Processing and inversion of the intrepid seismic line at the St. Ives gold camp, Western Australia

Abstract

In recent years the mineral industry in Western Australia has begun to utilize seismic methodologies to explore for new prospects. Processing of hard rock seismic data is cumbersome, time consuming and has to be linked to a most like geological model even in early processing stages. Crooked seismic lines recorded over complex 3D geology, combined with highly heterogeneous regolith and significant energy scattering, present challenges to applications of seismic methodologies. Lack of deep boreholes and sonic longs makes interpretations of seismic data a daunting task. With the end stages of data analysis in mind, each of the above issues has a systematic solution. Inversion and future considerations for multi-attribute analysis require accurate structural images and consistent amplitude and phase information from the seismic response. Classifying relationships between seismic attributes and various rock types that are likely to host specific minerals is a key to accurate data analysis. For that purpose, an extensive ``seismic response database' needs to be derived from log measurements, core sample tests, and in situ geological knowledge.