Self potential surveys have often been used in exploration for high temperature geothermal systems, but only to a limited extent for. This paper is an extension of a previous study, in which the principles of self. Streamingpotential, on the other hand, is caused by a fluid typically water with dissolved minerals an electrolytemoving in the ground, which causes a change in voltage. Resistivity is defined as resistance in ohms between the opposite phases of a unit cube of a material. The method has been applied successfully in geothermal and mineral exploration and in the delineation of certain groundwater contaminants.
Accordingly, they involve the generation of a short pulse of seismic energy and the permanent recording of the arrival of seismic pulse at distant locations, with time intervals after the pulse instant. These single grain methods have enhanced evaluation of indicator mineral concentrates for diamond potential by greatly increasing the proportion of each suite that provides useful data on mantle conditions. Geophysical exploration by spontaneous polarization methods, mining mag. The selfpotential method is smallscaled, versatile, and provides a simple, reliable and economical means of nearsurface electrical prospecting for certain base metal sul phides and other mineral resources. The application of self potential method to outline water fluxes in shallow subsurface of urban soils is described in pozdnyakova et al. Editorial for special issue seismic methods in mineral. Self potential is naturally occurring electric potential in the ground due to several origin. Sp method is maybe the oldest geophysical method used for exploration. Spontaneous potential sp, also called self potential, is a naturally occurring electric potential difference in the earth, measured by an electrode relative to a fixed reference electrode. Fundamentals of the self potential method the self potential method is a passive geophysical method, like the gravity and magnetic methods. The selfpotential method relies on the oxidation of the upper surface of metallic sulfide minerals by downwardpercolating groundwater to become a natural battery. Mantlederived indicator mineral compositions as applied. Batterylike models assume that a buried conductor creates an anodecathode pair by conveying a flow of electrons to oxidizing areas in the shallow subsurface from reducing areas at depth. Fundamentals of the selfpotential method the self potential method is a passive geophysical method, like the gravity and magnetic methods.
The model is used to simulate geoelectric targets in mineral exploration and to test a procedure to obtain current source terms by inverting an sp data set. Electrical methods environmental geophysics us epa. An overview of the selfpotential spontaneouspotential method. Nagao, electromagnetic and geochemical methods applied to investigations of hydrothermal. Magnetic and gravity methods in mineral exploration. Marjoribanks, geological methods in mineral exploration and mining, 2nd ed. The course is aimed at detailing geophysical principles, geophysical methods applied for mineral exploration, acquisition and processing of geophysical data, and geological interpretation. Self potential electrical potentials electrical conductivity. Selfpotential sp method for fluidflow mapping zonge.
Mineral exploration is a complete sequence of activities. Mineral potential assessment mineral potential likelihood that an economic mineral deposits could have formed in the area probabilistic approach to mineral deposits instead of deterministic probabilities are conditional on geological processes occurring in an area on geological features indicative of those processes. In canada, discoveries of important sulphide ore bod. The use of spontaneous potential sp anomalies is well known in the geophysical literatures because of its effectiveness and significance in solving many complex problems in mineral exploration. The self potential method is smallscaled, versatile, and provides a simple, reliable and economical means of nearsurface electrical prospecting for certain base metal sul phides and other mineral resources. The practical application of each method to such diverse exploration applications as petroleum, groundwater, engineering, environmental and forensic is shown by case histories. Its its history starts at 1800 fox 1830 when sp used for m ineral exploration parasnis 1997. Sp method has been used increasingly for engineering, hydrologic, environmental and geothermal applications since the early 1970s convin, 1990. Magnetic method applied to mineral exploration sciencedirect. The study also focuses on the fundamental foundations of selfpotential, which have been advanced with time and event, cause, system, and application in different investigation fields.
Research article transport processes in porous media by self. Finally, the three potential methods gravity, magnetic, and selfpotential mentioned above have been used to evaluate the source parameters. Mineral exploration geophysics international petroleum. The two papers show depthimaging results on data acquired as part of the cogitomin project, which aims at developing costeffective geophysical imaging methods for mineral exploration. Potential profit, however, arguably is higher for any particular grassroots project in the sense that the discovery of a large mineral deposit can literally. Estimating model parameters from selfpotential anomaly of. Mineral exploration and development are the first stage in the process of mineral supply. Magnetic exploration also referred to as potential field exploration is used to give geoscientist an indirect way to see beneath the earths surface by sensing physical properties of rocks magnetization. Methods based on derivative analysis usually fail to reach the optimal solution global minimum and. Resistivity and ip methods are often applied on the ground surface using multiple fourelectrode sites. Mineral exploration and development are informationgathering activities. Difference between selfpotential sp measured at high and lowpool reveals underground fluidflow paths. Geophysical exploration for gold and associated minerals. Method of self potential sp measures the naturally existed stationary electrical potentials in the soil.
