Low temperature SQUID magnetometer systems for geophysical exploration with transient electromagnetics
in: Superconductor Science & Technology (2011)
Geophysical exploration is getting more and more difficult – many of the easily explorable ore-bodies have been discovered and are being exploited. Finding new mines requires new technologies and tools. Transient Electromagnetics (TEM) is widely used in mineral exploration, but conventional sensors (especially induction coils) cannot fulfil the needs anymore: deep targets, very conductive targets or targets under conductive overburden are much better (or sometimes only) detectable using SQUIDs. IPHT and Supracon AG are developing low temperature SQUID magnetometer systems for ground based TEM for Anglo American (AOL). As AOL is applying these systems worldwide it is necessary to harden the systems for all conceivable application scenarios. Here, we report on the latest development of these systems which are now routinely used in South Africa, Australia, Finland and Canada. This paper highlights the main features of the system and describes one example from mineral exploration.