Forward modeling of self-potential fields in mineral exploration

Natural self-potential (SP) fields observed in the vicinity of conductive ore bodies can be explained in terms of electrochemical reactions the conductor participates. Battery-like models assume that a buried conductor creates an anode-cathode pair by conveying to oxidizing areas in the near surface a flow of electrons from reducing areas at depth. For conductors with invariant composition (inert electrode model) a quantitative formulation is already available. This paper employs numerical Green’s functions to optimize the evaluation of SP fields from inert electrode models and simulates their response from common conditions found in mineral exploration.