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PHY461Sciences3 Unitsintermediate

Geophysics Iii

This course introduces students to the fundamental principles and applications of geophysics, focusing on electrical and electromagnetic methods. It covers electrical properties of rocks, direct current resistivity methods, and varying current methods. Students will learn about resistivity profiling, depth sounding, electromagnetic techniques, and very low-frequency radiation. The course also explores natural and controlled-source audio-magnetotellurics, providing a comprehensive understanding of electrical and electromagnetic methods in geophysical exploration.

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208h
Study Time
13
Weeks
16h
Per Week
intermediate
Math Level
Course Keywords
GeophysicsElectrical MethodsElectromagnetic MethodsResistivityMagnetotellurics

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
📊
Math Level
Moderate Math
🔬
Learning Type
Hands-on Practice

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Electrical Properties of Rocks

2

Direct Current Resistivity Methods

3

Varying Current Methods

4

Resistivity Method

5

Resistivity Profiling

6

Resistivity Depth Sounding

7

Electromagnetic Methods

8

VLF Radiation

9

Audio-magnetotellurics

10

CSAMT

Total Topics10 topics

Requirements

Knowledge and skills recommended for success

Introductory Physics

Basic Geology

💡 Don't have all requirements? Don't worry! Many students successfully complete this course with basic preparation and dedication.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

tutor-marked assessments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

final examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Geophysicist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Exploration Geophysicist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Hydrogeologist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Environmental Consultant

Apply your skills in this growing field

Geotechnical Engineer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

MiningOil and GasGroundwater ExplorationEnvironmental RemediationGeotechnical Engineering

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

MODULE 1

3h

Unit 1: Electrical Properties Associated with Rocks

3 study hours
  • •Understand the basic concept of electric current methods.
  • •Identify and understand the electrical prospecting phenomena and properties associated with Rocks.
  • •Understand that Resistivity governs the amount of current that passes through the rock when a specified potential difference is applied.
Week
2

MODULE 1

3h

Unit 2: Direct-Current Resistivity Methods

3 study hours
  • •Understand clearly the Direct- Current Resistivity Methods especially its definition and application
  • •Understand the usefulness of metal electrodes, Non polarising electrodes in application of DC Resistivity methods.
  • •Know that DC surveys require current generators, voltmeters and electrical contact with the ground.
Week
3

MODULE 1

3h

Unit 3: Varying Current Methods

3 study hours
  • •Know that current are caused to flow in the ground by alternating electrical or magnetic fields obtain their energy from the fields and so reduce their penetration
  • •Understand that varying magnetic field associated with an electromagnetic wave will induce a voltage (emf) at right-angles to the direction of variation
  • •Know that most continuous wave system, the energizing current has the form of a sine wave, but may not, as a true sine wave should, be zero at zero time (sinusoidal)
Week
4

MODULE 2

3h

Unit 1: Resistivity Method

3 study hours
  • •Understand the concept of DC survey fundamentals which includes Apparent resistivity, electrode arrays and Wenner array.
  • •Understand commons electrodes array such as wenner array, two electrode, Schlumberger and gradient methods of arrangement. etc.
  • •Familiar with the common electrode arrays descriptions.
Week
5

MODULE 2

3h

Unit 2: Resistivity Profiling

3 study hours
  • •Know and understand the concept of Resistivity Profiling
  • •Know that resistivity traversing is used to detect lateral changes in subsurface..
  • •Know that depth information can only be obtained from a profile
Week
6

MODULE 2

3h

Unit 3: Resistivity Depth Sounding

3 study hours
  • •Investigate layering using arrays in which the distances between some or all of the electrodes are increased systematically.
  • •Understand that the Wenner array is very popular but for speed and convenience, the Schlumberger array, in which only two electrodes are moved, is often preferred.
  • •Know that site selection is extremely important in all sounding work, is particularly critical with the Schlumberger array, which is very sensitive.
Week
7

MODULE 3

3h

Unit 1: Electro-Magnetic Methods

3 study hours
  • •Understand the concept of conductivity (r), the reciprocal of resistivity
  • •Know that EM methods tend to focus on conductivity rather than resistivity itself.
  • •Understand the system descriptions of continuous wave EM
Week
8

MODULE 3

3h

Unit 2: Other CWEM (Continuous Waves Electromagnetic) Techniques

3 study hours
  • •Understand the concept of continuous wave electromagnetic Techniques.
  • •Practicalise and demonstrate fixed source method and be able to apply it to measure dip angles or ratios of vertical to horizontal fields.
  • •Use higher frequency alternating electromagnetic fields through long wire sources instead of vertical and coplanar coils to study the real and imaginary components of the electrical properties of the subsurface geoearth materials.
Week
9

MODULE 3

3h

Unit 3: Transient Electromagnetic

3 study hours
  • •Know Transient that Electromagnetic are used for depth sounding
  • •Familiarise with both CWEM, TEM and time domain IP systems
  • •Understand that transient electromagnetic was developed to overcome some of the disadvantages in CWEM.
Week
10

MODULE 4

3h

Unit 1: Very low Frequency (VLF) Radiation

3 study hours
  • •Know that natural electromagnetic radiation covers a much broader range of frequencies.
  • •Understand that electromagnetic wave consist of a coupled alternating electrical and magnetic field directly at right angles to each other
  • •Familiarise with the VLF TRANSMISSIONS
Week
11

MODULE 4

3h

Unit 2: VLF Instruments

3 study hours
  • •To demonstrate EM-16 add-on module to measure horizontal electric field
  • •Know that EM-16 is still widely used and serves to illustrate practical principle which are concealed by processing software in some instruments
  • •Be familiar with other VLF instruments.
Week
12

MODULE 4

6h

Unit 3: Presentation of VLF Results

3 study hours
  • •Explain filtering and the purpose why noise has to be filtered
  • •Understand that VLF dip angle data are mostly effectively presented as stacked profiles
  • •Understand the VLF system operate at a relatively high frequencies at which most conductors appear good.

Unit 4: Natural and Controlled-Source Audio-magnetotellurics

3 study hours
  • •Explain the source of controlled sources, Auto- Magneto Telluric (CSAMT) and its principles
  • •Know the parameters mostly commonly measured in CSAMT
  • •Compare results of AMT and CSAMT sounding over a simple layer earth
Week
13

MODULE 5

4h

Unit 1: Field Work

4 study hours
  • •Know the major fields of application of electrical and electromagnetic methods.
  • •Show precisely where electrical and electromagnetic methods are suitable in mineral and environmental studies.
  • •Show how the various geophysical methods complement one another.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Review the electrical properties of different rock types and their typical resistivity values (Table 1.1).

2

Practice calculating apparent resistivity using different electrode arrays (Wenner, Schlumberger). Focus on geometric factors.

3

Understand the skin depth concept and its relationship to frequency and conductivity. Be able to estimate penetration depth.

4

Create diagrams illustrating current flow patterns for different subsurface structures (e.g., dipping conductive sheet, vertical contact).

5

Compare and contrast CWEM and TEM methods, focusing on their advantages, disadvantages, and typical applications.

6

Study the principles of VLF radiation and how tilt angles are used to identify subsurface conductors.

7

Review the applications of electrical and electromagnetic methods in mineral exploration, hydrogeology, and engineering geology.

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