks in the grid. If the grid has not been evaluated against a geological
model, you must do so before you can edit the material types and before you can export the
grid.
To evaluate a FEFLOW grid, expand the model in the project tree. Right-click on the grid object (
) and select Evaluations. Although you can evaluate an interpolant or distance function, they
cannot be exported with the grid and are simply used for displaying the grid in Leapfrog Geo.
you have selected one or more objects, click OK. You will then be able to select the evaluations
from the view list, as described in Evaluations.
Assigning an Evaluation for Export

For 3D grids created in Leapfrog Geo, the evaluation used when creating the grid will
automatically be assigned as the evaluation for export. A material types table ( ) will appear in
the project tree as part of the 3D grid.
If the grid was imported into Leapfrog Geo or created without being evaluated against a
geological model, you will need to manually set the evaluation for export. To do this:
l Evaluate the grid against one or more geological models, as described above.
l Right-click on the model ( or ) in the project tree and select Set Evaluation for Export.
The Select Evaluation window will appear showing all geological models evaluated on the
grid. Select the required evaluation and click OK.
A material types table will be added to the FEFLOW grid in the project tree. Edit material types by
double-clicking on the table. See FEFLOW Material Types.

Combined Evaluations | 455
Combined Evaluations
You can combine geological models and set the priority used for evaluation. This is useful when
you have geological models available that describe different parts of the area of interest or if
you have a refined geological model for part of the model. To combine geological models for
evaluation, select the required models in the Select Models To Evaluate window, then click on
the Combined Evaluation button.
In this example, there are three geological models selected:
The GM and GM from contacts models describe similar areas, but GM has more detail. The GM
larger model describes a larger area but with less detail. Tick the models to combine them and
set their priority. Click OK to create the combined evaluation, then click OK in the Select Models
To Evaluate window. The combined evaluation will be available from the view list and can be
selected as the evaluation for export.
To Evaluate window.
FEFLOW Material Types

more information.
When a FEFLOW model is first evaluated against a geological model, a material types table ( ) is
added to the FEFLOW grid in the project tree. You can edit material types by double-clicking on
the table. You can also open the table by right-clicking on the grid and selecting Edit Material
Types.
If the grid has been imported into Leapfrog Geo and has not yet been evaluated against a
geological model, you will be prompted to do so. Expand the model in the project tree, right-

click on the grid object and select Evaluate Geological Model. See FEFLOW Evaluations for
more information.
If more than one object has been evaluated on the grid, you can set material types separately
for each evaluation. Select the required evaluation from the Evaluation dropdown list:
However, the only material types information that will be exported is that set for the evaluation
to be exported.
In the Edit Material Types window, you can enter the values for material types manually or you
can use the values from an interpolant.
To enter values manually, click on a cell, then enter the value in the Value field:
Press the Enter key to move down the columns.

FEFLOW Model Export | 457
To use the values from an interpolant, click the Interpolant button, then select an interpolant
from the dropdown list. The interpolant that will be used for the selected value will be displayed
in the field:
To use the interpolant for all the values in the selected column, click the All Lithologies button.
The window will be updated to show that the interpolant values will be used for that column:
FEFLOW Model Export

more information.
To export a 3D FEFLOW model as an ASCII format FEFLOW file (*.fem), right-click on the grid in
the project tree and select Export To FEFLOW. You will be prompted to choose a File name
and location. Select the options required, then click Save.
2D FEFLOW grids cannot be exported.

Block Models
The Block Models folder can be used to import and create block models. Model types that can
be imported are:
l Isatis files
l UBC grids
You can also create block models and sub-blocked models, which can then be exported for use
in other applications. Creating block models within Leapfrog Geo has the advantage that the
resolution can easily be changed.
Block models can be evaluated against geological models and interpolants as described in
Evaluations.
The rest of this topic describes importing block models in Isatis and CSV formats, creating block
models in Leapfrog Geo and exporting block models. It is divided into:
l Importing a Block Model
l Importing an Isatis Block Model
l Importing a Block Model in CSV Format

l Creating a Block Model
l Displaying a Block Model
l Block Model Export
l In a Supported Format
l In CSV Format
l In Datamine Block Model Format
l As Points
For information on working with the other type of block model, see UBC Grids.
Importing a Block Model

Leapfrog Geo imports block models in the following formats:
l CSV + Text header (*.csv, *.csv.txt)
l CSV with embedded header (*.csv)
l Isatis Block Model files (*.asc)
Importing an Isatis Block Model

To import an Isatis format block model, right-click on the Block Models folder and select
Import Block Model. Select the file you wish to import and click Open. The model will be
imported and added to the Block Models folder.

Importing a Block Model in CSV Format | 459
Importing a Block Model in CSV Format

Block models imported in CSV format must be regular, rotated only about the Z axis. You will
also need to map the data in the file to the block model format Leapfrog Geo expects.
To import a block model in CSV format, right-click on the Block Models folder and select
Import Block Model. Select the file you wish to import and click Open. An import window will
be displayed in which you can map the columns in the file to those Leapfrog Geo expects. Once
you have mapped the required columns, click Next to define the grid.
In the next window, the data in the file is displayed and you can select the values to use in
formatting the grid:

You can select information in the file and drag it to the corresponding values on the lefthand
side:
You can also enter the grid definition values manually.

Once all required values have been copied, Leapfrog Geo will check the grid definition against
the data in the file and confirm that the centroids match:
Click Finish. The block model will appear in the Block Models folder.

