ENHANCEMENT OF ELECTROMAGNETIC ANOMALIES BY A CONDUCTING OVERBURDEN II *

The influence of a partially conducting overburden/host rock on the electromagnetic response of a horizontal, tabular conducting ore body, investigated with the aid of quantitative scale model experiments, was discussed in an earlier paper (Gaur, Verma and Gupta 1971), which will be referred to as I. This paper presents the results of more comprehensive experiments subsequently carried out to study the combined effect of various geological parameters, namely: the dip and depth of burial of the ore body, its electrical conductivity and that of the zone surrounding it. These results obtained for four different transmitter-receiver configurations confirm the general enhancement of response in varying degrees, brought about by a conducting overburden. However, the transformation of the shapes of the anomaly profiles with increasing overburden conductivity is observed to depend on the dip of the ore body, being more drastic for gently dipping ones. Variations in the inphase and quadrature components as well as in the phase of the anomaly have been studied for varying depths of burial of the ore body and for a number of values of the solution conductivity. Anomaly index diagrams have been constructed with a view to predicting possible values of the geological parameters from a knowledge of the anomaly components. It is felt that the notable overburden effects are caused by a drastic redistribution and concentration of currents, mostly in a narrow loop at the top of the ore body, brought about by its galvanic contact with an extended medium of relatively poorer conductivity.     

Equipment for carrying out quantitative geoelectromagnetic model experiments

Summary The paper describes equipment designed to study the effect of a conducting hostrock/overburden on the electromagnetic anomaly of sulphide ore bodies embedded therein. The model was constructed strictly according to the theory of electromagnetic similitude so as to constitute a direct reading reproduction of the field vectors. The experiments were conducted at a fixed, crystal-controlled frequency of 100 kHz using mainly a graphite sheet immersed in a dilute hydrochloric acid solution of predetermined conductivity to simulate vein and manto type of ore deposits surrounded by a partially conducting zone. Both the inphase and quadrature components of the anomaly were measured in terms of the primary field after elimination of the regional anomaly by means of a measuring bridge and a compensator. A comparison of the anomaly profiles obtained over the ore model when it is held in air with those obtained for corresponding situations inside a conducting solution shows a general enhancement of response [1–3].     

Numerical modelling of airborne electromagnetic anomalies originating from low-conductivity 3D bodies1

Responses of a multifrequency, multicoil airborne electromagnetic (AEM) system were modelled numerically for 3D electrical conductors embedded in a resistive bedrock and overlain by an overburden of low to moderate conductivity. The results cover a horizontal coplanar coil configuration and two frequencies, 7837 Hz and 51 250 Hz. The models studied are single or multiple, poor conductors (conductance lower than 0.1 S) embedded in a host rock of high but finite resistivity (5000 Ωm) and overlain by a layer of overburden with finite thickness and low to moderate conductivity (conductance up to 2 S). On the basis of the modelling results, limits of detectability for poor conductors have been studied for the various model structures. The results indicate that the anomaly from a steeply dipping, plate-like conductor will decrease significantly when the conductor is embedded in a weakly conductive host rock and is overlain by a conductive overburden. However, an anomaly is obtained, and its magnitude can even increase with increasing overburden conductivity or frequency. The plate anomaly remains practically constant when only the overburden thickness is varied. Changes in overburden conductivity will cause the plate-anomaly values to change markedly. If the plate conductance is less than that of the overburden, a local anomaly opposite in sign to the normal type of anomaly will be recorded. Another major consequence is that conductors interpreted with free-space models will be heavily overestimated in depth or underestimated in conductance, if in reality induction and current channelling in the host rock and overburden make even a slight contribution to the anomalous EM field. The lateral resolution for the horizontal coplanar coil system was found to be about 1.7 times the sensor altitude. Similarly, the lateral extension of a horizontal conductive ribbon, required to reach the semi-infinite (half-space) behaviour, is more than three times the sensor altitude. Finally, screening of a steeply dipping plate, caused by a small, conductive horizontal ribbon, is much more severe than screening of the same plate by an extensive horizontal layer.     

