Prediction of area instability from mining induced seismicity

Rockbursts are a common feature at the gold mines of Kolar Gold Fields. They range in magnitude upto 5 on the Richter scale, causing extensive damage. A seismic network established during the late seventies, has a significant role to play in understanding mining induced seismicity. A new technique in data analysis of energy-release due to rock bursts is presented here. From back analysis of the data, a background level of energy-release is computed, for an area being mined over a period of time This gives a clear distinction of seismic events above and below the background level. The events below it termed as smaller events, are of profound importance, as they are precursive to a storm of larger events which cause area instability. This technique was subsequently used to rule out an area instability successfully.