Creating a Block Model | 461
Creating a Block Model

To create a new block model, right-click on the Block Models folder and select New Block
Model. The New Block Model window will appear, together with a set of controls that will help
you set the size, location and orientation of the model in the scene:
The block model is defined from its Base point, and the reference centroid is the Base point
plus one half the Block size. Block models cannot have partial blocks, and when changes are
made to the Block size parameter, the models extents will be enlarged to match the Block
size.
If you know the values you wish to use for the models Extents, enter them in New Block Model
window. You can also:
l Use the controls in the scene to set the extents.
l The orange handle sets the Base point.
l The red handles adjusts the size of the boundary.

l The blue handle adjusts the Azimuth.
l Use another objects extents. Select the object from the Enclose Object list.
If you wish to define a tilted block model, create a sub-blocked model with no triggers. See
Sub-blocked Models.
It is a good idea to use larger values for the Block size as processing time for large models can
be considerable. Once you have created a block model, you can change its properties to
provide more detail.
You can also evaluate the block model against geological models, interpolants and distance
functions in the project. To do this, click on the Evaluations tab. All objects available in the
project will be displayed. Move the models you wish to use into the Selected list.
Enter a Name for the block model and click OK. The model will appear under the Block Models
folder. You can make changes to it by double-clicking on it.

Displaying a Block Model

When a block model is displayed in the scene, there is an Index Filter option for displaying the
grid:
For None, no X, Y or Z filter is applied. For Subset, the grid is filtered to show the union of the
selected X, Y and Z ranges. For Sliced, the grid is filtered to show the intersection of the selected
X, Y and Z ranges.
For the Subset and Sliced options, tick the boxes for X, Y and Z. To adjust the range, drag the
white handles left and right. Double-clicking on the slider alternates between displaying a
single value and displaying the full range.
Block Model Export

There are two options for exporting a block model created in Leapfrog Geo: exporting the
model in one of the supported formats or exporting the model as points.
In a Supported Format
Block models created in Leapfrog Geo can be exported in the following formats:
l Isatis Block Model files (*.asc)
l Surpac Block Model files (*.mdl)
l Datamine Block Model (*.dm)

In CSV Format | 463
All evaluations on the block model will be exported as part of the file.
To export a block model in one of the supported formats, right-click on the block model in the
project tree and select Export. You will be prompted to select the file format. Enter a name and
location for the file and click Save.
In CSV Format
When exporting the model in CSV format, you will be prompted to choose encoding options.
Null Values for Unevaluated Blocks

When blocks fall outside the boundary of the evaluated model, you can set specific null values.
Select from the options listed for Numeric null value and Category null value or enter a
custom value.
If none of the evaluations on the model have data for specific rows, you can exclude those rows
from the exported file by ticking the box Omit rows where all values are null.
Numeric Precision
There are three options for Numeric Precision:
l The Double, floating point option provides precision of 15 to 17 significant decimal places.
l The Single, floating point option provides precision of 6 to 9 significant decimal places.
l The Custom option lets you set a specific number of decimal places.
To change either the Centroid and size precision and Column data precision options, untick
the Use default precision box and select the required option.
In Datamine Block Model Format

When exporting the model in Datamine format, column names for the evaluated objects have a
maximum length of 8 characters. Leapfrog Geo will recommend truncated column names, but
if you wish to use different abbreviations, select Cancel and rename the affected objects before
exporting the model.
As Points
Block models can also be exported as points in CSV format, which does not include the block
sizes and model description. To do this, right-click on the block model and select Export as
Points. Next, enter a name and location for the file and click Save. You will then be prompted to
select the CSV encoding. These options are described in In CSV Format above.

Sub-blocked Models
A sub-blocked model is a block model that is subdivided into smaller blocks where triggering
surfaces intersect the blocks. Sub-blocked models can be rotated in two axes by adjusting the
dip and azimuth. This topic describes creating and exporting sub-blocked models. It is divided
into:
l Creating a Sub-blocked Model
l Model Extents and Rotation
l The Grid Pattern

l Triggers and Evaluations
l Sub-blocked Model Export
l In a Supported Format
l In CSV Format
l In Datamine Block Model Format
l As Points
Creating a Sub-blocked Model

To create a new sub-blocked model, right-click on the Block Models folder and select New
Sub-blocked Model. The New Sub-blocked Model window will appear, together with a set of
controls that will help you set the size, location and orientation of the model in the scene:
The block model is defined from its Base point, and the reference centroid is the Base point
plus one half the Block size. Block models cannot have partial blocks, and when changes are
made to the Block size parameter, the models extents will be enlarged to match the Block
size.

Model Extents and Rotation | 465
Model Extents and Rotation

It is a good idea to set the sub-blocked models extents from another object in the project,
selecting the required object from the Enclose Object list.
The Dip and Azimuth set the rotation of the model. If you know the values you wish to use,
enter them in New Sub-blocked Model window. You can also:
l Use the controls in the scene to set the orientation. The yellow handle adjusts the Dip and the
blue handle adjusts the Azimuth.
l Use either the slicer or the moving plane to set the orientation. To do this, add the slicer or the
moving plane to the scene and adjust the orientation. Then select the object to use from the
Set Angles From list.
If you have set the extents from another object and then rotated the model, you will need to
reset the extents by selecting the object again from the Enclose Object list.
The Grid Pattern

The cross-hatched pattern shows how the parent blocks will be divided up into sub-blocks.
These properties can be changed by adjusting the Parent blocks and Sub-blocks settings. The
Sub-block count is the number of blocks each parent block is divided into when it intersects a
trigger. The number of blocks in the Z axis can be:
l A variable value, based on when the parent blocks intersect triggers. Tick the Variable height
box and set a Minimum height, if required.
l A fixed value. Untick the Variable height box and set the Z value required.
Triggers and Evaluations

Click on the Sub-blocking Triggers tab to select triggers from the volumes available in the
project. Triggers can be:
l Geological model volumes
l Interpolant volumes
l Open meshes
All suitable objects in the project will be displayed in the Available triggers list.
Sub-blocked models can be evaluated against geological models, interpolants and distance
functions in the project. To do this, click on the Evaluations tab. All objects available in the
project will be displayed. Move the models you wish to use into the Selected list, then select the
Evaluation Type, which can be on the sub-block centroids or on the parent block centroids.
Enter a Name for the sub-blocked model and click OK. The model will appear under the Block
Models folder. You can make changes to it by double-clicking on it.

