A trigger mechanism of nonlinear mechanoelectric conversions in mineralized faults

Polymetallic ores yield evidence of semiconductor textures creating irregularly distributed trap zones of electric charges produced by electrochemical reactions and mechanoelectric conversions. Such zones bounded by natural barriers can contain charges concentrated in separate parts of an ore-bearing province and reside in this state for a long time. If this equilibrium is disturbed, the energy (electric charges) is redistributed and signals of pulsed electromagnetic emission in the radiowave frequency range (PEERFR) are radiated. The set of properties of polymetallic ores recorded under in situ conditions and studied in the laboratory suggests a trigger mechanism of PEERFR signal generation. The triggering threshold of this mechanism depends on mining and geological conditions and the concentration and structure of ores. The energy released in ores can be many times larger than the activation energy of this process.