Solution and objective
The identification of geological conditions in mineral prospecting using traditional methods such as pits and drilling operations have often limited areal coverage and minor possibilities for detailed spatial observations of complex formations. By this, geophysical methods are often used as an alternative tool, and also in combination with traditional methods.
A suitable geophysical method is selected, depending on e.g. the physical characteristics of the searched mineral, the host rock, the geological setting and the topographical parameters. Resistivity and IP have often proved successful for mapping manganese ores due to them typically presenting as relatively conductive and highly chargeable materials relative host rock, in this case with the host rock composed of metasedimentary slates and phyllites, the anticipated contrast in electrical properties makes these methods well suited for exploration in the LST area.
The survey lines were set up in the W–E direction, positioned generally perpendicular to the trend of main geological structures on-site to provide consistent datasets for manganese exploration. Other affecting factors for the investigation set up were the observed indicators of mineralization in the field, small outcrops of the lenses of manganese mineral in the centre of the study area, located mostly according to the setting of regional structural geology of the area.
The resistivity results from one of the investigated profiles, showing the logarithmic resistivity distribution in Ohm.m on top, and the logarithmic IP chargeability (msec), on bottom. 