A DEEP SCHLUMBERGER SOUNDING TO INVESTIGATE THE ELECTRICAL STRUCTURE OF THE CRUST AND UPPER MANTLE IN SOUTH AFRICA

Abstract

A deep Schlumberger electrical sounding on the Namaqualand Granite‐Gneiss Complex has been carried out. The sounding center is situated near the middle of this body which measures approximately 500 km by 150 km. Whereas in previous investigations of a similar nature, current electrode spacings have generally been limited to less than 100 km, the use of a telephone line as an emission line has made it possible to extend the maximum current electrode separation to 270 km. Factors which may have influenced the reliability of the measurements include leakage tests, measuring accuracy, lateral effects, and surface electrode effects. The interpretation of the sounding curve which shows the existence of six layers was carried out with the aid of a computer. Some comments are made about the range of the principle of equivalence in the interpretation from the computed results. In particular the results suggest that the lower crust has an extremely high resistivity of approximately 40,000 ohm‐m supposedly due to dehydration. The final layer is conductive.