Three-dimensional distributed DC/IP method for altered tectonite-type gold ore deposits exploration: a case study of the Jiaojia gold metallogenic belt,Eastern China

To develop an effective method to identify ore-controlling faults, we studied the Jiaojia gold metallogenic belt, a most typical altered tectonite-type gold metallogenic belt in the Jiaodong Peninsula, China, and conducted experiments using the 3D distributed direct current-induced polarization (DC/IP) method. Firstly, we tested the ability of using 3D distributed DC/IP method to identify altered tectonite-type gold ore deposits by 3D synthetic modelling. We then collected real data of the Sizhuang gold deposit using the 3D distributed DC/IP method. The resistivity model obtained of this region is generally consistent with the known geological setting. Moreover, to obtain the information about the southern extension of the Jiaojia gold metallogenic belt, we conducted a 3D distributed DC/IP experiment in the Shijia area in the southern segment of the Jiaojia fault. The southern extension of the Jiaojia fault and tectonic evolution of shallow magma in this region were inferred from the 3D resistivity and chargeability models. Based on all the information above, we concluded that the 3D distributed DC/IP method has the advantages of 3D observations, high spatial resolution and great detection depth and will be one of the most effective methods for detecting altered tectonite-type gold ore deposits.     

APPLICATION OF THE MULTIFREQUENCY HORIZONTAL-LOOP EM METHOD IN OVERBURDEN INVESTIGATIONS1

In recent years, geophysical methods (shallow seismic, electromagnetic, resistivity, ground penetrating radar) have been increasingly applied to overburden investigations. Their effectiveness has been found to depend significantly on local geological conditions. Compared with advanced seismic techniques, EM methods are faster and hence more cost-effective, but they have not been considered sufficiently accurate. Analysis is carried out of data obtained with the multifrequency horizontal-loop method (HLEM) in northeastern Ontario, where the overburden consists of Quaternary glacial and glaciolacustrine sediments. Surveying along 1-6 km long profiles permitted recognition of bedrock inhomogeneities and selection of sites suitable for HLEM data interpretation using the layered model. Phasor diagrams and computer inversion based on the ridge regression technique were used to interpret HLEM soundings obtained at eight frequencies. Interpreted layer resistivities and thicknesses were correlated with the results of Rotasonic drilling at 70 sites. Relatively accurate estimates of overburden thickness (within 10%) could be obtained in about 80% of the cases. Nine examples of HLEM soundings are given and discussed: three each of one-, two- and three-layer situations. An appropriate interpretation model cannot be selected simply by minimizing the rms error or by analysing the parameter resolution matrix. Frequently, the most effective way of evaluating a solution is to consider whether resistivity values determined by inversion fit any of the ranges determined by statistical analyses of sediment resistivities. A previously published study of electrical properties of Quaternary sediments indicated that resistivities of clay, till and sand are stable within a fairly large area, such as the one under investigation. While the application of HLEM methods to mapping of Quaternary sediments can be considered a success, interpretation of EM data in regions covered by glacial sediments is more difficult than in weathered terrains, where near-surface layering is more predictable. The problem of equivalence causes non-uniqueness in interpretation. Thickness equivalence, which results in poor resistivity estimates, was found to affect areas convered by sand and till. Conductance equivalence caused poor resolution of thickness and resistivity for thin clay layers (less than 10 m).     

Study of the Santa Catarina aquifer system (Mexico Basin) using magnetotelluric soundings

