PC-XPLOR - The application of a microcomputer based data management and graphics system in exploration

PC-XPLOR is a micro-computer based, integrated, data management and graphics software system for exploration data. PC-XPLOR is designed to store, manage, report and display any type of spatially located data. In exploration projects this could typically include field mapping data such as outcrops, features, rock types and faults; and regional geochemical sampling data such as locations, soil and rock samples and analysis results; trenching data with analysis results; drillhole data such as lithology and down hole assays; and polygonal data such as claims, property boundaries, underground workings and surface features. The PC-XPLOR system provides a database manager that allows extremely flexible database structures, easy data entry and editing, comprehensive reporting, filtering sorting and data manipulation. The integrated graphics provide extensive capabilities for plan and section display. Various options are provided for structure maps; X-Y plots; symbol plots; traverse maps; vertical, inclined or horizontal sections through all data; and polygon plots. Additional analysis tools can be added to PC-XPLOR for drillhole compositing; polygon reserves; single and multi-variate statistics; geo-statistics; and gridding and contouring. This paper describes the various modules of PC-XPLOR and illustrates the use of the system through a number of case studies from different types of exploration projects.