Exploration geophysics

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Exploration geophysics

Exploration geophysics is the applied branch of geophysics

Geophysics

Geophysics, a major discipline of the Earth sciences, is the study of the Earth by the quantitative observation of its physical properties, especially by Seismology, Electromagnetism, Radioactive decay, galvanic and potential field methods....
which uses surface methods to measure the physical properties of the subsurface Earth

Earth

Earth is the third planet from the Sun. Earth is the largest of the terrestrial planets in the Solar System in diameter, mass and density. It is also referred to as the World and Wiktionary:Terra.Note that by International Astronomical Union convention, the term "Terra" is used for naming extensive land masses, rather...
, in order to detect or infer the presence and position of concentrations of ore

Ore

An ore is a type of Rock that contains minerals such as gemstones and metals that can be extracted through mining and refined for use. Samples of ore in the form of exceptionally beautiful crystals, exotic layering visible when sectioned or polished or metallic presentations such as large nuggets or crystalline formations of metals suc...
minerals and hydrocarbons.

Exploration geophysics is the practical application of physical methods

Physics

Physics is the natural science which examines basic concepts such as energy, force, and spacetime and all that derives from these, such as mass, charge, matter and its Motion ....
(such as seismic, gravitational, magnetic, electrical and electromagnetic) to measure the physical properties of rocks, and in particular, to detect the measurable physical differences between rocks that contain ore deposits or hydrocarbons and those without.

Exploration geophysics can be used to directly detect the target style of mineralisation, via measuring its physical properties directly.

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Encyclopedia

Exploration geophysics is the applied branch of geophysics

Geophysics

Earth

Ore

Physics

Iron ore

Iron ores are Rock and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically extracted. The ores are usually rich in iron oxides and vary in colour from dark grey, bright yellow, deep purple, to rusty red....
and silicate wall rocks, or may measure the conductivity

Conductivity

Conductivity may refer to:*Electrical conductivity, a measure of a material's ability to conduct an electric current*Hydraulic conductivity, a property of a porous material's ability to transmit water...
contrast between conductive sulfide mineral

Sulfide mineral

A sulfide mineral is a mineral containing sulfide as the major anion. Sulfides are economically important as metal ores. The sulfide class also includes the selenide mineral, the telluride mineral, the arsenide mineral, the antimonide mineral, the bismuthinides, and the sulfosalts ....
s and barren silicate minerals.

Exploration geophysics is also used to map the subsurface structure of a region, to elucidate the underlying structures, spatial distribution of rock units, and to detect structures such as faults, folds and intrusive rocks. This is an indirect method for assessing the likelihood of ore deposits or hydrocarbon accumulations.

Methods devised for finding mineral or hydrocarbon deposits can also be used in other areas such as monitoring environmental impact, imaging

Geophysical imaging

Geophysical imaging is Geophysics technique that investigates the subsurface. There are many different kinds of imaging techniques, all which are based on applied physics....
subsurface archaeological

Archaeology

Archaeology, archeology, or arch?ology is the science that studies Homo cultures through the recovery, documentation, analysis, and interpretation of material remains and environmental data, including architecture, Artifact , features, Biofact s, and cultural landscape....
sites, ground water investigations, subsurface salinity mapping, civil engineering

Civil engineering

Civil engineering is a Professional Engineer discipline that deals with the design, construction and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works such as bridges, roads, canals, dams and buildings....
site investigations and interplanetary imaging.

In addition to universities and technical institutes such as the Colorado School of Mines

Colorado School of Mines

The Colorado School of Mines is a public teaching and research university devoted to engineering and applied science, with special expertise in the development and stewardship of the Earth's natural resources....
, , , professional societies such as the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG)

Society of Exploration Geophysicists

The Society of Exploration Geophysicists is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the science of geophysics and the education of exploration geophysicists....
() and the and have the most recent updates of the sciences and technologies of exploration geophysics.

