@article {MonteiroSantos2009, title = {{Using tensorial electrical resistivity survey to locate fault systems}}, journal = {Journal of Geophysics and Engineering}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, year = {2009}, month = {dec}, pages = {390{\textendash}400}, abstract = {This paper deals with the use of the tensorial resistivity method for fault orientation and macroanisotropy characterization. The rotational properties of the apparent resistivity tensor are presented using 3D synthetic models representing structures with a dominant direction of low resistivity and vertical discontinuities. It is demonstrated that polar diagrams of the elements of the tensor are effective in delineating those structures. As the apparent resistivity tensor shows great inefficacy in investigating the depth of the structures, it is advised to accomplish tensorial surveys with the application of other geophysical methods. An experimental example, including tensorial, dipole-dipole and time domain surveys, is presented to illustrate the potentiality of the method. The dipole-dipole model shows high-resistivity contrasts which were interpreted as corresponding to faults crossing the area. The results from the time domain electromagnetic (TEM) sounding show high-resistivity values till depths of 40-60 m at the north part of the area. In the southern part of the survey area the soundings show an upper layer with low-resistivity values (around 30 ${\O}mega$ m) followed by a more resistive bedrock (resistivity >100 ${\O}mega$ m) at a depth ranging from 15 to 30 m. The soundings in the central part of the survey area show more variability. A thin conductive overburden is followed by a more resistive layer with resistivity in the range of 80-1800 ${\O}mega$ m. The north and south limits of the central part of the area as revealed by TEM survey are roughly E-W oriented and coincident with the north fault scarp and the southernmost fault detected by the dipole-dipole survey. The pattern of the polar diagrams calculated from tensorial resistivity data clearly indicates the presence of a contact between two blocks at south of the survey area with the low-resistivity block located southwards. The presence of other two faults is not so clear from the polar diagram patterns, but their location can be afforded combining tensorial, dipole-dipole and TEM results. {\textcopyright} 2009 Nanjing Institute of Geophysical Prospecting.}, keywords = {3D modelling, Fracturation, Macroanisotropy, Tensorial resistivity}, issn = {1742-2132}, doi = {10.1088/1742-2132/6/4/007}, url = {http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-72449138142\&partnerID=tZOtx3y1}, author = {Monteiro Santos, Fernando A and Perea, Hector and Massoud, Usama and Plancha, Jo{\~a}o P and Marques, Jorge and Cabral, Jo{\~a}o} }