GEOPHYSICS 224 – Winter 2008

CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION TO GEOPHYSICAL

EXPLORATION

1.1 Internal structure of the Earth

How can the interior of the Earth be studied?

A. Geological mapping
- study of rocks exposed at Earth’s surface
- some information of deeper structures in areas that have undergone erosion or faulting (limited)

B. Borehole studies
- extensive information about one location (rock types, thickness, etc.)
- point measurement
- expensive
- limited depth (generally only a few kilometres)

C. Geophysical methods
- surface measurements of natural or artificial signals that travel through the Earth
- indirect observation
- geophysical surveys are regional - scales of 10’s of km up to the entire Earth
- provide information about how the internal material properties of the Earth vary laterally and
vertically
- examples: seismic velocity, rock density, magnetization, electrical resistivity, etc.

- material properties must then be interpreted to determine the rock types and structures in the
subsurface
- interpretation of geophysical data is often non-unique
- several different rock types and geometries may give similar observations
- therefore it is important to use additional information
- borehole data (well logs), knowledge of local geology, other types of geophysical data

Geophysical Material Subsurface

observation property geology
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1.2 Geophysical exploration methods

Geophysical exploration can be divided into active and passive techniques

Active techniques – a signal must be generated

- e.g., seismic waves are generated by an explosion for seismic surveying

Passive techniques – detect a naturally occurring signal

- e.g., pull of gravity over a buried object

This course will provide an overview of three common geophysical methods:

1. Gravity exploration
2. Seismic exploration (reflection and refraction)
3. Magnetic exploration

Common Applications
- oil and gas exploration
- mineral exploration
- hydrogeology
- monitoring contamination and remediation
- tectonic studies
- earthquake hazard studies

1.3 Notes
Where needed, mathematical equations will be used in this course. I do not expect students to
memorize equations, but I do expect that students understand the physical basis for the equations
and how to use equations in data processing and interpretation. Students should be able to
rearrange equations and to use a calculator to evaluate an equation for a given set of values. The
level of mathematics should be similar to what you have encountered in recent math classes.
Please provide any feedback to make sure that the mathematics is at an appropriate level.

Bring your calculator to classes, labs, and exams.

Please ask questions!

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