The Resistivity And Induced Polarization Methods

Abstract

An attempt is made in this article to provide a readable summary of the bases for and problems encountered with the resistivity and induced polarization methods in gencrat application. The article commences with a discussion of aqueous electrolytic conduction in rocks including consideration of the effects of temperature, rock texture, rock type, geological processes, and of the presence of clay minerals. Doth electrode and membrane polarization in soils and rocks are described in simple terms. The elementary theory for the rcsistivity and induced polarization methods are next described in terms of formulas for electrodes on a homogeneous and layered half-space. The notion of apparent resistivity is introduced. Vertical electric sounding is described in relation to curve types, inversion, equivalence, anisotropy, and correlation. ProfXug with resistivity is briefiy described while combined sounding-profiling is treated in more detail for both the resistivity and induced polarization methods. The parameters used to describe the induced polarization phenomena are next introduced. A brief discourse follows on data acquisition and processing including design considerations for transmitters and receivers, electrodes, and wire logistics.