Updated: 3 hours 31 min ago
Mon, 06/16/2025 - 00:00
SummaryInduced polarization is a geophysical method that can be applied to determine the water content and CEC (Cation Exchange Capacity) of sediments and rocks. We apply here this technique to image the Harmalière landslide in Isère (East of France). This landslide includes a mudflow of glacio-lacustrine silty clays overlying the Toarcian clayrock formation with local occurrences of compact pebbles from a paleochannel of the Drac river. A petrophysical study is used to characterize the properties of the four main lithofacies occurring in the area with a total of 22 samples. We performed complex conductivity measurements in the frequency range 10 mHz-45 kHz at different salinities (NaCl brines and in situ pore waters). We also measured the porosity and CEC of the samples. We calibrate the relationships between surface conductivity, quadrature conductivity, and normalized chargeability with both the porosity and CEC. The relationship between the formation factor and the porosity conforms to Archie's law with a cementation exponent close to 2.0 ± 0.2. In the field, we performed a time-domain induced polarization survey using a 1.26 km-long cable (including roll along of the electrodes) with an electrode spacing of 20 m. The landslide is imaged down to a depth of 220 m. The inversion of the data (788 electrodes, 15.7 km of profiling, 13 012 apparent resistivity and 5539 apparent chargeability data) is done with the least-square technique penalizing the roughness of the tomograms using Occam inversion. The resulting 3D electrical conductivity and normalized chargeability tomograms are analyzed in conjunction with the petrophysical data to image the extension of the lithofacies at the field scale. Furthermore, the water content and CEC of the formations are imaged. We demonstrate that the compacted pebbles of the Drac paleochannel form both a mechanical and hydraulic barrier that is locally breached by the mudflow before entering the Monteynard-Avignonet Lake. This study demonstrates the ability of induced polarization to finely characterize the anatomy of such landslide and image its water content.
Mon, 06/16/2025 - 00:00
AbstractThis study investigates the following three issues in numerical models of the thermal structure of subduction zones, using the Tohoku region in Northeast Japan as an example: (1) a steady state is often assumed in models, (2) quantitative assessment of the uncertainty in the predicted temperatures is lacking, and (3) surface heat flow has been used to constrain many of the models. I found that, at least under the model setting of this study, a steady state may be safely assumed as long as only surface heat flow within 150 km of the trench is used to constrain the model. I used Bayesian inference to predict the thermal structure, with surface heat flow near the trench and the location of the blueschist-out boundary in the oceanic crust as observational constraints. The depth of slab–mantle kinematic decoupling, effective friction coefficient, and rate of radiogenic heat production in the upper island arc crust were constrained simultaneously to be ∼80–100 km, 0.03–0.08, and 1.5–2.16 μW m−3, respectively, although the decoupling depth is sensitive to the assumed location and temperature of the blueschist-out boundary. The uncertainties in slab temperature reach ∼450 K at depths of <100 km and 100 K for greater depths, which are substantial. To reduce these uncertainties, it is necessary to reduce the uncertainty in the input parameters and obtain additional observational constraints.
Mon, 06/16/2025 - 00:00
SummaryWater content and pore fluid pressure increases have been recognized as important drivers of shallow landslides, especially through the role of strong rainfalls promoting gravitational instabilities. Less recognized is the role of vertical hydraulic barriers impeding the flow of ground water at the feet of areas prone to landslides. Induced polarization is a non-intrusive geophysical technique able to image hydraulic properties of the shallow subsurface. Recently developed petrophysical models bridging the gap between hydraulic and electrical properties of soft sediments, soils, and rocks have been developed. Thanks to these relationships, this geophysical method can be used to image the water and clay contents of the formations and their permeability. Therefore, induced polarization can be used to image the occurrence of vertical permeability barriers. We focus our approach on a large landslide that occurred in March 1931 (reactivated in 1971–1972) above Le Châtelard village (Bauges, France). This landslide started inside a kilometer-scale syncline hosting clayey formations and moraines. We performed a 2.2 km profile crossing the syncline and the sliding area including resistivity, induced polarization, and self-potential measurements. In addition, 22 samples were taken from the different formations outcropping at the field site including limestones, sandstones, and clayey formations. The petrophysical investigations are combined with the field data to image the water content and cation exchange capacity as well as their permeability. The dataset shows the existence of a vertical permeability barrier at the bottom of the landslide corresponding to the tight Urgonian limestone formation. We combine the permeability distribution, the resistivity, and self-potential data by forward modeling the groundwater flow and electrokinetic response. We then invert the self-potential measurements to refine the image of the Darcy velocity distribution. The results show a strong upflow of the ground water just above the Manauds canyon where several gravitational instabilities occured in the past.
