The soil resistivity method has been used for a long time to determine the properties of soil such as the effects of various soil layers such as the top soil, bed rock and others. It is used to determine the thickness of these layers and the levels of contaminants. This technique is important in determining the suitability of a particular area for construction, mining or other activity. Among the factors that affect the resistivity of any soil sample include the moisture content, its composition and other components. This of course varies greatly from region to region. The problems caused by poor soils can only be overcome by having very deep foundations. The reading for the resistance level should be low. Soil characteristics vary according to the season especially the moisture characteristics. The other factors are the soil layer that is in question and the water table level . In cold areas the engineering equipment like ground rods to detect minerals need to be placed as far into the crust as possible and below the frost level. Except in the case of metallic ores, soil particles that make up minerals are insulators. Therefore these tests can help to accurately determine the presence or absence of minerals in the ground. It is also to determine how far they are buried. Various meters have been used since discovery of this method. The variations that they can measure include shallow, medium and deep depth measurement. There are however specially designed meters for each of these variations. The depth that the meter can go to is determined by the frequency that it emits. There are high frequency and low frequency meters. The factors that may affect the readings include electrical interference and the magnetic field effect of the crust of the earth. The meters come with adjustments for the filtering out of these effects and once the scale of the effect has been established it is adjusted and measurement taken. Advanced Geosciences. Inc. (http://www.agiusa.com) is a manufacturer of geophysical resistivity method and IP imaging systems
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