Application of a shallow seismic reflection method to the exploration of a gold deposit

The shallow seismic exploration method has been used extensively in petroleum exploration and geological engineering, but whether or not it is suitable for solid-ore exploration is still uncertain since solid ore deposits are usually irregularly shaped. The application of this shallow seismic exploration method to the Yangji-Shan gold deposit in south China is, however, an example of a successful attempt to determine subsurface structure and find potential orebodies using the technique. In combination with the study of regional metallogeneic characteristics, shallow seismic exploration can provide a potential approach to locating and exploring solid mineral resources. Industrial drilling has verified the interpreted results for the gold orebodies at Yangji-Shan.