scholarly journals Characterization of Tailings Dams by Electrical Geophysical Methods (ERT, IP): Federico Mine (La Carolina, Southeastern Spain)

Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 145
Author(s):  
Julián Martínez ◽  
Rosendo Mendoza ◽  
Javier Rey ◽  
Senén Sandoval ◽  
M. Carmen Hidalgo
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Resistivity Tomography ◽  
Geophysical Methods ◽  
Alteration Zone ◽  
Mining District ◽  
Resistivity Tomography ◽  
Southeastern Spain ◽  
Tailings Dams ◽  
Flotation Cell ◽  
Sludge Thickening

This work analyzed the effectiveness of two electrical geophysical methods in characte-rizing tailings dams. A large flotation cell used for sludge thickening in the concentration plant of the Federico Mine (closed in 1985) within the old mining district of La Carolina (southeastern Spain) was selected for this research. In addition to the direct information provided by the geology of the study area and the surface exposure of the waste deposits, information regarding the construction of this mining structure was available, which helped in the interpretations of the geophysical survey data. In this study, two geophysical surveying methods were used simultaneously: Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and induced polarization (IP). Six profiles were acquired, processed, and interpreted. The length of the profiles allowed the obtaining of data reaching maximum investigation depths ranging between 7 and 65 m. These profiles provided information for a detailed analysis of the internal characteristics of the deposited materials. The lateral and vertical observed variations are linked to different degrees of moisture content. The study also defines the geometry of the top of the bedrock and the tectonics that affect the pouring/dumping hole. Old flotation sludge has resistivity values that range between 1 and 100 Ωm (i.e., wet waste 1–30 Ωm, dry waste 30–100 Ωm), while phyllites in the rocky substrate have resistivities larger than 200 Ωm and can even reach va-lues greater than 1000 Ωm. Between the waste and unaltered phyllites, there is a supergene alteration zone (weathering) with resistivity values between 100 and 200 Ωm. The IP method was used to detect the presence of metals in the accumulated waste in the pond by analyzing the presence of large chargeability anomalies. Anomalies were detected in four of the profiles, which ranged from low (i.e., between 0 and 8 mV/V) to medium (i.e., between 8 and 18 mV/V) and high values (i.e., 18 and >30 mV/V).

scholarly journals Characterization of Aquifers in Metamorphic Rocks by Combined Use of Electrical Resistivity Tomography and Monitoring of Spring Hydrodynamics

Geosciences ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 137
Author(s):  
Maja Briški ◽  
Andrej Stroj ◽  
Ivan Kosović ◽  
Staša Borović
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Resistivity ◽  
Electrical Resistivity Tomography ◽  
Crystalline Rocks ◽  
High Resistivity ◽  
Alteration Zone ◽  
Spring Discharge ◽  
Resistivity Tomography ◽  
Alteration Zones ◽  
Alteration Processes

Crystalline rocks are generally characterized by negligible porosity and permeability in terms of groundwater exploitability. However, alteration processes can greatly increase their fracture permeability and induce formation of modest, but locally important aquifers. Therefore, subsurface characteristics of alteration zones are of major importance for hydrogeological evaluation of crystalline terrains. Alteration processes greatly affect rock total porosity and water content, causing contrasting electrical resistivity of rocks affected by varying degrees of weathering. This makes electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) a preferable geophysical method for the exploration of alteration zones in crystalline rocks. In our research, we used an integrated approach, combining the ERT method with monitoring of spring discharge and hydrochemistry to characterize metamorphic aquifers on slopes of the Medvednica Mountain (Croatia). Significant fracture flow aquifers are found to be formed in intensely fractured but not highly weathered rock masses (medium to high resistivity values), while highly weathered masses (low resistivity values) form local barriers for fracture flows. Subsurface structure of the alteration zone proved to be highly irregular, with sharp contacts between more and less weathered rocks. Decrease of permeability below the alteration zone keeps the water level near the surface and enables spring occurrence on the mountain slopes. Studied aquifers have relatively limited extent, resulting in typical capacity of major springs of a few l/s. More frequent but less productive springs are attributed to the draining of the shallow part of the alteration zone (mostly saprolite). Combination of the ERT method with spring monitoring proved to be very effective as a first and relatively inexpensive methodology for hydrogeological characterization of crystalline terrains, both in local and catchment scales.

scholarly journals Characterization of a Shallow Coastal Aquifer in the Framework of a Subsurface Storage and Soil Aquifer Treatment Project Using Electrical Resistivity Tomography (Port de la Selva, Spain)