Sub-blocked Model Export

There are two options for exporting a sub-blocked model created in Leapfrog Geo: exporting
the model in one of the supported formats or exporting the model as points.
In a Supported Format
Sub-blocked models created in Leapfrog Geo can be exported in the following formats:
l Datamine Block Model (*.dm)
All evaluations on the model will be exported as part of the file.
To export a sub-blocked model in one of the supported formats, right-click on the model in the
project tree and select Export. You will be prompted to select the file format. Enter a name and
location for the file and click Save.
In CSV Format
When exporting the model in CSV format, you will be prompted to choose encoding options.
Null Values for Unevaluated Blocks

When blocks fall outside the boundary of the evaluated model, you can set specific null values.
Select from the options listed for Numeric null value and Category null value or enter a
custom value.
If none of the evaluations on the model have data for specific rows, you can exclude those rows
from the exported file by ticking the box Omit rows where all values are null.
Numeric Precision
There are three options for Numeric Precision:
l The Double, floating point option provides precision of 15 to 17 significant decimal places.
l The Single, floating point option provides precision of 6 to 9 significant decimal places.
l The Custom option lets you set a specific number of decimal places.
To change either the Centroid and size precision and Column data precision options, untick
the Use default precision box and select the required option.

In Datamine Block Model Format | 467
In Datamine Block Model Format

When exporting the model in Datamine format, column names for the evaluated objects have a
maximum length of 8 characters. Leapfrog Geo will recommend truncated column names, but
if you wish to use different abbreviations, select Cancel and rename the affected objects before
exporting the model.
As Points
Sub-blocked models can also be exported as points in CSV format, which does not include the
block sizes and model description. To do this, right-click on the model and select Export as
Points. Next, enter a name and location for the file and click Save. You will then be prompted to
select the CSV encoding. These options are described above.

UBC Grids
Leapfrog Geo imports UBC grids in *.msh format, together with numeric values in properties
files in *.gra, *.sus, *.mag and *.den formats. UBC grids can be evaluated against geological
models and interpolants, which can then be exported with the grid.
Importing a UBC Grid

To import a UBC grid, right-click on the Block Models folder and select Import UBC Model. In
the window that appears, click Browse to locate the file to be imported. Click Add to add any
properties file, although these are not required.
For any properties file, click the Inactive Value field to mark cells as inactive. Doing so does not
change the data but ensures that cells with the inactive value can be hidden when the grid is
displayed in the scene. If you do not set this value when importing the grid, you can set it later by
double-clicking on the grid in the project tree.
Click Import. The grid will appear in the Block Models folder.
Evaluating UBCGrids
UBC grids can be evaluated against geological models and interpolants as described in
Evaluations. However, UBC grids cannot be evaluated against fault blocks and mutli-
domained interpolants, although they can be evaluated against the parent geological model
and the parent interpolant.
Mapping Category Evaluations

When a UBCgrid is exported with a category evaluation, category data is mapped to an editable
numeric value. You can edit this by double-clicking on the grid in the project tree, then clicking
on the Export Mappings tab:

Exporting a UBCGrid | 469
Change the numeric value assigned to each lithology, if required. You can also change the
value assigned to blocks that have no lithology.
The Export Mappings tab does not appear for UBC grids that have no geological model
evaluations.
Exporting a UBCGrid
To export a UBC grid, right-click on it in the project tree and select Export. Select the
evaluations to export with the grid, then select a folder. Click OK to export the grid.

Presentation
Leapfrog Geo has a number of tools for displaying and presenting data for use in reports and
presentations.
l Create and export cross sections, fence sections and serial sections.
l Create and export contours.
l Render and save images for use outside of Leapfrog Geo.
l Save scenes that demonstrate different aspects of the model and the model-building
process. These scenes can then be saved as a movie or as a scene file that can be opened in
Leapfrog Viewer.
See Visualising Data for information about the tools available in Leapfrog Geo for changing
how data is displayed.

Sections
There are three types of sections in Leapfrog Geo:
l A typical cross section is a vertical plane with an image or geologic cross section applied to it.
In Leapfrog Geo, this type of cross section can be created directly in the scene, from the slicer
or from an imported image.
l A fence section deviates. In Leapfrog Geo, a fence section can be created from a polyline
drawn in the scene or from any line object in the project.
l A serial section is a series of typical cross sections taken at an offset from a single base section.
Evaluating Sections
Sections can be evaluated against different objects in the project, as described in Evaluations.
All sections can be evaluated against:
l Geological models
l Interpolants
l Distance functions
l Surfaces
l Combined models
Cross sections can also be evaluated against block models, but serial sections and fence
sections cannot.
Objects a section is evaluated on can be included when the section is exported.
Exporting Sections
There are two options available for exporting sections:
l The first option is to export the section as a DXF file (*.dxf). This option exports a series of DXF
lines created from the intersection of the evaluation volumes and the section plane. The lines
generated from each volume are saved as separate layers in the file. Right-click on the section
in the project tree and select Export. You will be prompted to select an evaluation to export
with the section. Enter a filename and location, then click Save.
l The second option for exporting a section is to create a section layout and then export it as a
PDF file (*.pdf), Scalable Vector Graphics file (*.svg), PNG image (*.png) or GeoTIFF (*.tiff,
*.tif). This option is more flexible than exporting the section as a DXF file as you have more
control over the section layout. You can customise the page layout and include multiple
evaluations and annotations. For typical cross sections and serial sections, you can also
display drillholes and planned drillholes. See Section Layouts for more information.
A serial section cannot be used to create a section layout. When exported as a DXF file, the serial
section will be exported in a single file with a collection of DXF lines based on intersections
between the selected evaluation and the section planes. The offset sections that make up a
serial section can be exported in both ways.

