International Journal of Integrated Engineering, Vol. 10 No. 8 (2018) p.

56-60
© Penerbit UTHM
DOI: [Link]

Electrical resistivity and induced polarization techniques for

groundwater exploration
Aziman Madun1, Saiful Azhar Ahmad Tajudin1,2, Mohd Zainizan Sahdan2,
Mohd Firdaus Md Dan @ Azlan1, Mohd Khaidir Abu Talib1,
1
Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia.
2
Preston GeoCEM Sdn. Bhd, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia

Received 16 May 2018; accepted 26 December 2018, available online 29 December 2018

Abstract: Electrical resistivity and induced polarization surveys have been conducted for groundwater exploration
at two different sites of geological aged i.e. Carboniferous and Quaternary. This study discussed the earth materials
resistivity and chargeability for metasedimentary rock and unconsolidated sediment for groundwater exploration at
Kampung Jongok Batu, Dungun and Kampung Paya Rawa, Besut, respectively. For this study Terrameter LS2,
cable, electrode, cable connector, battery and remote cable are tools for measurement. The spacing between
electrodes is 5 m, maximum length of spread line is 400 m and using Pole-Dipole protocol. Via comparing
between the resistivity and chargeability values able to provide better interpretation for ground water exploration
for metasedimentary rock and unconsolidated quaternary sediment. The result shows the important of chargeability
for refining the resistivity value for locating the groundwater position.
Keywords: Groundwater, Geophysics, Electrical resistivity, Induced Polarization

1. Introduction
Groundwater source exists beneath the subsurface in
soil pore spaces and the fractures in rock formations [1]. 2. Literature Review
It can be obtained for the use of the peoples for domestic
or agricultural use [2]. The underground water contains 2.1 Electrical resistivity method
and transmits in aquifer, which are characterized either
unconfined aquifer or confined aquifer. Typically, The electrical resistivity survey is the oldest application
unconfined aquifer is found an upper layer of confining of geophysical survey techniques used for determining
layer such rock layer whereby confine aquifer is found water existence underground [8]. This main purpose of
between confining layer. The occurrence of this aquifer this technique is to determine the subsurface resistivity
can be determined by electrical technique survey, one of distribution by making measurements on the ground
the geophysical applications for underground survey surface [9]. By injecting electrical current to the ground
[3,4,5]. The electrical survey commonly adopted through electrode [10], it provides estimated resistivity
resistivity and induced polarization methods. By value of ground which is affected by ground parameters
combining these methods, subsurface can be modelled such as the mineral and fluid content, porosity and degree
and thus the groundwater bearing can be detected. of water saturation in the rock [7,10]. The electrical
Electrical resistivity and induced polarization methods resistivity method has followed the fundamental physical
provide resistivity and chargeability values of the law of Ohm’s Law and determined the value of resistivity
subsurface for entire survey line [6,7]. The principal of in Ohm meter (Ωm) [10].
electrical resistivity technique is in term of how current is
opposed to flow between two electrodes. Meanwhile 2.2 Induced Polarization Method
induced polarization is measuring the time of the earth
material can store the charges. This paper will have The induced polarization (IP) method has been recently
discussed about induced polarization characteristics development of multiple electrode data acquisition and
between two distinct type rock formations and compared used to identify chargeability of subsurface materials.
with resistivity values for groundwater exploration at This method used the same survey configuration as
Jongok Batu and Besut, Terengganu. resistivity method. Loke et. al [10] stated that the
resistivity measurement are conjunction with induced
polarization measurement for complex mineral

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 A. Madun, et al., Int. J. Of Integrated Engineering Vol. 10 No. 8 (2018) p. 56-60