Self potential surveys measure the difference in potential between any two points on the ground produced by small, naturally produced currents that occur beneath the earths surface. In mineral exploration, a magnetic survey is carried out along with gravity surveys. The selfpotential method makes use of natural currents. Electrical method electrical resistivity method is based on the difference in the electrical conductivity or the electrical resistivity of different soils. Hydrogeological methods the ground water potential of an area mainly depends upon the. However, during the long history of human beings, total depletion of a single mineral has never occurred. Pdf this paper presents the application of selfpotential sp method in. Selfpotential sp method environmental geophysics us epa.
The self potential method consists in the passive measurement of the distribution of the electrical potential at the ground surface of the earth and in boreholes. The following measurements for the monitoring of polluted plume and the bioremediation process have been carried on at autumn of 2008. The inverse problem of self potential data interpretation is generally illposed and nonlinear. A natural voltage difference is always present between points on the earths surface. Pdf forward and inverse selfpotential modeling in mineral.
Selfpotential methods on geothermal exploration case. The sp method was used by fox as early as 1830 on sulphide veins in a cornish mine, but the systematic use of the sp and electrical resistivity methods in conventional geophysics dates from about 1920 parasnis, 1997. A magnetic compass was used in sweden in the mid1600s to find iron ore deposits. This guide to the selfpotential method of geophysical prospecting represents part of. Spontaneous potentials and resistivity surveys applied to hydrogeology in a volcanic area.
The self potential method enables nonintrusive assessment and imaging of disturbances in electrical currents of conductive subsurface materials. The selfpotential sp method is a wellestablished geophysical technique that. But along with the development of science and technology, the self potential can be used to investigate the prospects of geothermal areas corwin, 1976, 1979, 2000. Sarkar, in essentials of mineral exploration and evaluation, 2016. Sp methods can be very useful for karst groundwater regimes in quick surveys of a site or in longterm surveys during a rainy season. Magnetic exploration also referred to as potential field exploration is used to give geoscientist an indirect way to see beneath the earths surface. A road map to vision 2020, mining engineers association of india, tamilnadu chapter, pp. However, this method has potential usefulness in exploration and in geoenvironmental investigations ovnatanov and tamrazyan, 1970. This website beta version contains information on geophysical methods, references to geophysical citations, and a glossary of geophysical terms related to environmental applications. Forward and inverse selfpotential modeling in mineral. Geological methods in mineral exploration and mining.
During the mineral reconnaissance programme the bgs evaluated and applied a wide range of techniques to exploration for many deposit types in britain. The selfpotential method consists in the passive measurement of the distribution of the electrical potential at the ground surface of the earth and in boreholes. Selfpotential methods on geothermal exploration case study. The association of a self potential anomaly with a sulfide deposit indicates a site of ongoing. Application of geophysical techniques to mineralsrelated environmental problems by ken watson, david fitterman, r. Pantelis soupios at king fahd university of petroleum and minerals. The number of electrical methods used since the first application around 1830 parasnis 1962 is truly large. To be used as electrodes for the selfpotential method, the pots were filled.
Pdf application of selfpotential sp method for monitoring. Selfpotential method in hydrogeological exploration of volcanic areas. Self potential is naturally occurring electric potential. Streamsediment geochemical surveys work well in britain, particularly in upland areas where drainage is well developed. The method of induced polarization ip is based on this. There is an increasing demand for mineral commodities that has led to increasing application of geophysical methods to map a wide variety of mineral deposits. Applied geophysics comprises the following subjects. Integrated geophysical methods were used for mineral exploration macnae 1979, smith 2002. The selfpotential due to water flow is a direct parameter for the grouting remediation of reservoir leakage. View the article pdf and any associated supplements and. Surface geophysical surveys have been applied to mineral and petroleum exploration for many years. Fast interpretation of selfpotential data by dexp method. Selfpotential method the selfpotential method makes use of natural currents flowing in the ground that are generated by electrochemical processes to locate.
Subsurface surveys, an applied geophysics company, uses a variety of geophysical methods to solve engineering, geological, environmental and forensic problems. The special issue comprises two papers further demonstrating the benefits of depth imaging for mineral exploration. Borehole thermal methods have been applied in geothermal exploration, but have seldom been used in mineral exploration. Dec 28, 2007 numerical greens functions are used to allow onestep evaluation of sp fields from an inert electrode model. They can be classified as either time domain tem of frequency domain fem systems.
