3-D impedance networks simulate complex resistivity spectra of sand-pyrite-water mixtures
Maineult, Alexis ; Weller, Andreas ; Martin, Tina LU
; Titov, Konstantin
and Florsch, Nicolas
(2025)
In Geophysical Journal International
242(3).
p.1-17
- Abstract
- Characterizing ore deposits or mining dumps in terms of mineral content and grain size remains a challenge. Since the 1950s the induced polarization (IP) method has been successfully applied in ore prospecting. However, reliably interpreting field survey data requires comprehensive laboratory studies to establish a link between the IP parameters from empirical or phenomenological models and the type and quantity of ore minerals. In this study, we use numerical electrical networks to replicate the complex electrical resistivity spectra observed in experiments on sand-pyrite-water mixtures. A network consists of a 3-D assembly of resistors, representing the saturated pore space and leaky capacitors simulating the electrical behaviour of ore... (More)
- Characterizing ore deposits or mining dumps in terms of mineral content and grain size remains a challenge. Since the 1950s the induced polarization (IP) method has been successfully applied in ore prospecting. However, reliably interpreting field survey data requires comprehensive laboratory studies to establish a link between the IP parameters from empirical or phenomenological models and the type and quantity of ore minerals. In this study, we use numerical electrical networks to replicate the complex electrical resistivity spectra observed in experiments on sand-pyrite-water mixtures. A network consists of a 3-D assembly of resistors, representing the saturated pore space and leaky capacitors simulating the electrical behaviour of ore minerals. A sophisticated fitting procedure enables the precise determination of resis-
tor and capacitor parameters, ultimately leading to strong agreement between measured and synthetic IP spectra. The results obtained from the 3-D network align well with the classical Pelton model, which is based on a simple equiv alent circuit. Our findings indicate that the network’s chargeability depends on the fraction of capacitors in the system (i.e. the number of capacitors divided by the number of capacitors and resistors), and that the Pelton time constant
of the measured spectra is closely related to the resistor and capacitor parameters. We argue that a 3-D approach offers a more realistic framework, paving the way for future studies on the effects of ore grain size distribution, and the spatial arrangement of ore grains. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/2fb51355-98c6-400b-9905-af8556658ec6
- author
- Maineult, Alexis
; Weller, Andreas
; Martin, Tina
LU
; Titov, Konstantin
and Florsch, Nicolas
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Geophysical Journal International
- volume
- 242
- issue
- 3
- pages
- 1 - 17
- publisher
- Oxford University Press
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105012293433
- ISSN
- 0956-540X
- DOI
- 10.1093/gji/ggaf269
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 2fb51355-98c6-400b-9905-af8556658ec6
- date added to LUP
- 2025-08-13 09:27:38
- date last changed
- 2025-08-15 13:19:40
@article{2fb51355-98c6-400b-9905-af8556658ec6,
abstract = {{Characterizing ore deposits or mining dumps in terms of mineral content and grain size remains a challenge. Since the 1950s the induced polarization (IP) method has been successfully applied in ore prospecting. However, reliably interpreting field survey data requires comprehensive laboratory studies to establish a link between the IP parameters from empirical or phenomenological models and the type and quantity of ore minerals. In this study, we use numerical electrical networks to replicate the complex electrical resistivity spectra observed in experiments on sand-pyrite-water mixtures. A network consists of a 3-D assembly of resistors, representing the saturated pore space and leaky capacitors simulating the electrical behaviour of ore minerals. A sophisticated fitting procedure enables the precise determination of resis- <br/>tor and capacitor parameters, ultimately leading to strong agreement between measured and synthetic IP spectra. The results obtained from the 3-D network align well with the classical Pelton model, which is based on a simple equiv alent circuit. Our findings indicate that the network’s chargeability depends on the fraction of capacitors in the system (i.e. the number of capacitors divided by the number of capacitors and resistors), and that the Pelton time constant <br/>of the measured spectra is closely related to the resistor and capacitor parameters. We argue that a 3-D approach offers a more realistic framework, paving the way for future studies on the effects of ore grain size distribution, and the spatial arrangement of ore grains.}},
author = {{Maineult, Alexis and Weller, Andreas and Martin, Tina and Titov, Konstantin and Florsch, Nicolas}},
issn = {{0956-540X}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{3}},
pages = {{1--17}},
publisher = {{Oxford University Press}},
series = {{Geophysical Journal International}},
title = {{3-D impedance networks simulate complex resistivity spectra of sand-pyrite-water mixtures}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/225295251/Maineult_etal_2025_GJI_242-3.pdf}},
doi = {{10.1093/gji/ggaf269}},
volume = {{242}},
year = {{2025}},
}