The effects of out-of-plane seismic energy on reflections in crustal-scale 2D seismic sections

Crustal-scale seismic surveys mostly collect data along single profiles, and the data processing has an underlying assumption that the data have imaged two-dimension (2D) structure striking at right angles to the seismic profile. However, even small amounts of out-of-plane topography on a reflector can result in reflections that do not map the reflector shape accurately. Out-of-plane energy will migrate within the plane of the section to an apparent depth (represented as two-way-time, TWT) that is greater than the depth of the reflection point out of the plane of the section. It will fall within the plane of the section at depths less than, equal to or greater than the intersection of the reflector with the plane of the section, depending on both the amount of out-of-plane topographic relief on the reflector, and the offset of the topographic relief from the plane of the section. Reflectors that are a single surface can therefore be manifested in the seismic section as a band of several reflections, rather than a single reflection. More complex reflectors, such as shear zones that have a finite thickness because they are made up of several to many anastomosing layers of altered and anisotropic rock embedded in protolith, will appear as laterally short reflections within a laterally continuous reflection band. Other examples of such reflectors would be the Moho in some places, and rock with compositional layering. With increasing out-of-plane topographic relief on the reflector, the top of the reflection band for both single- and multi-layer reflectors will be a poor indicator of the top of the reflector in the Earth. The bottom of the reflection band will always be a poor indicator of the bottom of the reflector. Because out-of-plane energy can arrive at TWTs that are different from those of the reflector in the plane of the section, out-of-plane energy has the potential to interfere constructively or destructively with the in-plane energy. In synthetic data calculated for a simple model assuming one layer and topographic relief of 250 m over wavelengths of 4–5 km, similar to that imaged in a real sub-horizontal detachment, amplitudes ranged up to 2.6 times the expected amplitude for the layer. A model with anastomosing layers built to resemble a thick shear zone rather than a discrete fault surface allowed tuning between layers. The effects of out-of-plane energy when combined with the effects of tuning caused amplitudes up to 3.1 times those expected. Larger amplitudes could be achieved if a suitable model was contrived. The results indicate that care must be taken when calculating impedance contrasts using real data. The highest amplitude reflections are likely to yield overestimates of the true impedance contrast.     

High-resolution reflection seismic imaging of the upper crust at Laxemar, southeastern Sweden

A major cost in exploring the upper 1–2 km of crystalline crust with reflection seismics is the drilling required for explosive sources. By reducing the charge size to a minimum, shallow inexpensive shotholes can be drilled with handheld equipment. Here, we present results from a full-scale test using small charges for high-resolution seismic surveying over a nuclear waste disposal study site (not an actual site). Two 2–2.5-km-long crossing profiles were acquired in December 1999 with 10-m shot and geophone spacing in the Laxemar area, near Oskarshamn in southeastern Sweden. After standard processing, including dip moveout (DMO), several subhorizontal to moderately dipping reflections are imaged. Many of the dipping ones can be correlated to fracture zones observed in a ca. 1700-m-deep borehole where the profiles cross and/or to fracture zones mapped on the surface. The imaged fracture zones form a complex 3D pattern illustrating the necessity of having 3D control before interpreting seismic reflection data. Analyses of sonic and density logs from the borehole show that greenstones have significantly higher impedances than the more dominant granite found in the borehole (granite/greenstone reflection coefficient is +0.065). These greenstones may contribute to the reflectivity when associated with fracture zones. In some cases, where they are present as larger subhorizontal lenses, they may be the dominant source of reflectivity. A set of north-dipping (10°) reflectors at 3–3.5-km depth can be correlated to a similar set observed below the island of Ävrö about 3 km to the east.     

Deep seismic reflection profiling in the Archaean northeastern Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia: implications for crustal architecture and mineral potential

Deep seismic reflection data across the Archaean Eastern Goldfields Province, northeastern Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia, have provided information on its crustal architecture and on several of its highly mineralised belts. The seismic reflection data allow interpretation of several prominent crustal scale features, including an eastward thickening of the crust, subdivision of the crust into three broad layers, the presence of a prominent east dip to the majority of the reflections and the interpretation of three east-dipping crustal-penetrating shear zones. These east-dipping shear zones are major structures that subdivide the region into four terranes. Major orogenic gold deposits in the Eastern Goldfields Province are spatially associated with these major structures. The Laverton Tectonic Zone, for example, is a highly mineralised corridor that contains several world-class gold deposits plus many smaller deposits. Other non crustal-penetrating structures within the area do not appear to be as well endowed metallogenically as the Laverton structure. The seismic reflection data have also imaged a series of low-angle shear zones within and beneath the granite–greenstone terranes. Where the low-angle shear zones intersect the major crustal-penetrating structures, a wedge shaped geometry is formed. This geometry forms a suitable fluid focusing wedge in which upward to subhorizontal moving fluids are focused and then distributed into the nearby complexly deformed greenstones.     

