Comparison of Commercial Mine Planning Packages

Available to the Aggregate Industry

Daniel R. Hack1

ABSTRACT
Mine planning software companies have recently focused some resources on the development of
industrial minerals packages useful in the aggregate industry, which is years behind other mining
industry sectors in the use of computer-based planning techniques. This paper presents and
compares characteristics of aggregate / quarrying software packages currently on the market,
each product having strengths beneficial under different circumstances. To be successful, the
developers must confront the limitations of their packages under a variety of situations, address
the unique characteristics of the aggregate industry, and pay particular attention to the
applicability of their products in real situations.
INTRODUCTION
Computer methods and applications in the mining industry are long past the era of being only a
tool for specialized applications. Though FORTRAN is still a standard algorithmic language for
programming in the allied mining sectors, front-line applications are managed via a Windows
environment. With the advancement of such Graphical User Interface (GUI) development tools
as Tk, it is now routine to execute complex FORTRAN routines, manage data files, and create
graphical output from the GUI in a platform-independent Windows-based application. Beyond
these customized applications are popular integrated software packages that automate the data
management and execution of mine exploration, planning, scheduling, simulation, resource
optimization, etc. Such products as Vulcan, Techbase, Datamine, Surpac, and Gemcom have
transformed modern mining engineering. All of them now interface with more specialized
applications such as pit optimizers by Whittle and MineMax, as well as with various GIS
platforms. Systems such as Gemcom Enterprise Mining System (GEMS) are making the critical
link to Information Technology management.
Several industry sectors vital to national economies remain far behind the available
technology. Aggregate production in North America has more than quadrupled over the past fifty
years (National Aggregates Association 1994), and the industry has remained strong. In the
midst of worsening economic news following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the
USA, an article titled Aggregate Firms Expected to Post Gains Benefiting From Public Works
Spending appeared in the October 16, 2001 edition of the Wall Street Journal (this was likely
the only positive economic news that day). Technologies and practices within the industry,
however, have yet to encounter such concepts as computer-based mine planning and pit design.
In light of a continuing depression of copper and gold prices, a few manufactures have
recognized potential in the aggregate sector.

Halstead GeoNumerics, Inc., Portland, Oregon USA

AGGREGATE INDUSTRY CHARACTERISTICS RELEVANT TO SOFTWARE

DEVELOPMENT
By its very nature, the operating practices and culture of the sand and gravel (aggregate) mining
industry have developed separately from metallic, and even industrial, mineral industries. In
general, technical management in the industry tends to be from heavy construction, rather than
mining, backgrounds. Sand and gravel mines operate accessory to asphalt and concrete
production, rather than as stand-alone units. The focus of pit management is to ensure that the
final product meets customer specifications for a given contract, not toward effective utilization
of economies of scale through optimized mine planning, scheduling, and thorough resource
characterization. A mining engineer in a large copper mine has little direct impact on the quality
of the product that ultimately goes to the customer. Cathode quality is managed by extractive
metallurgists at the SX/EW, not by the same manager/engineer that also oversees pit design,
safety training, and truck fleet scheduling. For many aggregate operations, these duties are
performed by a single superintendent or pit manager.
Several other aspects make the aggregate industry unique from other mining sectors. Among
them are:

Mine life for individual sites are generally much shorter than metal mines. Even though
some large pits remain open for decades, a notable amount of production, especially for
road paving jobs, comes from small pits that may only be used for a few weeks (called
job pits), sometimes dormant for decades. There would be little interest in applying
sophisticated computer methods to such a site
Bidding is the life and death of concrete and asphalt companies, rather than response to
market prices. For example, an aggregate company can be forced out of business by
losing a bid by a penny a ton to a competitor for a multi-million dollar freeway job. This
creates a strong, even fierce, competitive culture, especially amongst operators in the
same geographic area. It also makes the location and access of individual deposits
critical
Metal mining is very much a global industry. Due to transportation costs, aggregate
mining is a local or, at best, a regional industry. Deposits must be close to end use (i.e.,
concrete or paving job) or transportation costs quickly make the job uneconomic. The
exception is when there are suitable barge or rail links, which still only extends hauling
distance (and range of influence of a given producer) to a couple hundred miles at best.
This localization can create striking cultural differences and modes of operation from
area to area, making the market, as well as customer expectations, difficult to define
The era of the mom-and-pop gold mine is virtually gone, but small family-owned sand
and gravel businesses with a couple haul trucks are still quite common. Though industry
consolidation has been increasing, there will always be room for small operators to fill
small orders (i.e., driveways, sidewalks, home foundations, etc.). Some of these small
town operations double as logging companies, the local garbage hauling concern, etc.,
and may not even own a computer.

