Hydrogeological survey groundwater
College of Geology Engineering and Geomatics, Chang’an University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Provinces China, 710054
Keywords:
Resistivity; Tomographic imaging; Three-Pole; Hydrogeology survey
Abstract:
As a new geophysical exploration technology, the resistivity tomographic imaging
technology has been widely used in many fields. This paper expounds the basic theory of resistivity
tomographic imaging technology, and the influence of water on rock resistivity. Through the case
analysis to understand the resistivity tomographic imaging technology application in the
hydrogeological survey.
Introduction
Geophysical tomography is a new technology that using surface, drilling, or underground tunnels to
lay out emission source and receiver, received with internal information of target data, then refactor
it with this data to detect the internal distribution of physical properties. At present, the main
geophysical tomography technology have resistivity tomography, seismic tomography and
electromagnetic wave tomography and so on. Compared with seismic tomography and
electromagnetic wave tomography with high efficiency, resistivity tomography has many
characteristics such as high speed, low cost, large volume, high resolution, large penetration depth,
easy to explain data information and so on. The resolution of the reconstruction image is much better
than conventional resistivity interpretation[1-3]
.As one of frontier of geophysical exploration
techniques, resistivity tomographic imaging technology has widely application prospect.
Basic principle
Resistivity tomographic imaging is a geophysical prospecting method that is based on the dielectric
conductivity differences, forming the underground dc current field by artificially
stimulate ,Observing the potential difference that be product by Dc power excitation electric field
in different directions around the Detection , reconstructing geological body internal structure
though date inversion ,describing the geometry of geological target within the scope of Current field
and medium distribution accurately. It belongs to array point exploration method, has the same
principle with the conventional resistivity method that combine profiling and Electrical sounding[4]
When rock mass structure has damaged,there are more Fissure structures. When the
rock structure was destroyed, fractured structure increased, current conduction is affected; without
water in the fractured structure ,rock resistance value is too large ;while fractured structure full of
water, resistivity value is less than that of the surrounding rock ,for the conductivity of water is
higher than rocks and enhance conductivity of rocks[6-7].
Examples of application
Geological characteristics:
Tectonic units in the project area LAY in Sino-korean paraplatform (I)
in the fenhe-Weihe down-faulted basin (I I) and the North Qinling fold line (II1) in the Qinling fold
line (II). In the region, Complex geological and tectonic environment makes a worse stability of
regional tectonic. It is Mainly across low mountains, the loess tableland in the Weihe downfaulted
basin and three geomorphic units, and mainly exposed archaean-taihua group、 presinian kuanping
group , yanshanqi granite,tertiary sedimentary rock and IV department loose layer. Distribution are
large granite of North Qinling mountain slope, mostly radical, especially in Indo-Himalayan
yanshanqi granite intrusions, is a type of magma granite. Mesoproterozoic kuanping group strata
distribution in the Qinling Mountains Qinling Ridge also has a lot of as formed by mixing rock of
granite rock, some of which reach the granite effect later, forming the characteristic mixture of
granite, is an account of the continental crust-type Granites.
Geophysical characteristics :
Archaean-taihua, and Qian Aurora Department wide ping group
metamorphic rocks, and Yanshan period granite Has a high resistivity value distributed in the
workspace, Tertiary sedimentary rock and the IV Department loose layer resistance value is lower, in
electric, bedrock and the overlying strata have more obviously of differences, it provides the
necessary geophysical prerequisite,by using electric method to identified covered layer thickness,
and Formation lithology and concealed constructed.
Measurement system :
This is made of high density electrical resistivity tomography, and used
instruments as W-3 Series multifunctional digital DC induced polarization instrument combined with
electrodes WES 60 multi-switcher. W-3 Series is an instrument advanced transmitter and receiver
functions in one, having small size and light in weight, it could measure parameters of looking
water sunch as voltage, current, resistivity, spontaneous potential, polarizability, metal factor, semi
attenuation, attenuation, inspires ratio ,deviation and so on . Field data acquisition is using unilateral
three-pole continuous rolling equipment, the power supply voltage is300V, electrode distance is 10
meters, this maximum isolation coefficient is 20 stories.
