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

Abstract

We have developed a new inversion algorithm to successively determine the depth (z), polarization angle, and the electric dipole moment of a buried structure from the self-potential (SP) data measured along profile. By utilizing the entire values of the SP profile, the problem of depth determination is formulated into the problem of solving a non-linear equation of the form f (z) = 0. Using the estimated depth and by applying the least-squares method, the polarization angle is then determined. Finally, having known the depth and polarization angle, the electric dipole moment is determined in a least-squares sense. The proposed SP inverse algorithm has been derived for semi-infinite vertical cylinder, infinitely long horizontal cylinder, and sphere anomalous bodies. The method is tested on synthetic examples with and without random errors, and applied to a field example from Germany for mineral exploration. The estimated depths and other SP model parameters are found in good agreement with the known actual values. The results obtained will be presented and discussed in the conference.