Beyond these cultural and industrial dissimilarities, differences in deposit geology and mining
practices also contribute to the difficulty of developing cross-industry applications. For example,
SMU definition is an alien concept in aggregate mining, beyond establishment of a general bench
height. Bench height is usually based on maximum excavator reach (unless the continual failure
mining method is used) or on Mine Safety and Health Administration requirements.
Geostatistical analysis of aggregate parameters such as fineness modulus or Los Angeles abrasion
presents a different scope of challenges than geostatisical analysis of, say, percent copper, ounces

per ton gold, or ash content. Development of methodologies to apply geostatistical principles to
sand and gravel deposits are in their infancy, and have met with mixed success (Arthur 1994).
In consideration of the above characteristics, it should be apparent that developing mining
software applications for the aggregate industry presents a formidable task: introducing
applications that were originally developed for metal mines, and trying to apply them to
principles and practices in a sector with little computer experience whose only resemblance to
metal mining is that they dig rock out of the ground and sell it.
Most importantly, the software must acknowledge the realities of the aggregate sector. The
products must be quick to learn, applicable to real gravel pit situations, use the actual data these
operations acquire, and present practical, usable results. The customers selection will come
down to personal choice and biases, site-specific conditions (i.e., interface with surveying
equipment in use), and personal relationships with vendors.
AGGREGATE PACKAGES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
Two companies currently sell mine planning software packages applicable to the sand and gravel
and/or quarry industries: Surpac Software International of Perth, Australia (Surpac) and
Gemcom Software International of Vancounver, Canada (Gemcom). The foundation of the
packages is the management of surveying data and available geological information for its
ultimate utilization in 3D evaluation and design. All are pared-down versions of their flagship
editions, and entail three basic functions:

Site evaluation
Geological modeling
Design and planning

Surpacs Quarry is a comprehensive design and planning package. Its capabilities include data
management, geological modeling via definition of surfaces and solids, block modeling, and
design and planning capabilities, such as top-down / bottom-up interactive pit and ramp design.
Quarry has the benefit of Tcl macros and extensions written specifically for Surpac such as those
available on Digital Mining Services Z-Files site (www.z-files.com), as well as those developed
by a broad informal user base.
Gemcom has adapted different quarry products to three levels of user requirements. The
Industrial Minerals - Advanced Quarry edition includes data management, volumetrics, and
grade and quality modeling via polygon and block modeling functions. This edition has the
flexibility to add on scheduling and automated pit/ramp design modules. The Industrial Minerals
- Basic Quarry edition does not have block modeling capabilities, but has basic geological
modeling using surfaces and solids. The Aggregate edition would suit most sand and gravel
operations, as the focus is on surveying data management and volumetrics. The Aggregate
edition costs about 80% of the Basic Quarry edition and 60% of the Advanced Quarry edition.
Gemcom products can now be customized using Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA).
Surpac has realized that one value (for consultants, in particular) is the benefit of using these
packages for permit applications and in public hearings. By centralizing the organization and
presentation of such technical information, the result is better communication within your
operation as well as with the public in general (SSI 2000a). From personal experience, few
regulators, investors, or members of the public have seen rendered 3D images, not to mention flyby animations, of proposed post-mining topography and reclamation, especially for a gravel pit.
The use of such techniques in permitting processes gives more credibility to the applicant, with
unmistakable results.
Quarry products from both companies have scheduling and pit optimization capabilities that
are applicable to aggregate operations. Though not as sophisticated as their flagship editions,