A tensor magnetotelluric test survey was carried out in the region of Santa Catarina, located in the Chalco sub-basin of the Mexico Basin. The objective was to define the stratification at depth with an emphasis on the geometry of the main aquifer of that region which is partially known from DC resistivity soundings and drilling. High-quality magnetotelluric soundings could be recorded in the immediate vicinity of large urban zones because the sub-surface is very conductive. Interpretation shows that the solid bedrock is located at a depth of at least 800 m to the south and 1300 m to the north; it could, however, be much deeper. Using complementary DC resistivity sounding and well-logging data, three main layers have been defined overlying the bedrock. These layers are, from surface to bottom, an unsaturated zone of sand, volcanic ash and clay about 10 m thick, followed by a very conductive (1.5 ohm·m) 200 m thick layer of sand and ash with intercalated clay, saturated with highly mineralized water, and finally a zone with resistivity increasing gradually to 60 ohm·m. The investigated deep aquifer constitutes most of this third layer. It consists of a sequence of sand, gravel, pyroclastites and mainly fractured basalts. MT resistivity soundings and magnetic transfer functions also indicate that a shallow resistive structure is dipping, from the northwest, into the lacustrine deposits of the basin. This geologic feature is likely to be highly permeable fractured basaltic flows, which provide a channel by which water contaminated by the Santa Catarina landfill may leak into the basin.     

Electrical Resistivity Imaging of Seawater Intrusion into the Monterey Bay Aquifer System

We use electrical resistivity tomography to obtain a 6.8‐km electrical resistivity image to a depth of approximately 150 m.b.s.l. along the coast of Monterey Bay. The resulting image is used to determine the subsurface distribution of saltwater‐ and freshwater‐saturated sediments and the geologic controls on fluid distributions in the region. Data acquisition took place over two field seasons in 2011 and 2012. To maximize our ability to image both vertical and horizontal variations in the subsurface, a combination of dipole–dipole, Wenner, Wenner‐gamma, and gradient measurements were made, resulting in a large final dataset of approximately 139,000 data points. The resulting resistivity section extends to a depth of 150 m.b.s.l., and is used, in conjunction with the gamma logs from four coastal monitoring wells to identify four dominant lithologic units. From these data, we are able to infer the existence of a contiguous clay layer in the southern portion of our transect, which prevents downward migration of the saltwater observed in the upper 25 m of the subsurface to the underlying freshwater aquifer. The saltwater and brackish water in the northern portion of the transect introduce the potential for seawater intrusion into the hydraulically connected freshwater aquifer to the south, not just from the ocean, but also laterally from north to south.     

Delineation of a quick clay zone at Smørgrav,Norway, with electromagnetic methods under geotechnical constraints

In many coastal areas of North America and Scandinavia, post-glacial clay sediments have emerged above sea level due to iso-static uplift. These clays are often destabilised by fresh water leaching and transformed to so-called quick clays as at the investigated area at Smørgrav, Norway. Slight mechanical disturbances of these materials may trigger landslides. Since the leaching increases the electrical resistivity of quick clay as compared to normal marine clay, the application of electromagnetic (EM) methods is of particular interest in the study of quick clay structures.For the first time, single and joint inversions of direct-current resistivity (DCR), radiomagnetotelluric (RMT) and controlled-source audiomagnetotelluric (CSAMT) data were applied to delineate a zone of quick clay. The resulting 2-D models of electrical resistivity correlate excellently with previously published data from a ground conductivity metre and resistivity logs from two resistivity cone penetration tests (RCPT) into marine clay and quick clay. The RCPT log into the central part of the quick clay identifies the electrical resistivity of the quick clay structure to lie between 10 and 80 Ω m. In combination with the 2-D inversion models, it becomes possible to delineate the vertical and horizontal extent of the quick clay zone. As compared to the inversions of single data sets, the joint inversion model exhibits sharper resistivity contrasts and its resistivity values are more characteristic of the expected geology. In our preferred joint inversion model, there is a clear demarcation between dry soil, marine clay, quick clay and bedrock, which consists of alum shale and limestone.     

A comparison of helicopter-borne electromagnetics in frequency- and time-domain at the Cuxhaven valley in Northern Germany

