Finding new mineral deposits at depth with 3-D seismics

Geologists and geophysicists at Noranda could be getting a clearer understanding of what lies below the earth, thanks to a promising technology know as “3-dimensional seismics.”

The process, used by the petroleum industry in sedimentary rock formations, is being developed for geologists searching for deep, hard-rock deposits. Noranda-related oil and gas company Canadian Hunter Exploration assisted in transferring the technology.

Noranda’s director of exploration geophysics, Lyndon Bradish, said the process is still at the research stage.

Basically, 3-dimensional seismics results in a cube-like image of rock formations from deep underground. Artificially created shock waves are bounced around and are recorded on surface with geophones. The result is a more thorough understanding of what lies far below the surface, possibly as deep as 2,000 metres. (Traditional exploration methods can probe to between 200 and 300 metres.)

An advantage of using the new process is that drilling costs are kept low. Noranda plans to test the new technology this year.

Involved in the research with Canadian Hunter are geologists, engineers, the Geological Survey of Canada and personnel at the Noranda Technology Centre.

— From the Noranda in-house publication “Horizons.”