Addressing the Core Challenges of Mineral Exploration
Mineral exploration teams routinely face a common set of obstacles: inefficient field data collection, high construction costs tied to traditional survey methods, weak responses in deep or high-resistance environments, and difficulty integrating scattered geological, geophysical, and engineering data.
Without practical field quality control, crews may discover data problems only after leaving the site, forcing costly repeat measurements. A useful exploration workflow therefore needs to connect survey design, field acquisition, data review, interpretation, and geological verification.
Shenzhen Geomative Technology Co., Ltd., operating under the Geomative brand, develops geophysical instruments and digital subsurface-data tools for mineral exploration, hydrogeology, engineering geology, and environmental monitoring. Its stated proposition is “Making Subsurface Information Clearer and More Reliable.”
Geomative’s Technology Platform for Subsurface Investigation
Geomative provides resistivity/IP systems, transient electromagnetic systems, magnetometers, borehole logging equipment, monitoring products, and the DIGspace geoscience platform.
The practical value of an integrated hardware and software workflow depends on whether the selected model, field accessories, data-processing module, and survey design fit the project conditions. Transmit power, receiving-channel count, A/D conversion, voltage range, interference rejection, waveform capability, and processing workflow differ by model and configuration.
For mineral exploration, equipment selection should begin with the target rather than the product name. Relevant conditions include:
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Expected target depth, size, geometry, and electrical or electromagnetic contrast.
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Overburden, terrain, access, and possible field interference.
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Required survey method and electrode or transmitter geometry.
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Available crew, working time, power supply, and transport conditions.
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Required data-processing, visualization, and deliverable workflow.
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Geological verification required before making exploration decisions.
Resistivity and Induced Polarization Systems for Mineralization Targets
Resistivity and induced polarization methods investigate subsurface electrical contrasts. In mineral exploration, these contrasts may be associated with lithology, alteration, structures, conductive minerals, groundwater conditions, or other geological features.
An electrical or IP anomaly does not directly confirm mineralization, ore grade, or mineral resources. Its interpretation depends on the contrast between the target and surrounding ground, target geometry, depth, electrode layout, contact conditions, acquisition settings, interference, and supporting geological information.
GD-10 and GD-20
GD-10 is a single-channel resistivity and IP system with modular and upgradeable configurations. It supports different electrode arrangements and compatible roll-along survey layouts. Its field interface includes measurement-data review functions that can help crews identify questionable records and decide whether remeasurement is needed.
GD-20 is a multi-channel ERT/IP system with 5- or 12-channel configurations, depending on the selected version. Official information lists a 9 kW transmit-power option for applicable configurations. Its transmit capability, method support, channel count, software workflow, and accessories should be confirmed by exact model and version.
GD-12, GD-22, and GD-32
GD-12, GD-22, and GD-32 are separate models with different field capabilities:
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GD-12: 1 receiving channel, maximum 7.2 kW transmit power, maximum 1,200 V transmit voltage, maximum 6 A transmit current, and no full-waveform acquisition.
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GD-22: 6 receiving channels, maximum 15 kW transmit power, maximum 1,500 V transmit voltage, maximum 10 A transmit current, and full-waveform acquisition.
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GD-32: 12 receiving channels, maximum 15 kW transmit power, maximum 1,500 V transmit voltage, maximum 10 A transmit current, and full-waveform acquisition.
All three models list 24-bit A/D conversion, 140 dB dynamic range, selectable 50 Hz or 60 Hz power-line rejection of at least 120 dB, and support for more than 1,000 electrodes.
Supported electrode count is not the same as simultaneous receiving-channel count. The actual array size and field productivity depend on compatible switching equipment, cable layout, relay power, electrode contact, power supply, survey sequence, terrain, and field load.
Transient Electromagnetic Systems for Deep and Complex Targets
Geomative’s GT-series transient electromagnetic systems address a different class of survey problem: investigation of electromagnetic contrasts associated with conductive targets, geological structures, groundwater-related conditions, or other subsurface features.
GT-10 is positioned for mineral, structural, and groundwater-related TEM investigation. It uses a cylindrical central probe design within its supported configuration. Its effective investigation depth and resolution depend on transmitter configuration, receiver performance, target size and conductivity, overburden, terrain, noise conditions, and interpretation assumptions.
GT-30 is a separate ultra-shallow TEM system that has been used in underground mineral and groundwater investigation contexts. It uses a different system design and should not be assumed to have the same survey geometry, field workflow, or depth capability as GT-10.
A TEM response indicates an electromagnetic contrast. It does not directly confirm an ore body, water-bearing structure, or mineral resource.
DIGspace: Unifying Multi-Source Exploration Data
DIGspace is Geomative’s platform for multi-source data management, desktop analysis, web collaboration, visualization, anomaly interpretation, and related processing workflows.
Current platform materials describe support for electrical survey, GPR, drilling-log, GIS, CAD, BIM, and other data types, together with ERT inversion and integrated two-dimensional and three-dimensional presentation.
For a mineral exploration project, the key questions are:
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Does the selected software version support the required instrument and file type?
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Which processing and inversion modules are included?
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Does the workflow require visualization, two-dimensional inversion, three-dimensional volume construction, or full three-dimensional inversion?
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Are electrode coordinates, acquisition parameters, quality records, and other metadata retained after import?
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Which output formats are supported by the selected device interface and method module?
Multi-source visualization does not automatically provide joint inversion across methods. Likewise, three-dimensional visualization or volume construction should not be presented as equivalent to full three-dimensional inversion.
Evidence from the Field
Geomative has published a gold exploration case in Brazil in which a GD-10 Supreme 2D+/3D+ high-density electrical configuration was used for resistivity and IP surveys. The work supported interpretation of potential mineralization-related targets and follow-up exploration planning.
The resulting anomalies provided targeting information based on electrical and IP contrasts. They did not independently confirm gold mineralization or mineral resources. Critical exploration decisions still require drilling, sampling, geological mapping, laboratory analysis, or other appropriate verification.
At a lead-zinc mine in Beishan, Hechi, Guangxi, GT-30 TEM surveys were interpreted with geological information for underground mineral and groundwater exploration. The published case reports subsequent exposure verification of interpreted results.
This is a project-specific application. Its outcome should not be generalized to other mine sites without considering local geology, hydrogeological conditions, target properties, survey geometry, noise, and verification requirements.
Matching Technology to Exploration Needs
Mining operators, geologists, and research teams should define their required workflow before selecting equipment. Depending on the project, this may include requirements for customized survey sequences, multi-source data management, raw-data review, field quality control, or collaborative interpretation.
Geomative provides electrical-survey switching equipment, high-density cables, and power-related accessories for different configurations. Buyers should confirm the exact accessory package compatible with the selected instrument, including:
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Required electrode count, spacing, and survey-line length.
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Land, water-surface, underwater, borehole, tunnel, or cross-hole deployment needs.
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Cable voltage and current ratings.
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Switching equipment and channel compatibility.
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Required relay power and power source.
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Battery, generator, transport, spare-parts, and field-repair arrangements.
Geomative’s GD and GT systems, together with DIGspace, can be evaluated as part of an exploration workflow when their exact model, accessory package, software module, and field configuration match the project’s target conditions and verification plan.
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Geomative Co., Ltd.
