Information convolution of geophysical data: Implication in mining, petroleum and archaeological geophysics

It is well-known that majority of the inverse problem solutions in geophysics are ill-posed. It means, that the solution does not exist, or is not unique, or is not a continuous function of observed geophysical data (when small perturbation in the observations will cause arbitrary mistake in the solution). This fact, in particular, calls to wide application of informational methodologies in applied geophysics. Geophysical observations at are usually notoriously complicated by numerous factors. To eliminate many of these disturbances modern interpretational methodology has been developed. However, at times the complexity of the geological environment (extreme variability in lateral and vertical physical properties), the presence of several geological (archaeological) targets in close proximity and additional disturbances makes it impossible or unfeasible to apply this methodology. In such cases information methods are effective tools to recognize and classify targets, estimate the potential information value of geophysical methods and decide upon a workable solution. Thus, in many cases the desired targets and surrounding media are best approached as probabilistic objects, such that the amount of information potentially available from different geophysical methods can be estimated by statistical (and probabilistic) methods, including the risks associated with this decision making. Here it is shown that simple informational criteria can be applied to formalize the information obtained by applying different geophysical methods. To assess the relative value of geophysical methods, geophysical information, cost and time factors are convoluted to generate integrated parameters. This computation of the information parameters is illustrated by the calculation of actual results in geophysical method application in ore deposit, oil&gas indicators and archaeological site.