Geophysical Prospecting in Australia

Abstract

Abstract THE EARTH RESISTIVITY METHOD There are several earth resistivity methods, but the one to be described was developed for purposes of pure scientific research by Gish and Rooney of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. It is designed simply to measure the mean resistivity of the ground in any locality. It might be thought that the problem could be approached by driving two iron stakes into the ground, applying a difference of potential to them and measuring the current that passes. Certainly, the resistance of something is measured in this way, but most of it is found to arise from the contact of the iron stakes with the ground. Hence, this procedure was long ago abandoned, and a more elaborate technique developed.