New Approach to Monitoring Induced Earthquakes

The generalized observations over hypocenters of the strongest mining-induced events have shown that relative deformation occurs as movement along the existing faults. From the experimental evidence, transition of a section of a fault to meta-stable state goes with the decrease of its dynamic shearing stiffness. The alteration of the mechanical properties starts long before macroscopic movement of the fault surfaces is recorded. This effect is detectable using instruments and can be used as a foundation for a new approach to monitoring of induced earthquakes.