Two different airborne electromagnetic methods were applied in the same area: the frequency-domain helicopter-borne electromagnetic (HEM) system operated by the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Germany, and the time-domain SkyTEM system of the HydroGeophysics Group at the University of Aarhus, Denmark. For verification of and comparison with the airborne methods, ground-based transient electromagnetics and 2-D resistivity surveying were carried out. The target of investigation was the Cuxhaven valley in Northern Germany, which is a significant local groundwater reservoir. The course of this buried valley was revealed by drillings and the shape was determined by reflection seismics at several cross sections.We applied electrical and electromagnetic methods to investigate the structure of the valley filling consisting of gravel, sand, silt and clay. The HEM survey clearly outlines a shallow conductor at about 20m depth and a deeper conductor below 40m depth inside the valley. This is confirmed by 2-D resistivity surveying and a drilling. The thickness of the deeper conductor, however, is not revealed due to the limited investigation depth of the HEM system. The SkyTEM survey does not resolve the shallow conductor, but it outlines the thickness of the deeper clay layer inside the valley and reveals a conductive layer at about 180m depth outside the valley. The SkyTEM results are very consistent with ground-based transient electromagnetic soundings.Airborne electromagnetic surveying in general has the advantage of fast resistivity mapping with high lateral resolution. The HEM system is cost-efficient and fast, but the more expensive and slower SkyTEM system provides a higher depth of investigation. Ground-based geophysical surveys are often more accurate, but they are definitively slower than airborne surveys. It depends on targets of interest, time, budget, and manpower available by which a method or combination of methods will be chosen. A combination of different methods is useful to obtain a detailed understanding of the subsurface resistivity distribution.     

Characterisation of glacial sediments using geophysical methods for groundwater source protection

A sequence of glacial and alluvial deposits overlying the Cretaceous Chalk in Eastern England was characterised using two geophysical techniques: electrical resistivity imaging and electromagnetic (EM) induction. Extensive geological data were available from trenching and boreholes. Synthetic modelling of the electrical resistivity imaging technique was undertaken to identify its limitations and to optimise survey design. The EM induction method provided a quick and cost-effective reconnaissance technique for identifying large-scale lateral variation in lithology, and for siting resistivity profiles and further boreholes. The resistivity imaging technique provided detailed information on the vertical continuity of permeable units, and was able to identify permeable pathways through the sequence. Certain limitations in detecting thin sand or gravel layers underlying electrically conductive clay were seen in both the synthetic and field data. Nevertheless, the study shows that knowledge of these limitations allows interpretation for the purpose of groundwater vulnerability assessment, given that an appropriate amount of invasive investigation has been conducted.     

Characterisation of glacial sediments using geophysical methods for groundwater source protection

A sequence of glacial and alluvial deposits overlying the Cretaceous Chalk in Eastern England was characterised using two geophysical techniques: electrical resistivity imaging and electromagnetic (EM) induction. Extensive geological data were available from trenching and boreholes. Synthetic modelling of the electrical resistivity imaging technique was undertaken to identify its limitations and to optimise survey design. The EM induction method provided a quick and cost-effective reconnaissance technique for identifying large-scale lateral variation in lithology, and for siting resistivity profiles and further boreholes. The resistivity imaging technique provided detailed information on the vertical continuity of permeable units, and was able to identify permeable pathways through the sequence. Certain limitations in detecting thin sand or gravel layers underlying electrically conductive clay were seen in both the synthetic and field data. Nevertheless, the study shows that knowledge of these limitations allows interpretation for the purpose of groundwater vulnerability assessment, given that an appropriate amount of invasive investigation has been conducted.     

电场差分法理论研究

对均匀大地和二层大地的频率域电场差分法理论曲线进行的计算和研究表明,电场差分法是一种以目标地质体和围岩在电阻率和极化率方面的差异为基础,根据测量到的能明显反映激电响应与电磁耦合响应的比值随频率变化的P参数曲线在性态上的差异来圈划油气藏的一种电法勘探方法. 因为它圈划油气藏的物理基础是油气藏上方与围岩上方测量到的电磁耦合响应和激电响应的差异,所以在圈划油气藏方面,该方法与复电阻率法类似,同样具有找油气的优良性能. 此外,该方法与复电阻率法相比,具有对目标地质体和围岩的电阻率和极化率差异反映灵敏、效率高、成本低等优点,所以它是一种值得推广的找油气的电法勘探方法.     

