Induced Polarization as a Tool to Assess Mineral Deposits: A Review

Disseminated ores in porous or fractured media can be polarized under the application of an external low-frequency electrical field. This polarization is characterized by a dimensionless property that called “chargeability”. Induced nonintrusive geophysical sensing technique used field to image both conductivity and chargeability rocks together with characteristic relaxation time. A petrophysical model induced metallic immersed conductive polarizable material reviewed, its predictions are compared large dataset experimental data. The shows linearly dependent on volume fraction ore background material, which can, turn, related pore water cation exchange capacity clay fraction. time depends grain sizes close rock itself. Five applications induced-polarization method bodies discussed order show usefulness this technique. These include: (i) sandbox experiment, cubes pyrite located specific area tank; (ii) tomography iron slag at archeological site France; (iii) study partially frozen graphitic schists French Alps; (iv) detection tank through times; (v) localization deep body associated tectonic fault. We also discuss possibility combining self-potential better characterize below seafloor.