A 3D reflection seismic survey was conducted over an area of about 9 km2 at the Kevitsa Ni-Cu-PGE (platinum group elements) orebody, northern Finland, where open-pit mining started in mid-2012. The principal objective of the survey was to image major fault and fracture zones at depth that may have an impact on the mine stability and safety. Mine planning would then take into account the geometry of these zones at Kevitsa. Processing results, using conventional prestack DMO and poststack migration methods, show gently dipping and steeply dipping reflections from depths of approximately 2 km to as shallow as 150–200 m. Many of the reflections are interpreted to originate from either fault systems or internal magmatic layering within the Kevitsa main intrusion. Further correlation between the surface seismic data and VSP data suggests that numerous faults are present in the imaged volume based upon time shifts or phase changes along horizontal to gently dipping reflections. Some of these faults cross the planned open-pit mine at depths of about 300–500 m, and are therefore critical for geotechnical planning. In terms of in-pit and near-mine exploration, the magmatic layering internal to the intrusion controls the distribution of the bulk of economic mineralization. The ability to image this magmatic layering could therefore guide future drilling, particularly by constraining the presumed lateral extents of the resource area. Exploration also will target discrete reflectors that potentially represent higher-grade sulfide mineralization.

In 2007, a 2D reflection seismic survey was conducted at the Kevitsa Ni-Cu-PGE (platinum group elements) deposit in northern Finland. The aims of the survey were to delineate the overall extent of the ore-bearing Kevitsa ultramafic intrusive complex, to study the seismic response of the disseminated ore deposit, to potentially find indications for new ore deposits, and to extract structural information at depth that may be associated with mineralization. In the processing sequence, specific focus was given to finding optimal CDP-line geometries for the crooked-line survey profiles and, due to highly variable bedrock velocities, to detailed velocity analysis. Our conventional processing sequence, involving prestack DMO corrections followed by poststack migration, resulted in high-quality images of the subsurface. First, the data were used to establish the shape and extent of the Kevitsa intrusion, thus providing an overall framework for future exploration in the area. In particular, the data suggest deeper, up to about 1.5 km depth, continuation of the intrusion than previously thought. Furthermore, the images reveal variable reflectivity characteristics within the intrusion from nonreflective to internally reflective. The Kevitsa deposit is located within a part of the intrusion which is associated with distinct, gently dipping reflectivity fabric down to a depth of about 1 km, spatially constrained within a restricted zone internal to the intrusion. This zone can be used as a guideline for the near-mine exploration efforts, and the reflectivity is dominantly associated with magmatic layering controlling the extent of the bulk of economic mineralization. The seismic data also reveal a complex pattern of faults, in particular a series of major fault and shear zones bracketing and crosscutting the Kevitsa intrusion as a whole. Additionally, our interpretation of the data indicates a possible shared origin of the Kevitsa intrusion and the nearby Satovaara intrusion.

Over the coming decades, science will play a key role in society’s response to emerging global ‘grand challenges’. The agenda-setting, coordination and conduct of science, and the ways in which scientific knowledge is diffused and used, are therefore critical. Increasingly, such issues need to be framed at a global level, reflecting both the international nature of science itself and the scale of the challenges it seeks to address. Longer-term perspectives must also be incorporated to reflect the time horizons of key global challenges and the uncertainties involved in future global governance regimes. Foresight offers a means to explore these dimensions of science. The International Council for Science (ICSU) has been applying foresight as a central component of its strategic planning. This paper describes the most recent ICSU exercise, which has explored how two decades hence international collaboration in science could foster progress in science and address global challenges.

We show that by using an advanced pre-stack depth imaging algorithm it is possible to retrieve meaningful and robust seismic images with sparse shot points, using only 3–4 source points per kilometer along a seismic profile. Our results encourage the use of 2D seismic reflection profiling as a reconnaissance tool for mineral exploration in areas with limited access for active seismic surveys. We used the seismic data acquired within the COGITO-MIN project comprising two approximately 6 km long seismic reflection profiles at the polymetallic Kylylahti massive sulfide mine site in eastern Finland. The 2D seismic data acquisition utilized both Vibroseis and dynamite sources with 20 m spacing and wireless receivers spaced every 10 m. For both source types, the recorded data show clear first breaks over all offsets and reflectors in the raw shot gathers. The Kylylahti area is characterized by folded and faulted, steeply dipping geological contacts and structures. We discuss post-stack and pre-stack data processing and compare time and depth imaging techniques in this geologically complex Precambrian hardrock area. The seismic reflection profiles show prominent reflectors at 4.5–8 km depth utilizing different migration routines. In the shallow subsurface, steep reflectors are imaged, and within and underneath the known Kylylahti ultramafic body reflectivity is prominent but discontinuous.

Seismic reflection methods have been used for the exploration of mineral resources for several decades. However, despite their unmatched spatial resolution and depth penetration, they only have played a minor role in mineral discoveries so far. Instead, mining and exploration companies have traditionally focused more on the use of potential field, electric and electromagnetic methods. In this context, we present a case study of an underground Vertical Seismic Profiling (VSP) experiment, which was designed to image a (semi-)massive sulfide deposit located in the Kylylahti polymetallic mine in eastern Finland. For the measurement, we used a conventional VSP with three-component geophones and a novel fiber-optic Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) system. Both systems were deployed in boreholes located nearby the target sulfide deposit, and used in combination with an active seismic source that was fired from within the underground tunnels. With this setup, we successfully recorded seismic reflections from the deposit and its nearby geological contrasts. The recording systems provided data with a good signal-to-noise ratio and high spatial resolution. In addition to the measurements, we generated a realistic synthetic dataset based on a detailed geological model derived from extensive drilling data and petrophysical laboratory analysis. Specific processing and imaging of the acquired and synthetic datasets yielded high-resolution reflectivity images. Joint analysis of these images and cross-validation with lithological logging data from 135 nearby boreholes led to successful interpretation of key geological contacts including the target sulfide mineralization. In conclusion, our experiment demonstrates the value of in-mine VSP measurements for detailed resource delineation in a complex geological setting. In particular, we emphasize the potential benefit of using fiber-optic DAS systems, which provide reflection data at sufficient quality with less logistical effort and a higher acquisition rate. This amounts to a lower total acquisition cost, which makes DAS a valuable tool for future mineral exploration activities.