912 EXPLORATION GEOPHYSICS 



stages: I, preparation; II, briefing; III, execution; IV, integration; and 

 V, review. 



I. The period of preparation includes a thorough study of all the 

 available information on the geology of the district; an investigation of 

 the availability and price of acreage; and an analysis of previous geo- 

 physical work in the area. If these are favorable, the next step is the 

 selection of favorable prospects, and a careful analysis of these prospects 

 to evaluate the physical and legal problems involved in carrying out the 

 field work. The results of subsequent work can be no better than the 

 prospects selected. And no matter how good the prospects, the program 

 will fail unless a geophysical unit with good equipment, and skilled and 

 cooperative personnel is employed. 



II. The briefing stage consists of thoroughly acquainting the key geo- 

 physical personnel with the necessary geologic background of the prospect 

 and its particular geologic problems. All maps and data should be graded 

 as to reliability. The physical problems, including areas to be held back 

 for bad weather, trespass problems, and the location of field headquarters 

 should be thoroughly discussed. The field technique should be approved by 

 both the geologist and the geophysicist after considering the previous 

 factors. 



III. The execution stage is of critical importance. Activities of the 

 geophysical crew must be followed in detail so that maximum efficiency 

 can be secured for the expenditure involved. Frequent consultation and 

 full cooperation between the geologist and the geophysicist are absolutely 

 essential during prosecution of the field program. The importance of this 

 cooperation cannot be overemphasized. Lack of proper direction and liaison 

 may doom the effort to failure. 



IV. The integration stage is reached as the geophysical field reports, 

 maps and data are submitted. This information must be reviewed, analyzed, 

 and given its proper weight in the overall geologic setting by the geologist 

 responsible for the work. Decisions must be reached for the subsequent 

 field operations. Upon completion of the field work, the final analysis is 

 made and a recommendation for action is necessary. 



V. Finally, the data must be thoroughly reviewed following subsequent 

 drilling, or, periodically, in the light of new geologic information which 

 may become available. This process is continuous and never-ending. The 

 basic data is usually in the geophysical records, but cannot always be cor- 

 rectly interpreted until additional geologic information is available. The 

 geologist-geophysicist team must constantly rework the files of completed 

 geophysical work if maximum advantage is to be secured from the money 

 spent for exploration. 



The procedure outlined here is neither new nor unique. There is no 

 universal panacea for problems of exploration, nor is there any royal road 

 to oil-finding. Nevertheless, if the general procedure suggested here is 

 followed, optimum results are most likely to be obtained. 



