# Methodology and Results of Detailed 3D Seismic Exploration in the Zhezkazgan Ore District
## 2 Materials and Methods  
### Benchmarking Data Specifications  
Three-dimensional seismic exploration has been carried out at local explored areas of the Zhilandy group of deposits in the Zhezkazgan copper ore region. This region includes the Zhezkazgan deposit, a deposit with exceptional reserve size, and a large number of small copper deposits of the Zhilandy group (Itauz, Saryoba, Kipshakpai, Karashoshak, and Zhartas, etc.) formed within the periphery of the Zhezkazgan syncline [28,29] (Figure 1). The geological cross section of the sequences in Zhezkazgan ore district starts with Lower Devonian sediments; volcanic rocks of heterogenous composition interbedded with red sandstones. The terrigenous and carbonate deposits are up  
Figure 1: Layout of the deposits and ore manifestation of the Zhezkazgan region. conglomerates of Mid Devonian, silicified limestones, sandstones, and marks of the Low-Mid Carboniferous. The total thickness of these sediments is 1500 m. The productive Zhezkazgan suite of the Mid-Upper Carboniferous with a thickness of approx. 700 m is conformably bedded. The cross section of this suite comprises rhythmically alternating gray and red sandstones and siltstones with subordinate interlayers of conglomerates. The Zhezkazgan suite is overlapped by raspberry-red sandstones, argillites, limestones, and Lower Permian marks. In some places, the Paleozoic deposits are covered by the sediments of variegated, weakly cemented sandstones, clays, sands, and pebbles of the Paleogene and Neogene (Figure 2). The geological structure of the area is complicated by a sequence of tectonic faults. The largest is the Central Saryoba outburst-shear, which is located between the Western and Eastern Saryoba deposits. The small faults have been mapped in the field [30]. The deposits of the Zhilandinskaya group are spatially confined to the sediments of the upper member of the Beleuty/Lower-Middle Carboniferous layers of the Beleuty suite (C1 sbl2 III) and the lower part of the Taskuduk suite (C2 ts). Three horizons of ore-bearing sandstones have been identified in the upper member of the Beleuty layers: Kopkuduksky (# 1v), Zhilandy (# 1b), intermediate horizon (# 1a), and Taskuduk ore-bearing horizon (# 1) are at the base of the Taskuduk suite. The horizons located stratigraphically updip contain almost no gray-colored rocks and are represented entirely by red-colored facies. No pay ore mineralization has been established. The most productive are the Taskuduk and Zhilandy horizons, composed of layers of gray fine-grained sandstones interbedded with gray and less often red siltstones, intraformational conglomerates, and brown sandstones. Sharp facies transitions are quite often observed. There are 2-4 layers of medium-grained dark gray sandstones and conglomerates with a high content of organic matter that are often observed in the section of the ore-bearing horizons. Figure 2: Schematic geological sections of the Zhezkazgan ore region (based on Zhezkazgan Geological Expedition findings). The internal structure of the deposit is determined by its confinement to a sequence of transverse and box folds, flexures, and faults of a north-northeast trend. The flexures and faults are accompanied by zones of crushing and brecciation. The tectonic breccias are cemented by quartz, barite, and calcite. The ore bodies inside the layers of gray sandstones are of various shapes (isometric, lenticular, and ribbon-like). The boundaries between the ore bodies and barren sandstones are both gradual and sharp [31; 32; 33]. The ground mass of ore components was deposited in the first phase and formed disseminated ores. The same minerals had been deposited in the second phase; however, mineralization was concentrated in the veins and cracks. The deposits have a clear vertical zoning, with clearly distinguished zones of oxidation, secondary sulfide enrichment, and primary sulfide ores [34].