The variability in physical properties such as porosity and water saturation critically affects the outcomes of electrical resistivity surveys because these properties influence the ground's ability to conduct electricity. High porosity and water saturation yield lower resistivity measurements as they enhance conductivity, whereas low porosity or dry conditions yield higher resistivity. Therefore, interpretation of resistivity readings must consider these factors to distinguish between different subsurface conditions and improve the accuracy of models predicting lithology, voids, and seams in mining contexts .

The effectiveness of geophysical investigations in mining relies heavily on the presence of physical contrast between targets such as voids and the surrounding material. High physical contrast allows for more easily detectable signals; for instance, coal typically has a high resistivity compared to other sedimentary rocks. The detection of voids depends on whether they present a physical contrast with the surrounding rock. If the void is filled with air or dry, detection is difficult because air does not conduct electricity. However, water in mine voids increases detectability due to the contrast created by water's conductive properties compared to surrounding materials .

Conventional exploration techniques like drilling may miss important features in abandoned mines because these features such as mine entries are often small, complexly distributed, or have unreliable historical records. Drilling provides localized information, potentially overlooking features that lie in untested corridors, are obscured by overburden or possess irregular geometries not easily targeted without comprehensive sub-surface mapping. Furthermore, electrical resistivity methods offer an advancement in detecting these features through a non-invasive, large-area approach .

Greater depth penetration is critical in the exploration of mining sites because it allows detection beyond surface-level anomalies, leading to better identification of subsurface structures and conditions. Deep penetration helps to map coal seams, detect voids and water saturation, and reduce the risk of missing important features such as mine entries or natural resources located at deeper levels. Thus, accurate mapping of underground features is enhanced by configurations like the pole-dipole arrangement, which improves effective survey depth .

Electrode spacing, or "a" spacing, is significant in resistivity surveys as it influences the depth of investigation and resolution of detected anomalies. In configurations like the dipole-dipole and pole-dipole, adjusting the "a" spacing can target deeper structures by increasing the spacing for greater depth penetration. Effective spacing helps to balance between acquiring detailed surface data and detecting deeper features, crucial for precise mapping of coal mines and identification of voids or water saturation levels .

In room and pillar mining, the presence of natural mineral pillars left standing for roof support impacts geophysical detection of mine voids and seams by creating zones with distinct resistivity values. The structural pattern can cause inconsistencies in detected signals, as the resistive properties of coal and pillar distribution affect data interpretation. High resistivity coal can obscure void detection unless the voids have been water-inundated, providing a necessary physical contrast needed for detection through changes in resistivity measurements .

The pole-dipole configuration is advantageous because it offers relatively greater depth penetration and reduced noise levels compared to the dipole-dipole configuration. The greater depth penetration is due to the placement of one electrode at an 'infinite' distance, which extends the effective survey depth. This configuration is also improved by embedding the remote electrode within the coal mine if possible. However, converting apparent resistivity to true resistivity remains necessary for accurate interpretation. The limitation is that without proper adjustments, such as electrode placement, results can be inaccurate without necessary calibration .

To convert measured apparent resistivity to true resistivity for more accurate interpretation, adjustments include accounting for the geometric factor based on electrode configuration and ensuring proper calibration against known subsurface conditions. This process may involve verifying with additional geological data or using controlled environment measurements. The calculations must consider factors like electrode spacing and signal noise reduction, and the physical properties of target materials must be well-understood to accurately translate apparent measurements to true ground conditions .

A DC electrical survey measures subsurface resistivity by injecting current through two current electrodes and measuring the voltage difference at two potential electrodes. The resulting values of current (I) and voltage (V) are used to calculate an apparent resistivity (ρa). The geometric factor (k) determined by the arrangement of electrodes helps calculate the resistivity, which is related to subsurface conditions such as lithology, water saturation, and void presence through the formula ρa = kV/I .

It is challenging to detect voids in dry coal mines because air within the voids does not transmit electrical current, providing little distinguishable contrast from high-resistivity coal. Detecting such voids is difficult since no substantial electrical signal differentiates the voids from the surrounding material. In contrast, water-filled voids present a greater conductivity difference due to water's ability to conduct electrical current, improving detectability .