Three Dimensional Gravity Survey*

Abstract

The paper describes and discusses the results of an experimental gravity survey which was carried out underground on different levels of a mine, in the mine shafts, and on the surface above the mine workings. The paper is composed of three complementing sections. The part dealing with gravity measurements in the shafts gives also attention to the particular problem of the terrain corrections underground, due to the surface topography. The interval densities from gravity measurements in the shafts are computed and adjusted in accordance with known geology and compared with the stratigraphical columns of the shafts. The effect of the ore body on the stations in the shaft is derived theoretically and compared with the observed one. The gravity contours are constructed on different levels in the mine workings and discussed in relation to the known extent of the ore body. The gravity profile across a fault underground is presented and discussed. Another gravity profile was run underground in the same plan position as a surface traverse 1000 feet above it. The line of boreholes along this traverse gives good account of geology which includes step‐faulting. This known geology is compared with the deductions based on the gravity results. This is also done in the case of another gravity profile run over a known geological section. A number of gravity measurements were also taken in the same plan position, separated by the vertical distance of 800–1,100 feet. These points were placed by the boreholes previously drilled in the area. Attempt in correlation of these and gravity results is made. The densities computed from the gravity measurements are compared with the laboratory determinations of the densities, carried out on samples from different parts of the mine. The contours on the top of the base formation are constructed from the information obtained from the boreholes, and are compared with the gravity contours on the surface above. A simple method of computation of the effects of slabs and blocks is presented as applied to the calculation of the corrections for underground drifts and faults. A table is appended for use with this method.

Underground Gravity Survey in Alpine Regions*

“…A gravity survey underground on a given mine level can be carried out in the same way as a routine survey on the surface, the difference being that the measurements can be made only in the existing galleries, which sometimes makes the interpretation of the data difficult. Until now this type of work has been reported by very few authors (Domzalski 1955, Allen 1956, Algermissen 1961, Sumner and Schnepfe 1966. This section deals with the necessary corrections required on the raw data.…”

“…Rogers (1952) described gravity measurements in a mine shaft that passed through a region of high density (sulfide mineralization) and compared his results with a theoretical model. The first detailed work on three-dimensional gravity survey (on the surface, in the mine shafts and at different mine levels) was described by Domzalski (1955). He compared the results with known geology and showed the relationship between gravity maps of different levels and iron ore occurrence between these levels.…”

Mining Geophysics Volume 1, Case Histories

“…Work of this nature has been presented in the literature by several authors, including Algermissen (1961), Allen (1956), and Domzalski (1955). This paper extends the routine use of underground gravity by defining "apparent density" as computed from vertical gravity gradients.…”