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Results
An integrated approach for sewage diversion: Case of Huayuan mine, Hunan Province, China
Kouadio, Kouao Laurent (Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Resources and Geological Hazards Exploration, Universit Flix Houphout-Boigny) | Liu, Jianxin (Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Resources and Geological Hazards Exploration) | Liu, Wenxiang (Central South University, Guangdong Geological Bureau) | Liu, Rong (Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Resources and Geological Hazards Exploration) | Boukhalfa, Zakaria (Centre de Recherche en Astronomie)
Environment protection is a core priority of many governments in this century. Most environmental problems have diverse causes: emission of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels, resource depletion, or intense mining activities such as the Huayuan manganese mine. The positioning of mining factories and water treatment stations impacts the surrounding groundwater reservoir. As the mine expands, the environmental impact also increases and the previous plan based on monitoring wastewater leakage has become inappropriate. Therefore, to solve this issue, a new study is required to understand the lateral resistivity distribution underground and to define a new station location for water treatment and divert the sewage to that station. In this study, the audio-frequency magnetotelluric method was used. Surveys of two long lines that cross the mining area to its boundaries were carried out. Data was robustly processed and inverted. Based on the inverted models in addition to geological information, drilling inspections, and solid waste distributions map, the integrated interpretation proposed two sites on the top of impermeable layers which constitute a buffer point between the unsafe (high concentration of pollutants) and the safe zones in the northwestern part of the mine. From the resistivity distribution combined with the water quality analysis, a relationship between fault structures reveals an interconnected conductive zone in the southeastern part. Being, the main channels for water circulating underground, these conductive zones delineate the main groundwater reservoir with a clastic aquifer layer. However, close to factories, water from faults contains solid wastes thereby making the groundwater in that zone non-potable, unlike the safety zone located in the northwestern part. To conclude, this workflow could become a field guide to improve the environment of mines and the deployment of hydrogeological drilling in a safe area.
- North America > United States (1.00)
- Asia > China > Hunan Province (0.40)
- Geology > Mineral (1.00)
- Geology > Structural Geology > Fault (0.93)
- Geology > Rock Type > Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Rock (0.66)
- (2 more...)
- Materials > Metals & Mining (1.00)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (1.00)
- Water & Waste Management > Water Management > Lifecycle > Treatment (0.54)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Reservoir Characterization > Seismic processing and interpretation (1.00)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Reservoir Characterization > Exploration, development, structural geology (1.00)
- Health, Safety, Environment & Sustainability > Environment > Water use, produced water discharge and disposal (0.88)
An effective multiphysics toolkit for Lithium prospecting: from geophysics to the static reservoir model in Pozuelos salt flat, Argentina.
Curcio, Ana (Proingeo SA) | Chanampa, Eliana (Ltica Resources (a Pluspetrol Mining Co.)) | Cabanillas, Luis (Consultant) | Piethe, Ricardo (Ltica Resources (a Pluspetrol Mining Co.))
The energy transition drives the energy sector to renewable energy and electrification, being the critical minerals key players in the industrial development map. They comprise rare earth elements and 35 other elements including lithium that holds the 60% of its world reserves in the so-called lithium triangle located in Argentina-Bolivia-Chile.The low electrical resistivities, variations in salt concentrations, low acoustic impedances and dynamics of the hydrogeological system, makes brine monitoring a complex geophysical exploratory problem. So, the objective is to find a suitable combination of geophysical techniques that fit the lithium exploration objectives, which are the characterization of the salt flat in depth, fluid detection, basement delineation, definition of the main structures and main faults and detection of semi-fresh water aquifers that contribute to its recharge and that are key to the water balance of the endorheic basin, which has the resource in solution. For this purpose, the evaluation of several prospecting methods in different salt flats was executed, concluding that full tensor magnetotellurics, electrical resistivity tomography and gravity comprises a toolkit that fit the objectives set.#xD;The methodology is validated in Pozuelos salt flat. The results show that the fresh water-brines contact and the recharge system were well defined and understood with the electrical resistivity tomography survey. The full tensor megnetotellurics detects two ultra-conductive units: the shallower one, interpreted as a multilayer system saturated with brines, has 400 m thickness, whereas the deeper one has a 500 thickness. Both magnetotellurics and gravity characterizes the basement and gravity successfully delineated the main structures. The geophysical interpretation is in concordance with shallow and deep exploration wells. Finally, the integration of geophysical and well data allowed the construction of a 3D static reservoir model that finds the deepest basement area at approximately 900 meters depth and discriminates eight lithofacies.
