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ABSTRACT
The advent of 3D inversion packages for Resistivity and
Induced Polarization has meant that geophysicists are no longer
constrained by survey arrays designed to produce data to be plotted
manually and interpreted by eye. 3D inversion processing means
that there is no longer a need to place receiver and transmitter
electrodes in a co-linear array. Electrode arrays can now be
designed to optimise target definition and data collection
efficiency.
The double offset poledipole array offers a way to collect large
amounts of data efficiently and has superior inversion sensitivity
and depth of investigation to standard arrays.
INTRODUCTION
Historically, mineral exploration and environmental
geophysicists have used a small number of arrays for the collection
of resistivity and Induced Polarization (IP) data. Arrays for DC
resistivity surveying were developed in the 1920s, and were used
for both depth sounding and traversing. The design criteria for
these arrays were based around field operations, interpretability,
and usage, either traversing or depth sounding. Most of the
interpretation was performed by comparing hand-calculated
curves with field data, or by simple rules of thumb.
Although the Overvoltage effect or Induced Polarization was
known in the 1920s, it was not until the 1950s that IP surveying for
economic mineralization was used routinely.
The use of time-varying voltages in the IP method can cause
inductive coupling problems with conventional arrays such as
Schlumberger and Wenner. Inductive coupling was minimised
with the dipoledipole array. The data from these surveys were
generally plotted as pseudosections and interpreted by comparing
the pseudosection with analogue, and later computer-generated,
models.
The availability of 2D and, later, 3D inversion programs for
resistivity and IP data (Loke and Barker, 1996a,b; Loke and
Dahlin, 2002) has led to more rapid and accurate interpretation of
survey data.
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(a)
The results for the resistivity and IP data are similar. For
simplicity, only IP chargeability results are presented here.
(b)
Fig. 5. (a) DipoleDipole model sensitivity long section. Section
perpendicular to survey lines. (b) Offset PoleDipole sensitivity long
section.
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CONCLUSIONS
The advent of 3D inversion
software has led to the lifting of
constraints on IP survey array design.
Electrode arrays can be designed to
optimise target definition and data
collection efficiency.
Modelling and field use of arrays
has shown that the offset poledipole
array offers superior resolution and
depth of investigation to the
dipoledipole array, for approximately
half the cost.
Fig. 8. Voltages at the receiver dipole for dipoledipole (DD) and offset poledipole (OPD) arrays.
REFERENCES
Loke, M.H., 2002, Tutorial: 2-D and 3-D electrical imaging surveys: Geotomo
Software, Malaysia.
COST-BENEFIT COMPARISON
Madden, T.R., and Cantwell, T., 1967, Induced Polarisation, a review: in Ward, S.H.
(ed.), Mining Geophysics, Vol. II, Theory: Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
White, R.M.S., Collins, S., Denne, R., Hee, R., and Brown, P., 2001, A new survey
design for 3D IP inversion modeling at Copper Hill: Exploration Geophysics, 32,
152155.
Array
100m DipoleDipole
Offset PoleDipole
Cost/Square km.
$7500
$4000
232
Collins, S., and White, R.M.S., 2003, Case histories in the use of three-dimensional
inversion of induced polarisation and resistivity surveys: 16th Geophysical
Conference and Exhibition, Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists,
Extended Abstracts.
Fullagar, P.K., Zhou, B., and Bourne, B., 2000, EM-coupling removal from time
domain IP data: Exploration Geophysics, 31, 134139.
Loke, M.H., and Barker, R.D., 1996a, Rapid least-squares inversion of apparent
resistivity pseudo sections using a quasi-Newton method: Geophysical
Prospecting, 44, 131152.
Loke, M.H., and Barker, R.D., 1996b, Practical techniques for 3D resistivity surveys
and data inversion: Geophysical Prospecting, 44, 499523.
Loke, M.H., and Dahlin, T., 2002, A comparison of the Gauss-Newton and quasiNewton methods in resistivity imaging inversion: Journal of Applied Geophysics,
49, 149162.
Cost/Reading
$25
$5
Readings/Square km.
300
800
Depth
200m
>600m