This study summarized the progress and major application performance of gravity and magnetic techniques for onshore hydrocarbon exploration in China in recent years.By combining the research results of the authors,this study elucidated the new progress made in the gravity and magnetic techniques for hydrocarbon exploration from the prospect of acquisition,processing,interpretation,and application and sorted the application performance of these techniques in key fields including deep targets,complex areas,and volcanic rocks.Moreover,this study future analyzed the demand for the gravity and magnetic techniques for hydrocarbon exploration.By combining the new trends of gravity and magnetic exploration techniques at home and abroad,this study proposed the development direction and application prospect of gravity and magnetic techniques for oil and gas in deep strata and igneous rocks in complex areas.The results of this study show that significant progress has been made in gravity and magnetic exploration techniques,which play an important role in supporting the current hydrocarbon exploration.It is expected to develop high-precision and high-density gravity and magnetic exploration techniques and gravity-gravity-electricity-seismic collaborative innovation techniques.

The edge depth of geological body plays a crucial role in the semi-quantitative interpretation of gravity and magnetic potential field exploration. At present, the main inversion methods of geological body edge depth mainly include Werner deconvolution method, analytical signal amplitude method, local wave number method, Tilt-depth method, Euler deconvolution method and curvature attribute inversion method. These methods all have problems of solution selection, stability and adaptability. This paper mainly studies the adaptability of different types of data and models. Through basic principle analysis and model test, the results show that Werner deconvolution method and Euler deconvolution method are applicable to the most types of data sources, followed by curvature attribute, and Tilt-depth is the least; Werner deconvolution method, Euler deconvolution method and curvature attribute methods can adapt to many models, the Tilt-depth is least. For gravity data, the analytical signal amplitude of the first vertical derivative as the data source is applicable to all methods. For magnetic data, the analytical signal amplitude as data source is applicable to all methods. At the same time, it is suggested that other scholars should follow the following principles when using these methods to invert the edge depth of the two-dimensional body: It is recommended that Werner deconvolution is preferred, followed by curvature attribute and Euler deconvolution. The gravity data source of Werner deconvolution method and Euler deconvolution method is recommended to use the horizontal derivative of the first vertical derivative, and the magnetic data source is recommended to use the horizontal derivative. The gravity data source of curvature attribute method is recommended to use the analytical signal amplitude of the first vertical derivative, and the magnetic data source is recommended to use the analytical signal amplitude. In addition, based on the above research conclusions, some suggestions on the future research directions of the solution screening, stability and adaptability of the edge depth inversion are given.

As resource exploration deepens and becomes increasingly difficult,improving the imaging precision and the reservoir prediction accuracy under a complex tectonic setting has become a top priority of research.The full waveform inversion (FWI) method developed in recent years can be applied to complex geological structures.This method can reveal structural details in a complex geological setting using the dynamic and kinematic information in the pre-stack seismic wave field.However,this method involves many research elements such as model parameterization,building of inverse error function,data preprocessing,numerical simulation of wavelengths,and wavelet estimation.Thus,its development is bound to be a long-term gradual improvement process.The FWI method has been applied to actual observation data with the development of theory and computer technology.This study introduced the principle and processing flow of the FWI method and summarized its development history and its application status in marine and onshore seismic data,and deep seismic reflection data.Accordingly, this study presented the current application bottlenecks,data processing difficulties, and challenges of deep-crustal inversion imaging for subsequent research and application of the FWI method.

Laochang, Lancang, Yunnan is one of the most important polymetallic mining areas in the southern part of Sanjiang Tethys metallogenic belt. After years of mining, the shallow resources are nearly exhausted. In recent years, granite porphyry and porphyry polymetallic mineralization have been newly discovered in the deep part of the mining area, highlighting the prospecting potential of deep polymetallic deposits. In order to trace the occurrence of deep ore-controlling strata and structures in the study area and help to make a breakthrough in deep ore prospecting, high-power induced polarization method and audio magnetotelluric method were implemented to image the deep structure situated. Results obtained from the inversion of the measured induced polarization and electromagnetic data recuperated the distribution of induced polarization anomalies and the characteristics of deep electrical structure within the study area. Combined with the available regional geological settings, the main conclusions are as follows: The low resistance and high polarization anomalies in the northwest of the survey area are deeply related to the surface ferromanganese, silver manganese, and deep polymetallic mineralization, and the high resistance and high polarization anomalies in the middle and east of the survey area are in good agreement with the deep polymetallic mineralization. The upper Carboniferous limestone and dolomite strata are thick in the west and thin in the east, with the west strata dipping to SW and the east strata overlying the Yiliu Formation of the lower Carboniferous. The concealed granite porphyry dips in NE direction, and the coupling part between its deep 2 300~2 800 m horizontal section and deep fault is a favorable area for deep polymetallic mineralization. Notably, joint interpretation yielded from the high-power induced polarization method and the audio magnetotelluric method applied improved the reliability of deep polymetallic ore detection and provided more information of positioning the subsequent drilling layout.

The Luoning area is located at the junction of the Xiaoshan Uplift and the Luoning Basin and falls into the Quaternary shallow overburden area. Large-scale silver-lead-zinc deposits such as Laoliwan and Zhonghe have been discovered in this area, and their formation is closely related to the acidic plutons controlled by fault structures. This study investigated the distribution of fault structures and acidic plutons based on the processing of 1:50000 gravity and magnetic data using the minimum curvature potential field separation technique, the normalized vertical derivative of the total horizontal derivative (NVDR-THDR) technique, the correlation analysis method, and the three-dimensional physical property inversion. The study results are as follows: (1) The Luoning area is affected by the NW-, NE-, and EW-trending structures; (2) Centering on the Laoliwan area, multiple sets of faults present a ring-shaped distribution with a radius of 6.5 km; (3) Multiple concealed plutons were discovered, and the boundaries of Laoliwan and Zhonghe plutons were re-determined; (4) The distribution of granites is controlled by ring-shaped structures and have a burial depth of about 3 km; (4) The ring-shaped structures are well correlated with magnetic anomaly gradient zones, where ores were found in many boreholes. Therefore, it is of great significance to carry out prospecting studies in these zones.

