Electrical Resistivity and Induced Polarization

WHAT IS ELECTRICAL REISTIVITY AND INDUCED POLARIZATION?

Electrical resistivity methods send an electrical current into the ground and then map the resistance against that flow of current. The resistance can be converted to resistivity, a property used to predict the composition, structure and/or strength of the underlying materials. For example, different geological materials present different resistivities, the presence of water or mineral ores will typically lower the resistivity of a material, and pollutants will also impact the recorded values. Typically, stronger and harder deposits will have a higher resistivity associated with them compared to rock with structural weaknesses.

Induced polarization (IP) methods measures the chargeability of the ground, which as electrical resistivity, will differ with the current ground conditions.

Electrical Resistivity and Induced Polarization

APPLICATION AREAS FOR ELECTRICAL RESISTIVTY METHODS

WHY DO I NEED AN ELECTRICAL RESISTVITY SYSTEM?

An electrical resistivity system can be an efficient tool to map the subsurface conditions, such as bedrock or groundwater level, when you need a non-destructive investigation technique and/or want improved data coverage compared to traditional, point-by-point, intrusive methods (such as drilling or digging). The range of models and accessories in the ABEM Terrameter LS 2  product range makes it suitable for many applications and budgets. The ABEM Terrameter LS 2 can also be used to measure the IP (induced polarization) effect as well as the SP (self-potential). Measurements can be straightforward soundings (just measuring resistivity against depth), 2D profiles (so called ERT, Electrical Resistvitiy Tomography) or even 3D volumes. Data can be collected on land, in water, or within boreholes and can be single “point in time” measurements or repeated readings to fulfil a need for monitoring changes in the subsurface.

The most common applications for electrical resistivity methods include investigations of groundwater aquifers and to map waste (landfill areas) and groundwater contaminants (including saltwater intrusion). Geological investigations for mapping soil and bedrock types or soil and bedrock changes are also common applications. Electrical resistivity measurements are widely used for investigating the depth to bedrock, bedrock topography and fracture and fault zone identification.

The electrical resistivity method also works efficiently for cavity detection and mapping as well as investigation of ores and mineral deposit. Read more about utilizing resistivity in mining here:

Mineral Exploration

Mining Operations

Post-mining Operations

 

 

Application area: Electrical Resistivity and Induced Polarization

Mapping changing resistivity in the sub surface

Mapping changing resistivity in the sub surface As resistivity is a “galvanic” method, it requires a physical electrical connection to the ground. This normally means that steel electrodes have to be pushed into the material under investigation, although it is possible to use plate electrodes on some hard surfaces. Two electrodes are used to inject current (“current electrodes”), and a minimum of two electrodes are used for voltage readings (“potential electrodes”). Knowing the injected current and the measured voltage, the resistance of the ground can be calculated.

The resistance value is then recalculated to apparent resistivity. The apparent resistivity is a result of current flowing through all of the ground beneath the electrodes rather than just information from a discrete point or layer. These values, on their own, will not be suitable for making an interpretation and thus a further processing step, called inversion, is required. In this process, software is used to find a model of resistivity distribution that would produce the same result as the data recorded in the field. The resistivity values within the returned model will form the basis for an interpretation.

In hydrogeophysical investigations such as groundwater mapping, clay (low resistivity) can be distinguished from sand (high resistivity), or salt water (low resistivity) from fresh water (high resistivity), or wet sand (lower resistivity) from dry sand (high resistivity).

However, the resistivity to material translation is non-unique and the resistivity span of the various geological components overlap, thus a certain level of ambiguity may have to be dealt with. Also, completely different geological layers in completely different geological scenarios can have the same resistivity, hence some prior knowledge of the geological setting from local knowledge, geological maps and / or boreholes must always contribute to a geological interpretation of a geophysical survey.

The use of IP (induced polarization) investigations can make it easier to differentiate between some of these materials, due to their differences in chargeability.

Learn more about IP investigations

Electrical Resistivity chart

Points, 1D, 2D or 3D data?

Depending upon the positions of the current and potential electrodes, data will be collected at different depths (z co-ordinate) and beneath different surface positions (X and Y co-ordinates) as individual points. These can then be combined to create a 1D sounding or profile, a 2D profile or a 3D volume.

