According to "Principles of Direct Current Resistivity Prospecting" by
Kunetz (1966)
Daft and Williams in 1902 were granted patents on prospecting methods using
alternating currents at low frequencies.
Rob Vernon
-----Original Message-----
From: mining-history [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
Gerard MacGill
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2001 5:19 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Early geophysical prospecting
I have come across a 1903 report in Perth, Western Australia that reads in
part as follows:
"Mr Ernest Lidgey, formerly mining representative in London for the
Victorian Government and lately general manager of the Hampton Plains
Estates, Ltd., in W.A., has secured the patent rights in this State of an
ELECTRICAL ORE FINDING SYSTEM. This system which was patented by Mr Daft,
and its utility as a lode finder, first demonstrated by another, Mr. Gamman,
is, notwithstanding this coincidence, spoken well of by certain London
financial Journals..."
The system seems to be a crude form of EM. I am trying to discover whether
this might be the earliest recorded use of exploration geophysics in
Australia. Are there any exploration geophysics historians out there? Or
perhaps someone who is acquainted with Mr Lidgey prior to his association
with Hampton Plains in WA
Gerard MacGill
Gerard MacGill and Associates
Researchers, writers and editors in planning, heritage and geoscience
52 Harvest Road, North Fremantle WA 6159
(08) 9335 7471; Facs (08) 9335 8241
|