Vanadium (V) is an essential trace element required by organisms for maintaining their normal life activities. It is also a harmful element listed as a priority environmental pollutant by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The study of the migration and enrichment patterns of V in the soil and plant system is of great practical significance for further understanding the ecological geochemical behavior of V and ensuring the safety of agricultural products and human health. This study systematically sampled the soil and plants in some ordinary farmland in Linyi City, Shandong Province and analyzed and tested the contents of V and its associated elements in the soil and plant samples. Moreover, this study conducted the source analysis and pollution assessment of V and investigated the migration and transformation patterns of V in the soil-plant system using statistical methods such as descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and cluster analysis, as well as the single factor pollution index method, the potential ecological risk index method, and the biological enrichment coefficient method. The results are as follows: V is relatively concentrated in the study area, and its content increases with an increase in the Fe and Ti contents and decreases with an increase in the SiO₂, Na₂O, Sr, and CaO contents; The V in the study area mainly originates from the weathering of parent rocks, and the parts with a high V content is related to magnetite; As shown by the results of the single factor index method and the potential ecological risk index method, V is relatively clean in the soils of the study area, but attention should be paid to the pollution of the associated Cd; V is enriched primarily in the roots of plants, and plants' absorption capacity of V is generally negatively correlated with the contents of Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co, Cd, and especially Cr in soils and is positively correlated with the As content in soils. This study enriches the ecological geochemical theory of V and provides a scientific basis for regional agricultural production, environmental quality assessment, and ecological pollution control.

Ji'nan possesses highly abundant geothermal resources, which are hosted by Ordovician-Cambrian karst-fissured geothermal reservoirs and Neogene-Paleogene clastic pore-fissure geothermal reservoirs. The geothermal exploration in this study focuses on the Ordovician-Cambrian karst fissured geothermal reservoirs in Daqiao Town in northern Ji'nan. Through geophysical profile measurements, this study aims to identify the distributions of strata and fault structures and the burial depths of geothermal reservoirs, infer the attitudes and spatial morphologies of fault structures associated with heat control and conduction, delineate the target area for geothermal well construction, and conduct drilling verification in the favorable underground water-rich position. Building on the collected data, this study interpreted and inferred the fault structures in the study area and comparatively analyzed the water-bearing properties by employing direct-current sounding, controlled source audio magnetotellurics, and magnetotelluric survey. A geothermal exploration and production combined well was constructed in a favorable position of the geothermal target area, manifesting a completion depth of 1 532.06 m, a static-water burial depth of 13.03 m, a wellhead water temperature of 50.1 ℃, a water yield of 132.998 m³/h, and a dropdown depth of 18.27 m.

The area around Maduqiao Village, Langqiao Town, Jing County has great potential for the development of high-quality mineral water. However, due to the geological conditions and the inhomogeneity of water-bearing media, the investigation of the distribution range of the mineral water in the area and the quantitative evaluation of the water quantity and quality have always been challenges to the development and utilization of mineral water in the area. With the Langqiao area of Jing County as the target area, an application study on the comprehensive geophysical prospecting method that comprehensive ground geophysical prospecting with hydrogeological logs was conducted, achieving important progress. The major results are as follows: (1) The fault structures in granodiorites were precisely located through comprehensive ground geophysical prospecting, and the horizon of tectonic fissure water was precisely identified based on hydrogeological logs; (2) The metasilicate natural mineral water for drinking with a single well water yield of 50~80 m³/d was identified; (3) The water-rich fault structures in the study area have a medium to shallow burial depths of about 75~140 m and primarily have a NW strike. These results reveal the spatial distribution characteristics of the mineral water-bearing structures in the study area and are of great significance to the subsequent investigation of the mineral water range. Moreover, the systematic research philosophy and technical methods used for the Langqiao area of Jing County in this study can guide the mineral water exploration in similar areas.

The western Zhen'an area enjoys superior ore-forming conditions of tungsten-molybdenum polymetallic deposits. A batch of large and medium-scale tungsten-molybdenum deposits such as Dongyang, Qipangou, Guilingou, Yueheping, and Hetaoping, have been discovered in this area, and they are related to intrusions. To explore tungsten-molybdenum ore bodies, it is necessary to carry out studies on intrusions related to mineralization, especially concealed intrusions. Based on high-precision gravity anomalies, this study extracted the gravity anomaly data of concealed plutons using the minimum curvature potential field separation method. Moreover, it investigated the plane positions of the concealed plutons in the western Zhen'an area by combining the geophysical characteristics of the exposed plutons, identifying five concealed plutons, namely Lanbandeng, Shapingcun, Yuehetai, Dongchuanjie, and Huangjinmei, through investigation. Moreover, this study conducted the 3D gravity anomaly inversion for typical concealed plutons, determining the spatial distribution characteristics of the concealed plutons. The Yuehetai and eastern Lanbandeng concealed plutons have been verified through boreholes, with high-grade wolframite being discovered. The method proposed in this study can provide technical support for the study of concealed plutons in the Zhen'an area and other areas, as well as important data for the study of the tectonic-magmatic-metallogenic evolution of the southern Qinling metallogenic belt.

Following China's planning for ore prospecting in overburden areas, China's geochemical exploration researchers have conducted extensive research on the fundamental theories, methods, and technologies of geochemical exploration for overburden areas in the past decade. They achieved significant advances mainly in two aspects: (1) the research on the migration mechanism, occurrence state, and anomaly formation mechanism of elements in overburden areas; (2) advances in methods and technologies, including geoelectrochemistry, active state of elements, geogas, separation of micro-fine-sized soil particles, soil thermomagnetic composition, and integrated gas survey, as well as numerous experimental demonstrations. These advances represent continuous progress in the research on the fundamental theories, methods, and technologies of geochemical exploration for overburden areas, providing new geochemical methods and technologies for ore prospecting breakthroughs in overburden areas.