Shallow seismic reflection profiles and geological structure in the Benton Hills, southeast Missouri

During late May and early June of 1993, we conducted two shallow, high-resolution seismic reflection surveys (Mini-Sosie method) across the southern escarpment of the Benton Hills segment of Crowleys Ridge. The reflection profiles imaged numerous post-late Cretaceous faults and folds. We believe these faults may represent a significant earthquake source zone.

The stratigraphy of the Benton Hills consists of a thin, less than about 130 m, sequence of mostly unconsolidated Cretaceous, Tertiary and Quaternary sediments which uncomfortably overlie a much thicker section of Paleozoic carbonate rocks. The survey did not resolve reflectors within the upper 75–100 ms of two-way travel time (about 60–100 m), which would include all of the Tertiary and Quaternary and most of the Cretaceous. However, the Paleozoic-Cretaceous unconformity (Pz) produced an excellent reflection, and locally a shallower reflector within the Cretaceous (K) was resolved. No coherent reflections below about 200 ms of two-way travel time were identified.

Numerous faults and folds, which clearly offset the Paleozoic-Cretaceous unconformity reflector, were imaged on both seismic reflection profiles. Many structures imaged by the reflection data are coincident with the surface mapped locations of faults within the Cretaceous and Tertiary succession. Two locations show important structures that are clearly complex fault zones. The English Hill fault zone, striking N30°–35°E, is present along Line 1 and is important because earlier workers indicated it has Pleistocene Loess faulted against Eocene sands. The Commerce fault zone striking N50°E, overlies a major regional basement geophysical lineament, and is present on both seismic lines at the southern margin of the escarpment.

The fault zones imaged by these surveys are 30 km from the area of intense microseismicity in the New Madrid seismic zone (NMSZ). If these are northeast and north-northeast oriented fault zones like those at Thebes Gap they are favorably oriented in the modern stress field to be reactivated as right-lateral strike slip faults. Currently, earthquake hazards assessments are most dependent upon historical seismicity, and there are little geological data available to evaluate the earthquake potential of fault zones outside of the NMSZ. We anticipate that future studies will provide evidence that seismicity has migrated between fault zones well beyond the middle Mississippi Valley. The potential earthquake hazards represented by faults outside the NMSZ may be significant.     

褶皱的地震波反射响应及其大陆地壳构造地质意义

褶皱是挤压造山带中最普遍的地质构造,但是为什么在地震反射剖面上却极少呈现褶皱呢?本文从一个构造地质学者的角度出发,数值模拟了几种常见褶皱构造的地震波反射响应。结果表明,传统的反射地震技术并不能正确成像闭合褶皱、斜歪或倒转褶皱及二级以上的多级复合褶皱。褶皱陡倾翼的反射消失,而褶皱转折端的反射形成一系列断断续续分布的假水平层理,这些假水平层理在下地壳中极易被错误地解释成由地壳拉张形成的水平构造层理或由底侵作用形成的水平基性岩席。笔者认为,老、中、新褶皱造山带的下地壳中大多数不连续水平反射可能是由褶皱造成的。     

Time-lapse crosswell seismic and VSP monitoring of injected CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> in a brine aquifer

Seismic surveys successfully imaged a small scale CO₂ injection (1,600 ton) conducted in a brine aquifer of the Frio Formation near Houston, Texas. These time-lapse borehole seismic surveys, crosswell and vertical seismic profile (VSP), were acquired to monitor the CO₂ distribution using two boreholes (the new injection well and a pre-existing well used for monitoring) which are 30 m apart at a depth of 1,500 m. The crosswell survey provided a high-resolution image of the CO₂ distribution between the wells via tomographic imaging of the P-wave velocity decrease (up to 500 m/s). The simultaneously acquired S-wave tomography showed little change in S-wave velocity, as expected for fluid substitution. A rock physics model was used to estimate CO₂ saturations of 10–20% from the P-wave velocity change. The VSP survey resolved a large (∼70%) change in reflection amplitude for the Frio horizon. This CO₂ induced reflection amplitude change allowed estimation of the CO₂ extent beyond the monitor well and on three azimuths. The VSP result is compared with numerical modeling of CO₂ saturations and is seismically modeled using the velocity change estimated in the crosswell survey.     

