Title: Pilot application of passive seismic imagery at Boliden-Tara mine
Researchers: Giuseppe Maggio, Prof. Chris Bean
The main objective of this research project is to investigate the feasibility of passive seismic technique to image the geological subsurface located at South West of the Tara Boliden Mines orebody in an effort to contribute to exploration effort. The ambient seismic noise generated by natural (ocean waves, storm) and anthropogenic (traffic, industrial activities) sources and in the last few years it has been used as an innovative imaging tool. So, in order to extract use the noise to extract the information we need to cross-correlated the ambient noise recorded by a pair of receivers. The colour-correlation technique between receivers, in fact, allow us to simulate a series of virtual signals containing surface or body waves to be then analysed with standard seismological techniques. In addition, we will support the study with a 3D numerical simulation to support the interpretation of the results and to have a better understanding of all work steps. The idea is to understand the potential of high-frequency ambient noise generated by mining activity and the highest passive seismic imagery resolution that we can achieve in comparison with the broadly used standard active seismic techniques. The study will involve the acquisition of background seismic noise through a seismic array composed of twenty-one instruments deployed across an 8 by 8 km study area.