Studying the occurrence of natural gas hydrates (NGHs) is of profound significance for NGH exploration. The evaluation of the NGH saturation mainly relies on the Archie equation using the electrical parameters of rocks. The key to accurately calculating the NGH saturation is to select corresponding values of rock electrical parameters for different geological environments, especially the porosity index (m) and the saturation index (n). However, it is still a challenge to select the optimal m and n values for NGH evaluation in resistivity logging. To ascertain the relevant resistivity regularity of NGHs and the determination method of rock electrical parameter values in the Archie equation, this study systematically reviewed relevant references and summarized the resistivity influencing factors of NGHs. Moreover, this study analyzed the influencing factors for the accurate evaluation of the NGH saturation based on the Archie equation. Accordingly, this study generalized the resistivity characteristics of NGH-bearing sediments and proposed the application research direction of the Archie equation.

To remove the effect of terrain mass on observed gravity values, it is necessary to conduct terrain correction in gravity exploration. Terrains have the greatest impact on gravity values because they are the closest to observation points. However, the complex topographic relief makes it difficult to precisely determine the variation of topographic relief. Therefore, terrain correction is the most critical factor in the improvement of the precision of gravity exploration. The grid size of terrain data and the terrain correction radius are the key factors affecting the calculation precision of terrain correction. This study collected the DEM data with resolutions of 5 m, 10 m, 25 m, 50 m, and 100 m for plains, hills, and mountains. Based on these data, this study calculated conventional and generalized terrain correction values under different grid spacings and correction ranges and analyzed the influence of different grid spacings and correction radii on terrain correction in gravity exploration. The results are as follows: the gravity effect of the terrain mass above the geoid on the observation points was mainly concentrated in the range of 0~5 000 m and accounted for about 90% of the influence value of the total terrain mass. Attention should be paid to the correction of the middle and far areas during the terrain correction of hills and mountains, and it is necessary to appropriately increase the correction range of the middle areas; Different types of terrains had different requirements for grid spacings, and greater variations in topographic relief imposed higher requirements for the resolution DEM data. Based on the results of the comparative analysis, this study proposed some suggestions on the selection of DEM grid spacings and correction radii for different types of terrains. This study provides an important reference for the theoretical study and specification refinement of gravity terrain correction and has a great prospect for applications.

To investigate and assess the characteristics of cadmium, lead, and zinc in the soil and crops in the farmland around the old industrial area in the south of Baotou City, this study analyzed and tested the heavy metal content in soil, crop root soil, and seeds, assess the pollution according to relevant standards, and conducted the risk assessment and source analysis of heavy metals using the pollution index, the bioconcentration factor, and human health risk index. The results are as follows:Regarding the soil environmental quality, the soils in the study area are dominated by clean soils, with the polluted soils distributed primarily on both sides of the old sewage canals.The sites of over-limit root soils are also primarily distributed around the old sewage canals.Among the heavy metal morphologies, carbonate-bound, Fe-Mn-bound, and residue heavy metals account for relatively high proportions, while exchangeable heavy metals (water-soluble and ion-exchange) account for relatively low proportions. Most of the seed samples exhibited normal and low enrichment of heavy metals. Compared with other crops, sunflower seeds showed super adsorptivity of cadmium, lead, and zinc, posing significant non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks to children and adults.

The Laiwu area in central Shandong Province, situated in the eastern North China Craton, is a significant production area of skarn iron-rich ores. Its ore deposits occur primarily in the contact zone between the mining rock mass and the Middle Ordovician carbonate formation. Based on the latest areal gravity and magnetic survey results, this study thoroughly investigated the characteristics of gravity and magnetic anomalies along the Shijiaquan-Liujiamiao area in the western periphery of the mine rock mass. Then, this study delineated the deep prospecting target combining the characteristics of gravity and magnetic fields of the known iron deposits in the Laiwu area. Large-scale gravity and magnetic profiles were arranged in the favorable mineralization area. With the known boreholes as constraints, the gravity and magnetic anomalies were qualitatively and quantitatively interpreted using the 2.5D gravity-magnetic joint inversion technique. The interpretation results provide a basis for the location and depth of the borehole to be placed, which revealed a 15.8 m-thick iron-rich ore deposit, suggesting remarkable prospecting effects. This study holds critical indicative significance for further exploration of skarn iron ore deposits in this area.

As a karst reservoir with the highest altitude in Wenshan City,the Xiaohewei reservoir has been suffering from severe water seepage since its completion.Despite several seepage control treatments,the seepage of the reservoir is still not effectively controlled.To determine the locations of underground karst seepage pathways of the reservoir and guide the later seepage control project,this study detected the seepage pathways in the project area combining the high-density resistivity method and the audio magnetotelluric method.The 2D inversion trial calculation of geophysical testing data indicates the feasibility of combining the two methods.The methods show highly consistent geophysical anomaly positions and can accurately reflect the geological conditions at different burial depths.Thus,their detection results can be referenced for later design and construction.Based on the inversion of measured data,the surface geological data,and the drilling verification means,it is speculated that the reservoir mainly has two NNE-directed karst water-bearing seepage pathways with an elevation of more than 1 800 m.These two karst seepage pathways (No.1 and No.2) are located near the contact zone between limestones and siliceous rocks,and in the karst fissures inside limestones,respectively.Based on the geophysical exploration results,this study also puts forward some suggestions on the deployment of the curtain grouting project for later seepage control of the Xiaohewei reservoir.

Despite abundant geothermal reserves of the Tangyu geothermal field in Meixian County, Shaanxi Province, long-term exploitation has decreased the water temperatures and yields of its existing geothermal wells year by year. Hence, there is an urgent need to explore new potential geothermal resources in the geothermal field. Since the known geothermal wells in the geothermal field are significantly controlled by faults, investigating the deep fault propagation holds critical significance for exploring the geothermal field’s potential geothermal resources. Due to the method limitations and the topographic influence, identifying thermal control faults through conventional geological route investigation or large-scale engineering is not applicable to the geothermal field. Therefore, a new technical method combining the penetrating soil radon measurement and the controlled source audio magnetotelluric (CSAMT) method was employed in this study to find concealed faults and delineate potential geothermal areas. Based on the measured surface soil radon concentration anomaly data and the subsurface electrical structure model derived from the CSAMT data inversion, this study inferred six new concealed faults on the basis of corroborating the known faults, predicted two potential geothermal areas, and built a conceptual model for the Tangyu geothermal field. As revealed by the results, the soil radon concentrations at concealed faults are much higher than the regional background value, and the concealed faults are located in the low-resistivity fracture zones as indicated by the apparent resistivity results based on CSAMT data inversion. Besides, the two potential geothermal areas spread from 450~750 m and 850~1 150 m on the profile, respectively, at depths of approximately 250~300 m. This study concludes that the geothermal field resides in a low-resistivity region with soil radon anomalies three times the regional background value. The results of this study provide a reference for the subsequent sustainable production and utilization of potential geothermal resources in the region.