Appraisal of equivalence and suppression problems in 1D EM and DC measurements using global optimization and joint inversion*

Global optimization with very fast simulated annealing (VFSA) in association with joint inversion is performed for 1D earth structures. The inherent problems of equivalence and suppression in electromagnetic (EM) and direct current (DC) resistivity methods are studied. Synthetic phase data from multifrequency sounding using a horizontal coplanar coil system and synthetic apparent resistivity data from Schlumberger DC resistivity measurements are inverted individually and jointly over different types of layered earth structures. Noisy data are also inverted. The study reveals that global optimization of individual data sets cannot solve inherent equivalence or suppression problems. Joint inversion of EM and DC measurements can overcome the problem of equivalence very well. However, a suppression problem cannot be solved even after combination of data sets. This study reveals that the K-type earth structure is easiest to resolve while the A-type is the most difficult. We also conclude that the equivalence associated with a thin resistive layer can be resolved better than that for a thin conducting layer.     

Grounded-source transientE-field modeling of a shallow resistive layer with 3-D inhomogeneity

There is growing interest in the use of transient electromagnetic (TEM) sounding for shallow geotechnical, environmental and groundwater investigations. Two commonly used transmitterreceiver configurations for TEM sounding are 1) loop-loop or its variation, in-loop configuration and 2) wire-loop configuration. The less common configuration of a horizontal electric dipole (HED) transmitter and receiver is treated in this study and called wire-wire configuration.Two important problems of shallow investigation in hard and soft rocks respectively are, defining 1) a fractured/fissured zone of medium resistivity, sandwiched between an overlying surface weathered rock of low resistivity and an underlying fresh compact rock of high resistivity and 2) a body of resistive sand buried in conductive clay. Lateral change in the middle layer resistivity is modeled by including a 3-D body of anomalous resistivity. The effect of perturbing the resistivity of the 3-D inclusion and the host middle layer for the wire-wire configuration is compared with that of the commonly used loop-loop configuration. The wire-wire configuration is found more sensitive to the model perturbations than the loop-loop configuration.1-D inversion of synthetic 1-D data sets for the wire-wire configuration finds resolution and estimation errors to be less than 10 percent for all the model parameters. For 3-D models, 1-D inversion results give a resolution error of 10 percent or less for the depth to, resistivity and thickness of, the 3-D inclusion. The estimate is within 10 percent of the true value for the first parameter but 40 percent for the other two. Resolution as well as estimation of the basement resistivity is always very poor.Using the wire-wire configuration, it is theoretically possible to define a buried resistive layer and any lateral change in its resistivity, subject to the above limitations of 1-D inversion. However, the basement resistivity cannot be estimated with reasonable accuracy in the presence of a lateral inhomogeneity in the overlying layer.     

Forward modeling of marine DC resistivity method for a layered anisotropic earth

Since the ocean bottom is a sedimentary environment wherein stratification is well developed, the use of an anisotropic model is best for studying its geology. Beginning with Maxwell’s equations for an anisotropic model, we introduce scalar potentials based on the divergence-free characteristic of the electric and magnetic (EM) fields. We then continue the EM fields down into the deep earth and upward into the seawater and couple them at the ocean bottom to the transmitting source. By studying both the DC apparent resistivity curves and their polar plots, we can resolve the anisotropy of the ocean bottom. Forward modeling of a high-resistivity thin layer in an anisotropic half-space demonstrates that the marine DC resistivity method in shallow water is very sensitive to the resistive reservoir but is not influenced by airwaves. As such, it is very suitable for oil and gas exploration in shallowwater areas but, to date, most modeling algorithms for studying marine DC resistivity are based on isotropic models. In this paper, we investigate one-dimensional anisotropic forward modeling for marine DC resistivity method, prove the algorithm to have high accuracy, and thus provide a theoretical basis for 2D and 3D forward modeling.     

