Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

This proposal, supported by 6 mining and exploration companies, will utilize novel geophysical methods combined with geologic investigations to create high resolution cross sections to illustrate the geologic architecture of the earth's crust. This methodology will be developed in three geologic environments with different metal endowment, including gold in the Abitibi, silver in Cobalt and nickel in Sudbury.The proposal will develop Full Wave Form Inversion, a seismic processing method that if successful will image vertical and horizontal geologic features at a higher resolution than is currently possible. When combined with other geophysical methods and geologic mapping this proposal will produce geologic cross sections to depths of up to 10 km. The investigations will focus on clastic sedimentary rocks that are associated with large-scale structures in the areas of interest. Variations in the sedimentology may reflect the underlying structural framework imaged by the geophysical methods.This research project will benefit the mineral exploration industry by illustrating the large-scale geologic architecture of the mineralized districts. The methodology will illustrate the structural and stratigraphic geologic framework that controls the mineral deposits. This will result in a better understanding of the geologic processes that control mineral deposits and will be of interest to mining and exploration companies, exploration software / technology developers, as well as researchers in metallogeny and tectonics. The new seismic methodology, if successful, will also be applicable to other geologic or geotechnical investigations where resolution of near-vertical to vertical geologic features is needed. This in turn will create jobs, and sustain mines and the communities in which they operate.