Seismic imaging of blast damage

Abstract Two case studies are described where seismic tomographic imaging techniques have been used to map blast induced damage zones. In the first case, the detonation of 22 kg of a high energy explosive created a zone of decreased P-wave velocity, which was preferentially extended along nearby joints. The second case study involved evaluating blast induced damage in a surface crown pillar, which shows a zone of reduced velocity directly caused by rock mass deterioration associated with the underlying excavation geometry. In situ imaging of blast damage may provide useful information for blast monitoring to characterize the damage zone, to verify blast damage models, and to optimize blasting strategies.