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 2448
Author(s):  
Alex Sendrós ◽  
Aritz Urruela ◽  
Mahjoub Himi ◽  
Carlos Alonso ◽  
Raúl Lovera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Resistivity ◽  
Water Reuse ◽  
Electrical Resistivity Tomography ◽  
Groundwater Modeling ◽  
Geophysical Methods ◽  
Soil Aquifer Treatment ◽  
Modeling Tools ◽  
Resistivity Tomography ◽  
Implicit Modeling ◽  
The Difference

Water percolation through infiltration ponds is creating significant synergies for the broad adoption of water reuse as an additional non-conventional water supply. Despite the apparent simplicity of the soil aquifer treatment (SAT) approaches, the complexity of site-specific hydrogeological conditions and the processes occurring at various scales require an exhaustive understanding of the system’s response. The non-saturated zone and underlying aquifers cannot be considered as a black box, nor accept its characterization from few boreholes not well distributed over the area to be investigated. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is a non-invasive technology, highly responsive to geological heterogeneities that has demonstrated useful to provide the detailed subsurface information required for groundwater modeling. The relationships between the electrical resistivity of the alluvial sediments and the bedrock and the difference in salinity of groundwater highlight the potential of geophysical methods over other more costly subsurface exploration techniques. The results of our research show that ERT coupled with implicit modeling tools provides information that can significantly help to identify aquifer geometry and characterize the saltwater intrusion of shallow alluvial aquifers. The proposed approaches could improve the reliability of groundwater models and the commitment of stakeholders to the benefits of SAT procedures.

Characterization Of Complex Archaeological Sites Using 3D Electrical Resistivity Tomography

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annalisa Morelli ◽  
Gianfranco Morelli ◽  
Paolo Chiara ◽  
Alessio Pacchini ◽  
Federico Fischanger
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Resistivity ◽  
Electrical Resistivity Tomography ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Resistivity Tomography

scholarly journals Inner structure of the Puy de Dôme volcano: cross-comparison of geophysical models (ERT, gravimetry, muon imaging)

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Portal ◽  
P. Labazuy ◽  
J.-F. Lénat ◽  
S. Béné ◽  
P. Boivin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Resistivity Tomography ◽  
Bouguer Anomaly ◽  
Geophysical Methods ◽  
Geological Structures ◽  
Resistivity Tomography ◽  
Density Distributions ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
The World ◽  
Joint Interpretation ◽  
East West

Abstract. Muon imaging of volcanoes and of geological structures in general is actively being developed by several groups in the world. It has the potential to provide 3-D density distributions with an accuracy of a few percent. At this stage of development, comparisons with established geophysical methods are useful to validate the method. An experiment has been carried out in 2011 and 2012 on a large trachytic dome, the Puy de Dôme volcano, to perform such a comparison of muon imaging with gravimetric tomography and 2-D electrical resistivity tomography. Here, we present the preliminary results for the last two methods. North–south and east–west resistivity profiles allow us to model the resistivity distribution down to the base of the dome. The modelling of the Bouguer anomaly provides models for the density distribution within the dome that are directly comparable with the results from the muon imaging. Our ultimate goal is to derive a model of the dome using the joint interpretation of all sets of data.

scholarly journals Deep Electrical Resistivity Tomography for the Hydrogeological Setting of Muro Lucano Mounts Aquifer (Basilicata, Southern Italy)

Geofluids ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Rizzo ◽  
V. Giampaolo ◽  
L. Capozzoli ◽  
S. Grimaldi
Keyword(s):  
Karst Aquifer ◽  
Geophysical Methods ◽  
Necessary Condition ◽  
Resistivity Tomography ◽  
Well Drilling ◽  
Groundwater Exploitation ◽  
Debris Slope ◽  
Fractured Limestone ◽  
Resistive Zone

The proposed work concerns the application of a deep geoelectrical survey to a carbonate aquifer in order to define the best location for exploitation well drilling for increasing water supply. However, an optimal characterization of a groundwater resource is the necessary condition to reach the indicated aim. Therefore, the geoelectrical investigation was guided from the previous geological and hydrogeological characterization. Moreover, geophysical methods are good tools to improve the groundwater model when detailed information is necessary, such as the localization of a pumping well. The work summarizes the hydrogeological knowledge at the West of the Basilicata Region (Muro Lucano, Italy). The investigated area is characterized by the presence of a karst aquifer which is made up of a carbonate ridge (Castelgrande, Muro Lucano) that tectonically dips southward and is widely covered by Pliocene deposits (sands and conglomerates), by the Irpinian unit and Sicilide unit formations, and by debris slope and landslide deposits. The assessment of the complex hydrogeological framework of the area was detailed by the use of a new multichannel deep geoelectrical technique (DERT). In details, the proposed technique was able to successfully locate a less resistive zone connected to a more fractured limestone and then it was suitable for the localization of a groundwater exploitation well.

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