Abstract The current research discusses the validity of utilizing Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) for the geo-hazard assessment and the detection of the subsurface voids associated with mining activities. The presence of subsurface voids poses a significant safety challenge to any operating mine due to the associated geotechnical risks and the severe consequences for human life, the environment, and mine infrastructure if left unaddressed. Traditional subsurface investigation tools in mines are borehole and probe drilling, which are costly, time-consuming, and unable to provide a comprehensive image of subsurface structures. In contrast, geophysical techniques have demonstrated through decades of research their exceptional ability to obtain a complete subsurface image, surpassing other invasive methods. In this case study, a geophysical survey was conducted at the actively operating Sukari gold mine (SGM) in Egypt utilizing a combination of GPR and ERT to detect unknown subsurface voids. Based on the joint interpretation of both techniques, risk zones were identified and delineated. Moreover, the obtained results were validated through numerical simulations and existing borehole data. This study demonstrates the efficiency of integrating geophysical techniques with geological and mining information in active mines to enhance operational safety by minimizing the risks of subsurface subsidence and failure in a timely/cost-effective way. Additionally, It represents the first published work on identifying subsurface voids in a large-scale operating gold mine in Egypt utilizing near-surface geophysical techniques.
Allam et al. (Fri,) studied this question.