Calibrated time-series data are acquired from Geoscience Australia's geomagnetic observatory network in Australia and Antarctica. Indices of geomagnetic activity are derived from these time series. These primary and derived data are provided to international data centres and agencies, space weather analysts, the resource exploration sector, and research institutions. They are used in navigation, magnetic-field modelling, resource exploration and exploitation, space weather monitoring and geoscience research.

The Coompana Project is a collaborative project between Geoscience Australia (GA) and the Geological Survey of South Australia (GSSA), which aims to provide new precompetitive geological, geophysical and geochemical data in the under-explored Coompana Province in South Australia. The pre-drilling geophysics program was undertaken to assist the drilling process by reducing the uncertainty associated with intersecting the targeted stratigraphy. Firstly, the magnetotellurics (MT) technique was tested at six sites where previous drill holes were located to benchmark the application of MT method with respect to estimating cover thickness in the region. Comparison with drill-hole details indicates that the method is capable of identifying major stratigraphic structures and providing cover thickness estimates with a reasonable accuracy (within 10%). Subsequently, MT data were acquired at eight proposed drilling sites in February 2017. 1D and 2D data modelling were undertaken using different algorithms to improve confidence level. Finally, estimates of the cover thickness with specified uncertainty at proposed drilling sites are produced. This report presents MT data acquisition and processing, data inversion and preliminary interpretation of model results. Limitations and uncertainty associated with the MT technique is discussed.

Several narrow, linear, highly electrically conductive zones in the crust have been detected across Australia by geomagnetic deep sounding and magnetotelluric measurements made during the previous 50 years. Three major such conductivity anomalies collectively span Australia from north to south; the Carpentaria anomaly in Queensland and the Flinders and Eyre Peninsula anomalies in South Australia. They do not appear to be electrically connected at present; whether they are related in origin is a subject of further research. Recently, new magnetotelluric data have been acquired across or near to all three zones along deep seismic reflection transects which were designed to investigate crustal architecture and mineral and energy potential. Results from the seismic and MT surveys across the Carpentaria Anomaly suggest that the data are imaging a west-dipping suture forming the eastern margin of the Mount Isa province. The suture is interpreted to be the consequence of subduction and accretion prior to 1850 Ma. The Flinders Anomaly extends in an arcuate belt to the east of Lake Frome in the Curnamona Province to transect the Willyama Supergroup and the southern Flinders Ranges in a south-westerly direction, following structural trends. New magnetotelluric data acquired along two seismic transects has further refined the position and depth of the conductive zone.

Magnetotelluric survey data acquired in association with the L189 Gawler-Curnamona-Arrowie Deep Crustal Seismic Survey over the Curnamona Province. This survey was funded through the Onshore Energy Security Program. Data was acquired by Quantec Geoscience. Analysis and modelling was undertaken by Geoscience Australia . The aim of the survey was to produce a two-dimensional image of electrical conductivity structure of the crust and upper mantle over the Curnamona Province. This information is complementary to the reflection seismic and gravity data acquired along the 08GA-C1 traverse. Data are supplied as EDI files with support information.

The MTPy Python library is open source software that aims to facilitate processing, analysis, modelling, and inversion of magnetotelluric (MT) data. Until recently, MTpy has contained bugs and gaps in both functionality and documentation, which have limited its use to date. We are developing MTPy to rectify these problems and expand functionality. Key improvements include adding new functions and classes to the modules that handle ModEM inputs and outputs, improving data and model visualization tools, refactoring the code to improve maintainability, quality, and consistency, and developing documentation.

Magnetotelluric (MT) measures the natural variations of the Earth’ magnetic and electrical (telluric) fields. MT data were collected at forty-three sites in the Coompana region in Apr 2016 and Feb 2017. The instruments used were Phoenix Geophysics equipment including MTU-5A receiver, MTC-150L coils and PE5 electrodes. Time series data were processed into frequency domain using remote reference and Robust Processing scheme. After quality assurance, processed data were exported to industry-standard EDI files. Time series data are available on request from clientservices@ga.gov.au.

This OGC compliant service provides access to magnetotelluric data and associated products, which have been produced by Geoscience Australia’s Magnetotelluric Program. This program includes regional magnetotelluric projects and the Australian Lithospheric Architecture Magnetotelluric Project (AusLAMP), a collaborative project between Geoscience Australia, the State and Northern Territory geological surveys, universities, and other research organisations. The data provided in this service comprise resistivity model depth sections and the locations of sites used in these studies.

As global metal demands are increasing whilst new discoveries are declining, the magnetotelluric (MT) technique has shown promise as an effective technique to aid mineral systems mapping. Several case studies have shown a spatial correlation between mineral deposits and conductors, with some showing that resistivity models derived from MT are capable of mapping mineral systems from the lithosphere to deposit scale. However, until now, the statistical significance of such correlations has not been demonstrated and therefore hindered robust utilization of MT data in mineral potential assessments. Here we quantitatively analyze resistivity models from Australia, the United States of America (USA), South America and China and demonstrate that there is a statistically-significant correlation between upper mantle conductors and porphyry copper deposits, and between mid-crustal conductors and orogenic gold deposits. Volcanic hosted massive sulfide deposits show significant correlation with upper mantle conductors in Australia. Differences in the correlation pattern between these deposit types likely relate to differences in the chemistry, redox state and location of source mineralizing fluids and magmas, and indicate signatures of mineral system processes can be preserved in the crust and mantle lithosphere for hundreds of millions of years. Appeared in Scientific Reports volume 12, Article number: 8190 (2022), 17 May 2022

As part of the Australian Government's Onshore Energy Security Program (2006-2011) Geoscience Australia in collaboration with Geological Survey of Western Australia acquired magnetotelluric (MT) data along the deep crustal seismic reflection transect across the Yilgarn Craton, Officer Basin and Musgrave Province in Central Western Australia. The aim of the MT survey is to map the electrical resistivity distribution and improve scientific understanding of the crustal and upper mantle structure in this region. This information is complementary to that obtained from deep crustal seismic reflection, seismic refraction, potential field and geological data, which together provide new knowledge of the crustal architecture and geodynamics of the region. It is important for helping to determine the potential for both mineral and energy resources. Data are supplied as EDI files with support information.

Magnetotelluric survey data acquired in association with the L190 Gawler-Officer-Musgrave-Amadeus Deep Crustal Seismic Survey. This survey was co-funded through AuScope, Primary Industry and Resources South Australia and Geoscience Australia's Onshore Energy Security Program. Data was acquired, processed and modelled by Geoscience Australia. The aim of the survey was to produce a two-dimensional image of electrical conductivity structure of the crust and upper mantle. This information is complementary to the reflection seismic and gravity data acquired along the 08GA-OM1 traverse. Data are supplied as EDI files with support information.