striking correlation between geogas data and mining induced

5th Annual Inkaba ye Africa Workshop, 22-26 October 2007

J. Lippmann-Pipke 1,2, J. Erzinger 1, M. Zimmer 1, Chr. Kujawa 1, E. Van Heerden 3, D. Litthauer 3, A. Bester3, S. Niedermann1, M.

Boettcher4, H. Moller5, V. Heesakkers6, Z. Reches61GFZ Potsdam, Germany, 2IIF Leipzig, Germany, 3University of the Free State, SA,

4USGS Menlo Park, USA, 5TauTona Gold Mine, SA, 6Oklahoma University, USA

Striking correlation between geogas data and mininginduced seismicity in the World‘s deepest gas lab,

TauTona Gold Mine, SA

5th Annual Inkaba ye Africa Workshop, 22-26 October 2007

Aims of the project:

Monitoring of seismically released gases such as N2, CO2, CH4, Ar, H2, He, and 222Rn!

Correlation of type and magnitude of seismic events with the amountand composition of released gases!

What is the time function between seismic events and gas signals?

Monitoring of mining induced gas release!

Fluxes, origin and age(?) of fluids and gases!To what extend is the noble gas dating of crustal fluids distored in

active fault zones?

What is the influence of CH4 and H2 on microbiological activity?

Sampling of gases for C, H and noble gas isotope studies!

5th Annual Inkaba ye Africa Workshop, 22-26 October 2007

cabby (5m x 5m)

TauTona, main tunnel, level 120-118

40m long borehole, 75mm

Pretoriusfault

tubes

box (1,7 x0,8 x0,7)m³

multiport valve

Set-up for real-time gas monitoring at 3600 m depth in TauTona gold mine

↑↑↑↑40m

↑↑↑↑20m

↑↑↑↑30m

p&T p&T p&T

QMS for N2, CO2, CH4, Ar, H2, and He; αααα-detector for 222Rn; gas sampler

5th Annual Inkaba ye Africa Workshop, 22-26 October 2007

5th Annual Inkaba ye Africa Workshop, 22-26 October 2007

H2

CO2

Mon Tue Wen Thu Fri Sat Sun

5th Annual Inkaba ye Africa Workshop, 22-26 October 2007

5th Annual Inkaba ye Africa Workshop, 22-26 October 2007

1120

1125

1130

1135

1140

1145

1150

1155

39167 39168 39169 39170 39171 39172 39173 39174

Air pressure

5th Annual Inkaba ye Africa Workshop, 22-26 October 2007

5th Annual Inkaba ye Africa Workshop, 22-26 October 2007

Hydrogen and mining induced seismicity