Creating Cross Sections | 472
Creating Cross Sections

To create a cross section in the scene, add a model to the scene. Next, right-click on the Cross
Sections and Contours folder and select New Cross Section. The New Cross Section window
will appear, together with a section plane and controls in the scene that let you adjust the
position of the section plane:
If the slicer is already in the scene when you select New Cross Section, the position of the
slicer will be used to define the initial orientation of the section. This is an effective way of
creating a section from the slicer: add the model to the scene, draw a slice and then create a
cross section.
The front (F) and back (B) of the section plane is indicated in the scene. To swap the front and
back, click the Swap Front button ( ).
Use the handles in the scene to position the section plane. The handles work in the same
manner as the moving plane controls, as described in The Moving Plane.
Two buttons in the New Cross Section window let you create a cross section that is aligned
north-to-south ( ) or east-to-west ( ):
The other two buttons are active when the slicer is in the scene. Clicking the Set section to
slicer button ( ) creates a cross section from the position of the slicer in the scene. When the
Lock section to slicer button ( ) is enabled, moving the position of the slicer will update the
position of the cross section in the New Cross Section window.
Once the section plane is positioned as required, click OK to create the new cross section, which
will appear in the Cross Sections and Contours folder. Display it by clearing the scene, then
adding the cross section to the scene.

Cross sections can be evaluated against geological models, interpolants, distance functions
and surfaces in the project, as described in Evaluations. Objects a cross section or fence section
is evaluated on can be included when the section is exported.
Importing Cross Sections

To import an image and use it to create a new cross section, right-click on the Cross Sections
and Contours folder and select New Cross Section From Image. Leapfrog Geo supports the
following file formats for creating cross sections:
l PNG files (*.png)
l Graphics Interchange Format files (*.gif)
Select an image, then click Open. The Import Section Image window will be displayed.
Cropping the image to only the area of interest will reduce video RAM usage and may improve
graphics performance. To crop the image, click on the Crop Image button ( ) at the top of the
window, then drag around the part of the image you wish to use. Click on the Remove Crop
button ( ) to clear the cropping.
If the image is georeferenced and you are satisfied that this information is correct, click Import.
The new cross section will be created and added to the Cross Sections and Contours folder.
If the image does not contain georeferencing information, you will need to add it manually by
adding reference markers and then entering coordinates. First, tick the box for any Section
Type options as these constrain the markers that need to be set. For example, selecting East
facing section means you will only need to enter the East (X) coordinates once.

Importing Cross Sections | 474
To add coordinates to the image, click on a marker and move it to the required location. Then
enter the coordinates for the marker:
The Image (X) and Image (Y) fields give you fine control over the location of the marker on the
image.
If the image is georeferenced and you wish to discard the information, tick the Override
georeference data from image box and edit the markers.
Once the coordinates for each marker have been set, click Import. The new cross section will
be created and added to the Cross Sections and Contours folder. Display it by dragging it into
the scene or by right-clicking on the cross section and selecting View Object.
Once you have georeferenced an image, you can export it as a GeoTIFF. To do this, right-
click on it in the project tree and select Export. You will be prompted for a filename and
location. Click Save.
Once you have created a cross section, you can edit it or use it to evaluate geological models,
interpolants, distance functions and surfaces. See Evaluations.

Fence Sections
You can draw a polyline or use any existing line object in the project to create a cross section
that deviates. To do this, right-click on the Cross Sections and Contours folder and select New
Fence Section. The New Fence Section window will be displayed:
You can draw the polyline in the scene directly by selecting the New Polyline option. You can
also use any polyline in the project by selecting the Existing Polyline option.
line drawing tool can be used to create fence sections.
Click OK to create the fence section. If you chose to create a New Polyline, the drawing
controls will appear in the scene and you can begin drawing, as described in Drawing in the
Scene.
The fence section will appear under the Cross Sections and Contours folder and you can edit
it by double-clicking on it. You can also use it to evaluate geological models, interpolants,
distance functions and surfaces, as described in Evaluations.
If you create a section layout for a fence section, you can include multiple evaluations and
annotations on the section layout, but you cannot include drillholes and planned drillholes.
See Section Layouts.
Serial Sections
This topic describes the process of creating a serial section, which is a series of cross sections
taken at an offset from a single base section. The topic is divided into:
l Setting the Base Section
l Setting the Offset Sections
l The Serial Section in the Project Tree
l Displaying a Serial Section
l Exporting a Serial Section

Setting the Base Section | 476
To create a serial section, add a model to the scene. Next, right-click on the Cross Sections and
Contours folder and select New Serial Section. The New Serial Section window will appear
and planes representing the base section and the offset sections will be added to the scene:
If the slicer is already in the scene when you select New Serial Section, the position of the
slicer will be used to define the initial orientation of the base section.
Setting the Base Section

The handles in the scene control the position of the base section and work in the same manner
as the moving plane controls (see The Moving Plane).
The front (F) and back (B) of the base section plane are indicated in the scene. To swap the front
and back, click the Swap Front button ( ).

Two buttons in the New Serial Section window let you create a base section that is aligned
north-to-south ( ) or east-to-west ( ). The other two buttons are active when the slicer is in
the scene. Clicking the Set section to slicer button ( ) creates a cross section from the position
of the slicer in the scene. When the Lock section to slicer button ( ) is enabled, moving the
position of the slicer will update the position of the cross section in the New Serial Section
window.
Setting the Offset Sections

The number of offset sections is determined by the value of the Spacing setting and the Front
and Back Extents:
You can change the number of offset sections by:

l Changing the Spacing setting. The number of offset sections will be recalculated and
updated in the scene.
l Changing the Front or Back settings. For example, increasing the Front setting adds an offset
section on the front of the base section, increasing the extents by the value of Spacing.
l Changing the object used to define the extents. Select an object from the Enclose Object list.
The base section will be moved to the centre of the selected object.

