In order to improve the exploration effect of deep non-ferrous mineral resources, multi-channel observation methods for induced polarization （IP） electrical sounding data and their inversion imaging technology are studied. First of all, four multi-channel observation methods are developed based on conventional IP electrical method, namely three-electrode and four-electrode arrays of unilateral and bilateral current transmitting. Then the maximum smoothness constrained inversion method of the least squares sense for IP electrical sounding data is proposed, and the inversion software is programmed. Finally, the simulation and inversion results of geo-electrical model for the proposed observation methods are analyzed. And the comparison results show that three-electrode array of bilateral current transmitting gives the best result, but the intensity in field work is larger than others; unilateral three-electrode and four-electrode arrays give the better results. Taking detection results and convenience of field exploration work into consideration, these two methods are more suitable for practical application; bilateral observation method of four-electrode array is not suitable for the detection of the steep ore bodies.
