From Geoscience Australia
JSON format icon JSON RDF format icon RDF ISO19115-3 XML

Seismic methods for hard rock mineral exploration

Created 17/10/2025

Updated 17/10/2025

JSON format icon JSON RDF format icon RDF ISO19115-3 XML

Mineral systems are often formed by the processes of fluid flux. Fluids may be sourced from igneous or epithermal events and can be focussed into permeable zones resulting from fracturing of brittle rock. Competent ductile formations and other impervious layers then act as aquatards and depositional sites. Chemical reactions between fluids and host rocks deposit altered mineral assemblages. All of these mineralising processes can leave an expression in the density, sonic velocity or strength of rocks and can hence be detected by the seismic reflection method. Regional scale 2D traverses (100s kilometres) can define major crustal boundaries associated with metalliferous provinces, and also image large faults extending to the mantle which tap into deep, fertile fluids. At the camp scale (10s kilometres) seismic can image anticlines, unconformities and major faults controlling deposition, and can also detect buried intrusions. 2D and 3D seismic surveys at the deposit scale (< 10km) can accurately define the geometry of ore surfaces or key marker reflectors. Offsets and truncations of the ore due to faults and intrusions are also detectable. Large bodies of sulphide ore constitute excellent seismic targets and may be expressed as bright spots along prospective seismic horizons. Interpretation of hard rock seismic is often difficult because of rapidly varying geology, complex faulting and highly variable intrusive geometries. Borehole control with physical property logs is necessary for accurate conversion from time to depth and to constrain interpretations. Vertical seismic profiling is also useful for creating high resolution images around boreholes and analysing the reflectivity of intersected formations.

Files and APIs

Tags

Additional Info

Field Value
Title Seismic methods for hard rock mineral exploration
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/8ffcef41-ab24-422c-98e3-c8b7ba76059f
Contact Point
Geoscience Australia Data
clientservices@ga.gov.au
Reference Period 20/04/2018
Geospatial Coverage
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
{
  "coordinates": [
    [
      [
        96.0,
        -44.0
      ],
      [
        168.0,
        -44.0
      ],
      [
        168.0,
        -9.0
      ],
      [
        96.0,
        -9.0
      ],
      [
        96.0,
        -44.0
      ]
    ]
  ],
  "type": "Polygon"
}
Data Portal Geoscience Australia

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on Geoscience Australia "Seismic methods for hard rock mineral exploration". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://ecat.ga.gov.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/csw/dataset/seismic-methods-for-hard-rock-mineral-exploration