Development of a Mining Explosion Database for Southern Asia For Regional Monitoring of Nuclear Explosions

65164 The detection and discrimination of seismic events while monitoring for small nuclear explosions is complicated by a significant amount of commercial mining explosions. Although mining explosion databases have been constructed to help with this problem in various regions of the world, very little is known about the contribution of mining activity in southern Asia to the regional seismicity. This project will develop an extensive ground truth database for southern Asia that includes mining explosions and rock burst data, using data currently being collected in the region along with previously developed location algorithms and velocity models. In Phase I, a mining database for southern Asia was developed that includes over 230 mines and mineral deposits for the region. Seismic waveform data from stations in India were collected, and waveform correlation techniques were used to identify mining explosions. These explosions were located using single-station location methods combined with maps and overhead satellite imagery. The resulting waveform and mining resources were combined into a preliminary mining database for the study region. Phase II will finish the development of the mining resources component of the database, and analyze new sources of data, including stations in northwestern India and Pakistan, in order to examine the mining seismicity near the nuclear test sites. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The ground truth database should allow for improved seismic event discrimination and improved seismic event location in southern Asia.