P-wave Travel-Time Tomography for Mineral Exploration

Limited accessibility of near-surface mineral deposits necessitates deeper exploration efforts. However, traditional methods using active seismic sources are expensive and environmentally disruptive. P-wave travel-time tomography utilizing passive seismic data emerges as a promising alternative. This approach utilizes body wave arrivals, specifically P-waves, from mining induced seismic activity, mine blasting, and even train signals, but are also present in ambient noise recordings (albeit weakly at times). Compared to surface waves used in methods like Ambient Noise Tomography (ANT), P-waves offer higher resolution for delineating subsurface structures and mineral deposits. The methodology involves deploying dense seismic sensor arrays. From ambient noise recordings, P-wave arrival times are extracted from cross-correlations using a combination of automated and manual picking techniques. P-wave travel times are inverted using the FMTOMO to construct a 3D P-wave velocity model of the subsurface. Case studies demonstrate the application of P-wave tomography using various sources, including ambient noise recordings. P-wave travel-time tomography using passive seismic data offers a promising tool for mineral exploration.