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Potential of legacy 2D seismic data for deep targeting and structural imaging at the Neves–Corvo massive sulphide‐bearing deposit, Portugal
Author(s) -
Donoso George A.,
Malehmir Alireza,
Pacheco Nelson,
Araujo Vitor,
Penney Matthew,
Carvalho Joao,
Spicer Bill,
Beach Steve
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
geophysical prospecting
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.735
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1365-2478
pISSN - 0016-8025
DOI - 10.1111/1365-2478.12861
Subject(s) - geology , geophysical imaging , seismology , mineralization (soil science) , regional geology , metamorphic petrology , metamorphic rock , workflow , geochemistry , mining engineering , tectonics , computer science , database , soil science , soil water
Seismic methods are becoming an established choice for deep mineral exploration after being extensively tested and employed for the past two decades. To investigate whether the early European mineral‐exploration datasets had potential for seismic imaging that was overlooked, we recovered a low‐fold legacy seismic dataset from the Neves–Corvo mine site in the Iberian Pyrite Belt in southern Portugal. This dataset comprises six 4–6 km long profiles acquired in 1996 for deep targeting. Using today's industry‐scale processing algorithms, the world‐class, ca. 150 Mt, Lombador massive sulphide and other smaller deposits were better imaged. Additionally, we also reveal a number of shallow but steeply dipping reflections that were absent in the original processing results. This study highlights that legacy seismic data are valuable and should be revisited regularly to take advantage of new processing algorithms and the experiences gained from processing such data in hard‐rock environments elsewhere. Remembering that an initial processing job in hard rock should always aim to first obtain an overall image of the subsurface and make reflections visible, and then subsequent goals of the workflow could be set to, for example understanding relative amplitude ratios. The imaging of the known mineralization implies that this survey could likely have been among one of the pioneer studies in the world that demonstrated the capability of directly imaging massive sulphide deposits using the seismic method.

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