To investigate the water yield properties of the aquifers in the hanging and foot walls of coal seams under the extremely-thick low-resistivity layer, this study conducted the hydrogeological exploration using the wide-field electromagnetic method (WFEM) targeting a coal mine in the Huainan area, Anhui Province. The geological results obtained through multiple means, such as test analysis and data acquisition and interpretation, agree well with the downhole conditions. As indicated by the successful WFEM application in the hydrogeological exploration of the coal mine, the WFEM features strong penetrability, large investigation depth, and high accuracy. Therefore, the WFEM can be used as a new geophysical exploration method for the hydrological survey of large-depth coal fields.

Geothermal resources are significant clean energy and tourism mineral resources. The Rucheng Basin, a carbonate basin in the southeastern mountainous area of Hunan Province, possesses favorable conditions for the formation of convective geothermal energy. However, the basin is enclosed on three sides by the giant Zhuguangshan rock mass, and its basement is subjected to the intrusion and destruction by the rock mass, resulting in severely deformed formations, crisscrossing faults, and significantly different eastern and western structures. The understanding of the basin's water- and heat-conducting pathways and deep reservoir structures remains elusive, thus restricting the investigation of the basin's geothermal potential. Hence, this study probed the basin's deep structures through gravity survey and audio magnetotellurics (AMT), obtaining the following insights: (1) The Rucheng Basin has developed into a bidirectional ramp structure due to east-west differentiation. The synclinorium in the east experienced compression and clockwise rotation due to the emplacement of the Yanshanian rock mass, rocks were fragmented in the core zone, and strike-slip fracture zones were found at the boundary. The faults have vertical cutting depths exceeding 4 km, widths ranging from 300~600 m, and dip angles between 80°~90°. (2) The basin's basement anticlinal axis hosts several NWW-directed concealed rock masses, with diameters from 3~4 km and buried depths from 0.5~1.5 km. Hot springs reside in the fracture zones crossing the boundaries of the concealed rock masses. (3) The basin boasts favorable conditions for the formation of convective geothermal energy. Folds, fault zones, and concealed rock masses match each other to form a unified spatial combination of heat-controlling elements, manifesting heat accumulation characterized by east-west recharge and intermediate discharge. With more thriving deep geothermal reservoirs in the east, the basin has high potential for geothermal resources.

As an important part of urban infrastructure, underground water supply pipelines frequently leak or break due to disrepair,corrosion,and poor construction quality.It is of great significance to identify the leakage locations and affected areas of underground water supply pipelines using a non-destructive testing method for the purpose of early warning and follow-up treatment.This study conducted simulated detection experiments and analysis of underground water supply pipeline leakage using the ground penetrating radar (GPR) method.Firstly,this study established the leakage model of water supply pipelines in sandy soil using the SEEP/W module in the GeoStudio software and calculated the volumetric water content of different leakage locations and leakage times.Then,it established the relative dielectric constant and conductivity model for water supply pipeline leakage using the Topp equation and the empirical equations of electrical conductivity and water content.On this basis,this study conducted the GPR simulated detection of the water supply pipeline leakage model with different leakage locations and different leakage times using the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method and analyzed the simulation results.Finally,this study conducted the GPR-based physical simulated detection tests of water supply pipeline leakage and compared the test results with the numerical simulation results.The study results are as follows.Compared with the hyperbolic diffracted wave of the water supply pipelines without leakage,that of the water supply pipelines with leakage at different locations are stated as follows.For the leakage on the upper side,a longer leakage area and a larger leakage area were associated with an earlier present hyperbolic diffracted wave with weaker energy,while the horizontal position of the hyperbolic diffracted wave's vertex remained unchanged.For the leakage on the lower side,two hyperbolic diffracted waves appeared,which moved up and down individually.Moreover,a longer leakage time corresponded to two weaker and more separated hyperbolic diffracted waves.The horizontal positions of the hyperbolic diffracted waves' vertexes remained unchanged.For the leakage on the left (right) side,a longer leakage time was associated with a weaker hyperbolic diffracted wave,whose vertex deviated farther toward the upper left (right).The simulated detection results of this study can provide a reliable basis for early warning and follow-up treatment of water supply pipeline leakage.

Terrestrial heat flow has a high reference value for the evaluation of geothermal resources since it can directly indicate the Earth's internal heat on the surface.However,no high-quality and high-resolution terrestrial heat flow measurements have been conducted in the Songliao Basin due to costly and difficult conventional heat flow measurements based on the drilling technology.Machine learning,as a technology for data analysis,can identify patterns in data and utilize these patterns to automatically calculate unknown data.This study calculated the regional terrestrial heat flow using the machine learning method.Based on the measured data of global terrestrial heat flow and the geological structure data,both the Kriging regression algorithm and the machine learning algorithm were used to calculate the terrestrial heat flow in a known heat flow distribution area,as well as the root mean square error and the correlation coefficient.The machine learning algorithm yielded results with a smaller error and a higher correlation.Then,the terrestrial heat flow in the Songliao Basin was calculated using the machine learning method.As revealed by the calculation results,the terrestrial heat flow is the highest (more than 80 mWm^-2) in the Songliao basin and gradually decreases outward in a circular pattern centered on the area between Daqing and Songyuan.The results are highly consistent with the measured results of the regional geothermal gradient,providing a reference for further analysis of the distribution patterns of geothermal resources in the Songliao Basin.Finally,the sensitivity of geological characteristics was analyzed using the Sobol method to quantify the effects of various parameters.This study verifies that the machine learning method has a high research and application value in the calculation of terrestrial heat flow.