The em, resistivity imaging and gradient self potential methods have been applied. Controls should then be defined, for instance the distribution of auriferous veining related to the movement on a fault system controlling dilation, and directly applied to exploration targeting, reconnaissance mapping, and drill planning. Spontaneous potentials are often measured down boreholes for formation evaluation in the oil and gas industry, and they can also be measured along the earths surface for mineral exploration or groundwater. The selfpotential sp method is m aybe the oldest geophysical method used for exploration. Induced polarization is a geophysical method used extensively in mineral exploration and mine operations. The new arguments which are here set forth are the proper accounting for the topographic effects and a robust approach to global 3d tomography. Mineral exploration an overview sciencedirect topics. The detail description of self potential method procedure is provided in landmapper manual. This include a variety of methods in which electrical current is artificially introduced from an external source at certain points and then its flow through subsurface materials recorded at different distances. Field procedures are straightforward, with the potential measured between carefully designed electrodes using what is essentially a highly sensitive dc drill collar voltmeter. The self potential spontaneous, or natural potential. Fast interpretation of self potential data by dexp method. Another important application of landmapper erm02 is measuring electrical potentials between soils and plants. An introduction to geophysical exploration, 3rd edition.
Various methods, such as self potential method, resistivity method, inductive method, telluric method, magnetotell uric method, induced polarization method, charged body method, radio wave method, and transient method are used in the electrical and electromagnetic studies. The purpose of this method is to map the electrical potential to reveal one or several polarization mechanisms at play in the ground. Seismic methods depend upon velocities of acoustical energy in earth materials. Kaneko encyclopedia of life support systems eolss depletion of mineral resources often induces social crises and sometimes causes wars. Imaging of potential fields for mining and environmental. Self potential investigation of contaminants in a dumpsite. By working at different scales, geophysical methods may be applied to a wide range of investigations from studies of the entire earth global geophysics. And when you use nonpolarizable electrodes in this manual.
Maurizio fedi, department of earth sciences, university of naples federico ii, italy. Research article transport processes in porous media by self potential method valeriagiampaolo,danielacalabrese,andenzorizzo consiglio nazionale delle ricerche, istituto di metodologie per l analisi ambientale, laboratorio hydrogeosite. Borehole thermal methods have been applied in geothermal exploration, but. The lateral extent of the comstock ore body was mapped using self potential methods in the 1880s. Geology provides the framework in which mineral exploration and the integrated procedures of remote sensing, geophysics, and geochemistry are planned and interpreted. It involves the measurement of the electric potential at a set of measurement points called self potential stations. It has an increasing number of applications, from mapping fluid flow in the subsurface of the earth to detecting preferential flow paths in. Gravity and magnetic methods, which are discussed in this article, are extremely useful in both mineral and oil exploration. In this sense, mineral exploration and development represent a variety of activities that collect information necessary to identify mineral deposits and then evaluate whether they should developed into mines. Self potential method was used to investigate the subsurface in a dumpsite and a.
Application of geophysical techniques to minerals related environmental problems by ken watson, david fitterman, r. Electrical potential selfpotential measurements with. Selfpotential method the selfpotential method makes use of natural currents flowing in the ground that are generated by electrochemical processes to locate shallow bodies of anomalous conductivity and water circulation. Natural selfpotential sp fields observed in the vicinity of conductive orebodies can be explained in terms of electrochemical reactions in which the conductors participate. A guide to prospecting by the selfpotential method geology ontario. Methods and application presents a summary of new results related to oil and gas prospecting that are useful for theoreticians and practical professionals. In canada, discoveries of important sulphide ore bod ies by the sp method attest to its proven exploration value. The location of all e lectrodes was determined by using a differential gps. Indicator mineral chemistry methods used in diamond.
In an ip survey, in addition to resistivity measurement, capacitive properties of the subsurface materials are determined as well. The surface methods of groundwater exploration include the following. Mantlederived indicator mineral compositions as applied to diamond exploration. Rapid techniques for self potential sp data interpretation are of prime importance in engineering and exploration geophysics. This paper gives the literature report about the use of magnetic method in mineral exploration. This method is nondestructive, fast, inexpensive, and very simple to be applying in.
In the geophysical exploration methods also referred to as geophysical sur. Geophysical methods in exploration and mineral environmental. In mineral exploration and engineering projects, applicability of seismic imaging is often limited and other geophysical methods take the front seat. Elongated ore bodies of magnetite and pyrite etc are easily delineated by this method. Iii application of self potential method in geothermal exploration at fist self potential method is used to determine the areas of mining prospects sato, 1960, telford, 1990. Geophysical tools, including different techniques such as magnetic, self potential sp, induced polarization ip and resistivity, are important techniques in mineral exploration for ores located in basement rocks. The study of oil and gas complexes and intrusions occurring in sedimentary basins is crucial for identifying the location of oil and gas fields and for making accurate predictions on oil findings.
1471 751 280 1226 110 909 1393 1417 159 1174 33 491 1057 315 1411 1016 1465 183 318 698 310 1219 637 1510 1011 225 966 1158 1497 1417 741 1333 377 147 84 231 1011 684 341 895 656 1419