Saltwater intrusion modelling in Jorf coastal aquifer,South‐eastern Tunisia: geochemical,geoelectrical and geostatistical application

Marine intrusion is the most serious problem facing the coastal Jorf shallow aquifer, located in south‐eastern Tunisia on the Mediterranean Sea. Jorf Aquifer is intensively exploited to supply the growing needs of agriculture and domestic sectors. This work proposes a multidisciplinary investigation, involving hydro‐geochemical, geoelectrical survey and geostatistical techniques for modelling the saltwater intrusion. For this purpose, 36 water samples were conducted and analysed. Electric conductivity, pH, total dissolved solids and major ions were measured and analysed. Pie and Durov Diagrams, Q‐mode hierarchical cluster and geostatistical analysis were considered to identify the main groundwater mineralization processes. Results revealed that the Na‐Cl‐Ca‐SO₄ is the dominant water type suggesting that dissolution of halite and gypsum was the main mineralization source of groundwater in the central and southern part of study area. However, saltwater intrusion was shown to control groundwater quality essentially in coastal areas. Variographic analyses were used to select the variographic model that best fits the spatial development of apparent resistivity. Kriged apparent resistivity profiles showed an abnormal decrease of resistivity values in the coastal zone, implying highly saline water because of seawater intrusion. Apparent resistivity values also decrease considerably in the faulted areas, suggesting a contribution of faults to seawater intrusion. Finally, saltwater mixing ratio was computed for each sample, and a refined seawater intrusion map was developed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Search for Freshwater in the Saline Aquifer of Coastal Bangladesh

In the polder region of coastal Bangladesh, shallow groundwater is primarily brackish with unpredictable occurrence of freshwater pockets. Delta building processes, including the codeposition of fresh-to-saline porewater and sediments, have formed the shallow aquifer. Impermeable clay facies and the lack of a topographical gradient limit the flow of groundwater and its mixing with surface water so controls on spatial variability of salinity are not obvious. By characterizing groundwater-surface water (GW-SW) interactions, this study attempted to identify areas of potable groundwater for the polder communities. We used transects of piezometers, cores, electromagnetic induction, and water chemistry surveys to explore two sources of potential fresh groundwater: (1) tidal channel-aquifer exchange and (2) meteoric recharge. Fresh groundwater proved difficult to find due to heterogeneous subsurface lithology, asymmetrical tidal dynamics, extreme seasonal fluctuations in rainfall, and limited field data. Geophysical observations suggest substantial lateral variability in shallow subsurface conductivity profiles. Piezometers show varying degrees of tidal pressure attenuation away from the channels. Nevertheless, the active exchange of freshwater appears to be limited due to low permeability of banks and surface sediments. Results indicate that pockets of fresh groundwater cannot be identified using readily available hydrogeological methods, so alternative drinking water sources should be pursued. By better understanding the hydrogeology of the system, however, communities will be better equipped to redirect water management resources to more feasible and sustainable drinking water options.     

Detection of alteration at the Millennium uranium deposit in the Athabasca Basin: a comparison of data from two airborne electromagnetic systems with ground resistivity data

The Millennium uranium deposit is located within the Athabasca Basin of northern Saskatchewan. The basement rocks, comprised primarily of paleo‐Proterozoic gneisses, are electrically resistive. However, the deposit is associated with highly conductive graphitic metasediments that are intercalated with the gneisses. An unconformity separates the basement rocks from the overlying, horizontally stratified, Proterozoic sandstones of the Athabasca Group (which are also highly resistive). The strike extents of the graphitic metasedimenary packages are extensive and therefore electromagnetic (EM) survey techniques are successful at identifying these zones but do not identify the specific locations where they are enriched in uranium. Through drilling it has been noted that hydrothermal processes associated with mineralization has altered the rocks in the vicinity of the deposits, which should in theory result in a resistivity low. A significant resistivity low has been mapped coincident with the Millennium deposit using ground resistivity survey techniques. However, a comparison of the airborne EM and ground resistivity results reveals that the two data sets have imaged different features. The resistive‐limit (on‐time) windows of the MEGATEM data show conductive features corresponding to lakes located to the west and south of the deposit. The late‐time windows show a feature to the east of the deposit, interpreted as being associated with the east‐dipping graphitic basement conductors (similar to that observed in historical ground EM data collected in this area). The early‐time TEMPEST windows (delay times less than 0.2 ms) show a broad resistivity low located at approximately the same location as where the alteration has been identified through drilling. Modelling the data is not easy but a response that decays prior to 0.3 ms is consistent with 500 Ωm material in the sandstone, a resistivity value close to the lower limit with respect to the hydrothermally altered Athabasca group sediments in this area. The MEGATEM system does not see a conductive zone over the alteration as clearly but the high signal‐to‐noise ratio in the late‐time MEGATEM data means that the conductive material at a greater depth is more coherently imaged.     

