Method of clusterization of c6 coal seam zones of different thickness in the Dniprovska mine field by germanium concentration

Abstract

In the article, based on the conducted research and analysis of the results of clustering, the most effective method of creating objective typification of zones of coal seam c6 of the Dniprovska Mine of different thickness according to germanium concentrations was established. The typification procedure is a systematization of objects according to a priori specified features. Cluster analysis, taxonomy, pattern recognition, and factor analysis are usually used for this purpose. The authors of the article carried out clustering using various methods implemented in the most different professional statistical software platforms, performed their analysis and justified the choice of the most optimal of them. The optimal method of clustering areas of different thicknesses of the coal seam was determined. The analysis of the dendrogram of the results of clustering by the weighted centroid-median method of the sites of the c6 seam by germanium content, unlike others, allows not only to achieve the most stable division of the entire set of sites under consideration, but also to maximize the visualization of their division by classes at different scale levels in the absence of a priori hypotheses regarding the number clusters and their forms. At the same time, the structure of clusters is clearly distinguished, regardless of the scale level of their formation, and the sequence of combining individual deposits and their groups into the resulting cluster is clearly traced. These advantages make it possible to make maximum use of already existing information for the development of natural typifications of с6 coal seam areas by germanium content and to interpret the obtained results in geological terms. It was established that the weighted centroid median method of cluster analysis is the most optimal for the subjectivity-free researcher to divide the sections of coal seam c6 of the Dniprovska Mine field according to germanium content into taxa. The constructed dendrograms of the clustering of deposits by germanium content can be used as a basis for the development of a natural typification of the coal seams of the Dniprovska Mine for their subsequent geological and economic assessment. This, in turn, will make it possible to make maximum use of already available information and interpret the obtained results in geological and genetic concepts, which will provide the opportunity to use it for the complex use of mineral raw materials and to solve strategic issues of sustainable development of Ukraine. Keywords: cluster analysis, coal seam, germanium, clusters, taxa, dendrogram of clustering results, weighted centroid method.