The Fengtai ore concentration area is an important producing area of plumbum-zinc and gold ores in the middle of the Qinling orogenic belt. It hosts many large to super-large deposits, such as Qiandongshan-Dongtangzi, Bafangshan-Erlihe, Baguamiao, and Shuangwang deposits. With the exploitation proceeding, the reserves of these deposits have decreased significantly, and the ore prospecting in these deposits has shifted from the surface to the deep part. However, the geophysical fields in the deposits are yet to be ascertained, severely restricting research on the metallogenic regularity of the deposits and the ore prospecting and exploration in the peripheral zones. Based on the latest 1∶50,000 aeromagnetic and airborne radioactivity survey data, as well as gravity data, this study investigated the multi-source geophysical fields on the scales of the region, the ore concentration area, and deposits, aiming to summarize the distribution patterns of geophysical anomalies of different scales and provide evidence for research on metallogenic regularity and prospecting prediction. The results show that the Fengtai and the Xicheng ore concentration areas, with similar magnetic structures, are separated by the zone with strong magnetic anomalies caused by the crystalline basement of the Huicheng Basin. The first vertical derivative of gravity reveals that the Fengtai and Xicheng ore concentration areas have density structures similar to the Huicheng Basin. It can be inferred that the shallow part is a unified basin and that a large prospecting space exists between the two ore concentration areas. Many NW-trending linear magnetic anomaly zones occur in the Fengtai ore concentration area. Their locations are highly consistent with those of fault structures, and they were offset by NE-trending structures due to late transformation. The second vertical derivative of gravity reveals that many intermediate-acid intrusive stocks or veins have developed in the deep part of the Fengtai ore concentration area. Structural boundaries can be effectively identified based on the first vertical derivative, X-directional derivative, and wavelet transform of aeromagnetic data. Furthermore, ore bodies are mostly distributed in the NW direction along the tectonic belt. All these will play an important role in guiding ore prospecting and exploration in the Fengtai ore concentration area.

The eastern Kunlun metallogenic belt, as a significant metal metallogenic belt in China, hosts extensive orogenic gold deposits and large-scale Kunlunhe, Gouli, and Wulonggou gold concentration areas. The Dachaigou gold deposit is a large-scale gold deposit newly discovered in the Wulonggou gold field in recent years. Despite its high metallogenic potential, the western extension of its ore belt has not been defined. Hence, this study conducted induced polarization (IP) sounding and wide-field electromagnetic sounding in the deposit. The results show that the known ore belt is situated in the regional gravity anomaly gradient zone, the transition zone of positive and negative weak magnetic anomalies, the edge of IP anomalies, or the electrical gradient zone. The development zone of the regional tectonic belt resides in the large-scale IP anomaly section. The regional tectonic belt is characterized by a wide range of low-resistivity anomaly zones. The IV and III alteration zones of the known ore belt are located in the opening position of the low-resistivity anomaly zone and the shallow electrical anomaly gradient zone, respectively. Based on the above understanding and the electromagnetic anomaly change patterns of several parallel profiles in the western extension segment, it was inferred that the regional ore-controlling structure extends steadily in the W-NWW direction, forming a favorable prospecting space in the western extension segment of the deposit. The results of deep geophysical exploration in the Dachaigou deposit indicate that geophysical methods manifest significant advantages in deep geological prospecting research, providing successful experience for deep prospecting in the eastern Kunlun gold deposit area.

Regularized joint inversion based on Gramian constraints is a hot research topic in the field of geophysical joint inversion. Given the difficulty in selecting weighted factors of the regularization and constraint items, it is necessary to introduce inequality constraints into the regularized joint inversion. To investigate the regularized joint inversion of magnetotelluric (MT) and gravity data based on Gramian constraints, this study compared the application effects of the penalty function method and the transform function method in the joint inversion and processed the measured data of a survey line in Xiangshan, Jiangxi Province. According to the results from model experiments, both methods can effectively constrain petrophysical parameters, and the penalty function method has higher flexibility but requires the artificial setting of the weighted factors. Moreover, the processing of the measured data shows that the joint inversion based on inequality and Gramian constraints is highly practical and can improve the precision of geophysical interpretation.

To evaluate the fracturing performance of two horizontal wells of well Anye-2,this study explored the layout of the fracturing monitoring network and data acquisition and processing using the fracturing monitoring technique combined with the wide field electromagnetic method.Through the qualitative and semi-quantitative difference analysis of the pre-,in-,and post-fracturing monitoring data,this study preliminarily determined the propagation direction of induced fractures and semi-quantitatively calculated the parameters such as fracture length and height.For each fracturing interval,the parameters such as fracture height and length were quantitatively determined through fine-scale inversion with depth as constraints and difference calculation.The fracturing monitoring results show that the fractures at two horizontal wells had lengths of 100~125 m and heights of 20~25 m.The fracturing production was guided by evaluating the fracturing performance of each fracturing interval.The fracturing results of the previous interval were used to guide the fracturing of the subsequent interval.Finally,the fracturing performance of all fracturing intervals was evaluated.The application results show that the wide field electromagnetic method can effectively predict the spread direction and range(e.g.,fracture length) of fracturing fluids,achieving encouraging performance.

The Bohai Basin has the most offshore oil and gas fields discovered in China. As a potential hydrocarbon-rich sag in the Bohai Basin, the Qinnan Sag is of high value in exploration. Therefore, the study of the tectonic framework of the sag and its adjacent areas is of great significance and application value. Based on satellite gravity anomalies, this study determined the Bouguer gravity anomalies by correcting the influences of land topography and seawater and obtained the planar distribution and apparent depths of faults, the thickness of Cenozoic strata, and the boundaries of tectonic units using methods such as the normalized vertical derivative of the total horizontal derivative (NVDR-THDR), the Euler deconvolution, the minimum curvature potential field separation, and the fast for the gravity field based in a dual interface model. Based on the geological and geophysical data, this study analyzed the distribution and geophysical characteristics of major faults and tectonic units in the study area. The results of this study are as follows: The faults in the Qinnan Sag and its adjacent areas mainly have NE, NEE, and NW strikes and an apparent depth of primarily 1~10 km, which is up to 15~25 km at some positions of the sag-controlling faults and the intersections of the faults; The Cenozoic strata have a thickness of 0~11 km. The Cenozoic tectonic units are distributed in alternating NE and NEE directions, and their boundaries are mostly controlled by faults; Through further investigation, this study classified the sub-sag on the west side of the Qinnan sag as the Laoting sag and adjusted the boundaries of other tectonic units. The results of this study on the distribution of the faults and tectonic units can provide geophysical data for hydrocarbon exploration in the Qinnan Sag.

