COMPATIBILITY OF EM AND IP SURVEYS *

Methods and typical case histories of EM and IP surveys are compared in order to check their compatibility for the investigation of large areas for base metal sulphides. It is demonstrated that the fast, low cost EM may miss sulphide concentrations which cause no reduction of apparent resistivity, or which act like horizontal slabs, where EM anomalies occur marginally. In such cases only IP can recognize the whole extent of the mineralization. The misleading role of graphite exists for both methods. The conclusion is that EM remains the only economical method to survey whole ore districts, but that the shortcomings should always be taken into account in the interpretation. They can be overcome by employing geological, geochemical or other geophysical indicators in selecting promising targets for follow-up IP. Even if less than 20% of the area is covered by the expensive IP, there is a fair chance that all sulphide bearing rocks will be found. Therefore, the question is not whether to apply EM or IP methods, but how to combine them best.     

Comparison between moving and stationary transmitter systems in induction logging

In a general treatment of the theory of induction logging, an exact integral representation has been obtained for the mutual impedance between a vertical dipole transmitter and a coaxial dipole receiver in a three layered earth. Based on this representation, a computer model has been devised using the traditional Slingram system of induction logging and the comparatively new Turam system, ignoring borehole effects. The model results indicate that due to its much larger response, the Turam system is in general preferable to the Slingram in mineral and groundwater investigations where formation conductivity much less than 1 S/m is generally encountered. However, if the surrounding media are conductive (more than 0.1 S/m), the Turam system suffers from large amplitude attenuation and phase rotation of the primary field caused by the conductive surrounding, and is less useful than the Slingram system which does not so suffer, unless the target bed is shallow. Because it is a more complex function of system parameters than the corresponding Slingram log, a Turam log can be conveniently interpreted only by the modern inverse method using a fast algorithm for the forward solution and a high speed digital computer.     

A VERSATILE ELECTROMAGNETIC MODELING PROGRAM FOR 2-D STRUCTURES*

A new integral-equation program for calculation of the E-polarization response allows modeling of VLF for plane wave or line source input, e.g., magnetotellurics and Turam responses. The anomalous conducting body is modeled by a number of square cells, each of individual size and resistivity, and with arbitrary position in the host medium. This provides a high degree of flexibility and allows for simulation of rather complex conductivity structures. The computation time has been drastically reduced by using techniques such as digital filtering and fast Fourier transformation. The interpretation of a measured Turam profile and the influence of galvanically channelled currents in the conducting body is discussed.     

SOME APPLICATIONS OF IP-TECHNIQUE FOR DIFFERENT GEOPHYSICAL PROSPECTING PURPOSES *

The usefulness of IP-technique for different geophysical purposes is discussed on the basis of field examples. IP and resistivity results are not always correlated, and the IP-information may be unique in prospecting for very low grade sulphide mineralizations. The IP-technique seems to be useful sometimes in prospecting for disseminated Ni-Cu- mineralizations. A massive sulphide mineralization could be localized using IP. The disturbances from different kinds of geological objects other than prospecting targets generally are smaller in IP-work than in resistivity work. It was possible to discriminate between apparent resistivity anomalies caused by shear zones and by sulphide mineralizations by means of IP-measurements. The influence of magnetite on IP- measurements is briefly discussed. The relation between ground magnetic measurements ΔZ and the IP-parameter is in many areas weak and does not seriously influence the interpretation of the IP-measurements. A high correlation between ΔZ and IP-measurements has been found on a titaniferous iron ore. This ore body gives strong IP-anomalies indicating that it is a good IP-target. Finally, the application of small moving arrays in very detailed IP-measurements is found useful for detailed mapping of a mineralized zone under a thin overburden and for determination of the dip of mineralized zones.     

A NOVEL FIXED-SOURCE ELECTROMAGNETIC SYSTEM1

A novel fixed-source electromagnetic system has been developed. The transmitter is a large rectangular loop or grounded dipole. The transmitted waveform consists of up to five superimposed pure sinusoids at well-separated frequencies. The receiver measures the amplitude and phase at two frequencies from a single receiver coil. The amplitude ratio is routinely calculated. Field trials with both surface and downhole configurations show that the method has advantages over the more traditional frequency-domain Turam type and downhole electromagnetic (DHEM) systems. Among such advantages are the use of a single receiver coil and the removal of noise due to free-space variations in transmitter-receiver geometry. The latter is important for DHEM surveys. In terms of field procedures and quantities measured, the system is similar to time-domain methods.     

