For high-resolution borehole images obtained from digital panoramic borehole cameras, a method for recognizing the rock-soil interface and solution fissures based on color is proposed. Owing to the significantly different colors of geotechnical stratifications, such as the rock-soil interface and solution fissures, compared with bedrock, a self-adaptive geotechnical stratification detection model based on the hue, saturation, value (HSV) color space was established. A binarized image of the geotechnical stratification in the borehole was then obtained using this model. The binary image was filtered to depress the noise, and then segmented. The density of pixels in each segment was calculated to determine the depth, area, and orientation of the rock-soil interface and solution fissures, thereby identifying the geotechnical stratification in the borehole image. Verification of the method with many borehole images and comparisons with corresponding borehole radar images illustrates that it can accurately and quickly identify all rock-soil interfaces and solution fissures in a borehole. The proposed method provides a new automated, efficient, and reliable means of identifying borehole rock structures for engineering applications.

Structure characteristics of rock and orebody in deep borehole are obtained by borehole camera technology. By investigating on the joints and fissures in Shapinggou molybdenum mine, the dominant orientation of joint fissure in surrounding rock and orebody were statistically analyzed. Applying the theory of metallogeny and geostatistics, the relationship between joint fissure and lode’s extension direction is explored. The results indicate that joints in the orebody of ZK61borehole have only one dominant orientation SE126° ∠68°, however, the dominant orientations of joints in surrounding rock were SE118° ∠73°, SW225° ∠70° and SE122° ∠65°, NE79° ∠63°. Then a preliminary conclusion showed that the lode’s extension direction is specific and it is influenced by joints of surrounding rock. Results of other boreholes are generally agree well with the ZK61, suggesting the analysis reliably reflects the lode’s extension properties and the conclusion presents important references for deep ore prospecting.