High-temperature Squid (hts) Tem Trials In Africa

Trial surveys have been carried out successfully with High Temperature SQUID (HTS) sensors for Time Domain EM applications in Africa where previously SQUID technology had been available only for LTS under exclusive rights to Anglo American. The HTS sensor coupled with a 24-bit SMARTem receiver proved a practical and cost effective field solution capable of acquiring much better low-noise TEM data than conventional coils and 16-bit receivers. A trial line of TDEM and MIP data over a Xade Complex target in Botswana is shown here to illustrate that effective penetration of severely conductive (100 Siemens) Kalahari and Karoo cover can be achieved. This means that the HTS technology now available has tremendous potential for exploring for sulphide or gold targets elsewhere in Africa below previously debilitating conductive cover with these geophysical methods.