Petrophysics-guided velocity analysis and seismic data reprocessing to improve mineral exploration targeting in the Irish Zn-Pb Orefield
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: . The Limerick Syncline, part of the Irish Zn-Pb Orefield in southwest Ireland, represents a geologically complex and relatively underexplored region, despite hosting several significant mineral deposits, e.g., Stonepark and Pallas Green. The mineralogy and stratigraphic setting of the sulphide mineralisation in the Limerick Syncline are generally similar to other Irish-type deposits. However, a thick volcanic sequence overlies and interfingers with the carbonate host rocks, mineralisation and alteration. This setting has posed significant challenges to seismic imaging in the region, despite being a powerful technique for mineral exploration. As a result, the overall structural setting of the area has remained poorly understood. This study presents an optimised seismic processing workflow tailored to these geological complexities and applied to the legacy 2D seismic reflection profile LK-11-02. The workflow integrates newly acquired downhole and laboratory P-wave velocity data with first-arrival travel-time tomography to enhance the accuracy of the velocity model used for post-stack migration. This resulted in better signal recovery and enhanced reflector coherence, in particular, reflection continuity. As a result, imaging of key stratigraphic boundaries and carbonate-volcanic interplay geometries was enhanced, along with clearer reflection amplitude changes associated with known stratigraphic units. Acoustic impedance analysis using laboratory density data enabled a better understanding of the origins of seismic reflectivity and a more confident geological interpretation of the laterally variable lithologies. The migrated section reveals previously unrecognised major structural features in the Limerick Syncline, enhancing our geological understanding of the region. It highlights the potential of applying this workflow to seismic reflection methods, improving its use as a mineral exploration tool in the Irish Zn-Pb Orefield and similar volcanic-influenced regions.
Source: Solid Earth
Language: English
Subfield: Geophysics
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,811
OpenAlex ID: W4416729076