2.5维复电阻率反演及其应用试验

自复电阻率法被提出以来,其区分矿与非矿方面的潜力就引起了人们的广泛关注,但反演问题一直没有得到较好的解决,已经严重影响和制约了该方法的应用和发展.对此,本文提出并实现了利用多个排列视电阻率和视相位数据的2.5维SIP联合反演方法.算法利用最小二乘原理构建了反演目标函数,为提高反演的稳定性,在反演方程中加入了Occam法的光滑模型约束.通过借助电场的偏导数形式,推导出了灵敏度矩阵的解析表达式,并应用互换定理对其进行精确求取.反演算法充分利用了电磁感应和激电效应中的异常信息,能够同时反演出二维地质断面上所有单元的四种复电阻率参数.最后,利用该反演程序对安徽某地区的SIP实测数据进行了反演成像,通过与已知钻井资料及CSAMT反演结果的对比分析表明,该反演算法具有良好的应用效果.     

MODEL STUDIES ON SOME ASPECTS OF RESISTIVITY AND MEMBRANE POLARIZATION BEHAVIOUR OVER A LAYERED EARTH*

Electrolytic model tank experiments to study resistivity and time domain induced polarization (IP) response over layered earth models were initiated primarily to facilitate the understanding of field results. Alternate layers of clay and sand (or clay-coated sand) with, in some cases, a surficial layer of water were assembled in the tank and resistivity and IP measurements made for a range of electrode spacings using the Wenner configuration. Graphite and silver-silver chloride electrodes were used as current and potential electrodes respectively. Clay-coated (3% by weight) sand was found to generate stronger polarization than either clay or sand alone. Apparent chargeability m_a was observed to be positive for a nonpolarizable surface layer. For a polarizable surface layer, the sign of IP was controlled by the polarizability, the thickness of the second layer, and the spacing of the electrode spreads. The apparent chargeability m_a can theoretically change sign from positive to negative and vice versa with a gradual increase in electrode spacing, and such negative IP effects were obtained in a few observations. A simultaneous decrease in IP and an increase in resistivity, which is a qualitative diagnostic feature for the occurrence of clean freshwater sand aquifers, could also be generated in the model tank experiment. Combined resistivity and IP soundings were carried out near Fredericton Junction and Tracy, New Brunswick, Canada. Field curves are presented along with the model curves for qualitative comparison and understanding of IP behaviour over a layered earth. Twenty-five out of twenty-seven soundings show only positive apparent chargeabilities, whereas two show chargeability sign changes (positive/negative/positive). The model study gives reason to believe that surface soils and Quaternary gravel boulder deposits near Fredericton Junction are relatively non-polarizable. As an auxiliary experiment, sand and clay were taken in different proportions by weight and mixed thoroughly with water in a cement mixer. The mixtures were then compressed with a suitable die and plunger under 3.6 Pa pressure to prepare cylindrical samples of height 18 cm and diameter 15.5 cm. IP measurements were done on the flat faces using the Wenner configuration with a= 2 cm. Chargeability was found to be negative for 100 and 90% clay mixtures. It reached a positive maximum for an 80% clay-20% sand mixture and then decreased gradually with increasing sand and decreasing clay content.     