they are well suited to the simplified planning of sand and gravel mines, such as basic
establishment of mine phases. Surpacs Quarry has an add-on called Scheduler that is described
as in interactive graphic sequencing program. Derived from a geology / grade model, block
model, or 2D polygon bench plans developed within Quarry, the program involves a trial-anderror process of checking the grade and tonnage of a hand-picked sequence of mining blocks
against pre-defined target values.
Some applications not specifically targeted for mining are in use, especially by consultants,
surveying contractors, and those in government. The stand-alone program Surfer, produced by
Golden Software, Inc. of Golden, Colorado USA, is a powerful and widely used contouring
package. Specialized mining applications produced by other companies have made inroads into
the aggregate industry. iGANTT, produced by MineMax Resource Optimization Technology Pty.
Ltd. of Bentley, Australia, is a Gantt chart based collaborative productive scheduling program
useful for optimizing the usage of personnel, equipment, and capital during site development.
The Datamine Group of Wells, United Kingdom, a subsidiary of Mineral Industries Computing
Limited (MICL), produces Datamine Express, which is similar in character to the Surpac and
Gemcom quarry products and has scheduling and geostatistical add-ons available. MICL
subsidiary Earthworks Corporation produces NPV Scheduler, which produces a mining schedule
optimized on net present value, and has been used by cement operations.
PERFORMANCE
As suggested above, the applications must acknowledge the realities of the aggregate sector in
order for them to be successful. The overall usability and applicability of the individual packages
is the most important characteristic. This can be subdivided into five major categories:

Basic technical utility, such as installation procedures, hardware locks, reference

manuals, on-line help files, and compatibility with operating systems and other
applications
Aspects of input of topographic data, such as input file types, applicability of input type
to common data sets found in the industry, lag time between input data and full program
usability, and flexibility with other input types, such as digitizers
Handling and editing of topographic surfaces, as represented by contour lines
Calculation of extraction volumes, otherwise known as volumetrics. Flexibility of
methods for different situations is an important aspect
Data output and portability of results.

These five categories will be discussed in detail for Surpacs Quarry (referred to as Surpac)
and Gemcoms Industrial Minerals - Advanced Quarry edition (referred to as Gemcom). The
project used for evaluation involved the volumetric assessment of different widths and
configurations of buffers around archaeologically sensitive areas adjacent to an expanding gravel
pit. Figures could not be included because of the proprietary nature of the evaluation. The
following results are based on the authors experience using both packages for this project,
beginning with no prior knowledge of the required processes and with no advance training by
either manufacturer. Apologies are made for any misunderstandings of technical capabilities
beyond what were used for the project, as these are the results of an actual user applying the
packages to an actual project, and learning from the ground up. Marketing data such as recent
sales, customer base, or price will not be discussed.
Basic Technical Utility
With the advent of hard-drives in the 20 gigabyte (GB) and greater range, available disk space is
rarely a consideration. Surpac (SSI 2000a) suggests a minimum of 70 megabytes (MB) available,

but full installation required 90 MB. This, however, also included the full suite of on-line help
manuals, Tcl version 8.2, and numerous Tcl routines, templates, Java scripts, etc. See Scriptics
(2001) for more information on the Tool Command Language (Tcl). Gemcom (GSI 1998) gives
no specific requirement, but recommends a minimum 1 GB hard disk. Installation required 60
MB, and the PlotMaker extension filled an additional 6 MB. Processing power is a consideration,
though, as not all quarry operators, or their consultants, can take their PCs in every six months
for a CPU upgrade, or will necessarily adopt a new operating system as soon as it is released.
According to the product literature, Surpac requires a minimum 266 MHz Pentium II CPU with
128 MB RAM and Gemcom requires a minimum 90 MHz CPU with 64 MB RAM. These
evaluations were performed on a Windows 98 based PC with a 700 MHz CPU and 128 MB
RAM, and both applications worked well.
Surpac recommends a 4 MB graphics card with 1024 x 768 resolution, and Gemcom requires
1 MB video RAM, but recommends an Open GL accelerated video card. The experiments were
performed with a 4 MB graphics card. Screen resolution was set to 640 x 480 due to personal
choice, which was sufficient.
Ease of installation is another important consideration, as first impressions are critical. Both
programs require hardware locks, also known as dongles or toggles, and there were
considerable problems with both. These caused several hours delay of tech support emails to
resolve, requiring the installation of diagnostics and patches. Both caused problems with
America On Line (AOL) that required un-installation and re-installation of AOL. Having both
programs running on the same operating system took some considerable work, and there were
still unresolved system problems. This is mostly irrelevant, as a typical customer would not be
using both programs. Beyond hardware lock problems, Surpac installed more smoothly in terms
of spontaneous re-boots, system freezes, etc., though Gemcoms problems were not beyond what
one would encounter with a complex program such as popular computer aided design and
drafting (CADD) programs.
Surpac includes everything on a single CD, which also serves as the demo disk. This is a wise
marketing tool, as a prospective customer can pick-up the disk at a trade show, run a full demo
with a demo data set, and explore the on-line documentation. This lessens the negative impact of
vague demo presentations, and gives the customer more of a connection to the product. All of
Surpacs technical documentation is on-line, but Gemcom provides a full suite of user manuals.
The authors personal preference is to have access to hard-copy manuals, but others may prefer to
have everything on the PC or CD.
Both programs ran very well once fully operational, which is counter to what was expected.
Experience with the authors notoriously customized PC has shown that CADD programs will
cause unresolved conflicts with other applications, even screen savers. This was not the case with
Gemcom or Surpac.
One of the authors main preferences is in regards to customization. This is especially
important when applying mining packages to the unique characteristics of gravel mining, and its
various data input idiosyncrasies. Surpac has long had the capability to develop macros and
extensions in Tcl, Surpacs extension Scl (Surpac Command Language), as well as GUI
development in GUIDO (Graphical User Interface Design Object). Beyond the Z-Files site noted
above, there is a large community active in Tcl/Scl development for a wide array of applications.
Tcl can be downloaded for free, along with programming manuals, templates, etc. It is very easy
to learn and use. Gemcom has recently implemented the use of VBA for customization. VBA is
generally easy to learn and use, but is a proprietary program. Doubtless, the base of users
applying VBA to Gemcom will expand.

