How geoscientists are measuring seismic activity for more sustainable mining exploration

Mining exploration used to require lengthy digging and expensive drilling. But now, a team of geophysicists from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, has devised a new form of mineral detection that uses seismic activity to target where new mines could be constructed.

The team’s approach uses long cables called land streamers, placed either on the ground or 300 to 3,500 metres underground near previous mine sites. These devices detect seismic activity by creating high-resolution images of the rock formation underground, indicating where there may be mineral deposits. The sensors in the land streamers, which have a battery life of up to a month, autonomously collect data to help find the resources vital to South Africa’s economy, such as gold and platinum.

Professor Musa Manzi, Director of the Wits Seismic Research Centre, explains that this project’s sustainable mining approach is critical for South Africa’s environment and its economy. Using the less expensive seismic system devised by this team reduces the typical field logistics that accompanies traditional exploration. Through this system, new mineral deposits can be discovered while reducing overall cost and environmental impact. 

This innovation comes from the ingenuity of geoscientists. This discipline includes multiple fields related to the study of how the Earth’s surface was formed and how the interconnected water systems and ecosystems affect the natural resources used every day. Alberta has a proud history as a resource economy, with many of our rich resource discoveries being made by Alberta geoscientists. APEGA is proud to regulate the geoscience profession and support the natural resource sector in Alberta.

Read more about this geoscience innovation from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.