Articles | Volume 17, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-17-249-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Special issue:
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-17-249-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Near-surface characterization and delineation of water preferential flow-pathways at South Deep Gold Mine, South Africa
Sikelela Gomo
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Private Bag, Wits, 2050, Republic of South Africa
Farbod Khosro Anjom
Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, 10129, Italy
Chiara Colombero
Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, 10129, Italy
Mohammadkarim Karimpour
Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, 10129, Italy
Bibi Ayesha Jogee
School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Private Bag, Wits, 2050, Republic of South Africa
Musa S. D. Manzi
School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Private Bag, Wits, 2050, Republic of South Africa
Laura V. Socco
Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, 10129, Italy
Department of Geoscience and Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
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Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-32, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-32, 2026
Preprint under review for ESSD
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We present a dataset of a 4 km geophysical survey, executed with a moving system approach, along a river embankment. Data acquisition strategies are discussed and preliminary data analyses are presented. The survey demonstrated the potentiality of the proposed acquisition approach in investigating river embankments. The dataset will be an ideal playground to benchmark alternative interpretation approaches and enable an advancement in the state-of-the-art of these characterization methodologies.
Mpofana Sihoyiya, Musa Siphiwe Doctor Manzi, Ian James, and Michael Westgate
Solid Earth, 17, 135–154, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-17-135-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-17-135-2026, 2026
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We used sound waves to look beneath the surface in the Northern Cape of South Africa to search for hidden layers of rock that may contain valuable manganese deposits. Our study revealed nine distinct underground layers, including one likely to host manganese. This method helps locate buried resources without drilling, showing how advanced imaging can support mineral exploration in areas covered by thick sand.
Michael Westgate, Musa S. D. Manzi, Alireza Malehmir, Ian James, and Christian Schiffer
Solid Earth, 16, 1097–1119, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-16-1097-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-16-1097-2025, 2025
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This study makes use of advanced seismic exploration techniques to look at the subsurface of South Africa's Kheis region. The results reveal hidden faults and folded rocks that help explain how ancient continents collided. The findings challenge older ideas about major geological boundaries and suggest a new model for how the crust formed and evolved. This work shows how old data, when re-analyzed with new methods and integrated with supporting data, can disclose important geological qualities.
Farbod Khosro Anjom, Frank Adler, and Laura Valentina Socco
Solid Earth, 15, 367–386, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-367-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-367-2024, 2024
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Most surface-wave techniques focus on estimating the S-wave velocity (VS) model and consider the P-wave velocity (VP) model as prior information in the inversion step. Here, we show the application of three surface-wave methods to estimate both VS and VP models. We apply the methods to the data from a hard-rock site that were acquired through the irregular source–receiver recording technique. We compare the outcomes and performances of the methods in detail.
Nombuso G. Maduna, Musa S. D. Manzi, Zubair Jinnah, and Julie E. Bourdeau
Solid Earth, 13, 1755–1780, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-1755-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-1755-2022, 2022
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High-resolution 3D reflection seismic data from the Orange Basin, South Africa, are used to provide an in-depth examination of features within the Late Cretaceous to Cenozoic sedimentary successions. The study provides insight into the structural styles between the translational and compressional domains of a Late Cretaceous deep-water fold-and-thrust belt (DWFTB) system, together with the tectonic and oceanographic processes responsible for mass-scale erosion in the Cenozoic.
Mohammadkarim Karimpour, Evert Slob, and Laura Valentina Socco
Solid Earth, 13, 1569–1583, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-1569-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-1569-2022, 2022
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Near-surface characterisation is of great importance. Surface wave tomography (SWT) is a powerful tool to model the subsurface. In this work we compare straight-ray and curved-ray SWT at near-surface scale. We apply both approaches to four datasets and compare the results in terms of the quality of the final model and the computational cost. We show that in the case of high data coverage, straight-ray SWT can produce similar results to curved-ray SWT but with less computational cost.
Chiara Colombero, Myrto Papadopoulou, Tuomas Kauti, Pietari Skyttä, Emilia Koivisto, Mikko Savolainen, and Laura Valentina Socco
Solid Earth, 13, 417–429, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-417-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-417-2022, 2022
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Passive-source surface waves may be exploited in mineral exploration for deeper investigations. We propose a semi-automatic workflow for their processing. The geological interpretation of the results obtained at a mineral site (Siilinjärvi phosphorus mine) shows large potentialities and effectiveness of the proposed workflow.
E. Adamopoulos, C. Colombero, C. Comina, F. Rinaudo, M. Volinia, M. Girotto, and L. Ardissono
ISPRS Ann. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci., VIII-M-1-2021, 1–8, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-annals-VIII-M-1-2021-1-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-annals-VIII-M-1-2021-1-2021, 2021
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Short summary
Near-surface imaging plays a crucial role in mine development, safety, efficiency, and environmental risk mitigation. Challenges in deep mining often stem from complex geological conditions and anthropogenic factors, such as undocumented historical mining activities. This study presents an integrated geophysical approach that combines multiple geophysical techniques to characterize the near-surface environment and delineate potential water conduits in a deep mining context.
Near-surface imaging plays a crucial role in mine development, safety, efficiency, and...
Special issue