Sat, 06/14/2025 - 00:00
SummaryHere, we investigate how continental rifts initiate and propagate across cratons by exploring the crustal structure of northwestern tip of the East African Rift System (EARS), hosting the volcanic-rich Edward-George and non-volcanic Albertine-Rhino rifts, and their termination at the Precambrian Aswa Shear Zone. We conducted a derivative analysis of magnetic data, utilized power spectral analyses, and implemented a two-dimensional (2D) forward modeling of gravity data constrained by the seismic results obtained from the region. A magnetic derivative map indicates that the border faults of the Albertine Rift, at regional-scale, trend parallel to the Mesoproterozoic Madi-Igisi fold belt (MIFB) structures, representing the suture zone between two Archean microcratons. Our results show a pronounced thinned crust (∼24–30 km) beneath the southern segments of the rift zone, particularly the Edward-George rift, the Rwenzori Mountains, and the southern Albertine graben, consistent with previous seismic studies. In general, we observe that: 1) the rift system follows the boundary between a broadly thinner crust (21–41 km) to the southeast in Uganda, and thick crust (34–41 km) to the northwest in Congo, and 2) within the rifts, the crustal thickness along the axes exhibits a strong gradient that attenuates northwards beneath the Albertine-Rhino graben. We supplement the geophysical results with field observations of an exhumed Permian ‘Karoo’ rift (Entebbe Graben) in central Uganda, indicating the possible source of inherited thinner crust to the southeast of the Albertine-Rhino Rift. We propose that the northwestern tip of the EARS exploited a cratonic crustal thickness-gradient, assisted by structural inheritance from crustal metamorphic fabrics, and potentially, thermo-mechanical weakening of the deeper crust by partial melts beneath some of the rift segments.
Fri, 06/13/2025 - 00:00
AbstractDeep carbonate reservoirs are characterized by complex stress states and pore structures, and frame compressibility is strongly influenced by differential pressure. We have developed a frequency-dependent acoustoelasticity-squirt flow model based on a threshold pressure to describe the frame compressibility. Based on this model, 3D rock physics templates (RPT) were created and calibrated with laboratory, well log and seismic data from the Longwangmiao Formation in the Gaoshiti-Moxi area, Sichuan Basin, China. The templates are then used to determine the reservoir properties at the well logging and seismic frequencies. The predicted porosity matches well with the actual porosity log curve, and the results are consistent with gas production reports, with high porosity, crack density and threshold pressure (high frame compressibility) indicating high reservoir potential.
Wed, 06/11/2025 - 00:00
SUMMARYArchaeomagnetic study serves as an effective way to investigate the detailed variations of the geomagnetic field during the Holocene. China has accumulated numerous high-quality archaeomagnetic data in recent years, but these data are primarily limited to the period younger than 1500 BCE, which limits our comprehensive understanding of the Holocene geomagnetic field evolution. Here we carried out archaeomagnetic research on 28 unoriented pottery shards and baked clays collected from two Neolithic archaeological sites, with ages spanning from ∼5350 to 5030 BCE, in Anhui province, Eastern China. Rock magnetic analyses show that pseudo-single domain magnetite is the main magnetic carrier among the samples with limited contributions from high coercivity minerals such as hematite. The ideal magnetic behaviour demonstrates the samples are suitable for palaeointensity experiments, as confirmed by the palaeointensity results. A total of 14 samples yielded high-fidelity palaeointensity results, indicating that a fast-changed geomagnetic field with virtual axial dipole moments varying from ∼56 to ∼91 ZAm2 over ∼300 years. This inference is further evidenced by intensities recovered from the double-remanent components of some samples through vector calculation. Our new data provide reliable anchors for the strength variations of the geomagnetic field in Eastern Asia during the poorly constrained time period before 4000 BCE. With the new data in this study, we updated the previous Chinese archaeointensity reference curve and named the new curve as ArchInt_China3, which extends the previous curve forward for ∼500 years. The newly reported archaeointensity data and released reference curve in this study will provide valuable insights into the regional and global geomagnetic field variations during the Holocene, and thus assist in understanding the dynamic processes in the Earth's interior.