- South America > Argentina (0.71)
- North America > United States (0.67)
- Geology > Mineral (1.00)
- Geology > Rock Type > Sedimentary Rock (0.93)
- Geology > Geological Subdiscipline > Economic Geology > Petroleum Geology (0.36)
- Materials > Metals & Mining > Lithium (1.00)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (1.00)
- Africa > South Africa > Western Cape Province > Indian Ocean > Bredasdorp Basin > Block 9 > EM Field (0.99)
- South America > Chile (0.95)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Reservoir Characterization > Seismic processing and interpretation (1.00)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Formation Evaluation & Management (1.00)
Detecting and recovering critical mineral resource systems using broadband total-field airborne natural source audio frequency magnetotellurics measurements
Prikhodko, Alexander (Expert Geophysics Limited) | Bagrianski, Andrei (Expert Geophysics Limited) | Wilson, Robert (Expert Geophysics Limited) | Belyakov, Sergey (Qazaq Geophysics) | Esimkhanova, Nurganym (Qazaq Geophysics)
ABSTRACT Airborne geophysical methods offer a substantial advantage compared to ground-based techniques in exploring territories of different sizes, ranging from entire metallogenic provinces to the deposit scale, including those hosting critical minerals. An airborne method with measurements of natural magnetic field variations, known as audio frequency magnetotellurics (a passive field method), significantly increases the depth of investigation and expands the resistivity detection range compared with some controlled-source primary-field methods. We describe the technical solutions used in an airborne electromagnetic passive system with a mobile sensor of the total magnetic field variations and the stationary sensor of electric field variations, and its applications to recovering the complex geology of hydrothermal-magmatic systems often associated with critical minerals. The systemโs ability to explore depths, typically beginning from the near-surface and down to 1โ2ย km, by recording responses in three orthogonal inductive coils over a broad bandwidth from 22ย Hz to 21,000ย Hz allows for mapping resistivities across a broad range. This capability is crucial for obtaining more comprehensive exploration models. Field case studies of the natural field system include application in exploring for unconformity uranium mineralization, along with other associated minerals, epithermal gold and polymetallic-bearing structures, and ferromanganese and polymetallic deposits formed in a continental rift valley. An extra case study involving kimberlites was incorporated as a proven example of the natural field systemโs capability in conducting near-surface and deep investigations. The case histories illustrate the airborne natural electromagnetic field technology capabilities in recovering geoelectric models and their specific patterns.
- North America > Canada (0.97)
- North America > United States (0.93)
- Geology > Rock Type > Igneous Rock (0.69)
- Geology > Structural Geology > Tectonics > Extensional Tectonics (0.54)
- Geology > Mineral > Silicate (0.51)
- (2 more...)
- Materials > Metals & Mining (1.00)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (1.00)
- North America > Canada > Saskatchewan > Myrtle Basin > McArthur Basin > EP 171 > McArthur River Mine (0.99)
- North America > Canada > Saskatchewan > Athabasca Basin (0.99)
- North America > Canada > Alberta > Athabasca Basin (0.99)
- Africa > South Africa > Western Cape Province > Indian Ocean > Bredasdorp Basin > Block 9 > EM Field (0.99)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Reservoir Characterization > Geologic modeling (1.00)
- Management > Professionalism, Training, and Education > Communities of practice (1.00)
- Data Science & Engineering Analytics > Information Management and Systems > Knowledge management (1.00)
- (3 more...)