VLF ANOMALIES FROM A PERFECTLY CONDUCTING HALF PLANE BELOW AN OVERBURDEN*

A theoretical solution to the electromagnetic problem of a perfectly conducting half plane below a conducting overburden has been obtained. The VLF anomalies have been computed for different overburden conductivity and thickness and also for different dip angles of the half plane. In the computations the contribution to the secondary magnetic field from the electric Hertz potential has been neglected. The anomaly curves which are displayed as EM 16 readings, show a fairly complicated behaviour. This is mainly due to the phase shift and attenuation of the field caused by the conductivity of the overburden and the host rock. From the anomaly curves it is possible to define the apparent depth to the top of the conductor as the distance between the peak value and the cross-over of the real component. The apparent depth is usually larger than the actual depth, but it is possible to determine the actual depth to the conductor from the relation between the peak-to-peak anomaly and the apparent depth. When the peak-to-peak anomaly is fairly large, it is also possible to make estimates of the dip angle. However, a complete set of master curves will be a necessary tool for interpretation of VLF data when there is need to obtain more accurate estimates of the half plane parameters. In a specific case the theoretical calculations are shown to be in good agreement with measured data.     

COMPUTATION OF VLF RESPONSE OVER HALF-PLANE AND WEDGE MODELS*

A theoretical solution is presented to the problem where a VLF anomaly is generated by a conducting half-plane or a perfectly conducting wedge below a stratified overburden. The solution is obtained by the use of a scattering matrix for plane-wave eigenfunctions. VLF anomalies have been computed for different values of the conductance and dip of the half-plane. The phase of the VLF anomaly due to a conducting half-plane depends on the conductance and the distance to the half-plane. Close to the half-plane the tilt angle and ellipticity are of opposite sign for a perfect conductor, but the ellipticity will change sign for a poor conductor. The VLF anomaly for a perfectly conducting wedge is essentially determined by the position of the upper surface of the wedge, i.e. the anomaly will closely resemble the anomaly of a perfectly conducting half-plane in the same position as the upper surface of the wedge.     

ANALYSIS OF SOME MULTI-FREQUENCY,MULTI-SEPARATION ELECTROMAGNETIC SURVEYS*

In the interpretation of anomalies obtained with moving source-receiver dipole electromagnetic surveys, use is frequently made of the so-called phasor or vector diagrams. Most such diagrams are based on model experiments or theoretical calculations on bodies of simple geometry. If the anomaly at some given coil-separation and frequency is known it is possible to predict the anomaly at some other separation and frequency. While the results of such predictions often agree admirably in the laboratory experiments, wide, systematic discrepancies are observed in full-scale field work. Some of the discrepancies can be explained by various phenomenological arguments and in this respect the effect of overburden conductivity appears to be more serious than is generally supposed. The effect of phase rotation due to the overburden is discussed in detail. The paper is mainly a cautionary note based on some full-scale data of multi-frequency, multi-separation surveys against the blind use of vector diagrams, but it also discusses the extent of the extra information and interpretation aid provided by such surveys.     

INTERPRETATION OF PULSE EM ANOMALIES OVER GANI CONDUCTORS,KURNOOL, INDIA*

A survey using Crone pulse electromagnetic (PEM) equipment was conducted near the village of Gani in Andhra Pradesh, India. The anomalies obtained had a shape typical for an inclined sheet conductor. From the multichannel TEM response, the multifrequency Slingram response was calculated. A comparison of the Slingram response of the Gani conductors with the free-air model response of a thin sheet conductor shows phase rotation and attenuation of the anomaly vector, thereby confirming the presence of a conductive overburden. Interpretation of the Gani results using free-air phasor diagrams causes an overestimation of depth and conductance of the target conductor unless data obtained at a sufficiently low frequency are used for the interpretation. For areas like Gani this frequency can be as high as 336 Hz.     

INVERSION OF SURFACE AND BOREHOLE ELECTROMAGNETIC DATA FOR TWO-DIMENSIONAL ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY MODELS*

A method for inverting electromagnetic fields induced by a line source in an earth of two-dimensional conductivity structure is developed. Certain unique features of the finite element method are used to construct an efficient algorithm for the accurate calculation of the Jacobian matrix of partial derivatives, and the resulting linearized equations are solved using the damped least squares method. Case studies of theoretical data generated from a simple model of interest in geophysical prospecting show that, in general, it is impossible to obtain, from surface data alone, accurate estimates of the conductivity of structures buried deeper than 0.2 skin depths under a conducting overburden. The addition of borehole data to the surface data is found to increase the resolving power of the electromagnetic method dramatically. In particular, the borehole data appear to stabilize the inverse when only a poor initial estimate of the likely structure is given.     