Jianchi Town of Shaanxi Province is located in the Nanjiang foreland-superimposed basin on the northern margin of the Yangtze Plate. To determine the prospecting potential, this study conducted a 1∶25,000 stream sediment survey in the study area. Based on the testing results of 12 elements and compounds closely related to mineralization, namely K₂O, Na₂O, CaO, MgO, Cl, S, B, Rb, Cs, Li, Br, and I, this study analyzed the geochemical characteristics of these elements and compounds and determined that Li is the major metallogenic element, Li-B-Rb-Cs-K₂O is the indicator element association for the prospecting of lithium deposits, and the spatial morphology of Li agrees with that of various geological bodies. By combining the metallogenic geological setting, this study delineated 18 integrated anomalies. Through the follow-up examination of the anomalies, multiple lithium ore bodies (mineralized points) were discovered, indicating that the study area has favorable metallogenic geological and geochemical conditions and great prospecting potential.

With the rapid development of urban infrastructure,the demand for urban geological work is increasing,and urban geological surveys become particularly important.Urban geophysical exploration has different exploration purposes and working environments from conventional geophysical exploration.Accordingly,compared with conventional geophysical exploration methods,the geophysical exploration methods for urban geological surveys face the challenges of many interference factors,limited construction sites and time,and high requirements for exploration accuracy.The opposing-coils transient electromagnetic(OCTEM) method enjoys a strong anti-interference ability,convenient and efficient construction,and high resolution.Therefore,this study employed the OCTEM method to investigate the test profile in the urban geological survey and evaluation of Haidong City.This test profile was subjected to numerous interference sources since it crossed 11 highways and railways and passed through factories,schools,logistics parks,villages,living quarters,and rivers.Consequently,the OCTEM results agree well with the results of single-point resistivity sounding and drilling results.Therefore,the OCTEM method proposed in this study is effective for urban geological surveys.

As a kind of clean energy, geothermal energy has attracted the attention of scholars all over the world in recent years. Previous geochemical exploration methods for geothermal resources are limited to the analysis of individual geochemical indices. Moreover, previous studies of microorganisms in geothermal fields mostly focus on hot spring outcrops, lacking ecological studies of geothermal resources in complex terrains. This study investigated the soil geochemistry and microbial diversity of the Bantang Hot Spring geothermal field in Chaohu, Anhui Province. Geochemical indices such as head-space gas, soil gas, acid-hydrolyzed hydrocarbons, and altered carbonate were detected in this study. Combined with the microbial high-throughput sequencing technology, this study analyzed the composition and spatial-temporal distribution of the microbial population above the geothermal fields in uplifted mountains and the relationship between these bioinformatics characteristics and the geochemical indices. The results indicate that the acid-hydrolyzed hydrocarbons on the surface of the geothermal field showed a maximum methane concentration of 43.7 μL/kg in the area between faults F2 and F3, adequately reflecting the fault location of the geothermal field.Bacillaceae, Hydrogenophilaceae, and Thermodesulfovibrionaceae in the geothermal field and the background area showed large relative abundance differences, which were 0.178%, 0.108%, and 0.060%, respectively. This result indicates that they are sensitive to geothermal resources and correspond well to geochemical indices above the known geothermal field. This study preliminarily investigated the diversity of geothermal microorganisms in the geothermal field and analyzed the corresponding relationships between microbial distribution characteristics and geochemical indexes, providing technical support for the microbiological exploration of geothermal resources.

The development of Se-rich land has been carried out in many regions of China, achieving remarkable results. However, no Se-rich land or crop has been reported in Tibet. This study analyzed the characteristics and influencing factors of the Se content in the soils and crops of the key arable land areas in Bailang County, Tibet, aiming to lend support to the development and utilization of Se-rich land in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The results are as follows: The soils in the study area have a Se content of (0.05~0.76)×10^-6, which is higher than the background value of soils in Tibet (0.15 ×10^-6); 76.83% of the land in the study area has sufficient Se, and land in the study area with a Se content of greater than 0.3 ×10^-6 covers an area of 45.43 km², as determined according to the standard threshold of Se content in alkaline soils (w(Se)≥0.3 ×10^-6). Further investigation shows that highland barley seeds have a Se content of (0.017~0.17)×10^-6 (average: 0.063 ×10^-6) and rapeseeds have a Se content of (0.043~0.14)×10^-6 (average: 0.078 ×10^-6) in the distribution area of Se-rich soils. As indicated by the root soil results of the zones with Se-rich soils, the Nieru Group controls the source of Se in soils, and Se and effective Se content in the soils are significantly positively correlated with N, P, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, and rapid available phosphorus but is significantly negatively correlated with pH. These results indicate that the behavior of Se is significantly affected by a large number of nutrient elements in the soils and pH. Overall, the distribution areas of Se-rich soils in Bailang County have high soil environmental quality, crops with a high Se content, and great potential for the development of Se-rich plateau characteristic agricultural products.

