Void discovery inside Esztramos Hill using muographic methods

Area of Science:

• Geophysics
• Cosmic-ray physics
• Subsurface imaging

Background:

• Muography utilizes cosmic muons to image subsurface density distributions.
• Previous mining activities at Esztramos Hill have created complex underground structures.
• Understanding these structures is crucial for geological and safety assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply muography for subsurface exploration in a historically mined region.
• To identify and map underground cavities and anomalous density regions.
• To assess the potential for discovering new geological formations.

Main Methods:

• Deployment of a muographic detector system in abandoned mine drifts.
• Collection and analysis of cosmic muon flux data over several months.
• 3-D muographic inversion of datasets to reconstruct density distributions.

Main Results:

• Accurate location of partially collapsed, inaccessible mined-out stopes.
• Identification of density anomalies consistent with underground voids.
• Evidence suggesting the presence of a previously unmapped cave system.

Conclusions:

• Muography is an effective tool for geophysical exploration in post-mining environments.
• The study confirmed the utility of muography in delineating subterranean features.
• Further investigation is warranted to fully characterize the potential new cave discoveries.