exploration. Using recent geophysical electrical tools of

terrameter, both resistivity and induced polarization
method can be performed at the same time. The induced
polarization method uses parameters of time and
frequency domain to show the induced polarization effect
[6,11]. Induced polarization effects are caused by the two
main effects such as the membrane polarization and
electrode polarization effects. Membrane polarization is
mainly caused by the existence of clay mineral in the
sediment or rock. Meanwhile electrode polarization is
caused by conductive minerals in rocks where electrical
current flow through partly electrolytic (groundwater) and
partly electrocnic (conductive mineral). Induced
polarization have two type of measurement taken in time-
domain or frequency domain where most often
measurement taken using latest terrameter LS2 are in
time-domain. The induced polarization effects were
measured by the residual decay voltage after the current
switch off, this is called induced polarization
measurement taken in time-domain which given in per
volt (mV/V) or in milliseconds (ms).
Fig. 2 Geology map of Kampung Paya Rawa, Besut.[12]
3. Geological Setting
Geologic formation at Kampung Jongok Batu, Dungun 4. Methodology
belongs to Paleozoic sedimentary rock at aged of
Carboniferous which known as Sungai Perlis Beds as 4.1 Equipment Setup
shown in Fig. 1. The Sungai Perlis Beds sediment
consists of shallow marine sediment with several isolated For this study, authors are using latest Terrameter LS2
limestone at thickness about 1500 m and usually manufactured by ABEM including several equipments
argillaceous interbedded carbonaceous slate, argillite, such as 4 units of multi-purpose cable, 64 units of jumper
phyllite, variably metamorphosed siltstone and sandstone. cable, 61 units of stainless steel electrode, 2 units of cable
However, in study area only phyllite is observed. The connector, 1 unit of 12 volt battery and 1 unit of remote
second location is at Kampung Paya Rawa, Besut covered cable. Fig. 3 shows the equipment used for electrical
by unconsolidated Quaternary sediment of marine deposit resistivity and induced polarization survey. Fig. 4 shows
consists of clay, silt and gravel as shown in Fig. 2. The the equipment arrangement for electrical methods survey.
study area is located about 5 km of shoreline and organic The spacing between electrodes is 5 m and maximum
soil is observed on the top layer. length of profile lines are 400 m. Both study locations
used Pole-Dipole protocol with remote cable setup about
perpendicular from spread line with a distance of 300 m.
During data acquisition, the LS2 terrameter is configured
to take resistiviy and induced polarization measurement
at the same time.

Fig. 3 The ABEM Terrameter LS2 resistivity meter and

supported equipment.

Fig.1 Geology map of Kampung Jongok Batu, Dungun.

[12].

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A. Madun, et al., Int. J. Of Integrated Engineering Vol. 10 No. 8 (2018) p. 56-60

Fig. 4 The arrangement of ABEM Terrameter LS2 resistivity meter and other equipments.

groundwater bearing zone can be well predicted. The

4.2 Interpretation Technique potential groundwater is detected at a depth of 60 m at two
(2) possible locations at distance of 40 to 125 m and 195 to
RES2DINV program was used to converted raw data in 370 m from scan line in Fig 5.
the extension of the DAT format. The earth materials
resistance measurements are reduced to apparent
resistivity values by inversion process. RES2DINV used a Table 1 The resistivity and chargeability value at
least-squares inversion scheme to determine the Kampung Jongok Batu, Dungun and its interpretation.
appropriate resistivity value so that the calculated apparent
Resistivity
resistivity values agree with the measured values [13]. The value (Ωm)
Resistivity legend Interpretation
inversion process is carried out to obtain three types of
resistivity section which consist of the calculated apparent
resistivity, measured apparent resistivity and inverse Saturated soil at
model resistivity. The misfit between measured and 1 – 100
sediment layer
calculated apparent resistivity produce root mean square
(RMS) values. The resistivity contour value is adjusted
based on geological information that fit the resistivity Fractured rocks
range with different colours [14]. > 100
of phylitte