The second member of the Xujiahe Formation (the Xu-2 Member) in the Anyue area of the Sichuan Basin enjoys abundant tight gas reserves.However,this member has complex geological characteristics,and conventional amplitude versus offset (AVO) analysis has relatively low precision in predicting the gas-bearing property of the reservoir in this member.Therefore,it is necessary to develop a more fine-scale seismic prediction method. Based on the analysis of single-well petrophysical characteristics and forward models,the AVO attributes of the dominant frequency range were selected through the frequency division AVO inversion based on wavelet transform.Then,these AVO attributes were fused to form the gas-bearing indicator,using which the distribution of favorable gas-enrichment zones in the Xu-2 Member of the Anyue area was predicted.The results are as follows:The gas zones in the Xu-2 Member primarily present class IV AVO anomalies;For the gas and water zones,their AVO responses in the dominant frequency range (35~45 Hz) differed significantly from those in the full frequency band,and their gas-bearing response characteristics were more pronounced in the dominant frequency range;The AVO attributes sensitive to the gas-bearing property included the difference in the S-wave velocity,the difference in Poisson's ratio, and the fluid factor.The gas-bearing indicator was obtained through the fusion of these AVO attributes,and the negative anomalies of the gas-bearing indicator were indicative of favorable gas-bearing zones;The seismic-log correlation shows that the AVO attributes in the dominant frequency range yielded positive gas-bearing prediction effects.The method proposed in this study is expected to provide technical support for unconventional oil and gas exploration.

The Saima alkaline complex is a unique and complex geologic body. It is well known for its diverse rock types and mineral types and high contents of uranium, thorium, and rare and rare earth elements. This study analyzed and summarized the geological exploration results of the Saima alkaline complex area in recent years, discovering that the rocks in the second intrusive stage of the Saima alkaline complex show the wide mineralization of rare and rare earth elements, with a moderate- to low- mineralization temperature. There are mainly two types of deposits in Saima alkaline complex area, namely the residual magmatic metasomatism type and the skarn type. Furthermore, the prospecting potential of the whole alkaline complex was analyzed by combining the 1∶200,000 stream sediment survey data and the 1∶10,000 primary halo survey data. Three predicted metallogenic zones of rare earth and radioactive elements were delineated in the Saima alkaline complex and its surrounding area, namely Saima-Gujia, Aiyang, and Shuangshanzi. This study is of great significance for the prospecting of rare and rare earth polymetals in the Saima alkaline complex area.

In marine seismic exploration,seismic reflection characteristics play an important role in AVO analysis,inversion for seabed parameters,and structural analysis.When seismic waves propagate in the ocean,their seismic reflection characteristics are affected by the seawater layer and the sediments beneath the seabed.However,previous studies mainly focus on the influence of the sediments beneath the seabed,while there is a lack of studies on the effects of the seawater layer on the seismic reflection characteristics.This study analyzed the changes in the seismic wave field during the seismic wave propagation in the seawater layer.Based on the boundary conditions of fluid-solid and free interfaces,this study derived the P-P amplitude ratio between the incident and reflected waves on an elastic interface and obtained the mathematical expression of the seawater layer effect accordingly.Then,this study analyzed the influencing factors,such as the frequency of incident waves,the depth of the seawater layer,the impedance contrast of the seabed,and the incident angle,on the filtering effect of the seawater layer.The analysis results are as follows:The seawater layer had a periodic frequency selective filtering effect on seismic P-waves;The period of the frequency selective filtering effect was inversely proportional to the frequency of incident waves and the depth of the seawater layer and was directly proportional to the incident angle;A higher incident angle corresponded to severer attenuation of seismic P-waves;The effects of impedance contrast on amplitude was related to the frequency of incident waves and the depth of the seawater layer.Finally,the study verified the effects of the seawater layer on seismic reflection characteristics through numerical simulations.

It is difficult to explore the overlapping double-layer waterlogged goafs using the transient electromagnetic method. The reason is that upper waterlogged goafs will hinder the propagation of the electromagnetic field, thus prolonging the observation of the lower waterlogged goafs and reducing the signal-to-noise ratio. Besides, the burial depths and layer spacings of double-layer waterlogged goafs affect the signal-to-noise ratio and the observation time of transient electromagnetic signals. By building a double-layer waterlogged goaf model based on the Majiayan coal mine in Shanxi, this study analyzed the electromagnetic field propagation under layer spacings of 25 m, 50 m, 75 m, and 100 m,and calculated the observation time of waterlogged goafs with different layer spacings. Furthermore, it quantitatively characterized the differences between induced voltages in the double-layer waterlogged goafs with different layer spacings using root mean square errors. Additionally, this study proposed the identification criteria for explorable lower waterlogged goafs based on the record errors and noise levels during the observation. The results of physical simulation experiments are as follows: The differences between the induced voltages of double-layered waterlogged goafs with different layer spacings occur mainly in the late stage; the differences between induced voltages gradually decrease as the layer spacing and the burial depth of upper waterlogged goafs increases; the difference between induced voltages is close to the noise level when the layer spacing is greater than 75 m. The actual detection of the double layer waterlogged goaf with a spacing of 75 meters was conducted in Majiayan Coal Mine, and the results showed that the lower waterlogged goaf was not effectively identified.Therefore, It is difficult to effectively explore the lower waterlogged goafs when the layer spacing is greater than 75 m.

This study synthesized microtremor signals using the normal mode superposition.The dispersion curves of the synthesized microtremor signals were calculated using the spatial autocorrelation method,and the calculated results agreed well with theoretical dispersion curves.The simulation of microtremor signals involves many parameters,which are of great significance for microtremor exploration.As shown by results from numerical experiments of these parameters,the hypocentral distance and array size had a significant influence on the results.Moreover,high-order surface waves should be considered for complex strata,while small-size arrays tended to yield high-frequency dispersion information at quiet observation sites,thus improving the resolution of shallow strata.Therefore,it is necessary to consider the influences of hypocenter distribution,array size,and high-order surface waves on exploration results in microtremor exploration.

Since the periphery of the Xishan rare earth deposit in Weishan County, western Shandong is mostly covered by the Quaternary strata, single geophysical exploration methods are ineffective in searching for rare earth elements in this area. To establish a geological-geophysical prospecting model for deep rare earth prospecting in this area, a combination of exploration techniques and methods suitable for the deep exploration of rare earth deposits in this area were selected through multiple geophysical exploration technology experiments on the known geological profiles. The distribution range of the underground Mesozoic Xishan alkaline complex was roughly determined through gravity survey and high-precision magnetic survey. The ore body outcrop was delineated through ground-based gamma spectrometry, and the deep ore body characteristics were revealed through drilling. Finally, this study developed an integrated geophysical exploration method including gravity-magnetic joint delineation of rock masses, radioactive positioning for ore body outcrops, and deep drilling. By using this exploration model, one super-large rare earth deposit was discovered in this area, providing a reference for the exploration of rare earth deposits in the surrounding area.