Data acquisition and processing :
The data collection is an important link at the whole process,
Acquisition quality directly affect the effect of tomographic imaging analysis.in order to ensure as far
as possible in their work more effective information is collected, for the bad power supply grounding
electrodes should be taken to increase the depth as well as move the grounding point, take measures
such as watering, make sure the grounding electrode work correctly. Ground effect is not good, or
interference of the larger point is called distortion, distortion data can be discarded or smooth
average approach in data processing but how smooth should not be too large, so as not to smooth out
useful information, reduce the resolution[7-8].
Data processing is an important means of improving resolution. It should be based on conditions
and device systems, as well as the analysis of modeling results, taking high-pass or low-pass filtering
process to eliminate or minimize surface disturbance and oscillation interference due to polar
distance. Data processing using high-density two-dimensional RES2DINV[9], RES2DINV inversion
program is a way to automatically determine the electronic imaging measurements of ground
resistivity in two-dimensional model by least-squares inversion method ,it applies to two
dimensional quick inversion of resistivity and induced polarization data, can be used for large-scale
data about 25~650 electrode (around 100~5000 points) inversion. Meet the accuracy of model based
on using surfer software to draw the lines of the drawing resistivity chromatography section,
according to the high or low resistivity, can be interpreted as water-rich, fault zone, and so on. To achieve the purpose of exploring the hydrogeological characteristics of the aquifer.
Data interpretation:
The sections with a total length of 0.75km, towards the East, landscape
belongs to the Qinling mountain area, the surface mainly is Piedmont slope sediments, and steep
terrain. Shallow layer mostly is Holocene wind slope sediments, lithology mainly with loess-like soil
and gravel loam, electrical resistivity is between 10 to 70 ohm meter ,the lower part of the bedrock
lithology is mainly granite. the electrical resistivity is between 10 and 5000 ohm meter.
By resistivity tomography can be seen, the resistivity shows high resistance of the section, macroscopically reflects the relatively shallow bedrock depth from West to East, there is outcropping rock, resistivity changes in the West is relatively small, mainly between 10 and 700 ohm meters, and present a high resistance in the eastern part, value is between 200 and 5000 ohm meters. Vertically, from shallow to deep resistivity increases gradually, covering layers, superficial resistivity lower surface, local distribution of both high.
The overlying unconsolidated layers in this section (Holocene wind slope sediments) have a great
difference with the underlying Marble the schist and granite in resistivity value. Formation on the demarcation line in the resistivity tomographic generally performs the changes of gradient zone from
low-resistance to high in vertical and horizontal. on transverse, this resistance value reflect higher in
east than west .On the macro ,it reflects on the bedrock buried depth from deep to shallow from west
to east; On longitudinal, resistance value gradually increases from shallow to deep, the surface
resistance value is general lower, but it has high resistance ore distribution in part , it reflects well
electrical characteristic of the overburden layer on the bedrock and the weathered bedrock
obviously .Figure (2) shows the inferred bedrock top surface boundaries, West of the Pile No.
43550 ,bedrock depth probably has 10 meters around; Central pile, for 43750 there is cover in the
surface, about 10 meters deep, the rest of the section ,bedrock has appeared ,the hole bedrock surface
is shallow in relatively
According to several local characteristics of low resistivity in the profile and three drilling data
distribute in 43680 43850 and 43050, it can infers that low resistivity anomaly zone is the
development of regional strata fracture, its water content is very good.
From resistance chromatography analysis knows that the length of 10 to 50 meters depth is the
Interface of surface relative high resistance and the underlying low resistance .based on the features
of ore resistance will decreases as containing water obviously it can be speculated
underground-water distribution as figure (2) shows. So the inferred results showed that shape of the
underground-water level line has the same shape with the terrain in this section the depth of the
underground water is 10 to 50 meters, which the East level is much deeper, and the West is more
shallow.
Summary
Based on the relationship between the resistivity of rock and humidity, this article applies the
theory of resistivity tomography to hydrogeological exploration. Through analysis the electrical
resistivity tomography results in the example, and combine with the drilling information to infer and
interpret the underground water level and water-rich area.
Electrical resistivity tomography, like other tomographic imaging are ill-posed problems, so it has the non-uniqueness solution. Therefore data collection should be much dense, full, accurate and reliable combined with the known drilling information or other geophysical exploration information, interpreting with Comprehensive interpretation, could make a more objective conclusion.