Application of 3-D seismic attributes analysis to mine planning: Target gold deposit, South Africa

Stuart, G. W.; Jolley, Stephen J.; Polome, L.; Tucker, Rod F.

doi:10.1190/1.1438706

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…Reflection seismic methods were implemented in the 1980s, rejuvenating exploration activities and contributing to the discovery of the South Deep orebody (Haslett, 1994) and new resources in the Bothaville Gap Tucker et al, 1994). The adaptation of reflection seismic technology to the hard-rock environment over the last quarter century has been described by several authors, e.g., Campbell and Peace (1984), Durrheim (1986), Pretorius et al (1989), Campbell (1990), Campbell and Crotty (1990), ), Campbell (1994), De Wet and Hall (1994, Pretorius et al (1994), Weder (1994), Pretorius and Trewick (1997), Gibson et al (2000), Stuart et al (2000), Pretorius et al (2000), and Gillot et al (2005). A comprehensive review of the use of reflection seismology to map the Witwatersrand Basin is provided by Pretorius et al (2003).…”

Section: Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Seismic methods in mineral exploration and mine planning: A general overview of past and present case histories and a look into the future

et al. 2012

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Due to high metal prices and increased difficulties in finding shallower deposits, the exploration for and exploitation of mineral resources is expected to move to greater depths. Consequently, seismic methods will become a more important tool to help unravel structures hosting mineral deposits at great depth for mine planning and exploration. These methods also can be used with varying degrees of success to directly target mineral deposits at depth. We review important contributions that have been made in developing these techniques for the mining industry with focus on four main regions: Australia, Europe, Canada, and South Africa. A wide range of case studies are covered, including some that are published in the special issue accompanying this article, from surface to borehole seismic methods, as well as petrophysical data and seismic modeling of mineral deposits. At present, high-resolution 2D surveys mostly are performed in mining areas, but there is a general increasing trend in the use of 3D seismic methods, especially in mature mining camps.

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Section: Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Seismic methods in mineral exploration and mine planning: A general overview of past and present case histories and a look into the future

et al. 2012

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“…However, for accurate delineation of structure, it is necessary to acquire 3D reflection seismic data. This is exemplified by the importance assigned to 3D surveys in South Africa, in conjunction with mine development where the sinking of the mine shafts are associated with large costs (e.g., Pretorius et al, 2000;Stuart et al, 2000). High-quality 3D seismic data allow major faults to be avoided and help to locate the shafts so that competent rock units are entered at optimum locations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

3D seismic survey at the Millennium uranium deposit, Saskatchewan, Canada: Mapping depth to basement and imaging post-Athabasca structure near the orebody

et al. 2012

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Three-dimensional seismic reflection measurements have been used to assist mine planning at the Millennium uranium deposit, Canada. The deposit is located within the crystalline basement, separated from the overlying Athabasca Basin sediments by an unconformity potentially associated with significant fluid flow. The primary objective of the ∼6.5 km 2 survey was to image the unconformity and possible post-Athabasca deformation structures in and around the deposit. Clear unconformity reflections are observed within most of the survey area, although there are amplitude variations due to complex geology, including intense hydrothermal clay alteration around the deposit. Finite-difference modeling indicates that the wideangle character of the unconformity reflections is due to a gradual velocity increase at the unconformity. The reflections are obscured by large time delays, due to Quaternary sediments covering the area, making refraction static corrections crucial.The seismic interpretation shows large variations in the unconformity depth (from approximately 430 to 650 m), indicating a pronounced basement depression that coincides with a gravity low. Reflections from the unconformity are vague within the depression, especially in the vicinity of the deposit. Although the orebody is not directly visible in the seismic image, there is a lack of reflectivity coincident with the alteration surrounding the mineralization. We also observed reflections which likely originate at the contact between the altered and fresh basement rock located beneath the deposit. The seismic data further indicate post-Athabasca faults in the vicinity of the orebody. Based on the initial seismic interpretation, the depth of the crown pillar was adjusted and the mine infrastructure moved away from areas interpreted to be affected by the intense hydrothermal alteration surrounding the deposit. The capability to image the unconformity, post-Athabasca structure, and hydrothermal alteration also highlights the potential use of seismic surveys in uranium exploration.

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“…The rapid and accurate generation and visualization of 3D fault and horizon models is of paramount importance in the search for oil and gas reserves (Needham et al 1996), locating sub-surface ore bodies (Stuart et al 2000), structural analysis of local anomalies such as salt diapirs (Guglielmo et al 1999) and providing data for structural restoration (Egan et al 1999), analyses of stress (Maerten 1999), and fault growth models. The model building procedures available through current computational software allow increasingly complex structural models to be created using a variety of algorithmic constructions and manipulations.…”

Section: D Visualization and Modellingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling Fault Geometry and Displacement for very Large Networks

Lister

2004

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Traditional methods for building fault models are time-consuming when applied to a complex fault network or where many faults exist since the workflows typically rely on manual intervention at several stages. Structural detail is often simplified to reduce cycle times and consequently, the workflow favours large-scale and simplistic fault systems. There is generally no integrated assessment of kinematic information that would be useful in guiding fault interpretation. A new methodology for constructing a complex fault network with small offset is presented. The method recognizes that interpretation of large numbers of interconnected low displacement faults, is most efficiently done using map based interpretations. A novel semi-automated skeletonization algorithm is used to extract fault traces from horizon maps providing a polyline data set for subsequent use in 3D surface creation. Displacement information is derived automatically during or after the skeletonization providing kinematic information for guiding further interpretation. The new method is validated against manual interpretations of fault geometry and displacement before application to a region of the Central North Sea exposing polygonal faults. The new technique allows for the first time, a rapid and accurate appraisal of complex near-seismic scale fault geometry and displacement from interpretations of 3D seismic data across a large survey area.DAVIES, R.

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Application of 3-D seismic attributes analysis to mine planning: Target gold deposit, South Africa

Cited by 10 publications

References 0 publications

Seismic methods in mineral exploration and mine planning: A general overview of past and present case histories and a look into the future

Seismic methods in mineral exploration and mine planning: A general overview of past and present case histories and a look into the future

3D seismic survey at the Millennium uranium deposit, Saskatchewan, Canada: Mapping depth to basement and imaging post-Athabasca structure near the orebody

Modelling Fault Geometry and Displacement for very Large Networks

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