基于震例的地震电磁异常特征研究

依据《中国震例》(1966—2012年)中中国大陆发生的252次M_S≥5.0震例资料, 将其中与电磁异常相关的135个震例中的457项电磁异常进行收集整理, 建立较为完备的中国大陆电磁异常库。 在此基础上, 对中国大陆电磁异常的测项种类、 区域差异、 异常分类、 敏感点进行统计分析, 并对异常测项、 异常特征与主震震级的关系进行了探讨。 研究结果表明, 电磁异常在大华北、 南北带中南段、 青藏高原北部地区有较好的映震效果; 地电异常的中短期性质更突出, 电磁扰动则主要为临震异常; 地磁日变畸变等测项具有显著的指标意义, 可为震情判定提供重要参考。     

Stacking velocities in the presence of overburden velocity anomalies

Lateral velocity changes (velocity anomalies) in the overburden may cause significant oscillations in normal moveout velocities. Explicit analytical moveout formulas are presented and provide a direct explanation of these lateral fluctuations and other phenomena for a subsurface with gentle deep structures and shallow overburden anomalies. The analytical conditions for this have been derived for a depth-velocity model with gentle structures with dips not exceeding 12°. The influence of lateral interval velocity changes and curvilinear overburden velocity boundaries can be estimated and analysed using these formulas. An analytical approach to normal moveout velocity analysis in a laterally inhomogeneous medium provides an understanding of the connection between lateral interval velocity changes and normal moveout velocities. In the presence of uncorrected shallow velocity anomalies, the difference between root-mean-square and stacking velocity can be arbitrarily large to the extent of reversing the normal moveout function around normal incidence traveltimes. The main reason for anomalous stacking velocity behaviour is non-linear lateral variations in the shallow overburden interval velocities or the velocity boundaries.
A special technique has been developed to determine and remove shallow velocity anomaly effects. This technique includes automatic continuous velocity picking, an inversion method for the determination of shallow velocity anomalies, improving the depth-velocity model by an optimization approach to traveltime inversion (layered reflection tomography) and shallow velocity anomaly replacement. Model and field data examples are used to illustrate this technique.     

INTERPRETATION AND DEPTH OF INVESTIGATION OF GRADIENT MEASUREMENTS IN DIRECT CURRENT GEOELECTRICS*

Gradient measurements in a homogeneous electrical primary field can easily be interpreted for simple models. The simplified solution (conducting or resistant body in a homogeneous space in a homogeneous electrical field) is often sufficiently accurate, as comparisons with the exact solution (body of finite resistivity in a homogeneous half-space in a quasihomogeneous electrical field) show. The exact geometry of the body cannot be determined by gradient measurements; the same anomaly of apparent resistivity can be caused by different bodies. In particular, the similarity between a sphere and a cube of the same volume is very high. There is a distinct influence of the resistivity of the overburden: the higher this resistivity is, the stronger is the effect caused by a buried body. If a deviation of 10% of the apparent resistivity is assumed as the lower boundary at which a buried body can be detected by gradient measurements, the depth of investigation for a three-dimensional body is approximately equal to its width; in the two-dimensional case the thickness of the overburden can be twice the width. If the overburden has a resistivity which is higher than the resistivity of the substratum, these depths are greater. The greatest possible depth is approximately three times the width of the body.     

Methane hydrates in controlled-source electromagnetic surveys – analysis of a recent data example

Data from a recently acquired sea-bed logging deep-water survey are analysed for resistive bodies at depths below mudline shallower than about 300 m. A model consistent with known methane hydrate properties is found to explain near-offset structures over an offset scale of a few hundred metres observed in the data. The lateral near-seabed resolution of the sea-bed logging method was determined to less than 100 m for source frequencies of up to 10 Hz. The importance of accurate hydrate maps to improve data processing is demonstrated by placing synthetic reservoirs below hydrates and observing their effects on reference model processing. The phase is shown to be less perturbed by shallow resistors than the amplitude, which is an important quality control of standard anomaly maps. While patchy shallow resistors can generally be mapped with simple normalized magnitude-versus-offset and phase-versus-offset difference analyses, large area distributions of hydrates over kilometres are hard to distinguish from deeper structures using controlled-source electromagnetic data only, short of conducting a full 3D inversion of a sufficiently large survey. Beyond, the study confirms the applicability of controlled-source electromagnetic techniques in general to map shallow resistive structures for drilling hazards and possible future exploration of methane hydrates as an energy source.     

深海6000 m拖曳式瞬变电磁系统及其应用

针对我国西南印度洋合同区热液硫化物矿快速、有效以及便捷地质勘探装备的要求,研发了由甲板控制系统、万米光电复合缆、仪器舱拖体和天线拖体组成的深海6000 m拖曳式瞬变电磁系统.为了便于拖体布放和快速发现异常,选择重叠回线收发装置类型;采用理论数值计算确定了在拖曳高度不大于50 m的前提下,观测1～100ms窗范围内的二次场响应,可以发现近海底深海热液硫化物矿堆;另外,通过不同拖延深度海上试验,研究了拖曳深度对瞬变电磁的影响规律及仪器性能.大洋第30航次第二航段在西南印度洋脊热液区,应用该系统发现了明显的瞬变电磁异常.印证了系统的有效性.     

