Geophysical

field methods
Geoelectric section
 The geoelectric section describes the electrical properties of a sequence of layered rocks.

 A geologic section differs from a geoelectric in that the boundaries between geologic layers do not necessarily
coincide with the boundaries between layers characterized by different resistivities.
 
 In the geoelectric sections, the boundaries between layers are determined by resistivity contrasts rather than by the
combination of factors used by the geologists in establishing the boundaries between beds (such as fossils, textures,
….).
 

Figure 1. Lithological (a) and geoelectric (b) cross-sections 1 -  shale 2 -

limestone; 3 - dolerites, 4- ore body 
Figure 2. Geological sections and equivalent geoelectric sections
Figure 3. The pseudosection for profile 1 of Odo Ara study area.
Figure 4. The geoelectric section for profile 1 of the study area (Odo Ara area lies within the Basement Complex
terrain of Nigeria)
Geoelectric Parameters
 A geoelectric layer is described by two fundamental parameters: its resistivity ( ρ ) and its thickness (h).

 Other geoelectric parameters are derived from its resistivity and thickness. These are (Dar Zarrouk parameters,
which were called by Raymond Maillet 1947 after a place near Tunis where he was a prisoner of war):

1) Longitudinal unit conductance ( S = h/ ρ = hσ) Raymond Maillet was born in Nimes (Gard) on

2) Transverse unit resistance ( T = h ρ) April 22, 1896. He studied at the Ecole
Polytechnique in Paris from 1919 to 1930, and
3) Longitudinal resistivity (ρL = h/S ) the National School of Mines in Paris from 1921
4) Transverse resistivity (ρt = T/h ) to 1927. Mr. Maillet belonged to the Interallied
5) Anisotropy (λ = √ρt / ρL ) Control Commission of the Ruhr basin in 1923
and 1924. Since 1931 he has worked with
For an isotropic layer ρt = ρL and λ = 1. Conrad and Marcel Schlumberger as General
Manager of the Compagnier General de
Geophysique (CGG), Paris. At the end of 1942,
he resigned and became a technical consultant
of that firm.
Secondary Geoelectric Parameters
 These secondary geoelectric parameters are For "n" layers, the total longitudinal unit conductance is:
particularly important when they are used to n

describe a geoelectric section consisting of S = Σ hi/ρi = h1/ρ1 + h2/ρ2 + …… hn/ρn

i=1
several layers.
The total transverse unit resistance is:
n
T = Σ hiρi = h1ρ1 + h2ρ2 + …… hnρn
i=1

The average longitudinal resistivity is:

nn
ρL = H/S = (Σ hi ) / ( Σ hi / ρi)
11

The average transverse resistivity is:

nn
ρt = T/H = (Σ hiρi ) / ( Σ hi)

The anisotropy is :
λ = √ρt / ρL = √TS/H
The parameters S, T, λ , ρt and ρL are derived from consideration of a column of unit square cross-sectional area (1 X 1
meter) cut out of a group of layers of infinite lateral extension as follows:

R = R1 + R2 + R3 +…… Rn
Or
R = ρ1 (h1/1x1) + ρ2 (h2/1x1) +…… ρn (hn/1x1)
n
R = Σ ρi hi = T
i

S =1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + ……+ 1/Rn

Or
Figure 5. Columnar prism used in defining S = (1 x h1)/(ρ1 x 1) + (1 x h2)/(ρ2 x 1) + ….(1 x hn)/(ρn x 1)
geoelectric parameters of a section S = (h1)/(ρ1) + (h2)/(ρ2) + ….( hn)/(ρn)
VES (Vertical Electrical Sounding)
 Vertical electrical sounding (VES) is a geophysical method for investigation of a geological medium. The method is
based on the estimation of the electrical conductivity or resistivity of the medium. The estimation is performed
based on the measurement of voltage of electrical field induced by the distant grounded electrodes (current
electrodes).

Electrical profiling using four-electrode probes in Electrical profiling using four-electrode probes in
Wenner configuration. Schlumberger configuration.

Pole–dipole array profiling. Dipole–dipole electrode array profiling.

Figure 6. Displaying the location of the VES points within the study area using
google map.
Sounding curves interpretation for VES (1-12).
Table 1. Table showing geoelectrical parameters for the delineated layers from
the VES data