Data Input
Consultants in the aggregate industry receive topographic data in many forms. These include
hand sketches that must be digitized into CADD, survey maps for which electronic files are not
available, survey data from various brands of total stations, CADD maps drawn by others (from
very simple to very complex), and CADD maps generated from photogrammetric data. For this
reason, a program that is truly applicable must be broad and flexible in terms of data input.
Gemcom has continually refined CADD compatible DWG and DXF import. This is a
considerable benefit, especially when importing CADD maps of various mining scenarios from
different sources. Once the basic procedure is learned (after a couple tech support calls), the
process is very efficient. This is important when using complicated photogrammetricallygenerated maps, with the numerous drawing layers that photogrammetrists use, such as those
containing mass points and break lines. Speed of CADD import, however, may not be as
important to other users who are only using a single topographic map as a base.
Surpacs DXF import is not as efficient as Gemcoms, but one experienced in manipulating
data files can easily work around this. Imported DXF files included drawing layers that had been
turned off. However, such problems can easily be remedied with Excel or Tcl macros.
By whatever mechanism topographic information is imported, it will doubtless need to be
processed in order to work correctly in the given program. The representation of topography in
both products is comparable to a CADD polyline. Surpac uses string files and Gemcom uses
status line files, both ASCII files that can be manipulated in a text editor (a necessity). Gemcom
status line files contain the name of the relevant plane name, line type, northing, easting, and
elevation. Surpac string files, which have always been highly regarded amongst users, contain
more information, valuable when manipulating or merging string files. The header includes the
location of the file, the date the file was last modified, and the name of the Drawing Styles file
(that is, the file used for rendering the strings, or triangles if a DTM is loaded). Most
importantly, the header contains a description of the string file processing functions that have
been applied, beneficial when juggling numerous string files in various stages of use. The body of
the string file contains the string number, northing, easting, elevation, and as many point
description fields as the user requires (SSI 2000b). With imported DXF files, the point
description field is the name of the original CADD layer, essential information when using file
stripping routines. Ability to modify the string number is important when the source is a complex
photogrammetrically-generated file. String files also contain null records, which indicate the end
of a string or segment, and end-of-file records, important when using file stripping routines.
Both programs can accept data input from digitizing tablets, an important feature as
topographic maps are not always available electronically. According to the documentation, setup
is comparable to digitizing in CADD programs. Digitizing would be particularly beneficial with
Surpac, because the line-by-line digitizing process would give the user the ability to supplement
information in the point description fields as the map progresses, just as a surveyor enters
descriptions into a data recorder. Both programs also accept input data from most major
surveying data recorders. Promotional literature stresses the strength of each packages
utilization of survey data. Neither digitizing nor survey data recorder import functions were
evaluated during the preparation of his paper.
Topographic Surfaces
The first-time user must understand that the string or status line files used in the generation of
topographic surfaces should not include extra information such as roads, property lines, etc.
These extra lines and the resultant conflicting crossing points will be misunderstood by the
surface-creation algorithm. In Gemcom, the non-topographic status lines can be turned off by the
Select by Line Type menu option in the Polyline menu. Prior to this, the line type of all status
line must be modified to reflect that it is either a contour or not (a standard part of file