SCALE MODEL ELECTROMAGNETIC RESPONSE TO INLINE AND BROADSIDE SYSTEMS AT SKEW TRAVERSES OF A DIPPING HALF PLANE EMBEDDED IN A CONDUCTING HOST ROCK*

Laboratory scale model experiments have been performed to obtain the electromagnetic response of a finitely conducting half plane embedded in resistive/conductive surrounding and excited by an oscillating magnetic dipole. Inphase and quadrature profiles are presented for two horizontal coplanar transmitter-receiver systems (inline and broadside) for normal and skew traverses and for different dips of the conductor. It is observed that the broadside system is more diagnostic in delineating the strike and dip of the conductor and is more sensitive to the conducting host rock. The broadside profile over a vertical or dipping half plane is characterized, when traversing perpendicular to strike, by two positive peaks flanking a zero response when the coils are over the top edge of the conductor. For skew traverses a negative peak replaces the zero response. An increasing asymmetry in the anomalies is caused by changing the dip of the conductor from the vertical in both the systems, but it is more pronounced for the broadside system. The quadrature response in the broadside system changes in a characteristic way when the target is surrounded by a conducting host rock. The comparative results of the two systems may, therefore, be useful in the induction prospecting for ore deposits approximated by a half plane, especially in delineating the strike, dip, and effect of conductive host rock.     

Interpretation of ground VLF-EM data in terms of inclined sheet-like conductor models

The response of two-dimensional, inclined, sheet-like conductors with, low conductance values to plane wave electromagnetic fields in the very low frequency (VLF) range has been evaluated by using a numerical technique. The conductance values of the conductors considered are appropriate for those produced by water and/or clay-filled fracture and shear zones in the Precambrian crystalline rocks of the Canadian Shield. The surrounding host rock was assumed to be, resistive with resistivities in the 1–10 k.m range to reflect the high resistivities over the shield areas. No overburden was assumed in this analysis.The results of the computations are presented in the form of characteristic interpretation diagrams to interpret ground VLF data in the field, where facilities for direct numerical modelling may not be available. A method for interpreting ground VLF data using such characteristic diagrams has been proposed in this paper which requires a prior knowledge of the host rock resistivity and the inclination of the conductor. These two parameters may be derived from a VLF resistivity survey and from appropriate filtering of the VLF tilt angle response. The interpretation method was applied to a ground VLF anomaly obtained at a research site near Atikokan in NW Ontario, which yielded an interpretation compatible with information from geological mapping.Geological Survey of Canada Contribution No. 51888.     

深海热液硫化物矿体3D瞬变电磁正演

深海热液硫化物矿体瞬变电磁的正演是考虑深海环境的全空间条件下三维体的涡流电磁响应.采用全空间矢量有限元法模拟计算深海热液硫化物矿的三维瞬变电磁响应,对硫化物矿体采用矩形单元模型剖分,应用Galerkin法推导有限元方程,先计算频率域响应,再通过Fourier反变换将其转换至时间域,得出深海热液硫化物矿矿体的瞬变电磁响应.并用双半空间模型的解析解检验了全空间矢量有限元法模拟计算算法和程序的正确性,最后按照等比例缩小电磁物理实验原则,比对数值计算和物理实验结果论证了全空间3D模型数值的正确性.结果表明:对于海水、矿体以及围岩复杂电磁边界,应用全空间矢量有限元法模拟计算深海热液硫化物矿瞬变电磁响应异常与物理模拟结果一致,而且计算方法简单精确,异常幅值明显,边界清晰.     