Detecting and recovering critical mineral resource systems using broadband total-field airborne natural source audio frequency magnetotellurics measurements
Prikhodko, Alexander (Expert Geophysics Limited) | Bagrianski, Andrei (Expert Geophysics Limited) | Wilson, Robert (Expert Geophysics Limited) | Belyakov, Sergey (Qazaq Geophysics) | Esimkhanova, Nurganym (Qazaq Geophysics)
ABSTRACT Airborne geophysical methods offer a substantial advantage compared to ground-based techniques in exploring territories of different sizes, ranging from entire metallogenic provinces to the deposit scale, including those hosting critical minerals. An airborne method with measurements of natural magnetic field variations, known as audio frequency magnetotellurics (a passive field method), significantly increases the depth of investigation and expands the resistivity detection range compared with some controlled-source primary-field methods. We describe the technical solutions used in an airborne electromagnetic passive system with a mobile sensor of the total magnetic field variations and the stationary sensor of electric field variations, and its applications to recovering the complex geology of hydrothermal-magmatic systems often associated with critical minerals. The systemโs ability to explore depths, typically beginning from the near-surface and down to 1โ2ย km, by recording responses in three orthogonal inductive coils over a broad bandwidth from 22ย Hz to 21,000ย Hz allows for mapping resistivities across a broad range. This capability is crucial for obtaining more comprehensive exploration models. Field case studies of the natural field system include application in exploring for unconformity uranium mineralization, along with other associated minerals, epithermal gold and polymetallic-bearing structures, and ferromanganese and polymetallic deposits formed in a continental rift valley. An extra case study involving kimberlites was incorporated as a proven example of the natural field systemโs capability in conducting near-surface and deep investigations. The case histories illustrate the airborne natural electromagnetic field technology capabilities in recovering geoelectric models and their specific patterns.
- North America > Canada (0.97)
- North America > United States (0.93)
- Geology > Rock Type > Igneous Rock (0.69)
- Geology > Structural Geology > Tectonics > Extensional Tectonics (0.54)
- Geology > Mineral > Silicate (0.51)
- (2 more...)
- Materials > Metals & Mining (1.00)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (1.00)
- North America > Canada > Saskatchewan > Myrtle Basin > McArthur Basin > EP 171 > McArthur River Mine (0.99)
- North America > Canada > Saskatchewan > Athabasca Basin (0.99)
- North America > Canada > Alberta > Athabasca Basin (0.99)
- Africa > South Africa > Western Cape Province > Indian Ocean > Bredasdorp Basin > Block 9 > EM Field (0.99)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Reservoir Characterization > Geologic modeling (1.00)
- Management > Professionalism, Training, and Education > Communities of practice (1.00)
- Data Science & Engineering Analytics > Information Management and Systems > Knowledge management (1.00)
- (3 more...)
ABSTRACT Rockbursts have remained one of the most serious and least understood problems facing deep mining operations, claiming the lives of thousands of mine workers. Despite many technical advances, rockburst continues to pose a significant risk in deep platinum mines of South Africa as they damage excavations, mining equipment and infrastructures, delay production and cause injuries or even deaths of mining personnel. We analyzed the source mechanisms of large mining-related seismic events (ML1.0 โ 2.5) that caused damage to stopes in Siphumelele Platinum Mine. This study attempts to mitigate the risk of rockburst by integrating rock mass complexities (high stress, complex structural geology, mining elements, etc.) with the source mechanisms of mining-induced earthquakes to understand better the main drivers of seismicity within the Merensky Reef. The energy ratio (Es/Ep) was used as a discriminator to define two classes of seismic events. Shear (Es/Ep >10, 22 events), located between 1226 and 1470 m depths and non-shear (Es/Ep <10, 51 events), concentrated from 907 to 1460 m below and above the Merensky Reef. About 76% of these seismic events were related to elements of the mining geometry (pillars, abutments, and back-areas); while 24% were located near known geological structures (faults, dykes). INTRODUCTION As the depth of underground mining increases, the stresses in the rock mass increase, and as a result, the level of induced seismicity usually increases. Mine seismicity is a risk to mine personnel and infrastructure. It has become a major operational issue and a problematic planning factor for most underground mines worldwide, particularly at depths greater than 1000 m. As a result, the characterization of rockbursts in the Merensky Reef is critical to understanding the true nature of seismicity and developing mitigation strategies. Given the mine's increased seismicity and risks to production, infrastructure, and mine personnel safety, it is critical to comprehend the rock massesโ behaviour.
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (1.00)
- Materials > Metals & Mining > Platinum (0.92)
- North America > United States > Texas (1.00)
- North America > Canada (1.00)
- Asia > Middle East (1.00)
- (3 more...)
- Overview (1.00)
- Instructional Material > Course Syllabus & Notes (1.00)
- Research Report (0.92)
- Personal (0.68)
- Geology > Rock Type (1.00)
- Geology > Geological Subdiscipline > Geomechanics (0.67)
- Geology > Geological Subdiscipline > Economic Geology > Petroleum Geology (0.67)
- Materials > Metals & Mining (1.00)
- Leisure & Entertainment (1.00)
- Government > Regional Government > North America Government > United States Government (1.00)
- (6 more...)
