Geophysical methods are based on studying the propagation of the different physical fields within the earth’s interior. One of the most widely used fields in geophysics is the electromagnetic field generated by natural or artificial (controlled) sources. Electromagnetic methods comprise one of the three principle technologies in applied geophysics (the other two being seismic methods and potential field methods). In this book the author presents both the foundations and the most recent achievements of electromagnetic geophysical methods in the framework of a unified systematic exposition.

In China, oil and gas resources mainly accumulated in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic continental basins, and the proven reserves of oil and gas in continental basins account for three-quarters and nearly half of China’s total reserves, respectively (Zhai, 1996). Almost 95% of the proven oil reserves in China are concentrated in continental basins (Dai, 2000). After more than half a century of exploration, a large number of structural reservoirs and some lithological and stratigraphic reservoirs were discovered in continental basins. Although the exploration efforts of many Mesozoic and Cenozoic basins has been relatively high, especially for eastern basins, there is still a great potential for the exploration of lithological and stratigraphic reservoirs. In order to promote petroleum exploration development, we must develop new technologies and methods, and strengthen the basic research theories targeting lithological and stratigraphic reservoirs, using petroleum geological characteristics of continental basins (Jia, 2003). <...>

Geophysics is a principal tool for geoscientists that helps decipher not only deeper geology but also formational processes and chronological changes in the physical property contrasts between the causative bodies and the surroundings at the different strata of the subsurface.

Michael S. Zhdanov Editorial for Special Issue “Geophysics for Mineral Exploration”
Jianfei Fu, Sanshi Jia and Ende Wang Combined Magnetic, Transient Electromagnetic, and Magnetotelluric Methods to Detect a BIF-Type Concealed Iron Ore Body: A Case Study in Gongchangling Iron Ore Concentration Area, Southern Liaoning Province, China
Fouzan A. Alfouzan, Abdulrahman M. Alotaibi, Leif H. Cox and Michael S. Zhdanov Spectral Induced Polarization Survey with Distributed Array System for Mineral Exploration: Case Study in Saudi Arabia