Exploration Geology

• Introduction to Applied Geophysics: Overview of geophysical survey techniques. Active and passive methods. Fields of application. The forward and inverse problem in applied geophysics. • Gravimetric Method: Principles and applications. The Earth's gravitational field; relative measurement of the gravitational field; techniques for conducting gravimetric surveys; data correction and processing, calculation and filtering of anomalies; interpretation. • Magnetic Method: The Earth's magnetic field. Rock magnetization. Measurement techniques in magnetometry. Magnetometers. Magnetic field generated by magnetized bodies with spherical symmetry. Interpretation of magnetic anomalies. Examples of magnetic survey applications for the detection of buried bodies in archaeological areas. • Electrical Methods: Conduction mechanisms in rocks: metallic conductors, semiconductors, dielectrics, solid and liquid electrolytes. The resistivity of rocks. General equations: Archie's law. Direct current geoelectrical survey: resistivity method, principles, and applications; Self-Potential Method, principles and applications; Induced Polarization Method, principles and applications. • Electromagnetic (EM) Methods: Electromagnetic theory review. Induction-based EM methods. VLF analysis-based methods. Impulse energization methods. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR). Measurement execution, data processing, and interpretation; application examples. • Seismic Methods: Nature, characteristics, and propagation of elastic waves; refraction method; reflection method; surface waves, active and passive techniques, HVSR and MASW, applications. • Hydrogeophysics: The contribution of Applied Geophysics in the characterization of subsurface water resources. Applications in hydrogeological and environmental issues, including the characterization of contaminated sites and the study of areas with high natural and/or environmental risk. Direct-push surveys for high-resolution characterization (MIP, LIF). Practical examples. • Illustration of instrumentation and acquisition methods, analysis, processing, and interpretation of geophysical data for the study of real-world cases.

Basic knowledge of mathematics, physics, Earth sciences, structural geology, applied geology, and hydrogeology.

Materials provided by the lecturer and shared on the Google Classroom platform. Literature and bibliographic material made available during the course. Reference Text: Introduction to Applied Geophysics by H.R. Burger, A.F. Sheehan, C.H. Jones, W.W. Norton & Company; ISBN: 0393926370.

Attendance: Not mandatory but recommended.

The first part of the oral exam involves the production and discussion of a brief presentation on a case study related to a specific topic, chosen by the student from the various themes and geophysical investigation techniques covered during the course. The second part focuses on assessing the theoretical knowledge acquired throughout the course. The evaluation takes into account the content, the quality of the presentation, and the student's skills in planning geophysical surveys and interpreting geophysical data and anomalies.

Lectures: 40 hours; Exercises: 12 hours.

• Introduction to Applied Geophysics: Overview of geophysical survey techniques. Active and passive methods. Fields of application. The forward and inverse problem in applied geophysics. • Gravimetric Method: Principles and applications. The Earth's gravitational field; relative measurement of the gravitational field; techniques for conducting gravimetric surveys; data correction and processing, calculation and filtering of anomalies; interpretation. • Magnetic Method: The Earth's magnetic field. Rock magnetization. Measurement techniques in magnetometry. Magnetometers. Magnetic field generated by magnetized bodies with spherical symmetry. Interpretation of magnetic anomalies. Examples of magnetic survey applications for the detection of buried bodies in archaeological areas. • Electrical Methods: Conduction mechanisms in rocks: metallic conductors, semiconductors, dielectrics, solid and liquid electrolytes. The resistivity of rocks. General equations: Archie's law. Direct current geoelectrical survey: resistivity method, principles, and applications; Self-Potential Method, principles and applications; Induced Polarization Method, principles and applications. • Electromagnetic (EM) Methods: Electromagnetic theory review. Induction-based EM methods. VLF analysis-based methods. Impulse energization methods. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR). Measurement execution, data processing, and interpretation; application examples. • Seismic Methods: Nature, characteristics, and propagation of elastic waves; refraction method; reflection method; surface waves, active and passive techniques, HVSR and MASW, applications. • Hydrogeophysics: The contribution of Applied Geophysics in the characterization of subsurface water resources. Applications in hydrogeological and environmental issues, including the characterization of contaminated sites and the study of areas with high natural and/or environmental risk. Direct-push surveys for high-resolution characterization (MIP, LIF). Practical examples. • Illustration of instrumentation and acquisition methods, analysis, processing, and interpretation of geophysical data for the study of real-world cases.

Basic knowledge of mathematics, physics, Earth sciences, structural geology, applied geology, and hydrogeology.

Materials provided by the lecturer and shared on the Google Classroom platform. Literature and bibliographic material made available during the course. Reference Text: Introduction to Applied Geophysics by H.R. Burger, A.F. Sheehan, C.H. Jones, W.W. Norton & Company; ISBN: 0393926370.

Attendance: Not mandatory but recommended.

The first part of the oral exam involves the production and discussion of a brief presentation on a case study related to a specific topic, chosen by the student from the various themes and geophysical investigation techniques covered during the course. The second part focuses on assessing the theoretical knowledge acquired throughout the course. The evaluation takes into account the content, the quality of the presentation, and the student's skills in planning geophysical surveys and interpreting geophysical data and anomalies.

Lectures: 40 hours; Exercises: 12 hours.