- North America > United States > Gulf of Mexico > Central GOM > East Gulf Coast Tertiary Basin > Mississippi Canyon > Block 281 > Lena Field (0.99)
- Asia > China > South China Sea > Pearl River Mouth Basin > Liuhua Field (0.99)
- Africa > South Africa > South Atlantic Ocean > Orange Basin (0.99)
- (4 more...)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Reservoir Characterization > Seismic processing and interpretation (1.00)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Reservoir Characterization > Exploration, development, structural geology (1.00)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Formation Evaluation & Management (1.00)
- (5 more...)
A 3D forward-modeling approach for airborne electromagnetic data using a modified spectral-element method
Huang, Xin (Key Laboratory of Exploration Technologies for Oil and Gas Resources (Yangtze University), Jilin University) | Farquharson, Colin G. (Memorial University of Newfoundland) | Yin, Changchun (Jilin University) | Yan, Liangjun (Key Laboratory of Exploration Technologies for Oil and Gas Resources (Yangtze University)) | Cao, Xiaoyue (Key Laboratory of Exploration Technologies for Oil and Gas Resources (Yangtze University), Jilin University) | Zhang, Bo (Jilin University)
ABSTRACT The spectral-element (SE) method, which is based on the Galerkin technique, has been gradually implemented in geophysical electromagnetic (EM) 3D simulation. The accuracy and efficiency of this approach, implemented for deformed hexahedral and regular meshes, has been verified for airborne EM forward modeling. One advantage of the SE method over the conventional finite-element method is that it provides accurate results for earth models that can be adequately parameterized using a coarse mesh. However, realistic models can contain important small-scale conductivity variations or larger features with complicated boundaries. To overcome the limitations imposed by using the same mesh to parameterize the model and for implementing the forward-modeling approach, we have developed an adaptation of the conventional SE method. This is inspired by the ideas behind the element-free Galerkin (EFG) method, in which the conductivity is no longer assumed to be constant within a cell; instead, it is handled via the same kind of numerical integration as in the EFG method. This allows a coarse, regular hexahedral mesh to be used for the forward modeling for complex earth models. After presenting the theory for this new SE approach, we test it for airborne EM modeling of 1D and 3D models to verify its flexibility and accuracy. Finally, we model the Ovoid Zone massive sulfide ore body located at Voiseyโs Bay, Labrador, Canada, to illustrate the flexibility and practicality of our approach.
- North America > Canada > Newfoundland and Labrador > Newfoundland (0.28)
- North America > Canada > Newfoundland and Labrador > Labrador (0.24)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Reservoir Characterization > Geologic modeling (0.68)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Reservoir Characterization > Seismic processing and interpretation (0.52)
Innovative seismic imaging of volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits, Neves-Corvo, Portugal โ Part 1: In-mine array
Brodic, Bojan (Uppsala University) | Malehmir, Alireza (Uppsala University) | Pacheco, Nelson (Somincor (Lundin Mining Corporation)) | Juhlin, Christopher (Uppsala University) | Carvalho, Joao (Laboratรณrio Nacional de Energia e Geologia) | Dynesius, Lars (Uppsala University) | van den Berg, Jens (Delft University of Technology) | de Kunder, Richard (Seismic Mechatronics) | Donoso, George (Uppsala University) | Sjรถlund, Tord (MIC Nordic AB) | Araujo, Vitor (Somincor (Lundin Mining Corporation))
ABSTRACT To evaluate and upscale the feasibility of using exploration tunnels in an operating mine for active-source seismic imaging, a seismic experiment was conducted at the Neves-Corvo mine, in southern Portugal. Four seismic profiles were deployed in exploration drifts approximately 650ย m beneath the ground surface, above the world-class Lombador volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit. In addition to the tunnel profiles, two perpendicular surface seismic profiles were deployed above the exploration tunnels. The survey was possible due to a newly developed prototype global positioning system (GPS) time transmitter enabling accurate GPS synchronization of cabled and nodal seismic recorders, below and on the surface. Another innovative acquisition aspect was a 1.65ย t broadband, linear synchronous motor (LSM) driven โ electric seismic vibrator (e-vib) used as the seismic source along two of the exploration tunnels. We have evaluated the challenges and innovations necessary for active-source tunnel seismic acquisition, characterized by high levels of vibrational noise from the mining activities. In addition, we evaluated the LSM vibratorโs signal and overall seismic-data quality in this hard rock mining environment. Our processing results from the tunnel data and 3D reflection imaging of the Lombador deposit below the exploration tunnels were checked for consistency through constant-velocity 3D ray-tracing traveltime forward modeling. For imaging purposes, 3D Kirchhoff prestack depth and poststack time-migration algorithms were used, with both successfully imaging the targeted deposit. The results obtained show that active-source-seismic imaging using subsurface mining infrastructure of operational mines is possible. However, it requires innovative exploration strategies, a broadband seismic source, an accurate GPS-time system capable of transmitting GPS-time hundreds of meters below the surface, and careful processing. The results obtained open up possibilities for similar studies in different mining or tunneling projects.
