ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY EXPLORATION METHOD

1. INTRODUCTION
2. BASIC PRINCIPLES
3. FIELD OPERATIONS
4. DATA TREATMENT AND PROCESSING
5. INTERPRETATIONS

1. INTRODUCTION

2. BASIC PRINCIPLES
True Resistivity

Consider an electrically uniform cube of side lenght L through which a current (I) is passing. The
material within the cube resists the passage of electricity through it, resulting in a potential drop
(V) between opposite faces. The resistance (R) is proportional to the length (L) of the resistive
material and inversely proportional to the cross-sectional area (A), the constant of proportionality
is the 'true' resistivity (ρ).
L
R
A
The inverse of resistivity (l/ρ) is conductivity (σ) which has units of siemens/metre (S/m) which
is equivalent to mhos/metre (Ω-1 m-1). It should be noted that Ohm's Law applies in the vast
majority of geophysical cases unless high current densities (1) occur, in which case the linearity
of the law may break down.
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 If two media are present within the resistive cube,
each with its own resistivity (ρ1 and ρ2)' then their
proportions and geometrical form of each media
within the cube becomes important. The formerly
isotropic cube will now exhibit variations in electrical
properties with the direction of measurement. This is
known as anisotropy.
There are three ways in which electric current can be
conducted through a rock. These are electrolytic, electronic (ohmic) and dielectric conduction.
Electrolytic conduction occurs by the relatively slow movement of ions within an electrolyte and
depends upon the type of ion, ionic concentration and mobility, etc. Electronic conduction is the
process by which metals, for example, allow electrons to move rapidly, so carrying the charge.
Dielectric conduction occurs in very weakly conducting materials (or insulators) when an
external alternating current is applied, so causing atomic electrons to be shifted slightly with
respect to their nuclei. In most rocks, conduction is by way of pore fluids acting as electrolytes
with the actual mineral grains contributing very little to the overall conductivity of the rock
(except where those grains are themselves good electronic conductors). At the frequencies used
in electrical resistivity surveying dielectric conduction can be disregarded.
The resistivity of geological materials exhibits one of the largest ranges of all physical
properties, from 1.6 x 10-8 Ω m for native silver to 1016 Ω m for pure sulphur. Igneous rocks tend
to have the highest resistivities. Sedimentary rocks tend to be most conductive, largely due to
their high pore fluid content while metamorphic rocks have intermediate but overlapping
resistivities. The age of a rock also is an important consideration: a Quaternary volcanic rock
may have a resistivity in the range 10-200 Ω m while that of an equivalent rock but Precambrian
in age may be an order of magnitude greater. This is a consequence of the older rock having far
longer to be exposed to secondary infilling of interstices by mineralisation, compaction
decreasing the porosity and permeability, etc.

Current Flow in a Homogeneous Media- Apparent Resistivity

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 For a single current
electrode implanted at the
surface of a homogeneous
medium of resistivity ρ,
current flows away
radially. The current
density (J) is the current (I) divided by the area over which the current is distributed (a
hemisphere; 2πr2), and so the current density decreases with increasing distance from the current
source. The voltage drop between any two points on the surface can be described by the potential
gradient, which is negative because the potential decreases in the direction of current flow. Lines
of equal voltage (equipotentials) intersect the lines of equal current at right-angles.
The potential difference (∂V) across a hemispherical shell of thickness
V I ∂r is given by:
.J
r 2 r2

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And the voltage Vr at a point r from the current point source is:
I I 1
Vr V r .
2 r2 2 r

The above equation allows the calculation of the potential at any point on or below the surface of
a homogeneous half-space.
Now consider the case where the current sink is brought a finite distance from the source. The
potential at a point M, VM internal to A and B is the sum of the potential contributions VA and VB
and is given as:
I 1 1
VM
2 AM BM
At another internal point N, the potential VN is similarly given as:
I 1 1
VN
2 AN BN
Since the points M and N are internal to A and B, the potential difference between them is given
as:
I 1 1 1 1
VMN VM VN
2 AM BM AN BN
Which when rearranged gives the resistivity, ρ, as:
1
2 VMN 1 1 1 1
I AM BM AN BN
The above equation can be seen as a product of two quantities, namely,

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 1
VMN 1 1 1 1
and 2
I AM BM AN BN

The first quantity is simply the resistance, while the second one is call the geometrical factor.
Because the ground is not uniform, the resistivity so calculated is called the apparent resistivity
ρa.

Current Flow in Inhomogeneous Media

When current encounters inhomogeneity in the subsurface, the flow patterns as well as the
equipotentials surfaces are distorted depending on whether their resistivities increase or decrease,
similar to refraction of light at the boundary between two media of different densities.

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3. FIELD OPERATIONS
Meters

Power Sources

Electrodes and
Wires

Electrode
Configuration

4. DATA

TREATMENT AND PROCESSING

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5. INTERPRETATIONS
Cumulative plot

Curve matching

Computer aided Interpretation

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