Wed, 06/11/2025 - 00:00
SUMMARYInterpretation of palaeomagnetic data requires the detection of magnetofossils in sedimentary rocks and an understanding of their influence on magnetic properties. Subsamples collected from IODP site M0061 lost up to 90 per cent of their initial bulk magnetic susceptibility (MS) during cold-room storage of 4 months, which was attributed to the alteration of single-domain magnetosomal greigite (Fe3S4). To test if the magnetic susceptibility loss affected the anisotropy of MS (AMS) we resampled site M0061 with a Kullenberg piston corer (3 cores), took palaeomagnetic subsamples and undertook time-dependent AMS measurements over 1 year in a controlled cool, humidified environment and exposed to air. Most subsamples possessed an initial normal oblate AMS fabric predicted for laminated sediments (horizontal with respect to the bedding plane) but we also detected a negative trend between the degree of anisotropy (Pj) and MS. In accordance with previous observations, MS decreased over 1 year, which we accredit to oxidation of magnetosomal greigite and conversion into a less magnetic phase (probably FeO(OH)) that does not make a detectable contribution to AMS. These results allowed us to isolate, through application of an AMS tensor subtraction routine, the fabric of the magnetosomal greigite component that had decayed. In subsamples with the largest MS loss over one year, the decayed component had a prolate, inverse AMS fabric (defined as the principal susceptibility axis perpendicular to the bedding place) but relatively low Pj. We conclude that the initial (in-situ) AMS ellipsoid consisted of a mixture of a typical normal, oblate sedimentary fabric and the prolate, inverse magnetosomal fabric. The mostly inverse nature of the separated fabric indicates that the long axis of the magnetosomal greigite (as individual single-domain magnetofossils or chains) must be oriented parallel to the bedding plane, which implies that the magnetosomal greigite was deposited from the water column and contributes to a depositional remanent magnetisation (DRM). Our results indicate that greigite magnetofossils can (i) explain the inverse AMS fabrics that have been reported in similar sedimentary environments and (ii) carry DRM with a median destructive field (MDF) of approximately 20 mT, although this remanence is transient under ambient laboratory conditions and is prone to oxidation.
Tue, 06/10/2025 - 00:00
SummaryEstimating quantitative hydrogeological information from geophysical datasets remains a key challenge in hydrogeophysics, driving the development of innovative inversion methodologies. Among these, coupled hydrogeophysical inversion (CHI) is a promising approach that integrates hydrological and geophysical modeling to improve hydrological property estimations from geophysical observations. However, most CHI applications focus on time-lapse geophysical datasets, while applications using single-time geophysical datasets “historically far more common in hydrological studies” remain scarce. Moreover, CHI also depends on petrophysical relationships, whose accurate calibration is challenging, leading to uncertainties that significantly affect CHI results and must be accounted for. This work proposes Hybrid Bayesian Inversion (HBI) to implement CHI using single time geophysical dataset, which considers coupled hydrological-geophysical modelling constraints and petrophysical relationships, including several calibration uncertainties. HBI is based on solving the hybrid decomposition of subsurface geophysical properties. This decomposition is derived as the sum of the groundwater model, directly predicted by coupled geophysical-hydrological modeling, and the background model, which accounts for the residual geophysical properties not predicted by coupled modeling. The groundwater model is formulated as a stochastic model characterized by probability density functions (PDFs), which enable the derivation of estimations for posterior conditional PDFs of hydrological and geophysical properties. In contrast, the background model is characterized only by estimating its values (e.g. using maximum likelihood estimators) and its PDFs are not determined. The hybrid decomposition in HBI is solved using the Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm. This approach divides the iterative solution into sequential steps of Bayesian inversion (E-step) and classic least-squares geophysical inversion (M-step). This formulation allows Bayesian inversion, which is computationally intensive, to focus only on relevant variables linked to hydrological conceptualization (Groundwater model), while classic least-squares geophysical inversion is used to solve the remaining variables (Background model). The HBI methodology was tested using 2D ERT synthetic and experimental data from an unconfined aquifer. In these examples, ERT modelling is integrated with saturated groundwater flow modeling through uncalibrated Archie and CK (electrical conductivity to hydraulic conductivity) petrophysical relationships. Results indicate that even with significant calibration uncertainties in petrophysical relationships, HBI can recover valuable information regarding water table and water conductivity what is not directly derivable from classic least-squares inversion results. Additionally, results derived from experimental data show that HBI can be an effective method to discriminate between low resistivity caused by fine-grain content and the water-saturated zones.
