TOWARDS AN IMPROVED SEISMIC IMAGING TECHNIQUE FOR CRUSTAL STRUCTURES - THE LITHOPROBE SUDBURY EXPERIMENT

Under the Canadian Lithoprobe program, conventional low- (10-55 Hz) and high-frequency (30-140 Hz) vibroseis reflection surveys were conducted across the Sudbury Structure. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of seismic exploration techniques in a complex, mainly crystalline geological setting. The Sudbury experiment demonstrated that high input frequencies can be preserved through appropriate acquisition and processing procedures. Consequently, the high-frequency seismic data proved capable of imaging complex shallow crustal structures not 'seen' by the conventional low-frequency seismic survey. In crystalline environments, improved high-frequency seismic exploration technology will provide a better link between seismic images and surface geology.