Fast and high-resolution imaging of semi-airborne frequency tipper sounding method for mineral exploration

Abstract

The semi-airborne frequency tipper sounding method (SFTS) based on tipper characteristics exhibits high lateral and vertical resolution, making it a promising technique for deep mineral exploration, particularly in challenging terrains where conventional ground-based electromagnetic methods face accessibility constraints. Currently, interpretation techniques for this method remain underdeveloped, limiting its practical application in mineral prospecting. To accelerate the application of SFTS in mineral exploration, this paper defines the full-zone apparent resistivity formula based on the complex implicit function relationship between tipper and background resistivity parameters, and iteratively calculates it using the binary search algorithm. An explicit calculation expression for the apparent depth of SFTS was constructed through data fitting, enabling fast full-zone apparent resistivity-depth imaging. The effectiveness of the imaging method is evaluated using one-dimensional layered models that simulate common geological scenarios in mineral exploration, including conductive sediment-hosted and resistive basement settings. Furthermore, the imaging characteristics of single and multiple anomalous bodies are analyzed using a three-dimensional synthetic model, with the anomalous bodies designed to represent typical mineral deposit types, such as massive sulfide orebodies (low resistivity) and porphyry systems (high resistivity). The synthetic-model results show that the proposed imaging method can qualitatively delineate the main electrical anomalies and provide preliminary information on their approximate spatial locations. These results suggest that the method has potential for rapid anomaly recognition and target prioritization before detailed field verification, geological-constrained interpretation, or quantitative inversion. The imaging results lay a foundation for data processing and inversion interpretation of SFTS in mineral exploration campaigns.