A MODIFIED MODE OF OPERATION FOR THE TURAM ELECTROMAGNETIC EXPLORATION SYSTEM WITH BENEFITS FOR DEEP EXPLORATION*

A new mode of operation for the Turam electromagnetic exploration system is proposed in which the transmitter loop is placed across the expected trend of a conductor and the receiver is operated along lines parallel to one side of the transmitter. The concept appears to offer several benefits which include greatly extended traverse length, the use of large coil spacing, rejection of the effects of conductive environments, and consistency in the indication of target dip.     

TURAM INTERPRETATION BY CURVE MATCHING USING A LINE CURRENT APPROXIMATION*

The interpretation of Turam data is treated by means of a development of the conventional approach to this type of data. The development consists of a curve matching technique based upon a line current approximation to the true induced current pattern. The technique requires computation facilities which are readily available in modern programmable calculators. Practical examples of the use of the method illustrate that it can reveal information concerning the geometry of a conducting body which would not be gained by the conventional approach.     

The modified pseudo-depth section as a tool in resistivity and IP prospecting — A case history

Following the depths of investigation of different electrode arrays, given byRoy andApparao (1971) andRoy (1972), a modified pseudo-depth section was suggested for any array byApparao andSarma (1981) as a tool in resistivity and IP prospecting. The tool was used for the interpretation of IP and resistivity anomalies obtained in a virgin area—Jonnagiri village, Pattikonda Taluq, Kurnool district (A.P.) India. Two of the four bore holes recommended encountered sulphide mineralization, while the other two met with white altered ashy material at the position of the maximum anomaly contour in the depth sections. The drilling results prove the utility of the modified pseudosections in the interpretation of the field data.     

TESTING THE TRANSIEL METHOD IN MINERAL AND GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION*

Transiel is the name given to a qualitative, time domain induced polarization (IP) method. The aim of the method is twofold: to locate and to distinguish between deep and shallow polarizable media. This discrimination is based on the data analysis, which distinguishes Transiel from the conventional IP methods. Two case histories are presented: one related to mineral prospecting and the other to geothermal exploration. The information supplied by Transiel on the deep polarizable layers is checked at each test site by an independent inversion of the recorded transients. At the mineral test site, the method correctly predicts the target location. In this particular survey, the maximum penetration depth of the method is 700 m. At the geothermal test site, a fair correlation is found between IP anomalies and the productive wells. Since the method's penetration depth does not exceed 500 m, we believe that the observed IP anomalies are related to reduction phenomena occurring in the overburden and leading to pyrite formation. We suppose that these phenomena are caused by thermochemical exchanges between the reservoir and the overburden above zones of high reservoir permeability.     

EXAMPLES OF RESOLUTION IMPROVEMENT IN GEOELECTRICAL SOUNDINGS APPLIED TO GROUNDWATER INVESTIGATIONS1

One simulation and two field examples from New Jersey illustrate resolution improvement in geoelectrical soundings applied to groundwater exploration. Layered-earth parameter resolution is derived from data obtained with the commonly used methods of resistivity, induced polarization (IP) and transient electromagnetic (TEM) soundings. Resolution improvement is achieved by simultaneous inversion of two or more data sets and by constraining parameters of the inverse problem. A quantitative analysis showing the contribution of IP data to the resolution of geo-electric sections is presented. Simultaneous inversion of simple IP data with conventional resistivity and resistivity-TEM data sets resulted in improved parameter resolution. IP data improved resolution in three ways: (1) by decoupling correlated layered-earth parameters, (2) by adding information to a geological interpretation about a second physical property, namely chargeability, and (3) by increasing the electrical information available.     

