Induced Polarisation (IP) surveying is a geophysical technique used in mineral exploration to detect chargeable materials beneath the Earth’s surface. IP is particularly used to explore for valuable ore deposits such as copper, gold, silver, and zinc.
IP surveys inject an electrical current into the ground using a pair of electrodes, then measure the delayed voltage response, or “chargeability,” once the current is turned off. This delayed response is caused by the build-up and slow release of electrical charge around conductive materials such as disseminated sulphides or clays. In addition to chargeability, IP surveys often collect resistivity data to further characterise the subsurface geology.
The method is especially effective in structurally complex or weathered terrains, where other tools such as magnetics or radiometrics may fall short. IP has played a crucial role in numerous mineral discoveries globally, including gold systems, porphyry copper deposits, and volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits.
By integrating IP data with geological, geochemical, and drilling information, exploration teams can refine their targeting strategies, reduce drilling risk, and focus resources on the most promising areas.
IP surveys are an essential tool in all of our early-stage exploration programmes. The data received provides vital information about faults, fractures, geologic structures, mineralisation, and groundwater porosity – all of which we use to inform follow-up drilling targeting prospective targets for mineralisation.
