Integrated Geophysical Monitoring Systems for Deep Mines (Invited)
Abstract
The borehole-based underground laboratory REMOTE (Rock mass Evaluation and Monitoring TEchnology) project in deep Canadian mines will focus on the study of the stress, strain and time-lapse geophysical responses of a large volume of rock. REMOTE is a cornerstone of the International Fault Slip Research Initiative (IFSCRI) initiated by CEMI, the Center for Excellence in Mining Innovation. Fault slip incidents are believed to occur at part due to stress variations induced by mining activities. For the REMOTE project, a test site (500x500x500m) near a seismically active mine at more than 2 km depth will be selected and the borehole laboratory will be built (I) to characterize the 3D rock volume through core, logging, and geophysical imaging in order to quantify the initial stress state and the distribution of physical rock properties and then (II) to monitor the temporal and spatial variations of these extrinsic conditions within the 3D rock mass over several years of mining activity. Currently, only high frequency microseismicity is used as a proxy for stress in deep mines. However, most of the physical properties of crystalline rocks are highly stress dependent. As such, the nonlinear and anisotropic variability of the in situ P- and S-wave velocities and electrical properties can be potentially linked directly to changes in the stress field. In the fall of 2010, the REMOTE project has entered the first phase of deployment of multisensor arrays in multiple boreholes for both controlled source and passive recordings. The sensor arrays will be evaluated with regards to repeatability, sensitivity and longevity.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010AGUFM.H11M..01M
- Keywords:
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- 1848 HYDROLOGY / Monitoring networks;
- 1859 HYDROLOGY / Rocks: physical properties