CSAMT方法在寻找隐伏金矿中的应用

可控源音频大地电磁法（CSAMT）的应用是百里店矿山多种地球物理研究的一部分．由于激发极化法（IP）的穿透率和分辨率是与几何因素密切相关,对于较深部的地质特征,靠IP法不容易分辨出来．CSAMT较好地解决了这个问题,首先,根据区域地质背景、成矿条件和矿区岩石物性特征,开展了面积性的激电测量,进而开展了CSAMT方法的探测研究．通过对CSAMT原始数据的分析解释,发现测区深部存在两条低电阻率梯级带,其中一条为陡倾斜;另一条为缓倾斜,两者在地下800m左右深度处相互斜交．经地质推断解释认为：这是测区内金矿的主要控矿、导矿及容矿构造．     

Potential Field,Geoelectrical and Reflection Seismic Investigations for Massive Sulphide Exploration in the Skellefte Mining District,Northern Sweden

Multi-scale geophysical studies were conducted in the central Skellefte district (CSD) in order to delineate the geometry of the upper crust (down to maximum ～ 4.5 km depth) for prospecting volcanic massive sulphide (VMS) mineralization. These geophysical investigations include potential field, resistivity/induced polarization (IP), reflection seismic and magnetotelluric (MT) data which were collected between 2009 and 2010. The interpretations were divided in two scales: (i) shallow (～ 1.5 km) and (ii) deep (～4.5 km). Physical properties of the rocks, including density, magnetic susceptibility, resistivity and chargeability, were also used to improve interpretations. The study result delineates the geometry of the upper crust in the CSD and new models were suggested based on new and joint geophysical interpretation which can benefit VMS prospecting in the area. The result also indicates that a strongly conductive zone detected by resistivity/IP data may have been missed using other geophysical data.     

MULTIPARAMETER GEOPHYSICAL LOGGING AT THE YAVA LEAD DEPOSIT: A STATISTICAL APPROACH1

The present study describes multiparameter geophysical logging carried out at the Yava sandstone lead deposit, Nova Scotia, Canada. Statistical analysis of the multiparameter data set shows that the spectral gamma-gamma ratio log (SGG ratio) is the most useful technique for characterizing the disseminated sulphide mineralization. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicates that the apparent chargeability (IP parameter) responds to the presence of clay minerals in the sandstone in addition to disseminated sulphides, so that the induced polarization method (IP) does not accurately delineate the disseminated galena content as was originally assumed in the preliminary log interpretation. PCA has also confirmed that the SGG ratio and density are related to lead content and that lithological variations can be delineated with natural radioactivity and resistivity. The zinc content of the deposit was poorly characterized by geophysical logs. Sphalerite occurrences seem to be localized as narrow bands (< 1 cm) which were not geophysically detectable.     

ELECTROMAGNETIC RESPONSE OF TWO-DIMENSIONAL INHOMOGENEITIES IN A DISSIPATIVE HALF-SPACE FOR TURAM INTERPRETATION *

An integral equation technique based on the integral formulation of the electric field of a harmonically excited line-source in the presence of a two-dimensional scattering in-homogeneity is outlined. In this treatment the inhomogeneity is assumed to have an arbitrary cross-sectional shape and to be located in a layered, dissipative half-space. The scattering responses in terms of the horizontal and the vertical magnetic field components observed on the ground surface are studied for a variety of geologic models involving overburden layers, vertical or inclined veins and multiple inhomogeneities. The horizontal component of the total magnetic field appears to be the most diagnostic response parameter. A thin vein shaped target with a cross sectional area of 0.05 δ₂× 0.50 δ₂ (δ₂ being the skin-depth in the lower half-space) located 0.50 δ₂ away from the line-source and under a highly conductive overburden layer (σ₁/σ₂= 300) of thickness 0.02 δ₂ is easily detected with a moderate resolution. The scattering responses are also sensitive to changes in depths of burial, inclination and conductivity contrast with the surrounding half-space of the target inhomogeneity. An interpretation scheme as well as a number of characteristic detectability parameters are developed for the conventional Turam method used in mineral exploration.     

On the application of geophysics in the exploration for copper and chrome ores in Albania1

Some generalized results of geophysical exploration for copper sulphide and chromite ores in Albania are presented. The most important geophysical methods used are electrical prospecting, gravity, magnetics and electromagnetics. Physical properties of the ores, genesis and geological problems to be solved have determined the proper choice of any of these methods in the complex exploration.     

