Device for geophysical prospecting of ore deposits

A device for geophysical prospecting of ore deposits, comprising in combination:

• a direct-current source provided with a means for changing the intensity of a current which excites electrochemical reactions on the surface of an ore body;
• a current intensity detector having an input connected to said direct current source;
• two main current-carrying electrodes having contact with a medium enclosing the ore body, one of said current-carrying electrodes being connected to said direct-current source via said current intensity detector and the second current-carrying electrode being connected to said direct-current source via said means for changing the intensity of the current;
• two measuring electrodes being in contact with the medium enclosing the ore body and responsive to the electric potential difference carrying information on the electrochemical reactions on the surface of the ore body;
• a compensating voltage generator having an input connected to said current intensity detector;
• a summing unit having an input connected to the output of said compensating voltage generator and a second input connected with one of said measuring electrodes;
• a first unit for measuring the potentials of the electrochemical reactions on the surface of the ore body, with a first input being connected to the output of said summing unit and a second input being connected to the second of said measuring electrodes;
• a second unit for setting the time of excitation by direct current of the ore body to effect programmed modes of investigating electrochemical processes;
• a third unit for setting values of the potentials of said electrochemical reactions on the surface of the ore body with an input being connected to said second unit for setting the time of excitation by direct current of the ore body;
• a recording unit having a first input connected to said third unit for setting values of the potentials of the electrochemical reactions and having a second input connected to the current intensity detector in order to record in the form of polarization curves relationships between the set potentials of the electrochemical reactions on the surface of the ore body and the currents flowing through the surface of that body which account for said potentials;
• a comparator to compare voltages applied from said third unit for setting values of the potentials of the electrochemical reactions, connected whereto is one input of said comparator, and from said first unit for measuring the potentials of the electrochemical reactions on the surface of the ore body, connected whereto is another input of said comparator, a control unit whose input is connected to the output of said comparator, its output being connected to said means for changing current intensity, which latter means raises or reduces the intensity of the current in said current-carrying electrodes.

A device for geophysical prospecting of ore deposits, comprising, in combination:

• a direct-current source provided with a means for changing the intensity of a current which excites electrochemical reactions on the surface of an ore body;
• a current intensity detector having an input connected to said direct current source;
• a main current-carrying electrode having electrical contact with the ore body and connected to said direct current source via said current intensity detector;
• an auxiliary current-carrying electrode having electrical contact with the medium enclosing the ore body and connected to said direct current source via said means for changing current intensity;
• a compensating voltage generator with an input connected to said current intensity detector;
• a summing unit having a first input connected to the output of said compensating voltage generator;
• a first unit for measuring the potentials of electrochemical reactions on the surface of the ore body, a first input thereof being connected to the output of said summing unit, a second input thereof being connected to said main current-carrying electrode;
• a measuring electrode connected to a second input of said summing circuit and responsive to the electric potential difference with respect to said main current-carrying electrode;
• a second unit for setting the time of excitation by direct current of the ore body to effect a programmed mode of investigating electrochemical processes;
• a third unit for setting values of the potentials of the electrochemical reactions on the surface of the ore body, the input thereof being connected to said second unit for setting the time of excitation by direct current of the ore body;
• a first recording unit having a first input connected to said second unit for setting values of the potentials of the electrochemical reactions and a second input connected to the current intensity detector to record in the form of polarization curves the relationships between the set potentials of the electrochemical reactions on the surface of the ore body and the currents flowing through the surface of that body which account for the potentials;
• a comparator to compare voltage applied from said third unit for setting values of the potentials of the electrochemical reactions, connected whereto is a first input of said comparator, and from said first unit for measuring the potentials of the electrochemical reactions on the surface of the ore body, connected whereto is a second input of said comparator;
• a control unit whose input is connected to the output of said comparator, its output being connected to said means for changing current intensity which raises or reduces the intensity of the current in said main and auxiliary current-carrying electrodes, an electrical charge measuring unit for determining the electrical charge required to maintain each electrochemical reaction, a first input thereof being connected to said current intensity detector, a second input thereof being connected to said second unit for setting the time of excitation by direct current of the ore body, a second recording unit having a first input connected to the output of said electrical charge measuring unit and a second input connected to said third unit for setting values of the potentials of the electrochemical reactions to record the relationships between the set potentials of the electrochemical reactions on the surface of the ore body and the electrical charge consumed to maintain the electrochemical reactions with the potentials;
• and a third recording unit having a first input connected to said current intensity detector and a second input connected to said second unit for setting the time of excitation by direct current of the ore body to record current intensity time variations with constant potentials of the electrochemical reactions on the surface of the ore body.