Improving The Computational Efficiency of 3-D Modeling of Induced Polarization in Airborne Time-Domain Electromagnetic Problems

Author(s):  
M.G. Persova ◽  
Yu.G. Soloveichik ◽  
D.V. Vagin ◽  
A.S. Kiseleva ◽  
A.P. Sivenkova ◽  
...  
Geophysics ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. B109-B120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veldi Ramesh Babu ◽  
Indrajit Patra ◽  
Shailesh Tripathi ◽  
Sridhar Muthyala ◽  
Anand K. Chaturvedi

The Peddagattu, Lambapur, Chitrial and Koppunuru uranium deposits along the northern margins of the Cuddapah Basin are confined to the middle Proterozoic unconformity interface between Archean basement granites and the overlying resistive quartzites. Negative transients observed in the coincident loop heliborne time-domain electromagnetic (HTEM) data over these deposits (occurring in outliers) are believed to be due to thick polarizable conductive zones occurring along the unconformity. Similar negative HTEM responses are recorded over the Gorukunta Tanda outlier. A ground spectral induced polarization (SIP) survey conducted over the outlier and ground geologic observations indicated an altered basement/regolith with thickness up to 5 m below 20–30 m thick quartzite. Interpretation of Cole-Cole parameters computed from the SIP data indicated a change in the dispersion. These Cole-Cole parameters were used in modeling negative HTEM data assuming a polarizable plate placed in a layered earth at a depth of approximately 50 m using the CSIRO LeroiAir program. A negative [Formula: see text] response in the late channels indicated that the negatives can be explained in terms of inductive induced polarization effects. Modeling of HTEM [Formula: see text] data for the profile through the Lambapur uranium deposit and the Gorukunta Tanda reveals the presence of a polarizable lithologic unit at a depth of approximately 40 m. This unit is interpreted as an argillic alteration of basement, with the presence of clay and/or disseminated sulfides as evidenced from the core extracted from the boreholes at depths below the highly resistive quartzite. Uranium mineralization is closely associated with altered basement and sulfides along the unconformity where the distinct negative electromagnetic (EM) signature is recorded. Furthermore, there exists a good correlation between the uranium mineralization grade and the thickness versus the averaged late-channel negative HTEM response over the known deposits. The negative EM response helped in locating the new target areas for uranium exploration.


Geophysics ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. E31-E50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Viezzoli ◽  
Vladislav Kaminski ◽  
Gianluca Fiandaca

We have developed a synthetic multiparametric modeling and inversion exercise undertaken to study the robustness of inverting airborne time-domain electromagnetic (TDEM) data to extract Cole-Cole parameters. The following issues were addressed: nonuniqueness, ill posedness, dependency on manual processing and the effect of constraints, and a priori information. We have used a 1D layered earth model approximation and lateral constraints. Synthetic simulations were performed for several models and the corresponding Cole-Cole parameters. The possibility to recover these models by means of laterally constrained multiparametric inversion was evaluated, including recovery of chargeability distributions from shallow and deep targets based on analysis of induced polarization (IP) effects, simulated in airborne TDEM data. Different scenarios were studied, including chargeable targets associated with the conductive and resistive environments. In particular, four generic models were considered for the exercise: a sulfide model, a kimberlite model, and two generic models focusing on the depth of investigation. Our study indicated that, in cases when relaxation time ([Formula: see text]) values are in the range to which the airborne electromagnetic is most sensitive (e.g., approximately 1 ms), it is possible to recover deep chargeable targets (to depths more than 130 m) in association with high electrical conductivity and in resistive environments. Furthermore, it was found that the recovery of a deep conductor, masked by a shallower chargeable target, became possible only when full Cole-Cole modeling was used in the inversion. Lateral constraints improved the recoverability of model parameters. Finally, modeling IP effects increased the accuracy of recovered electrical resistivity models.


Geophysics ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. B49-B61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladislav Kaminski ◽  
Andrea Viezzoli

Induced polarization (IP) effects are becoming more evident in time-domain helicopter airborne electromagnetic (AEM) data thanks to advances in instrumentation, mainly due to improvements in the signal-to-noise ratio and hence better data quality. Although the IP effects are often manifested as negative receiver voltage values, which are easy to detect, in some cases, IP effects can distort recovered transients in other ways so they may be less obvious and require careful data analysis and processing. These effects represent a challenge for modeling and inversion of the AEM data. For proper modeling of electromagnetic transients, the chargeability of the subsurface and other parameters describing the dispersion also need to be taken into consideration. We use the Cole-Cole model to characterize the dispersion and for modeling of the IP effects in field AEM data, collected by different airborne systems over different geologies and exploration targets, including examples from diamond, gold, and base metal exploration. We determined how multiparametric inversion techniques can simultaneously recover all four Cole-Cole parameters, including resistivity [Formula: see text], chargeability [Formula: see text], relaxation time [Formula: see text], and frequency parameter [Formula: see text]. The results obtained are in good agreement with the ancillary information available. Interpretation of the IP effects in AEM data is therefore seen by the authors as providing corrected electrical resistivity distributions, as well as additional information that could assist in mineral exploration.


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