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We have developed a multicomponent broadband seismic landstreamer system based on digital sensors and particularly suitable for noisy environments and areas in which high-resolution images of the subsurface are desired. We have evaluated results, interpretations, and approaches using the streamer in the planning of an approximately 3-km-long underground tunnel in the city of Varberg in the southwestern Sweden. Prospective targets were imaging of the shallow (<20 m) bedrock surface and weak zones, such as fracture and shear zones. Over the course of three weeks, 25 profiles were acquired with a total length of approximately 7.5 km using a source and receiver spacing of 2–4 m. A novel approach of the data acquisition was to integrate the landstreamer with wireless sensors in areas in which the accessibility was restricted by roads and also to increase the source-receiver distances (offsets). Although the area was highly noisy, the seismic data, in conjunction with available boreholes, successfully led to delineation of the bedrock surface, its undulations, and areas of poor rock quality. To overcome challenges due to geologic complexities and crooked-line data acquisition, 3D tomographic inversion of first breaks was carried out. Comparisons of the results with the existing boreholes indicated that in most places, the bedrock surface was well resolved by the method, which supported the indication of weak zones in the bedrock, represented by low-velocity structures in the tomographic results. We also evaluated the effect of poor geodetic surveying, particularly regarding elevation data, which adulterated the tomography results toward undulating bedrock surfaces or zones of low velocities.

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Seismic methods are an affordable and effective way of studying the subsurface for mineral exploration. With the goal of testing new technologies for mineral exploration in highly challenging mining areas, in early 2019 an innovative seismic survey was conducted at the Neves-Corvo mine, south Portugal. This study focuses on the data and results from the surface array data, while an accompanying article deals with the underground seismic data. The surface seismic survey consisted of two perpendicular 2D profiles positioned above the known world-class tier-1 Lombador deposit. Simultaneously a survey inside the active underground mine took place, being unique as it included the testing of a prototype system that enabled accurate GPS-time (micro-second accuracy) synchronization inside the mine tunnels, approximately 650 m below the surface profiles. Due to the active mining operations the surface data are noisy. To handle this a carefully tailored processing algorithm was developed and applied to enhance reflections in the data, interpreted to originate from lithological contacts and the Lombador deposit. The results and interpretations from 2D processing were validated taking advantage of the known deposit geometry using 3D exploding reflector modeling and pseudo-3D cross-dip analysis. These analyses suggest that there is an out-of-plane signature of the Lombador deposit on the surface data. Additionally, source points activated in the exploration tunnels and simultaneously recorded on the surface profiles allowed to create a 2D velocity model that was used for migration and time-to-depth conversion, providing a reliable 2D seismic section of the subsurface under the surface profiles. This study demonstrates that limited surface coverage 2D surveys and a velocity model derived from the tunnel-to-surface seismic recordings, allow for imaging of key subsurface geological structures and to delineate mineral deposits of economic interest.

To evaluate and upscale the feasibility of utilizing 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 ca. 650 m beneath the ground surface, above the world-class Lombador volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) 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 GPS-time transmitter enabling accurate GPS synchronization of cabled and nodal seismic recorders, both below and on the surface. Another innovative acquisition aspect was a 1.65 t broadband, linear synchronous motor (LSM) driven - electric seismic vibrator (e-vib) used as the seismic source along two of the exploration tunnels. Challenges and innovations necessary for active-source tunnel seismic acquisition, characterized by high levels of vibrational noise from the mining activities, are discussed. Additionally, the LSM vibrator’s signal and overall seismic data quality in this hard rock mining environment are evaluated. Processing results from the tunnel data and 3D reflection imaging of the Lombador deposit below the exploration tunnels are shown and the results checked for consistency through constant-velocity 3D ray-tracing traveltime forward modeling. For imaging purposes, 3D Kirchhoff pre-stack depth and post-stack 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.