processing). In Surpac, non-contour lines can be removed from the string file if the original DXF
file had non-topographic data on separate layers.
Gemcom creates a surface from a status line file. The process is fairly straightforward: turn off
non-contours and define the status line file from which the surface will be generated. If crossing
points or conflicting elevations occur, the status line file must be edited. Surpac creates a digital
terrain model (DTM) from a string file. Crossing points or conflicting elevations can be modified
in the ASCII string file or graphically. As with string files, a notable benefit is that DTM files
can be manipulated in a text editor where Gemcom surfaces can not be.
In both packages, new contour lines can be created, and existing ones modified, in a procedure
similar to the creation and editing of a CADD 3D polyline. Procedures were similar, but Surpac
required less menu navigation.
Volumetrics
The fundamental task of this project was the quick and efficient calculation of extraction volumes
resulting from various combinations of topographic surfaces. Fourteen surfaces were ultimately
generated and used. Therefore, the production of accurate extraction volumes was the original
reason for using the products. It is reasonable to assume that many aggregate industry customers
are primarily interested in volumetrics for production monitoring, royalty accounting, etc.
Gemcom uses needling to calculate extraction volumes. Needling is essentially a numerical
integration technique and can be likened to inserting thousands of needles through the solids
(GSI 1998). The number of needles required per cell depends on the necessary level of accuracy
and can be set by the user, as can the cell dimensions. This is a benefit, as needle density can be
increased if the ground surface is complex. Evaluating with different needle densities and cell
configurations can be used to express a quasi-probabilistic establishment of a range of possible
volumes. Individual tracts can be evaluated by setting lateral extents, as long as the tract is
rectangular (one could, however, subdivide non-rectangular tracts).
Surpac uses DTMs to calculate extraction volumes with a surface-to-surface methodology
similar to CADD programs. DTM files must be triangularised before volume calculation.
Needling has more built in flexibility, but is not as well known as volume calculations using
DTMs. Civil engineers, as would be found at larger aggregate operations, are accustomed to
volume calculation by cut-and-fill via average end area method, or by surface-to-surface
modeling in CADD. Registered engineers may be hesitant to approve a report using
methodologies they have no experience in.
Data Output
Gemcom has promoted the more flexible data output of its product, and the Plot Maker add-on is
a notable advancement. Plot Maker, however, wasnt used for this project because the various
status line files, whether originally from CADD or generated within Gemcom, were simply
exported as a DWG file back to CADD. It is doubtful that either product can surpass the
graphical and aesthetic capabilities as CADD, especially when presentation-quality drawings are
required. Volumetric results are output into an ASCII file with user defined parameters.
Even in promotional literature, Surpac refers to the Autoplot function as WYSIWYG (whatyou-see-is-what-you-get). Autoplot is sufficient for generating graphics for company reports, but
presentation-quality drawings should be done in CADD. CADD export is accomplished by
exporting the string or DTM file to DXF. Export results were comparable to Gemcom. Surpac
can also export the active image as a GIF or Postscript file.
GENERAL COMPARISONS
In consideration of the above evaluations, the following general comparisons of Surpac Quarry
and Gemcom Industrial Minerals - Advanced Quarry edition can be made:

Purchase prices are comparable, as well being comparable to other available earthworks
programs such as AutoCAD Land Development Desktop (manufactured by AutoDesk of
San Rafael, California USA).
Surpac procedures are a bit easier to understand for the newcomer, but Gemcoms
various editions are more adaptable to the required level of complexity.
Both packages have sufficient volumetrics capabilities. Gemcoms is more flexbile, but
not as well known as surface-to-surface modeling using DTMs. Gemcoms ability to
adapt needle density and cell configuration is very attractive. This could be the most
important function for an aggregate industry user. Too much emphasis on block
modeling should be avoided for promotion to aggregate customers, as the concept is
primarily irrelevant to them.
Surpacs interactive pit design was more user-friendly, but this can be a matter of
personal choice and familiarity.
Surpac seems more straightforward in the initiation of a simple map project (i.e.,
concept more self-explanatory, especially to those familiar with DTM operations), or for
a new user (i.e., there is actually a menu option called File Open).
Both packages are useful in keeping track of mine changes over time, as topographic
data can be stored as ASCII status line or string files, rather than memory-intensive
CADD files.
Both companies had excellent tech support, far better than software companies in other
sectors.
Gemcoms greatest strength is its efficient CADD functionality. It is superior in the
importing of topographic data from CADD files and the exporting of final results back
to CADD. Though the option to use DXF format should be left available, DWG format
always works better.
Surpacs greatest strength is the flexibility and easy editing / customizing of string files.
Both products operated well once installed, but had initial problems with hardware
locks.