Solutions of the inherent problem of the equivalence in direct current resistivity and electromagnetic methods through global optimization and joint inversion by successive refinement of model space

The problem of equivalence in direct current (DC) resistivity and electromagnetic methods for a thin resistive and conducting layer is well‐known. Attempts have been made in the past to resolve this problem through joint inversion. However, equivalence still remains an unresolved problem. In the present study, an effort is made to reduce non‐uniqueness due to equivalence using global optimization and joint inversion by successive refinement of the model space. A number of solutions derived for DC resistivity data using very fast simulated annealing global inversion that fits the observations equally well, follow the equivalence principle and show a definite trend. For a thin conductive layer, the quotient between resistivity and thickness is constant, while for a resistive one, the product between these magnitudes is constant. Three approaches to obtain very fast simulated annealing solutions are tested. In the first one, layer resistivities and thicknesses are optimized in a linear domain. In the second, layer resistivities are optimized in the logarithmic domain and thicknesses in the linear domain. Lastly, both layer resistivities and thicknesses are optimized in the logarithmic domain. Only model data from the mean models, corresponding to very fast simulated annealing solutions obtained for approach three, always fit the observations. The mean model defined by multiple very fast simulated annealing solutions shows extremely large uncertainty (almost 100%) in the final solution after inversion of individual DC resistivity or electromagnetic (EM) data sets. Uncertainty associated with the intermediate resistive and conducting layers after global optimization and joint inversion is still large. In order to reduce the large uncertainty associated with the intermediate layer, global optimization is performed over several iterations by reducing and redefining the search limits of model parameters according to the uncertainty in the solution. The new minimum and maximum limits are obtained from the uncertainty in the previous iteration. Though the misfit error reduces in the solution after successive refinement of the model space in individual inversion, it is observed that the mean model drifts away from the actual model. However, successive refinement of the model space using global optimization and joint inversion reduces uncertainty to a very low level in 4–5 iterations. This approach works very well in resolving the problem of equivalence for resistive as well as for conducting layers. The efficacy of the approach has been demonstrated using DC resistivity and EM data, however, it can be applied to any geophysical data to solve the inherent ambiguities in the interpretations.     

Stream bottom resistivity tomography to map ground water discharge

This study investigates the effectiveness of direct current electrical resistivity as a tool for assessing ground water/surface water interactions within streams. This research has shown that patterns of ground water discharge can be mapped at the meter scale, which is important for understanding stream water quality and ecosystem function. Underwater electrical resistivity surveys along a 107-m stream section within the Burd Run Watershed in South Central Pennsylvania identified three resistivity layers: a resistive (100 to 400 Ωm) surface layer corresponding to the streambed sediments, a conductive (20 to 100 Ωm) middle layer corresponding to residual clay sediments, and a resistive (100 to 450 Ωm) bottom layer corresponding to the carbonate bedrock. Tile probing to determine the depth to the bedrock and resistivity test box analysis of augered sediment samples confirmed these interpretations of the resistivity data. Ground water seeps occurred where the resistivity data showed that the residual clays were thinnest and bedrock was closest to the streambed. Plotting the difference in resistivity between two surveys, one conducted during low-stage and the other during high-stage stream conditions, showed changes in the conductivity of the pore fluids saturating the sediments. Under high-stream stage conditions, the top layer showed increased resistivity values for sections with surface water infiltration but showed nearly constant resistivity in sections with ground water seeps. This was expressed as difference values less than 50 Ωm in the area of the seeps and greater than 50 Ωm change for the streambed sediments saturated by surface water. Thus, electrical resistivity aided in characterizing ground water discharge zones by detecting variations in subsurface resistivity under high- and low-stream stage conditions as well as mapping subsurface heterogeneities that promote these exchanges.     

二维直流电阻率与射频大地电磁双参数聚类联合反演

考虑到射频大地电磁（RMT）法反演介电常数具有可行性,但目前RMT与直流电阻率（DC）联合反演研究中均只进行了电阻率参数的反演,本文基于模糊C均值（FCM）聚类算法,开展了RMT与DC的电阻率与介电常数联合反演.首先,检验了介电常数对RMT观测的影响,并通过DC与RMT法的电阻率参数反演,分析了联合反演相较于单一方法反演的优势;基于双数据集反演电阻率的优势,辅以FCM聚类的双参数联合约束,进一步实现最佳介电常数模型反演.理论试算表明,DC与RMT法的电阻率联合反演,可补足RMT浅部高阻分辨率不理想的缺点,同时改善DC法深部反演能力的不足;此外,通过FCM聚类的联合约束以及真实物性的引导,相较于单一RMT方法,DC与RMT的联合反演可恢复更准确的地下介电常数分布.