Examination of the gravity & electromagnetic survey methods applied to coal exploration in the area of the Southern Gunnedah Basin

Osamu Nakano; Eiji Ishii; Noriyoshi Ozawa; Brad Mullard; Jeff Beckett; David Robson; Alan Willmore

doi:10.1071/EG998543

ISSN: 0812-3985
E-ISSN: 1834-7533

Examination of the gravity & electromagnetic survey methods applied to coal exploration in the area of the Southern Gunnedah Basin
Authors Osamu Nakano^a, Eiji Ishii^b, Noriyoshi Ozawa^c, Brad Mullard^d, Jeff Beckett^e, David Robson^f and Alan Willmore^g
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^a 2-273-3, Yoshino, , Ohmiya-shi, , SAITAMA-KEN, , 330, , Japan, Phone: +8148 654 5294, Facsimile: +8148 654 3553, E-mail: [email protected] ^b 1-8-9, Kameido, , Kohtoh-ku, , Tokyo, , 136, , Japan, Phone: +813 3683 7111, Facsimile: +813 3683 7222, E-mail: [email protected] ^c 4-6-23, Takanawa, , Minato-ku, , Tokyo, , 108, , Japan, Phone: +813 5423 3180, Facsimile: +813 5423 3990, E-mail: [email protected] ^d Minerals & Energy House 29-57, , Christie Street, St. Leonards, , NSW 2065, , Australia, Phone: 02 9901 8505, Facsimile: 02 9901 8520, E-mail: [email protected] ^e Level 1, 1 Civic Avenue Singleton, NSW 2330, , Australia, Phone: 065 72 4200, Facsimile: 065 72 1201 ^f Minerals & Energy House, 29-57, Christie Street, St. Leonards, , NSW 2065, , Australia, Phone: 02 9901 8342, Facsimile: 02 9901 8520, E-mail: [email protected] ^g Minerals & Energy House, 29-57, Christie Street, St. Leonards, , NSW 2065, , Australia, Phone: 02 9901 8393, Facsimile: 02 9901 8520, E-mail: [email protected]
Publisher: Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists
Source: Exploration Geophysics, Volume 29, Issue 3-4, Sep 1998, p. 543 - 549
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/EG998543
- Published online: 01 Sep 1998

Abstract

The New South Wales Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) and the Japanese New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO), have entered into a Joint Coal Exploration Research Agreement aimed at developing advanced coal exploration technologies with particular emphasis on geophysical technologies. As part of the first year’s project an investigation into the applicability of gravity and transient electromagnetic geophysical methods for coal exploration was undertaken.

The Caroona coal prospect has a resource of high quality multi-seam coal lying within relatively complex geology. While significant drilling has been undertaken in the area, a number of aspects of the geology cannot be adequately identified by drilling. The area is known to contain thrust faulting and igneous intrusions. The coal seams are covered by 40-80 m of alluvial materials, which can reduce the seismic energy transmission for conventional seismic surveys.

Trial gravity and electromagnetic surveys were undertaken to test the potential of these geophysical methods and to supplement the seismic data. The aim was to provide a much better estimate of the bedrock-alluvium interface and to define the distribution of intrusions and faulting.

The field work involved undertaking a gravity and electromagnetic survey along a 3.5 kilometre traverse which coincides with a seismic survey line (L972) in the Caroona area. It is believed that the integration of these geophysical methods has facilitated the extrapolation of geological models derived from the seismic interpretations. The regional geophysical coverage that can be provided by these techniques is extremely cost effective and will assist the evaluation and modeling of areas involving complex geology.

In the Caroona area the preliminary results have shown that the gravity and electromagnetic data has defined the alluvium thickness and structural zones.

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References

Broughton Edge, A.B. and Laby, T.H., eds. 1931. The Principles and Practice of Geophysical Prospecting: Cambridge University Press,
Longman, I.M., 1959. Formulas for computing the Tidal Accelerations due to the Moon and the Sun.:Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol 64, No 12, 2351–2355.
Moloney, J., 1994, Magnetic susceptibilities of selected boreholes in the Narrabri and Caroona area in the Gunnedah coalfield and the West Scone area in the Hunter coalfield: Coal and Petroleum Geology Branch, New South Wales Department of Mineral Resources, Report CGB1994/016 (unpubl.)
Nakano, O., Tamari, A. and Tobe, Y., 1989, Seismic reflection survey by the crooked line method applied to a coalfield in a mountainous region: Exploration Geophysics, 20, 143–148.
Nakano, O., Ishii, E., Endou, M. and Watanabe, H., 1992, A new interpretation of geological structure of Tempoku coalfield by crooked line seismic survey: Exploration Geophysics, 23, 241–249.
Nakano, O., Ishii, E., Dixson, O. and Ashida, Y., 1997, High resolution seismic survey for shallow coal exploration using a high frequency electromagnetic vibrator and high sensitivity geophones: Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists, 12th Geophysical Conference (unpublished).
Odins, J.A., 1992, Breeza station seismic refraction survey summary report: New South Wales Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission, Report (unpubl.).
Pratt, W., 1992, South Gunnedah coal exploration program, alluvial deposits in the Caroona-Breeza area, Authorisation No. 216, Gunnedah coalfield, N.S.W.: Coal and Petroleum Geology Branch, New South Wales Department of Mineral Resources, Report CGB 1992/043 (unpubl.).
Telfold, W.M., Geldart, L.P., Sheriff, R.E. and Keys, D.A., 1984, Applied Geophysics: Cambridge University Press.
Wiles, L., 1996, Coal Resources Audit of the Gunnedah Basin: New South Wales Department of Mineral Resources.
Willmore, A. and Robson, D.F., 1998, Gravity and Electromagnetic Traverses in the Gunnedah Basin.: New South Wales Department of Mineral Resources (unpubl.).

/content/journals/10.1071/EG998543

Article Type: Research Article

Keyword(s): advanced coal exploration technologies; alluvium thickness; GPS surveying; gravity and electromagnetic survey

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Examination of the gravity & electromagnetic survey methods applied to coal exploration in the area of the Southern Gunnedah Basin

Abstract

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