Self Potential Anomalies and their Minerological Implications, A Case Study of Some Parts of Southern Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria | Chapter 06 | Current Perspectives to Environment and Climate Change Vol. 2
Self Potential, an electrical
geophysical method is chiefly used in mineral prospecting. Vertical and lateral
variations in the conductivity of earth materials produce variations in the
potential distribution as measured on the surface thereby giving information of
the sub-surface. The SP method involves the measurement of the differences in
natural ground potential between any two points on the ground surface which
ranges from less than a millivolt to over ten volts. This method has some
mineralogical implications in that it has been used in massive base metal
exploration to detect the presence of massive ore bodies. It has also been
extended to groundwater and geothermal investigations, environmental and
engineering applications to; map seepage flow associated with dams, in
geological mapping and in delineation of shear zones and near-surface faults.
This work seeks to x-ray the principles of SP survey with evidence from the
survey carried out in some parts of Southern Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
Seven locations where SP survey was carried out showed a negative anomaly of
-2mV to -600mV and a positive anomaly of 5mV to 277mV distributed within the
study area. It was observed that the potential anomalies are due to some
conductive minerals like graphite and sulphide ore bodies. The Iso-potential contour
map of the study area was made with an interval of 50mV which reveals the
mineralogical trend of sulphide and graphite ore bodies.
Author(s) Details
Azunna, Daniel. E.
Department of Physics,
Clifford University, Owerrinta, Abia State, Nigeria.
Chukwu, Godwill. U.
Department of Physics,
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.
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