RELATIONS OF IP DECAY‐CURVE STATISTICS AND GEOLOGY*

Six thousand three hundred IP measurements made in central and southern Germany have been statistically evaluated. Shapes of IP decay curves obtained in the course of routine prospecting for sulfides were characterized in the following way: three chargeabilities were recorded during the 2 s current‐off time. By dividing the last by the first chargeability an “IP decay coefficient’ was calculated and statistically evaluated by means of histograms. When the histograms were compared with the statistics of apparent resistivity and chargeability, no relationship could be detected. Therefore, the histograms of M3/M1 values represent a characteristic property of distinct areas with certain geological features, mineral assemblage and tectonics. Weathering does not alter this geophysical “fingerprint”, which depends solely on geology.