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Quantitative analysis of self-potential anomalies in archaeological sites of Israel: an overview

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Abstract

Self-potential (SP) method is one of the most non-expensive and unsophisticated geophysical methods. However, its application limits absence of reliable interpreting methodology, first for the complex geological–environmental conditions. The typical disturbances appearing in the SP method and ways for their removing (elimination) are discussed. Some brief review of the available interpretation methods indicates their insufficient effectivity, especially for the complex environments. For the magnetic method of geophysical prospecting, special quantitative procedures applicable under non-trivial environments (oblique polarization, rugged relief and unknown level of the normal field) have been recently developed. Performed analysis allowed to revealing some essential common peculiarities between the magnetic and SP fields. These common aspects make it possible to apply the advanced procedures developed in magnetic prospecting to SP method. Besides the reliable determination of the depth of anomalous target, these methodologies enable to calculate the polarization effect and corrections for the non-horizontal SP observations. For classification of SP anomalies is supposed to employ a new parameter—‘self-potential moment’. These procedures (improved modifications of characteristic point and tangent techniques) have been successfully tested on SP models and employed in the real situations in various archaeological sites in Israel. The present paper generalizes the earlier performed studies. The obtained results indicate the practical importance of the developed methodology.

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Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank two anonymous reviewers, who thoroughly reviewed the manuscript, and their critical comments and valuable suggestions were very helpful in preparing this paper. The author thanks Dr. S. Itkis and Mr. S. Kouznetsov for their active participation in the SP field observations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geophysics, School of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Lev V. Eppelbaum

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  1. Lev V. Eppelbaum
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Appendix

Appendix

See Tables 2, 3

Table 2 Formulas for quantitative interpretation of self-potential anomalies from bodies approximated by thin bed and horizontal circular cylinder (HCC) using the improved characteristic point method (after Eppelbaum and Mishne (2011), with modifications)
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Table 3 Nomenclature of variables applied for quantitative analysis of SP anomalies due to model of thin bed and horizontal circular cylinder (see Table 2)
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Eppelbaum, L.V. Quantitative analysis of self-potential anomalies in archaeological sites of Israel: an overview. Environ Earth Sci 79, 377 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-020-09117-w

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