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Investigation of dielectric properties of rocks and minerals for GPR data interpretation
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- Author / Creator
- Pervin, Sohely
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At radar frequencies, the propagation speeds and attenuations of electromagnetic (EM) waves are controlled by the complex dielectric permittivity. Consequently, the real and imaginary components as well as their variation with frequency are important parameters necessary for properly interpreting Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) data. Such data is used to detect objects or to infer the geological structure, and it does this primarily by interpreting the times and amplitudes of radar reflections in the soils and rocks near the earth’s surface. This study is motivated by the use of GPR to map weak and unsafe layers in underground potash mines in Saskatchewan. Consequently, knowledge of dielectric permittivity of the evaporate minerals and their contaminants is necessary to interpret GPR data more effectively particularly with regards to mine safety. In this study, we measured the dielectric permittivity of a number of minerals associated with the potash deposits over a frequency range of 10 MHz to 3 GHz using a commercially available material analyzer. Measurements were carried out on both synthetic and real samples. A cold compression technique in which mixed mineral powders were subject to pressures as high as 300 MPa was used to prepare the samples. The results of these measurements were then applied to predict the strength of GPR reflections that might be encountered in a real situation.
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- Subjects / Keywords
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- Graduation date
- Fall 2015
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- Type of Item
- Thesis
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- Degree
- Master of Science
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- License
- This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.