中国大陆科学钻探孔区反射地震剖面的数值模拟与分析

本初步分析了苏鲁超高压变质带大陆科学钻探孔区的地震波速度结构，在此基础上对在东海孔区三维反射地震勘探过井孔的NNW-SSE主剖面和该周围地区的DH99二维反射地震剖面进行了数值模拟分析。结果表明，数值理论模拟结果与三维反射主剖面地震波到时吻合良好，模拟法能实现有效的时深转换，也表明数值模拟中采用的速度结构是合理的。东海钻井孔区实施反射地震勘测，所得地震记录剖面图是单一P波记录，在超高压变质岩区反射地震记录图中S波的影响甚微。DH99二维反射地震剖面的模拟结果表明东海孔区2000米深度以上的密度，波速结构不随深度加大而变化；而且苏鲁超高压变质岩区地表浅层的地震波速和密度较高，是高速高密地区。岩心结果反映的反射地震阻抗差大的地段，数值模拟的理论剖面上强反射面与孔区反射地震剖面图中的强反射体基本吻合．它意味着在非沉积层的结晶岩区，反射地震勘测手段是研究地下复杂结构的有效方法。数值模拟方法可以进一步提取地震反射记录信息，是利用地震反射方法研究地球构造的一种有效的方法。     

山东蒙阴县西峪金伯利岩带深部综合地球物理特征及其意义

山东省蒙阴地区金伯利岩的深部地质构造特征是地学研究的热点之一。在蒙阴地区金伯利岩分布区中心部位的西峪岩带进行了10 km综合地球物理勘查,采用地震反射、大地电磁测深及重力测量解译推断出上五井和西峪两处的深部断裂构造。其中,西峪断裂带是金伯利岩浆侵入的先期控制性构造和岩浆通道,在西峪金伯利岩带内,地震反射波同相轴异常、重力低密度体、电阻率低阻异常都较为明显,且异常带有一定的连续性和规模,与已知的浅部金伯利岩体的分布形态比较吻合,推测地表延伸4 km深度内,西峪岩带内有较好的金伯利岩的发育,岩体在深部呈现节藕状间断分布。金伯利岩浆在近地表处隐爆,造成更多的破碎带和次生断裂,形成由密集零散分布的金伯利岩体组成的金伯利岩带,同时产生岩石的低电阻率和低密度异常。     

Lessons from a joint interpretation of vibroseis wide-angle and near-vertical reflection data in the northeastern Yilgarn, Western Australia

A wide-angle reflection seismic experiment was carried out in the Eastern Goldfields granite–greenstone terrane of the Archaean Yilgarn Craton during 2001. This was the first time in Australia that wide-angle data were collected using a vibrator source and with a high density of observations. Unlike other wide-angle surveys carried out in other parts of the world, our survey used both a smaller number of sweeps, and shorter sweeps. We recorded three sweeps (each with its own frequency range) at each vibration point. The experiment demonstrated that the sum of three 12 s sweeps using 3 large vibrators provides enough energy to record signal at offsets up to up to 60–70 km. A comparison of individual shot gathers from near-vertical data and receiver gathers from wide-angle data demonstrated higher reflectivity in near-vertical data. This may be due to differences in the frequency bands of the recording equipment. The after stack section obtained from dense wide-angle data is different from that obtained from conventional near-vertical reflection data. The conventional reflection section provides higher quality image of the crust compared to the wide-angle section. This could be explained by the low-fold in wide-angle data and differences in the acquisition and processing methodology. The wide-angle survey, which was coincident with a regional vibroseis seismic reflection transect, was focused on the Leonora–Laverton region. The survey was designed to supplement the deep seismic reflection studies with velocity information. This also created an opportunity to compare velocity model derived from wide-angle reflection seismic data with a structural image obtained from the deep common mid-point seismic reflection data, and thus refine our geological understanding of the area. A high velocity body reaching a maximum thickness of 2 km was identified exclusively from the seismic velocity model derived from wide-angle study. This body is interpreted as mafic rocks within the Archaean Granite–Greenstone Belt. The joint interpretation also shows that structural boundaries do not always follow lithological boundaries in our study area. The combination of wide-angle reflection and near-vertical reflection data has facilitated a more complete geological interpretation of the seismic data.     