The Serial Section in the Project Tree | 478
The Serial Section in the Project Tree

Click OK to create the section. In the project tree, the serial section includes the individual cross
sections:
The serial section can be evaluated against geological models, interpolants, distance functions
and surfaces in the project, as described in Evaluations.
Displaying a Serial Section

When you display a serial section in the scene, you can add the slicer to the scene and use it to
move easily between the sections in the stack. To do this, click on the slicer in the shape list, then
select the base section from the Set to list:
Next, set the Step size to the Spacing setting used to create the section. You can then use the <
and > keys to view each individual cross section.
Exporting a Serial Section

The options for exporting serial sections differ for the section itself and the offset sections:
l A serial section cannot be used to create a section layout. When exported as a DXF file, the
serial section will be exported in a single file with a collection of DXF lines based on

intersections between the selected evaluation and the section planes.

l The offset sections that make up a serial section can be exported in both ways.
See Section Layouts and Exporting Sections.

Section Layouts | 480
Section Layouts
With the Section Layout Editor, you can create a section layout for an existing section and then
export the section. You can customise the section layout by:
l Adding models and surfaces the section has been evaluated against
l Adding drillholes and planned drillholes
l Changing the page size, orientation and margins
l Adding titles, a scale bar, legends, annotations and images, such as a standard form or logo
The appearance of all objects can be customised without changing how objects from the
project tree are displayed in the scene.
This topic describes how to work with section layouts. It is divided into:
l Creating New Section Layouts
l The Section Layout Editor
l Object Names and Colours
l Styling Layout Objects

l Setting Up the Page
l Organising the Section
l Adding and Styling Models
l Adding and Styling Drillholes and Planned Drillholes

l Adding and Styling Surfaces
l Organising the Legend Group
l Adding and Organising Annotations
l Displaying Section Layouts
l Exporting Section Layouts
l Copying Section Layouts

Once you have created a section but before you start creating the section layout, take the
following steps.
1. Check the sections extents and orientation.
The initial dimensions of the section on the page are determined by the size of the section plane,
and its orientation on the page is determined by the front (F) and back (B) faces of the section
plane. Here, the front and back faces of the section have been swapped, which results in the
section displayed on the page being flipped:
2. Check that the section has been evaluated against objects you wish to display on the page.
To do this, right-click on the section in the project tree and select Evaluations or Evaluate
Surface.
3. Add planned drillholes to the project.
Planned drillholes can be displayed on the section, but these must be defined before you start
the process of laying out the section.

Creating New Section Layouts | 482
Creating New Section Layouts

To create a new section layout, right-click on an existing section in the project tree and select
New Section Layout. The New Section Layout window will appear, together with the Section
Layout Editor:
The settings in the New Section Layout window determine the basic section layout. Each
setting is described below. All settings in the New Section Layout window can be changed
once the layout has been created.
Changing how objects are displayed on the section page does not change those objects in
the project.
As you add objects to the section, the preview in the Section Layout Editor window will be
updated.
Click OK to close the New Section Layout window. You can then make further changes to the
page layout in the Section Layout Editor. See The Section Layout Editor.
Scale
The Scale settings determine the scale used to display the section on the page. As you change
the scale settings, the layout of the section on the page will be updated in the preview. If you
want a specific page size, select Fit to Page to set a scale that best fits the page width. You will
be able to change the page margins once you have closed the New Section Layout window.

Page Properties
The Page Properties settings determine the page size and orientation. If you wish to use a
specific Scale, select the Orientation required, then click Fit to Section to choose the best
page size.
Evaluations
For Evaluations, select from the models and surfaces the section has been evaluated against.
When you select a model or surface, it will be added to the preview. Note that when you add a
model to the page, a legend for the model is also added.
If you wish to use the extents from a model evaluation, select only that model and then select
the Section Extents option below. Once you have closed this window, you will be able to add
further models using the section layout editor.
Extents
For Extents, choose whether to use the Section Extents or Evaluation Extents.
The Section Layout Editor

In Section Layout Editor, the Layout Tree shows the different layers that can be added to the
page. The different parts of the Layout Tree as they relate to the page preview are shown
below:

The Section Layout Editor | 484
For more information about working with the different parts of the section layout, see:
l Setting Up the Page
l Organising the Section
l Organising the Legend Group
l Adding and Organising Annotations
Click on an object in the page preview to move or resize it. This will also select the object in the
Layout Tree and you can see what properties can be changed. For example, in the preview,
click on the Title to view its styling options:

The Section object controls all the models and surfaces displayed on the section:
Models and surfaces selected in the New Section Layout window are automatically added to
the page preview. Further objects can be added by right-clicking on Models, Drillholes or
Surfaces. When models are surfaces are added to the layout, entries are automatically made in
the Legend Group.
Object Names and Colours

The names and colours of objects in the layout are linked to their parent objects in the project
tree. You can override them by selecting the object in the Layout Tree, then ticking the Edit
box:

Styling Layout Objects | 486
If Edit is disabled for an objects text or colour and changes are made to the parent object while
the Section Layout Editor window is open, the changes will not be reflected in the section
layout until it is next opened.
If Edit is enabled for an objects text or colour, then that property will not change when the
parent objects colour or title are changed.
Styling Layout Objects

All layout objects are styled by clicking on them in the Layout Tree, then adjusting their
appearance in the properties panel.
Text displayed in the section layout is controlled by a style sheet that can be accessed whenever
you are editing a text object. For example, clicking on Edit Styles for the Title opens the list of
Text Styles with the Title selected, but also allows you to change the appearance of styles used
for other text objects visible in the preview:

Line, border and swatch properties are also changed in the properties panel. Swatches for
output volumes can be displayed using a hatched fill, which is enabled by clicking on the
output volume in the project tree, then changing its properties:

Styling Layout Objects | 488
The styling of objects in the Layout Tree controls how they appear in their associated
legend. The Legend Group object controls the position and size of the legend, but not the
colour, line style and fill used to display each object. For example, the appearance of the
volume <0.5 in the interpolant is controlled from the Models object (left). Whether or not the
legend is visible on the page and how it is displayed is controlled from the Legend Group
object (right):
When a model or other object is added to the section, a legend for that object is added to the
Legend Group.
Some objects, such as models, drillholes and surfaces, occupy the same space on the page.
These objects can be organised into layers, and opacity settings changed to emphasise relevant
information. To change the order of objects on the page, right-click on them and select how
you wish to organise the layers:

To change the opacity of an object, click on it, then adjust the objects Opacity using the slider:
Setting Up the Page

Page Properties are set in the New Section Layout window, but these can be changed in the
Layout Tree. Click on the Page object to change the Page Size, Orientation and Margins:
If you wish to use a specific Scale, select the Orientation required, then click Fit to Section to
choose the best page size.
Organising the Section

The Section object controls the appearance of the section and the objects in the project that
are displayed on the section. The properties for the Section object itself control the size of the
section on the page and how the axes are displayed. Any changes made in these tabs are
displayed in the preview so you can experiment with these settings.
l The Section tab includes the Scale settings from the New Section Layout window.
l The Extents tab includes the settings from the New Section Layout window and additional
options for displaying Additional sky and end point labels.