Tue, 06/10/2025 - 00:00
SummaryRecent ground observations from Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) displacement time series have provided compelling evidence that the tectonic motion in many settings is ubiquitously non-steady-state. In some cases, these anomalous transient motions have been identified as potential precursors occurring months, days, or hours before large-magnitude earthquakes. However, effectively detecting these signals in daily geodetic time series at the earliest opportunity remains challenging due to the levels of high-frequency noise. Currently, there is a lack of established methodologies to reduce this noise in near-real-time thereby hindering our ability to promptly monitor tectonic transient motions. Precursors are typically modeled retrospectively, and the use of geodetic data for seismic hazard surveillance remains limited. To address this limitation, this study demonstrates an approach to model high-frequency noise in daily GNSS displacement time series, with the removal of this modeled noise allowing for tectonic transients to be potentially more clearly identified. Using Deep Neural Networks (DNNs), we develop a denoising approach that removes noise from GNSS displacement time series on a station-by-station basis. To more effectively train our DNN models, we generate a comprehensive and diverse dataset by combining synthetic trajectories with synthetic noise time series created using Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN). To train the GAN, we use noise time series extracted from ∼5000 GNSS displacement time series distributed globally. Validating our approach with real data confirms its capability to significantly reduce the high-frequency noise that characterizes GNSS time series. The flexibility of the method allows for near-real-time noise removal (with a latency of a few days), opening up the possibility of detecting and modeling small tectonic transients in a timely fashion. By introducing this novel approach, we present exciting opportunities to advance the geodetic surveillance of tectonic motions and usher in a new era of improved monitoring of seismic activity.
Mon, 06/09/2025 - 00:00
AbstractGeodetic observations of postseismic deformation due to afterslip and viscoelastic relaxation can be used to infer fault and lithosphere rheologies by combining the observations with mechanical models of postseismic processes. However, estimating the spatial distributions of rheological parameters remains challenging because it requires solving a nonlinear inverse problem with a high-dimensional parameter space and potentially computationally expensive forward model. Here we introduce an inversion method to estimate spatially varying fault and lithospheric rheological parameters in a mechanical model of postseismic deformation using geodetic time series. The forward model combines afterslip and viscoelastic relaxation governed by a velocity-strengthening frictional rheology and a power-law Burgers rheology, respectively, and incorporates the mechanical coupling between coseismic slip, afterslip, and viscoelastic relaxation. The inversion method estimates spatially varying fault frictional parameters, viscoelastic constitutive parameters, and coseismic stress change. We formulate the inverse problem in a Bayesian framework to quantify the uncertainties of the estimated parameters. To solve this problem with reasonable computational costs, we develop an algorithm to estimate the mean and covariance matrix of the posterior probability distribution based on an ensemble Kalman filter. We validate our method through numerical tests using a two-dimensional forward model and synthetic postseismic GNSS time series. The test results suggest that our method can estimate the spatially varying rheological parameters and their uncertainties reasonably well with tolerable computational costs. Our method can also recover spatially and temporally varying afterslip, viscous strain, and effective viscosities and can distinguish the contributions of afterslip and viscoelastic relaxation to observed postseismic deformation.
Mon, 06/09/2025 - 00:00
AbstractWe present a novel technique for the characterization of small-scale absorption and scattering properties from cross-correlation functions (CCFs) of seismic ambient noise. We use a continuous data set recorded over four years at the Piton de la Fournaise volcano. Attenuation properties are estimated in the frequency range from 0.5 to 4 Hz, by comparing energy envelopes from CCFs with those from the radiative transfer theory (RTT) and the diffusion approximation. Our technique exploits the different propagation regimes observed at long and short propagation distances, which allows us to quantify attenuation properties in two stages: firstly, we measure absorption from short propagation distances including auto-correlation functions (source-receiver collocated case) to profit from the long coda durations. This set of estimates also allows to observe spatial variation of absorption either from RTT or the diffusion approximation. Once absorption is estimated, we proceed to characterize scattering from long propagation distances where scattering effects dominate absorption. Our inversion strategy to characterize scattering is called the ’ball-diff’ ratio because we propose to use the ratio of the integrated energies contained in the ballistic and early diffuse regimes. This technique can considerably reduce the effect of the uneven distribution of noise sources. Finally, in order to validate our method, the scattering and absorption properties estimated from CCFs of seismic noise are compared with those from earthquake data, for which we used magnitudes between 1.5 and 2.5. Good agreement was found between the estimates of these two approaches.
