Microseismic Source Localization in Underground Mining Systems
Summary
Microseismic source localisation in underground mining systems involves the detection and precise positioning of minute seismic events generated by rock fracturing, excavation activities or stress redistribution. Such events are recorded by arrays of geophones or acoustic emission sensors deployed in boreholes, tunnels and galleries. By analysing the arrival times of compressional and shear waves, inversion algorithms estimate the event coordinates within the rock mass. Accurate localisation underpins hazard assessment, allowing early detection of rockbursts, fault reactivation and ground instability. The principal challenges arise from heterogeneity in rock properties, complex mine geometries and varying wave velocities, all of which introduce uncertainties in time-of-arrival measurements. To address these, researchers have developed advanced velocity models, grid-search and optimisation schemes, and tomographic reconstructions tailored to the mining environment. These methods not only enhance the spatial resolution of seismic imaging but also support real-time monitoring systems that improve operational safety, aid in planning excavation sequences and reduce economic losses associated with unexpected seismic hazards.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Recent studies have advanced acoustic emission source localisation by incorporating wave refraction effects at material interfaces. By formulating coordinate equations based on Snell’s law and utilising precise arrival-time data, the new approach corrects for velocity contrasts between differing media. Experimental validation in heterogeneous rock blocks has demonstrated consistent improvement in positioning accuracy, irrespective of the wave-velocity ratio or source-to-interface distance. This refinement of classical straight-ray assumptions brings source deeper into complex strata and heterogeneous mine pillars within reach of high-precision monitoring.
Microseismic Source Localization in Underground Mining Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in microseismic source localization in underground mining systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Microseismic event: A low-magnitude seismic occurrence caused by fracturing or slip within rock mass, typically induced by mining operations.
Acoustic emission: High-frequency elastic waves generated by rapid release of energy during microcrack formation or deformation.
Time-of-arrival (TOA): The recorded instant when a seismic wavefront reaches a sensor, used as input for localisation algorithms.
Time difference of arrival (TDOA): The difference between arrival times at pairs of sensors, exploited to constrain source position without absolute origin time.
Velocity tomography: A method to image subsurface wave-velocity variations by inverting travel-time data, thereby refining models for event localisation.
P-wave / S-wave: Primary (compressional) and secondary (shear) seismic waves that propagate through rock, distinguished by velocity and particle motion, and used jointly to improve localisation accuracy.
References
- Error distribution and influencing factors of acoustic emission source location for sensor rectangular network. Measurement (2024).
- Quantitative Investigation of Tomographic Effects in Abnormal Regions of Complex Structures. Engineering (2021).
- A Microseismic/Acoustic Emission Source Location Method Using Arrival Times of PS Waves for Unknown Velocity System. International Journal of Distributed Sensor Networks (2013).
- Experimental study on the location of an acoustic emission source considering refraction in different media. Scientific Reports (2017).
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