5. Result and Discussion Chargeability

value
For groundwater exploration, the resistivity and induced Chargeability Legend Interpretation
(millisecond,
polarization parameters are suggested to utilize and thus ms)
able to give a realistic subsurface model for groundwater Saturated soil
interpretation. In resistivity measurement, it is layer contains
recommended to differentiate fresh groundwater based on 0.0 - 1.0
fresh and saline
resistivity value from 10 to 100 Ohm.m. Meanwhile, in water
induced polarization measurement, chargeability for water
is 0 ms. Table 1 and 2 separated the resistivity and Fractured rocks
chargeability values for Kampung Jongok Batu and > 1.0 of sandstone
Kampung Paya Rawa, Besut for ease the interpretation. and siltstone
Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 show the 2-dimensional tomography of
resistivity and induced polarization for Jongok Batu and The 2-dimensional tomography at Quaternary
Kampung Paya Rawa, Besut, respectively. unconsolidated sediment at Kampung Paya Rawa, Besut is
The 2-dimensional tomography at Carboniferous shown in Fig. 6. The resistivity values are divided into
rock formation at Kampung Jongok Batu was three which are under 10 ohm.m, 10 to 100 ohm.m and
differentiating based on the contrast of resistivity values, above 100 ohm.m. Below 10 ohm.m is considered as a
i.e. less than 100 ohm.m and above 100 ohm.m. Below saturated marine sediment, meanwhile between 10 and 100
100 ohm.m is the zone considered saturated rock with ohm.m is soil with groundwater bearing layered and above
groundwater. Meanwhile, above 100 ohm.m is suggested 100 ohm.m is saturated soil layer. The chargeability from
as a zone of weathered and fractured phyllite. The induced polarization tomography is separated between the
chargeability from induced polarization tomography is value of below 1.0 ms and above 1.0 ms. It is expected at
separated between the value of below 1.0 ms and above sand and clay has above 1.0 ms chargeability due to ability
1.0 ms. It is expected at phyllite rock mass has above 1.0 to retain the electrical charges. It is worth noting that the
ms due to ability to retain the electrical charges. It is worth sand and clay contains minerals of quartz, kaolinite and
noting that the phyllite contains minerals of quartz and other clay minerals. In water zone is 0 ms chargeability
biotite. Meanwhile, in water zone is 0 ms chargeability due to inability to retain the electrical charges. The
due to inability to retain the electrical charges. Therefore potential groundwater is detected at a depth of 5 m across
via combining resistivity and chargeability values the the scan line in Fig 6.

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 A. Madun, et al., Int. J. Of Integrated Engineering Vol. 10 No. 8 (2018) p. 56-60

Table 2 The resistivity and chargeability value at Chargeability

Kampung Paya Rawa, Besut and its interpretation. value
Chargeability Legend Intepertation
(millisecond,
Resistivity ms)
Resistivity Legend Interpretation
value (Ωm) Saturated soil
layer contains
Saturated soil 0.0 - 1.0 fresh and
1 – 10 contains brackish
saline water water
Sandy, gravel
Saturated soil
> 1.0 mixed with
10 - 100 contains fresh
clay
water
Sandy and
gravel
> 100
sediment
layer

Fig. 5 Resistivity and induced polarization results at Kampung Jongok Batu.

Fig. 6 Resistivity and induced polarization results at Kampung Paya Rawa.

The resistivity measurement could determine the location conditions. Therefore induced polarization measurement
of groundwater in older rock formation in distinct is important in groundwater exploration in
compared in unconsolidated Quaternary sediments due to metasedimentary rock and unconsolidated Quaternary
the high ground water table and saturated condition. Via formations.
combining chargeability value is able to differentiate
between earth material and groundwater in saturated

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A. Madun, et al., Int. J. Of Integrated Engineering Vol. 10 No. 8 (2018) p. 56-60

6. Conclusion Resistivity Method. MATEC Web of Conferences,

Volume 103, (2017).
This study used a geophysical electrical survey to
[6] Telford, E., Geldart, W.M., Sheriff, R.E., Applied
determine the groundwater by combining resistivity and
Geophysics. Cambridge University Press, UK,
induced polarization techniques for different geology
(1990).
aged formation of Carboniferous metasedimentary rock
[7] Innocent, M., Hlatywayo, D.J., Nel J.M., Chuma C.
and unconsolidated Quaternary sediment. The result
Electrical resistivity survey for groundwater
shows the importance of chargeability for refining the
investigations and shallow subsurface evaluation of
resistivity value of locating the groundwater position.
the basaltic-greenstone formation of the urban
Bulawayo aquifer, Physics and Chemistry of the
Earth. Volume 50–52, (2012), pp 44-51.
Acknowledgement
[8] Loke, M.H., Electrical resistivity surveys and data
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Education and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia for Geophysics Encyclopaedia (2nd Edition) “Electrical
their financial support on FRGS vot. 1455. & Electromagnetic” Springer-Verlag, (2011), pp.
276-283.
[9] Loke, M.H., Geoelectrical Imaging 2-D & 3-D.
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