Mon, 06/09/2025 - 00:00
AbstractDetermining when and where the next big earthquake will occur is a fundamental challenge in earthquake forecasting. Although it is reasonable to assume that the next major earthquake will occur in regions where stress has been increased by previous events, the most common and reliable earthquake forecasting models assume that the magnitude of next earthquakes is independent from what happen before and, implicitly, from the stress state. In this study, we investigate the correlation between stress distribution and the occurrence of large earthquakes using a realistic physical model. Our findings reveal that the next big earthquake is more likely to occur on the periphery of previous large earthquakes, where stress has accumulated but not yet been relaxed. Additionally, we explore how stress redistribution influences the magnitude distribution of aftershocks. These results can inform the introduction of correlations between large earthquakes in existing seismic forecasting models, potentially enhancing their accuracy and reliability.
Mon, 06/09/2025 - 00:00
AbstractIt is shown that the SPOCK equation of state is equivalent to the Variable Polytrope Index equation of state.
Mon, 06/09/2025 - 00:00
SummaryA brief reply to the comment by Ruedas.
Fri, 06/06/2025 - 00:00
AbstractSlow Slip Events (SSEs) play an important role in the seismic cycle, participating in the moment budget of active faults. SSEs can be monitored via space geodesy (e.g., Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS). One of the major challenges when studying geodetic data is that they record the deformation due to many active sources (e.g., tectonic, hydrological, volcanic, and anthropogenic). Here I present a procedure to automatically reconstruct the spatio-temporal history of SSEs in the Cascadia subduction region. The solution is updated daily and made publicly available. These results constitute the base for future prospective SSEs forecasting experiments.
Thu, 06/05/2025 - 00:00
SummaryThis study investigates the complex tectonic interactions and crustal deformation within the Weihe Basin and its surrounding regions, encompassing the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, Ordos Craton, and Qinling Orogenic Belt. By conducting a detailed analysis of GNSS data and employing a refined tectonic model, we explore relative motion patterns and fault activities in the area. Our findings highlight nuanced movement patterns, with a clockwise rotation observed in the western and central parts of basin, contrasting with an anticlockwise rotation in the eastern part. Secondary block motion decreases from west to east, with the western region showing southeastward motion and the eastern region exhibiting subtle eastward deflection. Fault activities within the Weihe Basin generally feature low slip rates, often below 1 mm/a. Intriguingly, faults in the northern basin predominantly exhibit dextral and extensional movement, while those in the southern region display sinistral and compressive movement. The Weihe fault is identified as a critical boundary between the Ordos block and the Qinling Orogenic Belt. This study offers valuable insights into the tectonic complexities of the Weihe Basin, enhancing our understanding of its kinematic behavior.
Wed, 06/04/2025 - 00:00
SummaryWe analyze data from 48 seismic stations located in the western part of the Makran Subduction Zone to gain a detailed knowledge of the crustal and uppermost mantle structure in that region. The Makran is a flat subduction zone with a very thick accretionary wedge. It is a major tsunami hazard of the Indian Ocean but remains one of the world's least studied subduction zones. Its structure and evolution is increasingly becoming a subject of research interest as it can help to better understand the dynamics of flat subduction zones. Our P- and S-wave receiver function analyses reveal that the Arabian oceanic plate is currently dipping north-ward beneath the onshore accretionary wedge at a very low angle of 3°. The depth of the oceanic Moho in the coastal region is ∼30 km due to the presence of ∼22-24 km of sedimentary cover. It increases to ∼60 km beneath the Jazmurian Depression and further deepens to ∼80 km beneath the Bazman and Taftan volcanoes. The change from a relatively flat to a steeper subduction occurs just south of the Qasr-e Qand thrust fault. From the combined results of the receiver function stacking and joint inversion of P-wave receiver functions and Rayleigh wave group dispersion data, we infer that the continental Moho varies within a depth range of 40 to 56 km, with the shallowest part beneath the Sistan Suture Zone and the deepest beneath the Taftan volcano. Based on shear-wave velocity models, the sedimentary cover thickness in the onshore accretionary wedge varies from Coastal Makran to 34 km in Inner Makran. The lower-than-normal mantle wedge shear-wave velocities suggest that the mantle wedge might have undergone at least 25 per cent serpentinization. From the velocity models we conclude that the crust of the Jazmurian Depression is more likely of continental origin.
