Combining Electrical Resistivity, Induced Polarization, and Self-Potential for a Better Detection of Ore Bodies
Electrical resistivity (ER), induced polarization (IP), and self-potential (SP) are three geophysical methods that have been broadly used in the realm of mineral exploration. These geophysical methods provide complementary information, each exhibiting a distinct sensitivity to various types of miner...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Minerals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/14/1/12 |
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| author | Zhaoyang Su André Revil Ahmad Ghorbani Xin Zhang Xiang Zhao Jessy Richard |
| author_facet | Zhaoyang Su André Revil Ahmad Ghorbani Xin Zhang Xiang Zhao Jessy Richard |
| author_sort | Zhaoyang Su |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Electrical resistivity (ER), induced polarization (IP), and self-potential (SP) are three geophysical methods that have been broadly used in the realm of mineral exploration. These geophysical methods provide complementary information, each exhibiting a distinct sensitivity to various types of mineral deposits. Considering the relationship among these three methods, we propose an integrated approach that merges their respective information to offer an improved localization technique for ore bodies. First, we invert the electrical conductivity distribution through electrical resistance tomography (ERT). Then, we use the inverted conductivity distribution to invert the IP and SP data in terms of chargeability and source current density distributions. Then, we normalize the inverted chargeability and source current density distributions and we combine them to obtain an ore body index (ORI) <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>χ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula> used to delineate the potential locations of ore deposits. We design this index to be sensitive to the presence of ore bodies, which are reflected by either strong and localized source current density (SP) and/or strong chargeability values (IP). The proposed method is first validated using a synthetic model with two distinct anomalies characterized by different properties. The results show the limitation of individual inversion, as each method exclusively detects one of these anomalies. The combined approach allows a better characterization of the target. Then, the approach is applied to a sandbox experiment in which two metallic bodies are buried in water-saturated sand used as the background. Again, the proposed methodology is successfully applied to the detection of the metallic targets, improving their localization compared with individual methods. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:39:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-408cc5c861684d5388e5f1292d95a02e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-163X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:39:13Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Minerals |
| spelling | doaj.art-408cc5c861684d5388e5f1292d95a02e2024-01-26T17:51:12ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2023-12-011411210.3390/min14010012Combining Electrical Resistivity, Induced Polarization, and Self-Potential for a Better Detection of Ore BodiesZhaoyang Su0André Revil1Ahmad Ghorbani2Xin Zhang3Xiang Zhao4Jessy Richard5State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, ChinaUniversité Grenoble Alpes, Université Savoie Mont-Blanc, CNRS, UMR CNRS 5204, EDYTEM, 73370 Le Bourget du Lac, FranceNaga Geophysics, Technolac, 73370 Le Bourget du Lac, FranceSchool of Safety Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaSchool of Earth Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, ChinaNaga Geophysics, Technolac, 73370 Le Bourget du Lac, FranceElectrical resistivity (ER), induced polarization (IP), and self-potential (SP) are three geophysical methods that have been broadly used in the realm of mineral exploration. These geophysical methods provide complementary information, each exhibiting a distinct sensitivity to various types of mineral deposits. Considering the relationship among these three methods, we propose an integrated approach that merges their respective information to offer an improved localization technique for ore bodies. First, we invert the electrical conductivity distribution through electrical resistance tomography (ERT). Then, we use the inverted conductivity distribution to invert the IP and SP data in terms of chargeability and source current density distributions. Then, we normalize the inverted chargeability and source current density distributions and we combine them to obtain an ore body index (ORI) <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>χ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula> used to delineate the potential locations of ore deposits. We design this index to be sensitive to the presence of ore bodies, which are reflected by either strong and localized source current density (SP) and/or strong chargeability values (IP). The proposed method is first validated using a synthetic model with two distinct anomalies characterized by different properties. The results show the limitation of individual inversion, as each method exclusively detects one of these anomalies. The combined approach allows a better characterization of the target. Then, the approach is applied to a sandbox experiment in which two metallic bodies are buried in water-saturated sand used as the background. Again, the proposed methodology is successfully applied to the detection of the metallic targets, improving their localization compared with individual methods.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/14/1/12electrical resistivity tomography (ERT)induced polarization (IP)self-potential (SP)ore body index (ORI)exploration of mineral resources |
| spellingShingle | Zhaoyang Su André Revil Ahmad Ghorbani Xin Zhang Xiang Zhao Jessy Richard Combining Electrical Resistivity, Induced Polarization, and Self-Potential for a Better Detection of Ore Bodies Minerals electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) induced polarization (IP) self-potential (SP) ore body index (ORI) exploration of mineral resources |
| title | Combining Electrical Resistivity, Induced Polarization, and Self-Potential for a Better Detection of Ore Bodies |
| title_full | Combining Electrical Resistivity, Induced Polarization, and Self-Potential for a Better Detection of Ore Bodies |
| title_fullStr | Combining Electrical Resistivity, Induced Polarization, and Self-Potential for a Better Detection of Ore Bodies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Combining Electrical Resistivity, Induced Polarization, and Self-Potential for a Better Detection of Ore Bodies |
| title_short | Combining Electrical Resistivity, Induced Polarization, and Self-Potential for a Better Detection of Ore Bodies |
| title_sort | combining electrical resistivity induced polarization and self potential for a better detection of ore bodies |
| topic | electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) induced polarization (IP) self-potential (SP) ore body index (ORI) exploration of mineral resources |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/14/1/12 |
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