Sulfide ore prospecting in carbon-containing stratum using comprehensive time-domain induced polarization and controlled-source audio-frequency magnetotellurics

Carbon-bearing stratum normally features low resistance and high polarization. If the lithostratigraphy of the exploration area contains large amounts of carbon, the induced polarization anomaly caused by metal sulfide ore bodies will be inundated by the high polarization of carbon-containing wall rock. In this work, we adopted time-domain induced polarization (TDIP) and controlled-source audio-frequency magnetotellurics (CSAMT) on deep prospecting of the carbon-bearing stratum of the Ar Horqin Banner, Inner Mongolia. The underground medium is divided into target geologic bodies according to the geological information within the known exploration line borehole, and the physical properties of various target geologic bodies are calculated using weighted averages to build a geologic–geophysical model that can fit the observation data. Consequently, we can determine the range and morphological characteristics of the electrical properties of the ore-bearing geologic bodies in the inversion results in the study area. Then we can use the characteristics summarized from the known exploration line to interpret unknown exploration line. Results indicated that, when the difference in physical properties between the ore body and interference wall rock is not clear, the geologic body can be classified via the paragenetic (associated) assemblage relations of the underground medium. Geological interpretation is guided by the comprehensive physical properties of ore-bearing geologic bodies to avoid interferences.