- Europe (1.00)
- North America > United States > Texas > Coleman County (0.24)
- Geology > Geological Subdiscipline (1.00)
- Geology > Structural Geology > Tectonics (0.93)
- Geology > Rock Type > Igneous Rock (0.87)
- (3 more...)
- Materials > Metals & Mining (1.00)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (1.00)
- Africa > South Africa > Karoo Basin (0.99)
- North America > Canada > Alberta > Meyer Field > Aecog Meyer 11-27-70-26 Well (0.93)
ABSTRACT The Orapa kimberlite field of Botswana is one of the worldโs major diamond producing regions. Within this field, there are several small kimberlite pipes that have not been completely explored in terms of their lateral extent, depth, and diamond potential. Two such pipes, BK54 and BK55, were found during a ground gravity and magnetic survey, and subsequent drilling confirmed the presence of kimberlite material. To determine the physical properties of these pipes, their lateral extent, depth, and thickness were estimated using a gravity and magnetic analysis and 2.5D and 3D modeling. Tilt derivatives of the magnetic data indicated that BK54 has a northwest-trending elliptical shape and BK55 has a roughly circular shape. Residual gravity anomaly maps indicate that BK54 does not have a density anomaly whereas BK55 is associated with a gravity maximum. The 3D gravity and magnetic inversion modeling constrained by magnetic susceptibility measurements indicates that BK54 is smaller in volume than BK55 and that neither pipe is thicker than 125ย m. The difference in shape and the lack of a gravity anomaly over BK54 implies a different formation mechanism for each kimberlite pipe. Although several mechanisms are suggested, BK54 may have formed by a more explosive eruption producing more tuffistic material in the crater and diatreme facies. The gravity and magnetic analysis also found that the kimberlite pipes, while small, are larger in extent than was determined by drilling and warrant additional drilling to determine their economic potential.
- Africa > Botswana (1.00)
- North America > Canada (0.94)
- Geology > Rock Type > Igneous Rock (1.00)
- Geology > Mineral > Silicate > Nesosilicate > Olivine (1.00)
- Geology > Mineral > Native Element Mineral > Diamond (1.00)
- Geology > Geological Subdiscipline > Volcanology (1.00)
- Geophysics > Magnetic Surveying > Magnetic Processing (1.00)
- Geophysics > Magnetic Surveying > Magnetic Modeling > Magnetic Inversion (1.00)
- Geophysics > Gravity Surveying > Gravity Modeling > Gravity Inversion (0.66)
- Materials > Metals & Mining > Diamonds (1.00)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (1.00)
- Africa > South Africa > Karoo Basin (0.99)
- Africa > Namibia > Kalahari Basin (0.99)
- Africa > Botswana > Kalahari Basin (0.99)
- South America > Argentina > Tierra del Fuego > Magallanes Basin > South-central > La Ensenada Formation (0.97)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Reservoir Characterization > Exploration, development, structural geology (1.00)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Formation Evaluation & Management (1.00)
- Information Technology > Data Science (0.46)
- Information Technology > Artificial Intelligence (0.46)
Abstract Much has happened to the mineral exploration geophysics industry since TLE's last special section dedicated to mining geophysics was published in 2008. We are pleased to showcase the work of many talented mining geophysicists to the TLE readership in this issue's special section.
- Materials > Metals & Mining (1.00)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (0.92)
- Transportation > Ground > Road (0.90)
- North America > Canada > Saskatchewan > Athabasca Basin (0.99)
- North America > Canada > Alberta > Athabasca Basin (0.99)
- Africa > South Africa > Western Cape Province > Indian Ocean > Bredasdorp Basin > Block 9 > EM Field (0.99)