Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration:...
Transcript of Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration:...
![Page 1: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Seismic and MineralExploration: Time for aNew Relationship
Don Pridmore
![Page 2: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
A late starter….
Strong demand for expansion of mining activities:
Necessity to delineate extension of known mineralisations atgreater depths
Need to define new exploration targets, often beyond the reachof potential field methods
Exploration of deeper targets by drilling – too expensive
No choice - try seismic methods
Seismic exploration in Hard Rock environments
MMoore, et al.Science 16 November 2007:1128-1131
3D Seismic:Nankai Troughsubduction zone
![Page 3: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
• Seismic reflection method• Performance in hydrocarbon exploration• Why has it not been successful in mineral
exploration?• Derisking the application of seismic• Case histories• Summary
![Page 4: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
3D ‘Greenfields’3D ‘Brownfields
2D Seismic Reflection
![Page 5: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
![Page 6: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
• Reflections occur at changes in acousticimpedance (Density*Velocity).
Eg abrupt changes in:lithology and alterationatbedding planes, faults, shears,intrusions etc
MEGWA Hard rock seismic presentation17/4/2013
![Page 7: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
• Wide scattering
• Forward modelling of possiblegeological scenarios is crucialfor survey planning
• 3D effectsImplications for targeting
![Page 8: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
P-wave Velocity times Density
Felsic volcanics Massive sulphides
![Page 9: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Minimum resolvable bed thickness• ~ 25m (top and bottom resolvable)
Minimum detectable bed thickness• ~ 5m or less
Minimum fault throw• ~ 10m
Horizontal Resolution• ~ 25m across
Resolution maintained with depth
![Page 10: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
• Can investigate to large depths• Provides continuous maps of layer
boundaries and structures• High Resolution• Maintains resolution with
depth
![Page 11: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
With exceptions rarely used because:• Technical issues
Impact of high velocity and complexgeometry on ‘learned behaviour’ fromhydrocarbon explorationLack of understanding of ‘seismic’ rockproperties
• Cost relative to alternatives (drilling, geophysics)
![Page 12: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
• Faster screening around initial discovery
• Better conceptual understanding of geology andmineralisation
Optimise infrastructure capacity andplacement
More cost effective brownfields exploration
• Better mapping of structures for mine planningand mine safety
![Page 13: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
HiSeis Innovation
Oil and Gas Seismic• ‘Simple’ geology• Seismic proven success
Minerals Seismic• Complex geology with
high velocity• Adaption of all aspects
of the method required
![Page 14: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Site Visit / Noise Test
Rock PropertyMeasurements
Seismic Survey
Vertical SeismicProfiling/ FWS
Synthetic Modeling
How do we de-risk aseismic survey?
![Page 15: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
• Measure transit time through core, half core or hand specimen• Need flat ends• Multiple samples per rock unit
![Page 16: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
![Page 17: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
![Page 18: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Velocity DensityAcousticImpedance
Strongreflectorsin VSPdata
Reflector
Reflector
Reflector
Reflector
Reflector
Reflector
G3
![Page 19: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Slide 18
G3 pedance contrastsGreg, 16/04/2013
![Page 20: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Velocity DensityAcousticImpedance
![Page 21: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
VSP’s provide the macro-scalelinkage betweengeological/petrophysicalvariations and the bulk in-situresponse measured usingsurface seismic reflectiontechniques
![Page 22: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Strongreflectorsin VSPdata
Reflector
Reflector
Reflector
Reflector
Reflector
Reflector
![Page 23: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Shear
Strong semi-continuous reflections Multiple discontinuous reflections
![Page 24: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
6km
Objectives
• Map the mineralised shear system
• Generate targets at depth
![Page 25: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
![Page 26: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
![Page 27: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Objectives
• Map subsurface stratigraphy and structure to 1km depth
• Map the basalt/ultramafic contact
• Map structures that offset this surface
• Detect Mineralisation
Milovan et al 2013
![Page 28: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
Accoustic impedance
2.5
2.7
2.9
3.1
3.3
3.5
3.7
3.9
4.1
4.3
4.5
4000 4500 5000 5500 6000 6500
P-wave velocity
dens
ity
massive
disseminated
matrix
u/msediments
intermediatemafic
Lines ofconstantimpedance
![Page 29: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
Depth slice at 768m Depth slice at 1266m
![Page 30: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
HiSeis Data: Kambalda WA
![Page 31: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
![Page 32: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
Obrien keyslides extract_002
![Page 33: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
Obrien keyslides extract_003Obrien keyslides extract_003
![Page 34: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
![Page 35: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
![Page 36: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/36.jpg)
![Page 37: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/37.jpg)
Some success stories
"A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been completed over a21 square kilometer area surrounding the Neves-Corvo mine.Preliminary results have clearly imaged the major Semblana deposit,verifying the effectiveness of this new tool in the search for blindmassive sulphide deposits"Lundin Mining news release to theToronto stock exchange. July 21, 2011
"Based on 3D models created using recently acquired seismic data, 2new diamond drill holes were planned, each planned to drill to aminimum depth of 600m. A new prospective ultramafic-amphibolitesequence identified below the current deposit and further significantintersections from existing deposit were discovered"Announcement from Bullabulling Gold Limited to the ASX, September6, 2012 and October 30, 2012.
![Page 38: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/38.jpg)
SeismicSolution
IndustrySolution
ProblemBrownfield
exploration atdepths greater
than 500m.
SeismicSolution
IndustrySolutionDrilling
ProblemBrownfield
exploration atdepths greaterthan 3- 500m.
• Data in only 1D.• Slow: 1 month to drill 1km.• Costly: $250K per km.
• Detect structures & alteration.• Directly detect some
mineralisation styles• Cost competitive @ $250K/km2.• Rapid results.• Low environmental impact.• Faster 3D targeting of drilling
SUMMARY
![Page 39: Seismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a New · PDF fileSeismic and Mineral Exploration: Time for a ... Horizontal Resolution ... "A high-resolution 3D seismic survey has now been](https://reader031.fdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030408/5a8bb8487f8b9a4a268c7cb8/html5/thumbnails/39.jpg)
Acknowledgements
Consolidated Minerals LtdBullabulling Gold LtdNorthern Star Resources LtdLundin MiningMMG