Adding and Styling Models | 490
l The settings in the X-Axis and Y-Axis tabs determine how the axes are displayed. By default,
the axes are displayed only on the lefthand side and along the bottom of the section. To
display axes along the righthand side and above the section, tick the Secondary option.
The other objects that are part of the Section object are used to add models and surfaces that
are displayed on the section and to customise how they are displayed. For cross sections and
serial sections, you can also add drillholes and planned drillholes.
Changing how objects are displayed on the section layout does not change those objects in
the project.
Adding and Styling Models

If you selected models and surfaces in the New Section Layout window, these are
automatically added to the Models and Surfaces objects in the Layout Tree. To add more
models, right-click on the Models object and select Add Model. The models the section has
been evaluated on will be listed. Select those required and click OK. The new models will be
added to the Models object and legend items added to the Legend Group.
Sections can be evaluated against different objects in the project, as described in

Evaluations. All sections can be evaluated against:
l Geological models
l Interpolants
l Distance functions
l Surfaces
l Combined models
Cross sections can also be evaluated against block models, but serial sections and fence
sections cannot.
If you selected a geological model with a fault system, the faults will automatically be added to
the section and to the Legend Group. Change a fault systems properties by expanding the
geological model in the Layout Tree and clicking on the Fault System and its faults.
When you display multiple models on the section:
l Use the Opacity setting for each model to expose and emphasise information.
l Right-click on the models to move them up or down in the layer hierarchy.
l Expand each model in the Layout Tree to change the Fill and Hatch for each output volume
to make some volumes more apparent.
l Hide some of the Output Volumes.

A single line style is used to display a models output volumes. There is, however, a Highlight
option that can be enabled to make a volume of interest stand out from the other volumes:
The Opacity setting for each output volume in a model is inherited from the model as a
whole. You cannot change the Opacity on a volume-by-volume basis; however, you can
hide individual volumes.
For geological models with a fault system, the fault system does not inherit its Opacity
setting from the parent model.

Adding and Styling Drillholes and Planned Drillholes | 492
Block models and flow models evaluated on the section can be displayed using a flat colour or
any of the Colouring options available for the model:
Click Options to change the colours used to display the model:

l For category evaluations, you can change what categories are visible and the colours used to
display them.
l For numeric evaluations, you can filter values and use a different colourmap.
If a block model or flow model is too big for the section layout, changing the section extents
or the section layout extents will effectively crop the model and make it small enough to
display on the section layout. There are two ways to do this:
l Change the section layout extents by clicking on Section in the Layout Tree, then clicking
on the Extents tab. If Extents is set to Evaluation Extents, change it to Section Extents.
l Change the size of the section by double-clicking on it in the project tree and then editing
its dimensions in the scene.
Adding and Styling Drillholes and Planned Drillholes
Drillholes and planned drillholes can be added to section layout for cross sections and serial
sections, but not for fence sections.
Drillholes and planned drillholes can be added to the cross section. Up to three columns of
data can be displayed, and numeric data can be displayed as a graph.
To add drillholes to the section, right-click on the Drillholes object and select either Add
Drillholes or Add Planned Drillholes.
For adding drillholes, you will be prompted to select the interval table to display.

For both drillholes and planned drillholes, you can filter the drillholes based on a minimum
distance from the section plane:
This is the minimum distance to any point on each drillhole trace.

If you tick the Clip geometry to filter distance option, only parts of the drillhole within the
filter distance will be included in the section layout. Select the required drillholes and click OK.
How drillholes are displayed is controlled by the Colourings settings in the Lines tab:

Adding and Styling Drillholes and Planned Drillholes | 494
Click the Options button for a column to filter values or display data on the drillholes:
For columns of numeric data, you can display data as a bar graph or line graph. These options
are available in the Display style tab. Here, data is displayed as a bar graph:

Select a Max length that means that displayed data does not interfere with other drillholes or
data displayed on the section layout. This is especially useful when two graphs are displayed:
If you only want to plot a limited range of data, tick the Axis limit box and set the required
range.
Displaying data with the logarithmic scale enabled may enhance differences in the values, and
negative values can be scaled.
The bar and line graph options are not available for the centre of the drillhole, although the
solid option can be used.
Adding and Styling Surfaces

To add a surface to the section, right-click on the Surfaces object and select Add Surface. The
surfaces the section has been evaluated on will be listed. Select those required and click OK.
The options for styling surfaces are the same as for lines. A surface can be displayed in the
legend, if required.

Organising the Legend Group | 496
Organising the Legend Group

The Legend Group controls how the legend is displayed on the page.
When you add a model, surface or drillhole object to the section, a legend for that object will be
added to the Legend Group. For example, here, legends have been added for an interpolant,
the surfaces and drillhole data objects:
Note that:
l The Surfaces that appear on the section have been added to a single legend.
l Because the drillholes displayed on the section use Left and Right Colourings, a legend has
been added for each, a lithology legend and a numeric data legend.

Changing the Legend Group Layout

Select the Legend Group itself to change its layout. These settings apply to the Legend Group
as a whole. Columns can be laid out vertically or horizontally:
You can also change the swatch size and gradient and add a Boundary box.
For each individual legend, you can change the number of Rows used to display the values
The order in which legends appear in the Legend Group is the order in which they appear in the
Layout Tree. To change the order in which the legends appear, right-click on them and select
a Move option.