Xiong'an New Area has great potential for geothermal resources. Carbonate rocks are favorable reservoirs for deep geothermal resources in this area. The integrated geophysical exploration technology is an effective way to ascertain the deep structures and the characteristic stratigraphic structure of carbonate geothermal reservoirs. Aiming at the exploration target of deep carbonate geothermal reservoirs, this study put forward a surface-line-point hierarchical and progressive geophysical exploration model. Using the high-precision gravity and aeromagnetic data, this model first investigated the distribution range of carbonate rocks, the thickness of carbonate strata, the distribution of deep-seated faults, and the fluctuation of bedrocks. Then, it analyzed the low-resistivity anomalies of geothermal reservoir strata using the magnetotelluric method. Finally, this model finely characterized the geothermal reservoir strata using two-dimensional seismic profiles and analyzed the velocity structure and regional structural characteristics of anomaly zones in the geothermal field. Based on the exploration precision and reliability of gravity, aeromagnetic, magnetotelluric, and seismic geophysical methods in the geothermal resource exploration of different stages, as well as other factors such as construction cost and efficiency, this study analyzed the economic applicability of geophysical methods in the exploration of deep karst geothermal reservoirs and suggested that the carbonate geothermal resources should be explored using the geophysical exploration technology combination of gravity, magnetic, and magnetotelluric methods.

Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technology, one of the most advanced sound field detection technologies, can achieve distributed, long-distance, and high-precision real-time detection of the ambient vibration and sound field information interacting with optical fiber. The optical fiber exploration system of the DAS technology solves the problems of high cost and deployment difficulty of conventional geophones in complex geological environments. In recent years, the DAS technology has experienced rapid development, especially in monitoring application scenarios that require long-term and large-scale deployment. However, its systematic understanding is insufficient due to divergent research results. To further understand the research advances of the DAS technology in geophysical exploration for more effective subsequent research, this study systematically classified and summarized the development history of the DAS technology and its recent research results in geophysical exploration based on the oil and gas, marine, and environmental engineering application scenarios through literature research. This study focused on the development process of the DAS technology in different directions, the research advances in data processing, and relevant literature with specific results. Finally, this study generalized the development trend and urgent problems of the DAS acquisition system, analyzing the DAS development prospect.

This study integrated the data of both the multi-purpose regional geochemical survey and land quality geochemical survey covering an area of 33 092 km² in eastern Qinghai. Based on these data, the total organic carbon storage of topsoil in the study area was estimated to be 171.16 Mt, with an average organic carbon density of 5 172.14 t/km². Moreover, this study analyzed the spatial distribution and main influencing factors of organic carbon in topsoil. As indicated by the results, the average density of organic carbon in topsoil is significantly high in high and middle-low mountains, grassland and meadow soils, soil parent materials of eluvial-slope deposits, forest grasslands, and alpine sparse vegetation areas, grassland and forest and is the lowest in deserts, aeolian sandy soil, and soil parent material areas of aeolian sands. This finding means that factors including topography (altitude), soil parent materials, climate, and vegetation affect the density and distribution of organic carbon in topsoil. Compared with the organic carbon storage revealed by the second general detailed soil survey in Qinghai, 53.21 Mt of organic carbon has been released from the topsoil of eastern Qinghai in the past 20 years. This result indicates that the soil organic carbon has decreased to a certain extent under the influence of human production activities such as long-term cultivation, overcutting, and overgrazing.

With the rapid development of the economy and society,traffic loads have increased sharply,gradually causing a series of pavement diseases.Ground penetrating radar (GPR),which is a non-destructive testing technique,can present the echo information of subsurface targets on the GPR profile.The echo information of diseases,such as voids,cavities underneath the pavement,and loosely infilled voids,constitutes a region of interest(ROI) on the GPR profile.The traditional manual ROI extraction method features high technical requirements and high laborious intensity due to massive data.Therefore,this study proposed an automatic ROI extraction method that combines the threshold segmentation data and the row-column variance.The experimental results show that the method proposed in this study can effectively extract the location information of multi-type and multi-target ROIs.This method has great potential for improving road detection efficiency based on GPR.

Southern Ningxia, located in a typical loess tableland area, hosts five semi-concealed - semi-exposed faults as boundaries of tectonic units. Based on the regional geotectonic conditions and outcrops, this study analyzed the distribution of the geophysical anomaly field in the study area, ascertained the distribution morphology of the concealed fault sections and the relationship between the faults, and established the fault framework in southern Ningxia. Based on the 1:200000 regional gravity and aeromagnetic data, this study extracted the weak signals of deep gravity and magnetic anomalies reflecting faults using both the multi-scale wavelet decomposition technique and the boundary recognition method and compared these signals with the deep faults depicted based on MT profiles. The results show that the five major faults in the study area are the boundaries of the significant gravity high anomaly zones in the detailed second-order wavelet field of gravity. The Niushoushan-Luoshan-Kongtongshan fault is the boundary between the north-south-trending long strip-shaped gravity anomalies and the north-west-trending flaky and banded gravity anomalies. This fault has typical dextral strike-slip characteristics and is the boundary fault between the Alxa microcontinent and the Ordos block. The Haiyuan fault is divided into Haiyuan faults Nos. 1 and 2 at depth. The No. 1 Haiyuan fault is concealed in the Haiyuan Basin and does not exhibit gravity anomalies. Moreover, the aeromagnetic anomaly field of this fault has significant zoning characteristics. The No. 2 Haiyuan fault is exposed at the northeastern feet of the northern and southern Mount Huashan and exhibits distinct characteristics of linear gravity anomalies but weak aeromagnetic anomalies. The two faults jointly constitute the composite boundary between the Early Paleozoic North Qilian Orogenic Belt and the Alxa microcontinent. Three faults in the Alxa microcontinent, namely the Tianjingshan fault, the Yantongshan-Yaoshan fault, and the fault at the eastern piedmont of Luoshan, are present as the northeastern boundary of the arcuate high-amplitude gravity anomaly zone.