The exchange meeting on electromagnetic exploration technology, featuring scientists, chief geophysical experts, and core engineers, was successfully held.

On March 1, a technical exchange meeting on electromagnetic exploration techniques, bringing together scientists, chief geophysical experts, and core engineers, was successfully held in Chengdu. The technical exchange meeting was organized by the Mineral Resources and Technological Innovation Department of Sichuan Natural Resources Investment Group and hosted by the Institute of Geophysical Exploration. Comrade Xue Guoqiang, Deputy Secretary-General of the Chinese Geophysical Society and Researcher at the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, was invited to deliver an academic report. More than 60 participants, including leaders from sister units of the Group, geophysical experts, and geophysical engineers, attended the meeting. Zhang Guangda, Secretary of the Party Branch, Chairman of the Board, and General Manager of the Institute of Geophysical Exploration, presided over the meeting.

At the meeting, Zhang Guangda, representing the Institute of Geophysical Exploration, extended a warm welcome and heartfelt gratitude to Xue Guoqiang, leaders, experts, and colleagues from the Group’s Department of Mineral Resources and Technological Innovation, as well as from various sister units. He also introduced to all participants the Institute’s basic information and the progress and achievements made in 2023 in technological innovation within the field of geophysical exploration.

Xue Guoqiang delivered an academic report titled “Innovation in Transient Electromagnetic Technology with Electric Sources and Its Application in Mineral Exploration.” He pointed out that, given the severe resource shortages in China and the enormous future demand for various mineral resources, it is imperative to accelerate the development of mineral resources in the second deep space—between 500 and 2,000 meters. From the perspective of national strategic needs, venturing into the Earth’s deep interior has become a critical strategic scientific and technological challenge that we must address. Currently, the traditional Controlled Source Audio-frequency Magnetotelluric Method (CSAMT) suffers from shallow detection depths and low identification accuracy, making it difficult to meet the requirements for fine-scale exploration of deep-seated mineral resources. Therefore, in response to major national needs, the development of new, high-depth, high-precision electromagnetic exploration technologies has become an urgent necessity. Subsequently, Xue Guoqiang introduced to all participants his research team’s latest scientific achievement—the Surface Electric-source Short-offset Transient Electromagnetic Method (SOTEM). This exploration method has overcome key scientific challenges such as “precise analytical solutions for underground propagation of electromagnetic fields” and “intelligent extraction of broadband electromagnetic signals,” and has broken through technical bottlenecks including “effective removal of multi-source signal noise,” “fine determination of subsurface structural interfaces,” and “accurate localization of underground structures.” SOTEM boasts the characteristics of “great detection depth, high detection accuracy, and fast detection speed,” providing strong support for deep exploration and blind-spot detection, and enabling fine-scale exploration of mineral resources within 2,000 meters. It can be widely applied in mineral exploration, coalfield exploration, and geological hazard investigation. At the same time, Xue Guoqiang shared several successful mineral exploration case studies, fully demonstrating the outstanding achievements and broad prospects of electric-source transient electromagnetic technology in practical applications.

Following the report, geophysical experts and engineers from various units engaged in a lively exchange, posing questions, sharing insights, and discussing a wide range of topics—including the theoretical foundations, technical features, application results, and development directions of this emerging electromagnetic exploration method. Through this in-depth dialogue, participants not only deepened their understanding of the “Surface Electrical Source Short-offset Transient Electromagnetic Survey” technology but also became even more confident in its future development.

Taking this technical exchange conference as an opportunity, the Institute of Geophysical Exploration will further leverage its professional strengths in 2024. Relying on the Sichuan Office of the Chinese Geophysical Society and the platform of the Chinese Geophysical Society’s pilot unit for science and technology promotion, the institute will continue to deepen cooperation and exchanges with universities, research institutes, and related organizations. It will persistently tackle key technological challenges and achieve tangible results in scientific and technological development, patent invention, and application of research outcomes. In doing so, the institute will contribute Sichuan’s resources and geophysical exploration expertise to ensuring national energy and mineral security and fully supporting the construction of a modern socialist country.

Executive Producer | Zhang Guangda
Reviewed by | Zou Zhongping
Editor-in-charge | Zhou Huiying
Text | He Sai
Figure | Jia Jianchao
Editor | Wen Han