Spectral IP ? Past, present and future

Abstract

These has been considerable research and development into Spectral IP over the last five years. Some of the earliest claims have been found to be erroneous. The dominant influence on IP spectra is rock texture and grain size and not the particular electrochemical reactions taking place at the metallic-ionic interface. In spite of the inability of Spectral IP to directly identify chemical reactions and thus, specific minerals, it has been found to be a useful tool in indirectly identifying minerals through their characteristic habit. The long time constant spectra associated with the typically large effective grain size of graphite is readily distinguished from the short time constant spectra of typical "sugary" volcanogenic massive sulfide Py-Cp-Sp-Pb mineral mineralization.