A rapid algorithm for self-potential data inversion with application to mineral exploration

2007 ◽  
Vol 2007 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khalid Essa ◽  
Salah Mehanee
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Data Inversion ◽  
Self Potential

scholarly journals Self-Potential data inversion through the integration of spectral analysis and tomographic approaches

2016 ◽  
Vol 206 (2) ◽  
pp. 1204-1220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa Di Maio ◽  
Ester Piegari ◽  
Payal Rani ◽  
Adolfo Avella
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Analysis ◽  
Data Inversion ◽  
Self Potential

Marine self-potential gradient exploration of the continental margin

Geophysics ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 70 (5) ◽  
pp. G109-G118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham Heinson ◽  
Antony White ◽  
David Robinson ◽  
Nader Fathianpour
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Potential Gradient ◽  
Ocean Waves ◽  
Horizontal Gradient ◽  
Reconstruction Method ◽  
Source Regions ◽  
Image Reconstruction Method ◽  
Numerical Finite Element ◽  
Self Potential

The self-potential (SP) method for mineral exploration is seldom used on land, primarily because of electrode noise problems and nonunique interpretations. Marine measurements of the horizontal gradient of the SP field, on the other hand, are relatively simple to make with an array of electrodes towed behind a ship. With low ship speeds of 5 to 10 km/hour, dense spatial sampling (∼1 m) can be obtained with resolution of better than 1 μV/m. In this paper we report on gradient SP data recorded on the continental shelf of South Australia by a horizontal array of towed electrodes approximately 20 m above the seafloor. Ocean waves and swells with periods of 5 to 15 s yielded large amplitude signals ±20 μV/m, but subseafloor mineralization produced SP gradient anomalies of ±50 μV/m and widths of 2 km or more in a number of parallel traverses. Integrating the observed SP gradients along each line delineated SP anomalies of amplitude up to −100 mV. Self-potential and magnetic anomaly data show limited spatial correlation and have different wavelengths, suggesting that SP sources are probably nonferrous minerals, such as graphite, and are deeper than the magnetic sources. The source of the SP signal is probably reduction-oxidation (redox) potential ([Formula: see text]) variations across a conducting body below the seafloor. We approximate the source as being two dimensional and find the most probable locations of line sources by an image reconstruction method. Numerical finite-element modeling of more realistic source regions suggests shallow, easterly dipping (∼15°) conductors of 1 Ω.m in the uppermost 2 km.

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