Styling Legend Swatches | 498
Use the Legend GroupLayout > Columns setting and the Rows setting for each individual
legend to make the best use of the space available on the page.
Styling Legend Swatches

The colours, line widths, fills and hatches displayed in the Legend Group are controlled by the
objects themselves. For example, to change how the < 0.5 shell is displayed for the interpolant,
click on the output volume, under the Models object:

Making Legends Visible and Invisible

If you do not wish to include a legend in the Legend Group, click on it in the Legend Group and
untick Visible:
This does not change whether or not the object itself is visible, it simply excludes it from the
Legend Group.
Adding and Organising Annotations

Once you have laid out the main Section object and organised the Legend Group, you can add
a number of different types of annotation to the layout.
Title
The Title object formats the title displayed on the page. To move the title, click on it in the
layout preview. The text used for the Title is the name for the section in the project tree, but this
can be changed in the properties panel.

Title Block | 500
Title Block
The Title Block object adds a title block based on ISO 7200:
To display the Title Block on the section, select it in the Layout Tree, then tick the Visible box.
Scale Bar
The Scale Bar object controls the size and format of the scale bar. Its position is controlled by
moving it in the preview.
Location
The Location object controls how location information is displayed.

Text Boxes
With the Text Boxes object, you can add text boxes and arrows to highlight information and
details on the section:
Arrows are connected to text boxes, and so initially only text boxes can be added. Right-click on
a text box to add an arrow to it. When the Automatic anchoring option is enabled for an arrow,
the arrows anchor will move when its associated text box is moved. If this option is disabled, the
arrow will move when you move the text box, but you will have to place its anchor manually.
Images
If you wish to import an image such as a logo or map, right-click on the Images object and
select Add Image. Navigate to the folder that contains the image file and select the file. Click
Open to import the file, which will automatically be added to the section layout.
Displaying Section Layouts

You can display section layouts in the scene. Dragging a layout into the scene displays the
layout evaluated on the section. Some sections will be too large to display in the scene, which
will be indicated in the section layout editor.

Exporting Section Layouts | 502
Exporting Section Layouts

Once you have finished adjusting the section layout, you can export it in one of the following
formats:
l PDF file (*.pdf)
l Scalable Vector Graphics file (*.svg)
l PNG image (*.png)
l GeoTIFF (*.tiff, *.tif)
Click the Save and Export button ( ) at the top of the window. You will be prompted for a
filename and location.
Copying Section Layouts

If you have already created a section layout and wish to reuse it for other sections, you can copy
it to other sections.
Copying a section layout copies the evaluations used in the original section layout, together
with the page size and orientation and the position of the Layout Tree objects on the page.
How models, surfaces and drillholes are copied depends on the section to which the layout is
being copied:
l All models and surfaces that can be displayed on the section will be copied.
l The drillholes copied to the layout will depend on whether or not a filter is set for the layout:
o If no distance filter was set for the original layout, all drillholes selected for the original
layout will be copied.
o If a distance filter was applied to the original section, the filter will be applied and drillholes
selected that are within that distance of the section to which the layout is being copied.
To copy a layout, right-click on the section you wish to copy the layout to and select Copy
Section Layout. In the window that appears, select from the section layouts available in the
project. A summary of the information that will be copied is displayed to help you choose which
layout to copy. Click OK to copy the layout, which will appear in the project tree under the
selected cross section. you can edit it by double-clicking on it.

Rendered Images
Leapfrog Geo can render high-quality images that you can save on your computer in a format
that can be used in presentations and documents.
To save a rendered image, click on the Leapfrog Geo menu and select Render Image. Leapfrog
Geo renders an image from the current scene window, then displays it in the Render Image
window:
Use the zoom tools to view the rendered image. You can change the image settings by:
l Selecting a new image size. To constrain the images proportions when changing size, tick the
Keep aspect box.
l Changing supersampling options to smooth jagged edges. Select the required option from
the dropdown list. The highest sampling option (4x4) will take longer to process than the
lowest sampling option or turning supersampling off.
l Viewing the image with or without overlays. See Overlay Settings for more information
about further customising the overlays displayed in the scene.
Click Render to render a new image with the updated settings. Once you are satisfied with the
rendered image, click Save. You will be prompted to enter a filename and location.
Background Rendering
You can keep the Render Image tab open while continuing to work in your project, which is
useful for rendering a series of images. To work in this way, dock the Render Image tab adjacent

Background Rendering | 504
to the scene window. When you have set up your scene, right-click on the Render Image tab
and choose one of the options:
The Render and Copy Image option will render a new image from the scene and copy it to the
clipboard.
The Render and Save Image option will render a new image and prompt you for a filename
and location.

Saved Scenes
A saved scene is a way of storing the shape list and settings so that the scene can be retrieved
later. Saved scenes are the basis of scene files exported to Leapfrog Viewer and Leapfrog
Aspect. Saved scenes are also used in creating movies, which is described in the Movies topic.
This topic describes:
l Saving Scenes
l Exporting Scenes
l Exporting Scenes for Leapfrog Aspect
l Linking to Scene Files
A saved scene is, in effect, a bookmark of a specific view of the project data. A saved scene does
not maintain an independent copy of the data in the project, and so if the data changes, then
the appearance of the scene will also change.
When a scene is saved, comments can be entered documenting what is in the scene. Saved
scenes provide a stable point of reference in a project and can explain important aspects of the
project, which is especially useful for explaining aspects of a model to others using the project
or viewing scene files.
Saving Scenes
To save the current scene, right-click on the Saved Scenes and Movies folder and select Save
Current Scene. The Save Scene window will be displayed:
Enter a name and description for the scene and click OK. The scene will be saved and added to
the Saved Scenes and Movies folder.
When you save a scene, the properties settings in the shape list are saved for the objects
displayed in the scene. For example, if a lithology table is displayed with the legend in the
scene, the legend will be displayed when the scene is restored. However, saved scenes do
not store copies of the objects in the project tree, and objects deleted from the project tree
are no longer available in saved scenes.
To edit a scene, double-click on it. The Edit Saved Scene window will be displayed and you can
update the information.

