Induced polarization, a study of its causes

Abstract The causes of induced electrical polarization include not only the polarization of metal-solution interfaces, but also effects associated with the coupling different flows. Electro-osmotic, thermal electric and ion diffusion effects are among such examples. A study of the physical properties of geologic materials indicates that only electrode interface and diffusion flow phenomena are important sources of induced polarization effects. It was attempted to find characteristic differences between these 2 phenomena. Theoretical and experimental considerations show that the kinetic processes involved are quite similar in the 2 cases. This leads to difficulties in identifying the polarizing agent from electrical measurements, although the effects of mineralized zones are easily recognized.