A method for operating a data processing system to simulate a mixer having an RF port, a LO port, and an IF port. This method uses the frequency spectra derived from P-wave seismic data over a pair of specific time windows above and below a seismic horizon or reflector of interest to infer the presence or absence of these geologic fractures based on an attenuation of high frequencies. The counter counts a cumulative printed-paper number in a series of image formation processing.