Wed, 06/04/2025 - 00:00
AbstractA Slow-Slip Event (SSE) is a slow release of tectonic stress along a fault zone, over periods ranging from hours to months. SSEs have been recorded in most of the geodetically well-instrumented subduction zones. Although these transient events observed by geodesy are typically excluded from probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA), they might play a crucial role in the seismic cycle by reducing the seismic slip rate (slip rate discounting the aseismic process). This effective reduction implies that incorporating SSEs into PSHA may improve the reliability of hazard assessments. Costa Rica, located at the southern end of the Middle American Trench, hosts large earthquakes as well as SSEs. Shallow and deep SSEs have long been detected at the Nicoya peninsula, in northern Costa Rica, and recently, also in the southern part of the country at the Osa peninsula. In this study, we first collect geodetic and SSE observations in Costa Rica. Then, we propose a method to incorporate them into PSHA, based on identifying regions where SSEs occur, inferring slip deficits and estimating seismic slip rates in each subduction segment. Next, we analyze the implications for PSHA and its epistemic uncertainty, using these seismic slip rates, the resulting seismic moment rate budgets, and determining earthquake rates and maximum magnitudes with different approaches. Finally, we compute a countrywide PSHA following the 2022 Costa Rica Seismic Hazard Model (CRSHM 2022) but modifying the seismic source characterization using geodetic information for the regions where SSEs occur. Compared to the CRSHM 2022, this approach leads to reductions of the resulting peak ground acceleration at return period of 475 years (PGA-475) of up to ∼15 per cent in the Nicoya peninsula, but also to an increase up to ∼40 per cent in the Central Pacific region and ∼30 per cent in the Osa peninsula. Moreover, we find that, under a geodetic-based approach and disregarding SSEs, the PGA-475 would increase by up to ∼10 per cent. Our novel approach underscores the relevance of incorporating geodetic observations and particularly SSEs into PSHA, especially in subduction margins near the coast.
Tue, 06/03/2025 - 00:00
SummaryInfrasonic signals of interest can occur during periods with persistent, coherent, background noise, which may be natural or anthropogenic. For high signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio transient signals, an “overprinting” of the coherent background may occur, and the signal may still be detected. However, this approach fails for low SNR signals of interest, which may be obscured by coherent noise. An infrasound beamforming method based on generalized least squares (GLS) is investigated for detecting transient signals of interest in the presence of coherent and incoherent background noise. This approach relies on an estimate of the noise covariance, captured in a covariance matrix, to effectively null contributions to the array response from noisy directions of arrival. Synthetic array data is used to investigate the performance of the GLS beamformer compared to the Bartlett beamformer when coherent and incoherent backgrounds are present. Additionally, the effects of array element number and relative strength of the interfering signal on the GLS estimates is investigated. GLS empirical area under the curve estimates suggest that the beamformer can recover coherent power for a signal of interest lower in amplitude than the coherent background, but this effectiveness degrades more quickly with SNR for a four element array compared to a six or eight element infrasound array. Finally, infrasound from the Forensic Surface Experiment, a bolide signal observed at IMS array I37NO, and a volcanic signal recorded at the Alaska Volcano Observatory array ADKI are used to evaluate GLS performance on recorded data. A ten minute window was used to capture the background noise, and the coherent background signal was nulled in all three examples.
Mon, 06/02/2025 - 00:00
SummarySeismic data acquisition can innovatively be implemented on the surface and within underground infrastructure to illuminate subsurface targets. In the seismic data processing and imaging phases, prior subsurface information, such as approximate interface dipping angles, can enhance reflection imaging in a target-oriented manner. We leverage a unique field dataset from an unconventional seismic acquisition setup to image a volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposit at the Neves-Corvo mining site in southern Portugal. The setup involved seismic sources positioned in a tunnel at a depth of approximately 650 m, from which the wavefields were recorded by surface receivers deployed along a 2D line directly above the tunnel. The data were marred by strong noise and limited acquisition aperture due to the tunnel length, resulting in significant smearing artifacts in images generated from conventional migration techniques, which impeded a detailed delineation of the deposit. By utilizing directional information from illumination vectors, derived from the gradients of source-side and receiver-side traveltime fields, we implemented a controlled-illumination strategy within the Kirchhoff prestack depth migration workflow. This approach resulted in enhanced imaging of the targeted Lombador VMS deposit. The improved image revealed a subtle discontinuity in the Lombador reflector, indicating a possible fault, which is also present in the area. The reflection imaging results highlight the advantages of employing underground infrastructure, such as tunnels, for seismic applications in supporting detailed in-mine exploration and drilling programs for resource estimations.