Intrinsically safe pneumatic seismic source for controlled rock mass, monitoring and imaging in underground mining

This article explores the technical principles of pneumatic seismic sources, focusing on their application in underground mining operations, including environments prone to fire hazards. It introduces an intrinsically safe pneumatic seismic source as a cost-effective solution for quasi-continuous seismic excitation, useful for detecting stress concentrations in mining settings. These stress concentrations are identified through anomalies in seismic wave velocity, which may indicate potentially hazardous deformations in the rock mass. The developed system enables fully remote operation from the surface and integrates with a seismic monitoring system to capture high-resolution waveforms. The study provides an overview of the pneumatic system’s technical specifications and operational framework. Preliminary tests conducted in underground conditions demonstrate the system’s effectiveness. Trial shot results show a high signal-to-noise ratio for seismic waves, with frequencies reaching up to 500 Hz, recorded as they traveled through a 200-meter-long coal seam longwall.