Investigation of the weathering layer using seismic refraction and high-resolution seismic reflection methods, NE of Riyadh city

Five seismic refraction and five high-resolution seismic reflection (HRSR) profiles were carried out in northeastern part of Riyadh city to investigate depth of the weathering layer. Results obtained from seismic refraction survey reveal the depths of weathering layer at 12, 25, 17, 12, and 16?m, respectively. On the other hand, HRSR stack sections illustrate the depths of weathering layer at 14, 28, 20, 13, and 18?m, respectively. The weathering layer is composed of alluvial sediments and gravel, which is underlain by a sequence of limestone and dolomite layer. Seismic results from site no. 2 have been found to be in good agreement with lithological information reported from the adjacent water well. The HRSR data generally reveal better signal-to-noise ratio and enhanced resolution compared to the refraction data. Although, the HRSR data failed in achieving high-quality common midpoint (CMP) stacking profile at site no. 3, it provide an improved image of the subsurface features than the refraction data, recognizing it as a potential seismic technique.     

四川盆地北部长兴组生物礁地震响应特征与分布规律

井下钻探结果和地震资料表明四川盆地北部上二叠统长兴组生物礁发育,通过对典型井长兴组岩性与电性资料的分析,明确了生物礁的岩性与储层发育特征。根据井下生物礁及围岩岩性与电性资料并结合过井地震剖面反射波的几何特征,建立台地边缘生物礁的地震正演数值模型,通过对比生物礁模型地震正演记录与实际生物礁地震剖面,建立针对研究区台地边缘生物礁的地震响应特征模式。依据生物礁的地震响应特征对该地区连片二、三维地震测线开展地震相分析,通过已有钻井地震相与沉积相对应关系分析,指出了长兴组生物礁在该地区的分布规律。四川北部地区地震相与沉积相带具有良好的对应关系,存在环台棚-海盆相的台地前缘斜坡-台地边缘生物礁相-开阔台地相沉积体系,地震剖面上生物礁的外部形态呈丘状或透镜状,内部为杂乱反射特征;礁盖白云岩具有亮点反射特征,生物礁底界面出现上凸或者下凹反射现象,生物礁的上部地层具有披覆反射结构,四川盆地北部地区长兴组台地边缘生物礁相在台棚-海盆相东、西两侧沿北西向呈条带状展布,分布面积大于2000km~2,生物礁气藏勘探潜力巨大。     

Passive kimberlite intrusion into actively dilating dyke–fracture arrays: evidence from fibrous calcite veins and extensional fracture cleavage

Calcite veins are invariably associated with en-echelon kimberlite dyke–fracture arrays. A detailed microstructural study of veining indicates four vein types. Type I stretched or ataxial veins are defined by high aspect ratio calcite fibers that are crystallographically continuous with calcite of the kimberlite matrix wall rock, by elongated phenocrystic phlogopite with sharp crystal terminations centered on contacts between adjacent calcite fibers and by phenocrystic phlogopite that grows or extends across these veins. Type I vein mineralogy indicates syn-dilational crystallization of vein minerals in local tensional areas within the kimberlite. Vein Types II (stretched to syntaxial elongate-blocky) and III (antitaxial) indicate late crystallization vein mineral growth during subsequent or repeated dilation. Calcite fibers in Type I to Type III veins are orthogonal to the contacts of their host dykes regardless of the orientation of vein margins. Type IV calcite veins, with blocky or mosaic/polycrystalline textures, are attributed to minor post-intrusion extension, which was potentially accompanied by repeated kimberlite intrusion within a given dyke array. Syn-crystallization/syn-intrusion Type I veins and an ubiquitous dyke-parallel fracture cleavage, in a zone up to 4 m on either side of dyke contacts, suggest that en-echelon kimberlite dyke–fracture arrays occupied the approximate center of zones of active dilation within the brittle carapace of the upper crust. Type II and III veins indicate that extension or dilation continued, independently of an occupying kimberlite fluid phase, after initial intrusion. Arrested mobile hydrofracturing, under low differential stress within the upper brittle or seismic carapace of the continental crust, followed by repeated dilation of the dyke–fracture system, is proposed as a mechanism for producing the features observed in this study. The conditions constrained in this study indicate passive dyke intrusion into dilating fracture arrays during crustal extension.     

