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Assessing the potential of passive seismic receiver functions for ore body exploration
Author(s) -
Subašić Senad,
Piana Agostinetti Nicola,
Bean Christopher J.
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 - 10.1111/1365-2478.12992
Subject(s) - receiver function , geology , classification of discontinuities , seismology , seismic array , passive seismic , seismic exploration , economic geology , seismic velocity , context (archaeology) , engineering geology , remote sensing , gemology , isotropy , tectonics , lithosphere , volcanism , paleontology , optics , mathematical analysis , physics , mathematics
We use a passive seismic high‐frequency receiver function method to image the shallow structure around a mine site. This is a relatively new application of a standard method for mapping major discontinuities in the crust and upper mantle at a scale small enough to be relevant in an exploration context. Data collected in a 21‐instrument array is inverted for isotropic velocity structure. The retrieved velocities in the south‐eastern part of the array match very well with available sonic log measurements in the top 800 m. Based on the differences in receiver function behaviour for stations across the array, recovered velocity profiles and their similarity to sonic log measurements, the target area is split into two separate regions along a north‐northeast trending line that correlates well to the strike of the dominant structure in the area – the Navan Fault. Our results demonstrate the ability of receiver functions to provide both qualitative and quantitative information in an exploration environment.