Numerical Simulations of Borehole Radar Detection for Metal Ore

Author

Liu, Sixin ; Wu, Junjun ; Zhou, Junfeng ; Zeng, Zhaofa

Author_Institution

Coll. of Geo-exploration Sci. & Technol., Jilin Univ., Changchun, China

Volume

8

Issue

2

fYear

2011

fDate

3/1/2011 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

308

Lastpage

312

Abstract

We perform a finite-difference time-domain numerical simulation for metal ore detection by borehole radar. The ore-body model is a practical Ni-Cu-Pt one which is a magmatic deposit located in Sudbury, Canada. We design three boreholes along a cross section perpendicular to the geological strike of the formation which is composed of overburden, ore zone, iron formation, peridotite, granite gneiss, and sediments. We analyze the simulated borehole radar profiles and find that some interfaces could be detected. The ore zone is very absorptive to electromagnetic wave. By combined interpretation of the data from several boreholes, the azimuth ambiguity of the borehole radar could be overcome with some a priori geological information, and the geological structure could be delineated clearly.

Keywords

copper; electromagnetic wave absorption; finite difference time-domain analysis; geophysical prospecting; minerals; nickel; platinum; radiowave propagation; remote sensing by radar; rocks; Canada; Cu; FDTD numerical simulation; Ni; Ni-Cu-Pt ore body model; Pt; Sudbury; borehole radar azimuth ambiguity; borehole radar metal ore detection; electromagnetic wave absorption; finite difference time domain method; geological strike; geological structure; granite gneiss; iron formation; magmatic deposit; ore zone; overburden; peridotite; sediments; Borehole radar; combined interpretation; finite-difference time domain (FDTD); metal ore;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1545-598X

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LGRS.2010.2066545

Filename

5582199