WORKSHOP 3: The Role of In-Mine Geophysics in Resource Evaluation

Sunday, Nov 10
all day

ORGANIZERS

and

SUMMARY

In-mine geophysics is seeing more use in active mines because its economic impact can be tremendous. It has been reported that the mining industry can potentially save tens of millions of dollars a year through improvements in mining efficiency and safety. Geophysical methods can be used to map structural embayments or protrusions in ore zones and coal, detect faults, buried river channels, monitor geophysical signals as a precursor to rock bursts, establish ore and coal continuity and detect isolated ore lenses. Geophysical methods to be covered in this workshop include seismic, electromagnetic and potential fields. The workshop will consists of talks given by specialists from industry, government and academia on the following key topics:

1. an overview of the economics of in-mine geophysics
2. applicable geophysical methods and the physical property changes they are sensitive at detecting (methods include electromagnetics, magnetics and seismics for single and x-well configurations)
3. presentations from organizations and companies on available hardware
4. multiple presentations on field examples demonstrating successes and failures of the technology with current hardware and data interpretation practices
5. a discussion by workshop participants on what is needed to move the technology forward.

Participants: The conveners are now soliciting presentations from the mining industry, universities and government laboratories. Enquiries can be made through the address given below. It will be the role of the conveners to organize an appropriate program. It is anticipated that the workshop program will be finalized by mid April and it will be advertised well in advance of the SEG meeting. This will allow time for participants to register.