The authors final point in comparison is that much of the above will depend on the project site
characteristics, input data available, the results and output required, and the skill, experience,
and personal biases of the user. Each product has unique aspects that will perform better under
different circumstances. In addition, different users will have different attitudes toward
customization. If possible, prospective customers should evaluate demos from both companies,
establish personal relationships with the sales and tech support personnel, and see which product
best suits their needs. Both products are excellent and both companies are highly regarded
amongst mining industry peers.
FURTHER COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
After using the Gemcom and Surpac products for an actual aggregate industry project, the
following general comments and recommendations will be made.

Avoid sophisticated technologies, like OpenGL cards, that aggregate company (or
consultant) PCs may not require for other applications. Be sensitive to requiring
processor, RAM, or operating system upgrades with every product upgrade. If a user
continually needs to pay to upgrade his hardware every few months just for a given
application, the user is likely to abandon it. Pay attention to keeping costs reasonable.
No matter how user friendly menus are, users outside mining industry software circles
may not understand how to navigate them. Cookbook-type references are always the

best. Installation of programs should be self-explanatory, and they need to be up and

running as soon as possible.
The products must be applicable to real-life data confronted in the industry. It is
important to find users with different data requirements to use the products in actual
situations for an appraisal of applicability in-the-trenches.
Geologic modeling via solids and surfaces will be applied to deposit evaluation results
derived by geophysical methods as they become more popular for aggregate.
As suggested above, market shares will likely be established via personal choice and
relationships. Software buyers in the aggregate industry likely know little about standard
mining software, and wont be able to fully comprehend the strengths and weaknesses of
the given products and companies. It is important for the development companies to get
these programs into circulation.
Concepts like SMU definition are mostly irrelevant. As geostatistical methodologies are
tested in sand and gravel deposits, perhaps comparable concepts could be developed,
such as pit zones of a given LA Abrasion value.
Manuals and on-line help files should be up to date with the programs they are used for,
especially with major conceptual changes. Users will have little patience spending time
thumbing though irrelevant books, or talking to tech support.
Aggregate industry circles, just like mining software circles, are very tight and
everybody likes to chat. Tread lightly, and be cautious of stepping on toes. Word of
bad vendors spreads very quickly.

With the recent purchase of Whittle programming, Gemcom is effectively broadening its base
and sphere of influence. Whittle is highly respected in its field (optimization) and a lot of
credibility goes with the name (a sophisticated optimizer like Whittle, though, is years away from
applicability in sand and gravel pits). Surpac, though, has a core of users whose dedication and
loyalty are unmatched.
DISCLAIMER
Halstead GeoNumerics, Inc. (Halstead) currently owns licenses to run both Surpac Quarry and
Gemcom Industrial Minerals - Advanced Quarry edition. Neither company paid Halstead to
perform these evaluations. Both packages were operated on evaluation licenses for a time, as the
companies recognized the importance of involving actual in-the-trenches work in the industry.
Both companies were aware of the development of this paper, and neither offered to pay for any
part of, or insist involvement in, its preparation. Except for basic marketing pitches,
representatives from neither company contributed to this paper.
REFERENCES
Arthur, J. 1994. In-situ Reserve Estimation & Sedimentological Modelling of Natural Aggregate
Deposits in the UK. Ph.D dissertation. University of Wales, College of Cardiff
GSI. 1998. Gemcom for Windows version 98.01 User Manual. 3 volumes and Manual Guide and
Master Index. Gemcom Software International, Inc. Vancouver, Canada
National Aggregates Association. 1994. 50 Fascinating Facts About Aggregates: A Fundamental
Resource for over 5,000 Years. Silver Spring: National Aggregates Association, 5 pp
Scriptics. 2000. Tcl Developers Exchange web site at www.scriptics.com
SSI. 2000a. Quarry promotional brochure. Surpac Software International
SSI. 2000b. Surpac Vision v4.0 On-Line Help. Surpac Software International. Perth, Australia