Evaluation of rock disturbance by GPR sensing using water saturation for contrast

The most important element concerning efficiency and safety of developing mineral deposits is the consideration of the main structural features of the rock massif. The paper considers methodological issues of the GPR sensing application to study the internal structure of rocks. GPR surveys have been performed on a working bench of the Zhelezny mine, Kovdorsky GOK. Initially, the sensing has been performed by longitudinal profiling of the rock mass in its natural state to the depth of 20 m in combination with a telemetric survey of rock fracturing in the borehole located on the profile. Then the borehole was completely flooded with water, and GPR sensing studies have being repeated after 15, 30 and 60 minutes simultaneously with the registration of a decrease in the water level in the borehole. The GPR study results have been analysed in order to identify the effect of rocks' water-saturation on the recorded electromagnetic characteristics, and to determine the relationship of structural disturbance of rocks and their dielectric constant before and after water-saturation...