Natural electric fields in Siberian gold deposits: structure, origin, and relationship with gold orebodies

Characteristics of the constant natural electric field in the Siberian gold ore areas are given. The regularities of spatial variations in the electric-field potential and the parameters and properties of anomalies have been established. The cause of the natural electric field in deposits of major genotypes has been elucidated. It is shown that the electric field is induced mainly by physicochemical processes running in electron-conducting syn-ore metasomatites and by circulation of groundwaters. Orebodies do not influence significantly the structure of the observed electric fields. We give recommendations on application of the electric-field method at various gold ore objects.