Exploration Geophysics careers are in such widely varying industries as oil & gas exploration

Oil exploration

Hydrocarbon exploration is the search by petroleum geologists for hydrocarbon deposits beneath the Earth#Crust, such as Petrolium and Natural gas....
, mining

Mining

Mining is the extraction of value minerals or other geology materials from the earth, usually from an ore body, vein or seam. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, Sodium chloride and potash....
, environmental studies, planetary physics and even archaeology.

The following techniques are used:

Seismic methods, such as reflection seismology
Reflection seismology

Reflection seismology is a method of exploration geophysics that uses the principles of seismology to estimate the properties of the Earth's subsurface from reflection seismic waves....
, seismic refraction
Seismic refraction

File:Refracted wave.pngSeismic refraction is a geophysical principle governed by Snell's Law. Used in the fields of engineering geology, geotechnical engineering and exploration geophysics, seismic refraction traverses are performed using a seismograph and/or geophone, in an array and an energy source....
, and seismic tomography
Seismic tomography

Seismology tomography is a methodology for estimating the earth's properties. In the seismology community, seismic tomography is just a part of seismic imaging, and usually has a more specific purpose to estimate properties such as propagating velocities of compressional waves and shear waves ....
.
Magnetotellurics
Magnetotellurics

Magnetotellurics is a natural-source, electromagnetic geophysics method of imaging structures below the earth's surface. Natural variations in the earth's magnetic field induce electric currents under the earth's surface....
Scientific drilling
Scientific drilling

Scientific drilling is a way to probe down into the Earth, allowing scientists and students to obtain samples of sediments, crust, and upper mantle....
Transient electromagnetic
Electromagnetic

Electromagnetic may refer to:* Electromagnetic radiation* Electromagnetism...
(EM) (see, e.g. )
Radio frequency
Radio frequency

Radio frequency is a frequency or rate of oscillation within the range of about 3 Hz to 300 GHz. This range corresponds to frequency of alternating current electrical signals used to produce and detect radio waves....
electromagnetic propagation (e.g., ground penetrating radar)
Electrical techniques, including Electrical resistivity tomography
Electrical resistivity tomography

Electrical resistivity tomography or electrical resistivity imaging is a Geophysics for Geophysical imaging sub-surfaces structures from electrical measurements made at the surface, or by electrodes in one or more boreholes....
and induced polarization
Induced polarization

Induced polarization is a geophysical imaging technique used to identify subsurface materials, such as ore. The method is similar to electrical resistivity tomography, in that an electric current is Electromagnetic induction into the subsurface through two electrodes, and voltage is monitored through two other electrodes....
Magnetic techniques, including aeromagnetic survey
Aeromagnetic survey

An aeromagnetic survey is a common type of geophysical survey carried out using a magnetometer aboard or towed behind an aircraft. The principle is similar to a magnetic survey carried out with a hand-held magnetometer, but allows much larger areas of the Earth's surface to be covered quickly for regional reconnaissance....
s and magnetometer
Magnetometer

A magnetometer is a scientific instrument used to measure the strength and/or direction of the magnetic field in the vicinity of the instrument....
s.
Gravity and Gravity Gradiometry
Gravity Gradiometry

Gravity gradiometry is the study and measurement of variations in the acceleration due to gravity.Gravity gradiometry is a measure of differential acceleration of the earth?s gravity field over a unit distance....
Geodesy
Geodesy

Geodesy , also called geodetics, a branch of earth sciences, is the scientific discipline that deals with the measurement and representation of the Earth, including its gravitational field, in a three-dimensional time-varying space....
Remote sensing
Remote sensing

Remote sensing is the small or large-scale acquisition of information of an object or phenomenon, by the use of either recording or real-time sensing device that is not in physical or intimate contact with the object ....
Seismoelectrical Method
Seismoelectrical Method

Basic ConceptThe method is based on the generation of electromagnetic fields in soils and rocks by seismic waves. Although the method is not reported to detect groundwater flow, it does measure the hydraulic conductivity, which is related to permeability and, therefore, to the potential for groundwater flow....

Exploration geophysics

See also