3D geological modelling of the Renard 2 kimberlite pipe,Québec,Canada: from exploration to extraction

The Renard 2 kimberlite pipe is one of nine diamondiferous kimberlite pipes that form a cluster in the south-eastern portion of the Superior Province, Québec, Canada and is presently being extracted at the Renard Mine. It is interpreted as a diatreme-zone kimberlite consisting of two Kimberley-type pyroclastic units and related country rock breccias, all cross-cut by coherent kimberlite dykes and irregular intrusives. Renard 2 has been the subject of numerous diamond drilling campaigns since its discovery in 2001. The first two geological models modelled kimberlite and country rock breccia units separately. A change in modelling philosophy in 2009, which incorporated the emplacement envelope and history, modelled the entire intrusive event and projected the pipe shape to depth allowing for more targeted deep drilling where kimberlite had not yet been discovered. This targeted 2009 drilling resulted in a > 400% increase in the volume of the Indicated Resource. Modelling only the kimberlite units resulted in a significant underestimation of the pipe shape. Current open pit and underground mapping of the pipe shape corresponds well to the final 2015 geological model and contact changes observed are within the expected level of confidence for an Indicated Resource. This study demonstrates that a sound understanding of the geological emplacement is key to developing a reliable 3D geological and resource model that can be used for targeted delineation drilling, feasibility studies and during the initial stages of mining.

     

Application of medium-scale magnetotelluric sounding to identify deep criteria for promising areas for kimberlite exploration

Medium-scale magnetotelluric sounding conducted within the Malaya Botuobiya (Yakutian diamondiferous province) and Zimnii Bereg (Archangelsk diamondiferous province) kimberlite regions revealed the main features of their geoelectric sections. These features have a genetic relation to the processes of kimberlite formation. All of the known kimberlite pipes of the two regions are located within the outlines of the revealed conducting geoelectric heterogeneities. The presence of such heterogeneities can be regarded as a possible deep criterion for distinguishing promising areas for kimberlite exploration.     

加拿大案例探讨寻找金刚石矿的三个关键点

20世纪90年代初,加拿大地质学家Charles E Fipke先生在加拿大高寒的Lac De Gras地区发现的含金刚石的金伯利岩,把加拿大带入了寻找金刚石矿的高潮,相继在Lac De Gras地区发现金伯利岩管群和在加拿大中部的Fort à la Corne发现的金伯利岩群,使得加拿大金刚石产量位居世界第三。本文综述这两个地区金刚石矿的发现和分析含金刚石的金伯利岩的存在的特征,指出太古宙地台环境是含金刚石的金伯利岩存在的基础,厚度大的太古宙地台底部是金刚石晶体缓慢生长的天然高温高压培育仓、沿冰碛或沿水系沉积物追踪金伯利岩指示矿物是溯源金刚石母岩的手段、认识金伯利质火山地貌形态能起到在寻找金伯利质火山位置过程中事半功倍的效果,有助于理解金伯利质火山口相的变化。     

Amplitude versus offset analyses of the deep sedimentary structures at the northern flank of the Porcupine Basin,SW of Ireland

This paper represents an attempt of analysing the amplitude versus offset (AVO) behaviour and specific seismic attributes of sedimentary structures from the Porcupine Basin, SW of Ireland. During the last decade, a huge number of carbonate mounds were investigated in this region in water depths of 600–1,000 m, but the genesis and growth of these mounds are still not clearly identified. The aim of this paper is to give a better understanding of the connection between fluid migration pathways in the deeper underground and surface expressions of their fluid expulsions like gas chimneys and pockmarks through which the mounds may generate themselves. The data used in this study to determine boundary conditions for the physical properties of the underlaying strata were gathered from the northern flank of the Porcupine Basin, where a huge amount of fluid and/or gas chimneys covers the seabed. Marine seismic reflection data contain information about the elastic properties of the underlying earth, mainly based on the observed variations in the seismic reflection amplitude at different shot–receiver offsets. To extract elastic parameters from the data, inversion techniques were used, which presume that input amplitudes are proportional to reflection coefficients for plane wave reflection. To calibrate the AVO analyses with the existing stratigraphy in the working area we have used the well logs from several bore holes in the region. The results of this study show clearly that the investigated and identified pockmarks on the seafloor are the surface expression of hydrocarbon seepage in the deeper sedimentary underground.     