Exporting Scenes | 506
To display a scene, drag it into the scene.
Exporting Scenes
Once you have a series of saved scenes, you can use them to create a scene file that can be
opened in Leapfrog Viewer or Leapfrog Aspect. See Exporting Scenes for Leapfrog Aspect for
points to consider when creating scene files that will be opened in Leapfrog Aspect.
To export a scene, right-click on the Saved Scenes and Movies folder and select Export
Scenes. The Export Scenes window will be displayed:
Move the scenes you wish to export to the Selected scenes list and reorder them, if required.
If you tick the Export hidden shapes box, objects in the shape list that are not visible in the
scene window will be included in the exported scene.
You can also export the data associated with the objects in the scene window, if required. To do
so, select the Export all data that appears when I click option. If viewing the data is not
required, or if you wish to keep sensitive data secure, select the Export shapes only option.
When the Export all data that appears when I click option is selected, all data represented
by shapes in the exported scene will be accessible when the scene is opened in Leapfrog
Viewer.
When you have the scenes arranged, click Export. You will be prompted for a filename and
location.
Exported scenes cannot be reimported to the project.

Exporting Scenes for Leapfrog Aspect

When exporting scenes for use in Leapfrog Aspect, keep in mind the following:
l When viewing 3D data on a 2D screen, objects may appear closer or further from the viewer
than expected. For this reason, it is a good idea to include a current topographic surface in
the dataset to aid in orienting the view relative to the camera feed.
l Although newer Android devices have a significant amount of processing power, they are not
as graphically capable as a typical desktop computer. Try to limit the amount of data to be
displayed as there are likely to be issues if a scene contains 10,000 drillholes or a million
points.
l Scenes with complex wireframes will load more slowly than simple wireframes. It is a good
idea to make a simplified copy of a wireframe in Leapfrog Geo and use that wireframe to
create a scene.
l Both Export all data that appears when I click and Export shapes only options will work
for Leapfrog Aspect. If you wish to display collar IDs, use the Export all data that appears
when I click option, but keep in mind that displaying hole IDs can be slow and choppy.
Linking to Scene Files

Links to scene files can be included in HTML files using the following format:
<a href="LeapfrogViewer:[path or URL]">link text</a>
Linked scene files will be opened directly in Leapfrog Viewer only from browsers that support
custom URI schemes.

Movies | 508
Movies
Once you have a series of saved scenes (see Saved Scenes), you can use them to create a
storyboard and export a movie.
To create a new movie, right-click on the Saved Scenes and Movies folder and select New
Movie. A tab will open in which you can create a storyboard and edit how each scene and
transition is displayed. You can detach the tab from the main window and create scenes in the
main window while working on scenes in the movie tab. Click the Refresh Scenes button to
refresh the scenes in the movie tab when you have made changes.
Select the saved scenes you wish to add to the movie by clicking on them in the list, then click
the Add To Storyboard button ( ). When subsequent scenes are added, transitions will be
added to separate the scenes:
Change properties for the selected scene or transition, then click the play button ( ) to preview
the settings. To preview the whole movie, click the Select Whole Movie button ( ), then click
play.
You can make changes to the included scenes without having to close and reopen the movie
window. Simply update the scenes, then, in the movie editor, click the Refresh Scenes
button.
Enter a name and description for the movie and click the Save button ( ). The movie will be
saved in the Saved Scenes and Movies folder.

To export the movie, click the Save and Export button ( ). The Export Movie window will
appear:
If you tick Export frame images, individual frames will be saved as images, together with the
movie file. Click Export. You will be prompted to select a filename and location. Click Save to
export the movie. Leapfrog Geo will then save the movie in the specified location, which may
take some time.

Contour Lines | 510
Contour Lines
You can create contour lines from surfaces in the project and export those contour lines to GIS
packages.
Creating Contour Lines

To create contour lines from a surface, right-click on the Cross Sections and Contours folder
and select New Contour Lines From Surface. In the New Contours window, select the surface
to contour from the dropdown list. Adjust the Contour Spacing, if required.
If you want to offset the contours by a vector, enter a Contour offset value.
Click OK to generate the contours.
The new contours will appear in the project tree under the Cross Sections and Contours
folder.
You can edit the contours by double-clicking on them.
Exporting GIS Contours

To export a contour lines object, right-click on the contour lines in the Cross Sections and
Contours folder and select Export. Select whether or not to export the contours in 2.5D format,
then click Export. You will be prompted for a filename and location.

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User Manual

for Leapfrog Geo version 4.0

ARANZ Geo Limited

2016 ARANZ Geo Limited

2016 ARANZ Geo Limited

Setting Up the Connection 54

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Topography From Surfaces, Points or GIS Vector Data 88

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GIS Data, Maps and Images 117

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Processing Drillhole Data 142

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Extracting Points from Drillhole Data 178

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Surface Resolution Settings 208

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Colourmap Import 234

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Form Interpolants 272

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Surface Resolution 296

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Model Lithologies 313

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Displaying Intrusion Points 343

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Editing the Stratigraphic Sequence 365

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The Interpolant Boundary 385

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Editing an Indicator Interpolant 407

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Grid Display Options 438

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Triggers and Evaluations 465

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Changing the Legend Group Layout 497

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Launching Leapfrog Geo

l Saving Backup Copies of Projects

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Starting a New Project

Managing Project Files

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Saving Zipped Copies of Projects

Saving Backup Copies of Projects

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Leapfrog Hydro Projects

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The Graphics Test

See 3D Acceleration Mode in Settings for more information on these settings.

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Video Card Issues

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Updating Your Video Card Driver

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Checking Your 3D/OpenGL Settings