Center for Gravity, Electrical, and Magnetic Studies

Colorado School of Mines

Welcome

Welcome to the Center for Gravity, Electrical, and Magnetic Studies (CGEM) in the Department of Geophysics at Colorado School of Mines.

CGEM is an academic research center focusing on the study of gravity, magnetic, electrical, electromagnetic, radiometric data, and seismic data in energy and mineral explorations. The center brings together the diverse expertise of faculty and students across these geophysical methods, working to advance state-of-the-art geophysical data interpretation, and leading applied geophysical research in solving problems of societal importance.  

CGEM’s research focuses on the acquisition, modeling, processing, inversion, and interpretation of applied geophysical data, with key applications in geologic hydrogen exploration, mineral exploration, natural gas exploration, and carbon storage monitoring.

GEOLOGIC HYDROGEN (H2)

Geologic H2 is a primary energy source that will contribute to lower energy cost and long-term energy security. We carry out federally and industry funded research in pursuit of this new energy source.

  • Natural geologic hydrogen exploration
  • Stimulated geologic hydrogen monitoring
  • H2 source rock characterization
  • H2 reservoir imaging and evaluation

Natural geologic hydrogen exploration using geophysics

Airborne geophysics image

Stimulated geologic hydrogen-real time monitoring using geophysics

Stimulated geologic hydrogen

MINERAL EXPLORATION

Mineral resources are fundamental to modern society and technology, and critical to energy security. We carry out industry and federally funded mineral exploration research.

  • Potential-field, EM, and seismic methods
  • Airborne gamma-ray spectrometry (AGRS)
  • Joint inversion
  • Machine learning integration
Mineral exploration image

Natural gas exploration

Natural gas will continue to be a key component of energy supply and geophysics plays an important role in the exploration and production.

  • Determine natural gas drilling locations using integrated geophysics
  • Reserve estimation by geophysics, geology, and well logs
  • Post-drilling analyses for optimizing exploration and production
natural gas exploration image

Ergodic geophysical acquisition

Efficient and information-rich data acquisition is essential to geophysical exploration for energy and minerals. We pioneered ergodic survey design theory and its application.

  • Enhance the resolution by 2 to 10 times
  • Reduce the time and cost for data acquisition
  • Accelerate exploration cycles
ergodic sampling image