Morphotectonic evolution of the New Caledonia ridge (Pacific Southwest) from post-obduction tectonosedimentary record

The tectonostratigraphic and geomorphic study of two post-obduction fluvial sedimentary systems on mainland New Caledonia and imaged offshore on seismic reflection lines provides a new perspective on the post-orogenic evolution of the New Caledonia ridge. Relations between sedimentary sequence boundaries, erosion surfaces and faults, both on land and on offshore seismic reflection profiles indicate that an episode of extensional tectonics initiated in the Early Neogene led to the disruption and collapse of the island landsurface previously shaped during a Latest Oligocene phase of planation. Microtectonic analysis further suggests early slip on the normal faults was associated with ridge-normal extension. A later set of faults accompanied ridge-parallel to ridge-oblique extension that is interpreted to result from a shift toward a transtensional regime driven by the initiation of east-verging subduction of the Australian plate beneath the Pacific plate starting at least in the late Mid-Miocene.     

基于克希霍夫偏移的槽波超前探测方法及应用

为查明邢台矿区葛泉矿1199工作面掘进巷前方地质构造,采用井下槽波地震进行超前探测,用线性拉东变换提取来自巷道前方的反射波,在时间域内进行速度分析获得围岩参数信息,通过克希霍夫偏移对巷道前方地质异常体成像。结果显示,掘进巷前方距离G12检波点205 m与237 m存在异常,分别对应采空巷道与SF4断层;通过速度分析提取速度参数,初步判断SF4含水。钻探验证结果表明,克希霍夫偏移方法能对掘进巷前方断层异常体进行成像。      

Land 3D-Seismic Data: Preprocessing Quality Control Utilizing Survey Design Specifications, Noise Properties, Normal Moveout, First Breaks, and Offset

The recent proliferation of the 3D reflection seismic method into the near-surface area of geophysical applications, especially in response to the emergence of the need to comprehensively characterize and monitor near-surface carbon dioxide sequestration in shallow saline aquifers around the world, Justifies the emphasis on cost-effective and robust quality control and assurance (QC/QA) workflow of 3D seismic data preprocessing that is suitable for near-surface applications. The main purpose of our seismic data preprocessing QC is to enable the use of appropriate header information, data that are free of noise-dominated traces, and/or flawed vertical stacking in subsequent processing steps. In this article, I provide an account of utilizing survey design specifications, noise properties, first breaks, and normal moveout for rapid and thorough graphical QC/QA diagnostics, which are easy to apply and efficient in the diagnosis of inconsistencies. A correlated vibroseis time-lapse 3D-seismic data set from n CO2-flood monitoring survey is used for demonstrating QC dlagnostles. An Important by-product of the QC workflow is establishing the number of layers for n refraction statics model in a data-driven graphical manner that capitalizes on the spatial coverage of the 3D seismic data.     

The Liqhobong kimberlite cluster: an update on the geology

The Cretaceous Liqhobong kimberlite cluster comprises six known diamondiferous Group 1 kimberlite bodies: the Main Pipe (8.5 ha), the Satellite Pipe (1.6 ha), the Discovery Blow (0.15 ha), the Blow (0.1 ha), the Main Dyke, and the East Dyke. Emplaced along a strike length of about 2.5 km, the kimberlites intruded Jurassic Drakensberg lavas and outcrop at altitude ranging from 2970 to 2670 m above sea level (masl) in the rugged Maluti Mountain terrain of Lesotho. The cluster’s intrusion was structurally controlled and emplacement occurred in at least three pulses. The dykes and the two blows (which are dyke enlargements emplaced ~900 m apart) comprise the earliest event and the Main and Satellite Pipes were emplaced during two separate, subsequent events. Each pipe has steep contacts with the country rock basalt. The two Blows have inward dipping contacts and narrow considerably at depth. Each of the Main and Satellite Pipes comprises multiple phases which range from largely volcaniclastic to marginally coherent kimberlites. The volume of the volcaniclastic kimberlite is always much more (>three times) than that of the coherent kimberlite. The larger Main and Satellite Pipes are diluted by country rock up to 40 vol% whereas the smaller Blows and Dykes typically have less than 10 vol% dilution. The degree of mantle sampling is highest (up to 40 vol%) in the smaller Blows and lower (~25 vol%) in the larger Pipes.