Seismic exploration for volcanogenic massive sulphides-The rosebery zinc, lead, copper mine, Tasmania

Abstract

An experimental 3D seismic survey conducted in extreme topographic and weather conditions in Rosebery, Tasmania, Australia-a known VMS province-was aimed at validating the technique for this region as well as prospecting further down dip for additional mineralisation. Significant challenges were faced during the survey design stage stemming from trying to image dipping structures while taking into account extreme topographical variation of up to 400 m using a limited survey grid of approximately 1.5 km2. Initial processing results were less than satisfactory with the majority of the target geology being migrated outside of the conventional 3D space. By expanding the geometry additional space for migration was provided, allowing seismic events to migrate to their true spatial position. This unambiguously imaged the controlling structures and achieved the major objectives of the trial survey.