Gold prospectors and geologists make extensive use of geophysics for subsequent surveying in prospecting new potential gold deposits. The past years have been a period of unprecedented exploration for new gold prospects. Vast private gold mining companies have been studying and evaluating projects considering the information provided by combined refraction seismic and resistivity survey. The latter is used for outlining the unconsolidated soils and the seismic technique is employed to outline bedrock and to evaluate it for rippability.
One of the facts of this era of gold exploration is an increasing awareness on the part of many geologists and prospectors that the surface conditions and rock type play an important role in exploring and design a new gold operation. Some of the more common misconceptions on geophysical is related to the fact that instruments exists to locate gold and silver as much as such end to differentiate it from any enclosing or associated ores, that subsurface water can be definitely located by means other than drilling. It is obvious that the very great majority of the progress made has been in those instruments designed to aid in the exploration for structures favorable for gold mineralization. Hence, tremendous sums have been made available for research and development of any type of geophysical equipment that may facilitate the location of new gold prospects.
Naturally, some of the methods used for gold explorations have been taken from other fields. For example, the seismic and magnetometer methods can be used to certain types of gold ore exploration problems. One of the oldest methods of successful geophysical exploration still in common used today is that using either land or airborne magnetometers. The method involves the careful study of the effect of different rocks and minerals on earth´s magnetic field. The principle is understood when is recalled that an ordinary pocket compass is often seriously affect by the presence of certain types of mineral deposits.
Many consultants, gold prospectors and contractors are turning to geophysical as an answer to some of their subsurface problem. Some are contracting the work while others are buying their own equipment and doing geophysical survey themselves. For the latter group is important to indicate that most so-called engineering type geophysical equipment, whether refraction seismic or earth resistivity are usually very glib in extolling the simplicity and ease of operation of their particular equipment. Just about anyone can be taken out in the field and in an hour or so be taught to operate the equipment and record the data. Nevertheless, even an experience geologists and gold prospector needs some years of intensive experience and study in one method to become proficient in interpreting this data.