Kit planner

The instruments behind every method, with cost and data format

Every survey method on this site needs real hardware. This page lists what that hardware is, what it measures, roughly what it costs to buy or rent, and which export file loads straight into the records page. Prices are indicative planning figures from published lists and rental sheets — the final number always comes from a vendor quote, and UAE import duty, shipping, calibration and training are extra.

Recommended buying order for a one-person operation

First

IP / ERT system (MiniSting or SuperSting) + electrodes and cables

Sells groundwater, salinity and clay work immediately, runs single-handed, and is the cheapest kit that produces a paid report.

Second

Magnetometer + base station

Opens minerals reconnaissance at low cost and covers large ground per day alone.

Third

EM conductivity meter (EM31 class)

Speeds up siting the ERT lines and adds salinity mapping you can bill separately.

Fourth

TEM / TDEM system

Adds real depth for aquifers and cover-concealed mineralisation once you have cash flow.

Rent, do not buy

GPR, MT / AMT, borehole radar

High capital, narrower demand — rent per job or subcontract until a repeat client justifies ownership.

IP / ERT — resistivity and chargeability

The first system to buy. It earns money on groundwater, salinity, clay and sulphide work, and it is the cheapest route into paid fieldwork.

MiniSting R1 / IP + 4 electrodes

AGI

Entry single-channel resistivity and IP meter for soundings and short profiles.

— Single channel
— Manual electrode moves
— Resistivity + time-domain IP

Buy (USD): ≈ 15k – 25k
Rent (USD): 55 / day

.stg text export → loads directly

Price source

SuperSting R8 / IP + 84-electrode switch box + cables

AGI

Production 8-channel imaging system — full ERT sections in a day.

— 8 channels
— 84 electrodes per switch box
— Roll-along imaging

Buy (USD): ≈ 60k – 95k (full set)
Rent (USD): 170 / day console + 150 / day switch box + 30 / day per cable

.stg / .amp text export → loads directly

Price source

Terrameter LS 2

Guideline Geo (ABEM)

Premium 12-channel resistivity and IP system for deep, high-productivity imaging.

— 12 channels
— High duty cycle IP
— Harsh-condition build

Buy (USD): ≈ 100k+
Rent (USD): not published

ASCII / .ohm export → loads directly

Price source

GPR — ground-penetrating radar

Shallow, fast, and easy to sell for utilities, voids, foundations and archaeology. Depth is limited in conductive sabkha ground.

Proceq GS8000

Screening Eagle

Single-channel stepped-frequency cart, 2D and 3D as you walk.

— 40 – 3440 MHz
— 200 ns window
— RTK GNSS 1 – 5 cm
— 24 kg

Buy (USD): 23,470 list
Rent (USD): not published

CSV / ASCII scan export → loads directly

Price source

Proceq GS9000

Screening Eagle

Multichannel array for corridor mapping and real-time 3D.

— 35 + 15 channels
— 2.5 cm channel spacing
— 0.85 m scan width
— 45 kg

Buy (USD): 77,210 list
Rent (USD): not published

CSV / ASCII scan export → loads directly

Price source

TEM / TDEM — transient electromagnetics

The best depth-per-day for aquifers and conductive mineralisation below resistive cover. Pairs naturally with ERT.

sTEM system + loops

TEM Company

Towed-loop groundwater TEM: 20/40/80 m loops, 5–20 A, iOS/Android control.

— Depth to ~300 m (40 m loop), ~500 m (80 m loop)
— 15 – 20 stations/day
— SPIA processing + real-time inversion

Buy (USD): quote only (typically 60k – 120k with loops and software)
Rent (USD): not published

.usf / .tem decay export → loads directly

Price source

EM mapping — conductivity terrain profiling

Cheap, fast reconnaissance that tells you where to put the ERT line. Very effective for salinity and shallow conductive targets.

EM31-MK2

Geonics

Ground conductivity meter to ~6 m, walk-and-log reconnaissance.

— 3.7 m boom
— Data logger + software
— ~6 m exploration depth

Buy (USD): ≈ 25k – 35k
Rent (USD): 100 / day

ASCII / CSV logger export → loads directly

Price source

EM34-3

Geonics

Deeper two-operator conductivity soundings with 10/20/40 m coil spacings.

— Depth to ~60 m
— 10/20/40 m cables
— Two operators

Buy (USD): ≈ 35k – 50k
Rent (USD): 105 / day

ASCII / CSV export → loads directly

Price source

EM61-MK2

Geonics

High-sensitivity metal detection — UXO, drums, buried infrastructure.

— 1 × 0.5 m coils
— Time-domain metal detector
— Data logger

Buy (USD): ≈ 45k – 60k
Rent (USD): 200 / day

ASCII / CSV export → loads directly

Price source

Magnetics — total field and gradient

The cheapest minerals-exploration entry: iron oxides, kimberlites, ophiolite structure, buried steel. A phone compass cannot do this.

Caesium-vapour or potassium magnetometer (walking / drone)

Geometrics / GEM Systems / SENSYS

Total-field and gradiometer mapping of magnetic mineralisation and structure.

— 0.01 – 0.1 nT sensitivity
— 10 – 1000 Hz sampling
— Base station for diurnal correction

Buy (USD): ≈ 25k – 70k (sensor + base station)
Rent (USD): commonly 90 – 200 / day

.mag / CSV XYZ export → loads directly

Price source

MT / AMT / GSAMT / CSEM

Deep structure and porphyry / geothermal targets. Highest capital cost and the longest learning curve — rent or partner before buying.

Broadband MT / AMT receiver + induction coils

Phoenix Geophysics / Metronix / Zonge

Magnetotelluric sounding from hundreds of metres to several kilometres.

— 5-channel receiver
— Induction coil magnetometers
— Remote-reference station recommended

Buy (USD): ≈ 120k – 300k per station set
Rent (USD): quote only

EDI / ASCII apparent-resistivity table → loads directly

Price source

Controlled-source transmitter (GSAMT / CSEM)

Zonge / Phoenix

Adds a controlled source where cultural noise kills natural-field data.

— Motor generator + transmitter
— Grounded dipole or loop source
— Crew of 2 – 3

Buy (USD): ≈ 80k – 200k
Rent (USD): quote only

ASCII frequency table → loads directly

Price source

RIM / BHR — borehole radar and tomography

Only worth buying once you have repeat borehole clients. Needs holes, probes and a winch, and the market is narrow.

Borehole radar / RIM probe set + winch

MALA / Sensors & Software / Vista Clara

Between-hole imaging of ore continuity, voids and fractures.

— Slimline transmit + receive probes
— Depth-encoded winch
— Hole diameter and fluid limits apply

Buy (USD): ≈ 70k – 150k
Rent (USD): quote only

ASCII XYZ export → loads directly

Price source

Support kit you need whichever method you start with

— Handheld RTK / DGPS for line layout and electrode positions (≈ 3k – 12k)
— Rugged laptop, 100 Ah power station and solar panel (≈ 3k)
— 4WD with roof rack, water and recovery gear
— Sun and heat protection, high-vis, first-aid kit, satellite messenger
— Calibration and test resistor set, spare cables, electrode stakes and hammers

Upload an instrument export Price a survey with it Minerals targets per method