Improvement of operational exploration and mining safety using the shear-wave reflection method of mine seismology

Abstract

During the whole life of mines, the geological survey departments are faced with the critical objectives of operational exploration. These objectives are sometimes impossible to be met adequately without geophysics. Neutrality of geophysical studies is often below the desired level. The shear-wave reflection method of mine seismology, with separation of reflections, which is developed by the present authors, allows: investigating the shape, thickness and dip angles of geologic beds and ore bodies, detecting geological discontinuities such as faults, joints and cavities, as well as determining physical and mechanical properties of rocks. The capacity of the shear-wave reflection method with separation of reflections is described in a case-study of the Upper Kama Potash Salt Deposit. The seismic tests were carried out in a few underground excavations. The developed method in the test conditions is accurate to the first meters at a spacing more than 300 m. Accordingly, it is possible to study the whole thickness of the salt strata in the Upper Kama Deposit, from the salt table to the anhydrous clay roof, specifically, to assess the structure and composition of the waterproof strata, to identify mine-threatening geological discontinuities, and to build the model of physical and mechanical properties of rock mass. Introduction of the newly developed method can greatly enhance efficiency of actual operational exploration. The method has yielded the best results during or immediately after heading of permanent and development openings. Considering similarity of surface and underground mineral mining in terms of access to solid rocks, it is expected to have the same outcomes in open pit mines.