The seismic moment tensor is a valuable tool in the evaluation of seismic source mechanisms, because it is the most general representation of any indigenous source. For that reason, a seismic moment-tensor inversion approach has been developed by E. S. G. Canada Inc. for retrieval of source mechanisms of mine-induced microseismic data. This method is unique because it is based on a time-domain calculation/evaluation of the seismic moment-tensor components. It is important to realise that this waveform inversion software is quite sophisticated and intricate due to the many levels of coding which implement the numerical, graphical and interactive aspects. In this thesis, a waveform simulation program is developed as a means to test the limitations and applicability of this moment-tensor inversion method. The simulation algorithm produces relatively simple seismic signals not unlike "ideal" mine-induced microseismic waveforms. These simulated waveforms, however, are sophisticated enough to test the inversion approach for the retrieval of geometrical as well as shear and nonshear components of failure.;The inversion method is also tested on real data from the Underground Research Laboratory (Pinawa, Manitoba), in order to verify the approach with observational limitations. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
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