Full-Waveform Modeling of Complex Media Seismic Waves for Irregular Topography and Its Application in Metal Ore Exploration

Abstract

Seismic exploration has caught widespread attention in metal ore exploration due to its higher resolution. However, the presence of topography and complex underground structures in metal ore exploration complicates seismic records. Therefore, it is essential to apply a numerical simulation method suitable for metal ore exploration to study the propagation law of seismic waves in shallow and ore-forming zones, providing reliable theoretical support for multi-component seismic techniques. In particular, the presence of topography generates strong-amplitude surface waves, scattered waves, and converted waves, which consistently distort seismic records and affect the imaging accuracy of the metallogenic belts. Additionally, the propagation of seismic waves is also affected by the anisotropy and viscoelasticity of the underground medium. This paper proposes an elastic wave finite-difference numerical simulation method suitable for irregularly topographical and complex medium conditions, named the comprehensive parameter correction method, which implements a free-surface boundary condition based on the concept of medium averaging. It is algorithmically simple and implies no additional computational costs. Meanwhile, the results obtained by this method are highly consistent with those of the spectral element method, demonstrating its accuracy. By presenting several numerical simulation cases and illustrating the impact of topography and medium conditions on seismic records, this paper demonstrates the necessity of considering irregularly topographical and complex medium conditions in metal ore exploration. In conclusion, the numerical simulation method we propose provides a solid theoretical foundation for the application of seismic exploration methods in metal ore exploration.