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF AIRBORNE ELECTROMAGNETIC SIGNATURES OF DIFFERENT CONDUCTOR GROUPS IN TROPICAL TERRAIN OF KARNATAKA,INDIA*

AEM (airborne electromagnetic) anomalies caused by massive sulphide conductors and superficial conductors can be recognized with a statistical method, as shown by an analysis of Input AEM data from Karnataka State. The weathering in the survey area is of tropical type. Parameters, such as various amplitude ratios and time parameters (inverse of decay rate) for exponential and power-law decay were analyzed for sulphide bodies, conducting soil, superficial conductors, and cultural conductors. Time parameters τ₁ (exponential decay) is defined as ratio of time differences between the third and fourth channel to the logarithmic value of the relative amplitude of the two channels. Time parameter K₁ (power-law decay) is defined as ratio of the difference of the logarithmic values of the delay times of the third and fourth channels to the logarithmic value of the relative amplitude of the two channels. The two parameters have been useful in recognizing sulphide conductors. Also the first channel Input amplitude and logarithmic plot of the transients appear to be helpful in conductor identification. Channel ratios seem to be the least effective parameters of conductor identification. In the area studied both power-law and the conventional exponential decay were found equally suitable for approximating Input AEM transients.     

COMPARATIVE FIELD PERFORMANCE OF ELECTRODE ARRAYS IN TIME-DOMAIN INDUCED POLARIZATION PROFILING *

Five test profiles in time-domain induced polarization measurements over conducting sulphide and graphite mineralisations were run with the two-electrode, three-electrode, modified unipole, pole-dipole, dipole-dipole, Schlumberger, and Wenner α and β configurations. The results show that, compared to the other electrode systems, the simplest two-electrode array produces the largest anomalies with the smallest of spacings.     

多周期全波形激电抗干扰数据处理方法及在大规模探测中的应用分析

激电法是金属矿产勘查中一种十分重要的电法勘探分支方法,但是各种电磁干扰的存在限制了激电法在大规模探测中的应用.近年来,国内外先后实现了三维分布式全波形激电探测仪器系统的研发和推广,全波形数据记录为激电信号的抗干扰处理提供了新的空间.本文针对多周期全波形采样的激电数据提出了一套基于统计分析的时间序列抗干扰数据处理方法,主要包括：经验模态分解用于分离低频趋势项干扰;相关分析用于消除突发性强噪声干扰;稳健统计用于多周期时间序列叠加;分段稳健平均和低频相对相位谱用于时/频域激电参数提取.将上述数据处理方法应用于由国产分布式电法系统实测的三维全波形激电数据,并与线性拟合、均值叠加等常处理方法进行对比,发现新方法可以有效识别和压制激电数据中的强噪声干扰,提高大供电极距和低频点探测时的激电数据质量,从而进一步推动激电法在深部矿产资源勘查中的应用.     

Compiling and verifying 3D models of 2D induced polarization and resistivity data by geostatistical methods

A 3D model of collected time-domain induced polarization (IP) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) data is compiled by geostatistical methods as well as studying spatial correlation among the database. Mesgaran copper deposit, located in Birjand eastern Iran, was chosen to compile and verify the model, leading to five parallel surveyed IP and ERT profiles with dipole–dipole arrays. The collected data were inverted, and then 2D models of IP and ER were prepared; also 3D inversion was done. Afterward, the 3D model has been built by geostatistical methods. Correspondingly, the anomalies threshold was detected by fractal methods and the estimation variance and Kriging efficiency were calculated to validate the modeling. The mineralization zones were determined according to the classified anomalies and those with the lowest error. Results indicated a high correlation between anomalies identified from the model and mineralization. The results made it possible to construct 3D models from surveyed 2D data with acceptable error level.     

电偶源频率电磁测深激发极化效应研究

本文研究含激电效应(IP)电偶源频率电磁测深问题.首先,通过对电偶源频率电磁测深电磁场分量分辨率的分析,提出利用电场Ex分量提取IP信息的合理性;然后,给出了同时存在激电和电磁效应时的理论计算公式和算法,对一些典型地电断面进行理论计算并对计算结果进行分析;最后,提出提取IP信息的几种可能方案.这些工作不仅为野外实测资料...