Electrical Methods

Electrical geophysical prospecting

methods detect the surface effects
produced by electric current flow in
the ground. Using electrical
methods, one may measure
potentials, currents, and
electromagnetic fields that occur
naturally or are introduced
artificially in the ground.

The electrical survey methods

are of four types:
self potential method
equipotential method
electromagnetic methods
resistivity method

 self potential method:

The self-potential (SP) method is a
geophysical technique that measures
naturally occurring electric potentials in the
subsurface of the Earth. The SP method is
based on the principle that geological
materials with different electrical properties
can generate electric potentials in response
to natural or applied electric fields.
The SP method involves measuring the
voltage difference between two electrodes
placed on the surface of the Earth. One
electrode is called the reference electrode,
and the other is the measuring electrode.
The reference electrode is typically placed at
a fixed location, while the measuring
electrode is moved around to different
locations to measure the electric potential
difference.

use of self potential method:

The SP method is commonly used in mineral
exploration, groundwater studies, and
environmental investigations.
 equipotential method:
The equipotential method is a geophysical
technique used to measure the electrical
properties of the subsurface. It involves
measuring the electrical potential difference
between two or more electrodes that are
placed on the surface of the Earth at fixed
locations. The electrodes are connected to a
potential meter,
which measures the voltage difference
between the electrodes.
In the equipotential method, the electrodes
are typically arranged in a regular grid
pattern, and measurements are taken at
each grid point. By plotting the voltage
measurements on a map, contours of equal
voltage, or equipotential lines, can be drawn.
These equipotential lines can then be used
to infer the subsurface electrical properties,
such as the resistivity distribution.
As a result, the equipotential method is often
used in conjunction with other geophysical
techniques to provide a more comprehensive
picture of the subsurface properties.
 use of equipotential method:
Mapping geological structures
Identifying groundwater resources
Environmental investigations
Mineral exploration:

electromagnetic methods:
Electromagnetic (EM) methods are
geophysical techniques used to study the
electrical and magnetic properties of the
subsurface of the Earth. These methods are
based on the principle that variations in the
electrical and magnetic properties of rocks
and soils can be detected using
electromagnetic fields.
There are two main types of EM methods:
time-domain electromagnetics (TDEM) and
frequency-domain electromagnetics
(FDEM). In TDEM, a transient
electromagnetic field is induced in the
subsurface by a pulse of electric current,
and the resulting response is measured. In
FDEM, a steady-state electromagnetic field
is generated by a source, and the response
is measured at different frequencies.
 One of the advantages of EM methods is that
they are non-invasive and can be used to
study the subsurface without drilling or
excavation. However, the accuracy of the
results can be affected by factors such as
topography, near-surface geology, and the
properties of the subsurface materials.
Therefore, EM methods are often used in
combination with other geophysical
techniques to provide a more complete
picture of the subsurface properties.

use of electromagnetic methods:

Mineral exploration
Groundwater exploration
Environmental investigations
Geotechnical investigations
Archaeological investigations
Oil and gas exploration
Geothermal investigations
Civil engineering projects such as dam and
tunnel construction
Hazardous waste site investigations
Agriculture and soil science, for studying soil
properties and moisture content.
 Resistivity method:
The resistivity method is a geophysical
technique that is used to determine the
electrical resistivity of the subsurface of
the Earth. It involves measuring the
resistance of a material to the flow of an
electrical current, and using this
measurement to determine the resistivity
distribution of the subsurface.

In the resistivity method, electrodes are

placed on the surface of the Earth, and an
electrical current is introduced into the
subsurface through one electrode. The
resulting voltage is measured at another
electrode, and the resistance of the
subsurface material is calculated. By
varying the position of the electrodes and
measuring the resistance at different
locations, a resistivity map of the
subsurface can be generated.
The resistivity method can be used to
detect geological structures, such as
faults and fractures, as well as to locate
groundwater, minerals, and other
subsurface features. The method is
widely used in mineral exploration,
groundwater studies, and environmental
monitoring.
The accuracy of the resistivity method is
affected by various factors, including the
electrical properties of the subsurface
materials, the depth of the target, and
the electrode configuration. Therefore,
careful data collection, processing, and
interpretation are required to obtain
reliable results The resistivity method is
often used in conjunction with other
geophysical techniques to provide a
more complete picture of the subsurface
properties.
use of Resistivity method:
Mineral exploration
Groundwater exploration
Environmental investigations
Geotechnical investigations
Archaeological investigations
Civil engineering projects such as dam
and tunnel construction
Soil science and agriculture, for studying
soil properties and moisture content
Geothermal investigations, for mapping
subsurface heat flow
Hazardous waste site investigations, for
mapping contaminant plumes in the
subsurface