1D sounding (VES) & profiling

A Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) measurement is where data are collected from different depths beneath a fixed point at the surface. This means that all data points will have the same surface position (X and Y coordinates) but will be measured at different depths (Z coordinate). Electrode placement is based around a midpoint. The further away from the midpoint electrodes are placed, the deeper the measurement will be. For each data point electrodes needs to be moved manually. Data are usually presented in a graph with depth on one axis and apparent resistivity on the other. These raw data are then put forward for inversion.

ABEM Terrameter LS 2 VES layout showing correlation between depth and electrode spacing

ABEM Terrameter LS 2 VES layout, with two potential electrodes and two current electrodes, moved further out for each measurement depth.

Electrical Resistivity data

 

Resistivity investigation can also be carried out at a constant depth but under different surface positions, usually referred to as Profiling. These data are not normally put through inversion, and a plot of resistance or apparent resistivity against profile distance is the final output.

2D and 3D measurements (ERT)

By combining measurements at both different depths and lateral positions an ERT (Electrical Resistivity Tomography) survey, also sometimes known as Imaging, is completed. Because ERT is a multi-dimensional method, data points can be measured in a 2D profile or a 3D grid. For a 2D profile multiple electrodes are placed in a line at a set distance. The system automatically selects which electrodes to use for current injection and voltage readings and, in a short time, can measure a high number of data points. Data points will have varying X and Z coordinates, but a fixed Y coordinate. For large-scale 3D survey, the data from a number of (ideally parallel) 2D survey lines can be combined in the processing software to model resistivity variations in X, Y and Z simultaneously; this process of forming a 3D dataset is specifically referred to a 2.5D survey. For smaller survey areas, electrodes can be laid out in a grid and the 3D dataset is formed directly on the instrument; this is a ‘true’ 3D survey.

ABEM Terrameter LS 2 ERT layout. Depending on the distance between the potential and current electrode, different volumes of the 2D profile is measured.

Recording changes in ground conditions over time (monitoring)

Recording changes in ground conditions over time (monitoring)

Resistivity is an excellent technique to use as a monitoring tool to record changes in ground conditions. Typical applications include groundwater monitoring around landfill areas, to see spreading of leachate or monitoring of water seepage through earth dams. Measurements can be made by returning to the same place several times to repeat measurements, or equipment can be left in situ as part of an automated monitoring project.

VARIATIONS TO THE ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY METHOD

Variations to the electrical resistivity method are IP (induced polarization) and SP (self-potential).

IP (Induced Polarisation) is an active model (i.e. one which requires a current injection) where we record how the voltage in the ground reacts when the current is applied and removed; this reaction is referred to as the chargeability of a material. Chargeability data can be collected during the same measurement cycle as the resistivity data and having this additional dataset can help us in our interpretation of materials. For example, mineral ores and clay deposits have a high chargeability associated with them.

These electrical methods (resistivity and IP investigations) are not limited to surface land measurements, they can also be applied within bodies of water, to investigate sediments and the underlying geology, and also within boreholes, allowing improved resolution at depth.

There are other datasets that can be collected using the same hardware. SP (Spontaneous or Self Potential) is a means of recording the natural voltages in the ground without injecting any current from the instrument. This is most commonly used as a means of identifying large sulfide ore bodies but also has applications in identifying water seepage and identifying pollution plumes.

Learn more about SP

 

 

Electrical Resistivity and Induced Polarization

LEARN MORE ABOUT the ABEM TERRAMETER LS 2

Other Considerations with electrical resistivity methods

Resistivity measurements work for a huge range of different ground conditions, but the method has some limitations:

  • Over bare rock or very hard/dry/frozen surfaces it may not be possible to hammer in electrodes and they would need to be drilled in which is a laborious process. Custom-made plate electrodes can sometimes be an option.
  • If the investigation depth is more than 500 meters another geophysical investigation technique should be considered.
  • The length of the cables used can be extensive; the ratio of depth to cable length is approximately 1-to-5 so, for a maximum depth of 100m, the system will require a 500m cable spread.
  • High resolution results need a very dense electrode set-up, which increases the field time. A rule of thumb is that the theoretical lateral resolution of an ERT survey is approximately half the electrode spacing.

Resistivity measurements work for a huge range of different ground conditions

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