Chapter 16

Muon Tomography for Underground Resources

Douglas Schouten

Douglas Schouten

Ideon Technologies, Inc., Richmond, British Columbia, Canada

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Donald Furseth

Donald Furseth

Ideon Technologies, Inc., Richmond, British Columbia, Canada

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Jacobus van Nieuwkoop

Jacobus van Nieuwkoop

Ideon Technologies, Inc., Richmond, British Columbia, Canada

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First published: 07 January 2022
Book Series:Geophysical Monograph Series

Summary

Muon geotomography can be used to generate 3D models of subsurface density, which can be used in a wide variety of exploration and monitoring end uses for underground resources such as mineral deposits and oil reservoirs. Increasingly, the resources required to enable future technologies are being found deeper and under cover. Innovative techniques such as muon geotomography have proven capability to discover and map these resources in a cost-effective and environmentally sound manner. This chapter presents an overview of the relevant physics underlying muon geotomography, and case studies in mineral exploration within North America and Australia that demonstrate its efficacy for underground resource applications.