Runoff generation and routing on artificial slopes in a Mediterranean–continental environment: the Teruel coalfield,Spain

The aim of this study was to identify the mechanisms of runoff generation and routing and their controlling factors at the hillslope scale, on artificial slopes derived from surface coal mining reclamation in a Mediterranean–continental area. Rainfall and runoff at interrill and microcatchment scales were recorded for a year on two slopes with different substrata: topsoil cover and overburden cover. Runoff coefficient and runoff routing from interrill areas to microcatchment outlets were higher in the overburden substratum than in topsoil, and greater in the most developed rill network. Rainfall volume is the major parameter responsible for runoff response on overburden, suggesting that this substratum is very impermeable—at least during the main rainfall periods of the year (late spring and autumn) when the soil surface is sealed. In such conditions, most rainfall input is converted into runoff, regardless of its intensity. Results from artificial rainfall experiments, conducted 3 and 7 years after seeding, confirm the low infiltration capacity of overburden when sealed. The hydrological response shows great seasonal variability on the overburden slope in accordance with soil surface changes over the year. Rainfall volume and intensities (I₃₀, I₆₀) explain runoff at the interrill scale on the topsoil slope, where rainfall experiments demonstrated a typical Hortonian infiltration curve. However, no correlation was found at the microcatchment level, probably because of the loss of functionality of the only rill as ecological succession proceeded. The runoff generation mechanism on the topsoil slope is more homogeneous throughout the year. Runoff connectivity, defined as the ratio between runoff rates recorded at the rill network scale and those recorded at the interrill area scale in every rainfall event, was also greater on the rilled overburden slope, and in the most developed rill network. The dense rill networks of the overburden slope guarantee very effective runoff drainage, regardless of rainfall magnitude. Rills drain overland flow from interrill‐sealed areas, reducing the opportunity of reinfiltration in areas not affected by siltation. Runoff generation and routing on topsoil slopes are controlled by grass cover and soil moisture content, whereas on overburden slopes rill network density and soil moisture content are the main controlling factors. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

INLINE AND BROADSIDE EM DIPOLE DIPOLE PROFILING OVER A THIN VERTICAL INFINITELY CONDUCTING VEIN *

Master diagrams for electromagnetic responses of nine dipole dipole systems are presented for various depths of a vertical infinitely conducting vein. The YY system gives the minimum anomaly for both the inline and broadside arrays. Among other inline systems, it is difficult to decide the clearcut superiority of one system over the other, whereas the XX system in broadside array gives maximum anomaly.     

FOCUSSED ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY ARRAYS: SOME THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL EXPERIMENTS*

The “Laterolog 7′’and the “Microlaterolog’ have been studied theoretically for the case of a conducting halfspace containing a single overburden, using a technique based on the method of images. The results have shown these focussed arrays to be more sensitive to the lower medium (i.e., having greater depth of investigation) than unfocussed ones of the same dimensions, when the “correct’ geometric factor is used. The geometric factor of a focussed electrode array is somewhat involved, and is explained with reference to an ideal focussed array; such an array would pass a measuring current of constant intensity into a fixed geometrical shape of conducting material, irrespective of any layering or any other heterogenities that may be present, using auxiliary current sources of variable magnitude. This concept of a constant amount of current flowing in a beam of fixed geometry and current density, is the basis of focussed arrays, and it is shown that the geometric factor, used to calculate the apparent resistivity, is the one derived when considering the homogeneous case. The value of the constant measuring current, alone, is used to convert the measured potential difference into a resistance, the ratio between this value and the combined intensities of the auxiliary current sources, for the homogeneous case, being incorporated into the geometric factor. Surprisingly good agreement was found between the theoretical models and practical experiments using a focussing seabed resistivity probe which is a substantial modification of the “Microlaterolog”. Both show similar deviations from the ideal case which are explained in terms of refraction at the overburden interface. All experiments indicated that focussed arrays have a greater depth of investigation than similar unfocussed ones for a single overburden, whether it be resistive or conductive.     

INDUCTION ANOMALY DUE TO AN ELONGATED COVERED ORE-ZONE EXCITED BY A LONG CURRENT CARRYING CABLE*

A detailed analysis of the electromagnetic anomaly due to an elongated mineralized zone of low resistivity in presence of a fixed-transmitter (a long cable carrying an, alternating current Ie^Iωt) is presented where (i) the host rock is not highly resistive and might contain some disseminated mineralization, (ii) the ore-body has an inhomogeneous conductivity, (iii) there is a contrast in magnetic properties of the ore-body and the host rocks, and (iv) source is close to the conducting system i.e., anomalous zone is lying shallow. The numerical computation of the generalized analytical expressions have been made. The selective screening behaviour of the cover is delineated and suitable frequency ranges for maximum detectability of a covered conductor have been obtained. A paradoxical decrease of the in-phase component of the response function with the increase of the core conductivity has been found for large conductivities of the cover. For moderate values of response parameter the inhomogeneity in the conductivity is found to significantly affect the induced field. The present analysis of the various features of the secondary field will aid to the existing interpretation sensitivity of the induction prospecting data for porphyry conducting ore deposits with zonal wall-rock alteration and sulphide distributions.