As part of Geoscience Australia’s Exploring for the Future Program, Broadband and Audio Magnetotelluric (MT) data were acquired at 131 stations in the East Tennant region, Northern Territory, in 2019. This survey aimed to characterise major crustal structures, to map cover thickness to assist in stratigraphic drill targeting, and to help understand mineral potential in the region. The data package was released in December 2019 (http://dx.doi.org/10.26186/5df80d8615367) and the 3D resistivity model was released in March 2020 (https://pid.geoscience.gov.au/dataset/ga/135011). We applied a probabilistic approach to inverting high-frequency MT data for cover thickness estimation using the 1D Rj-McMCMT code, newly developed in Geoscience Australia. The inversion employs multiple Markov chains in parallel to generate an ensemble of millions of resistivity models that adequately fit the data given the assigned noise levels. The algorithm uses trans-dimensional Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques to solve for a probabilistic resistivity-depth model. Once the ensemble of models is generated, its statistics are analysed to assess the posterior probability distribution of the resistivity at any particular depth, as well as the number of layers and the depths of the interfaces. This stochastic approach gives a thorough exploration of the model space and a more robust estimation of uncertainty than deterministic methods allow. This release package includes the results of probabilistic inversion of Audio Magnetotelluric data at the 131 stations. They can be used to estimate cover thickness for drill site planning, and to map the base of geological basins in the region. Model data files are large, but can be made available on request to clientservices@ga.gov.au.

Over the last decade there has been an exponential growth in MT data acquisition over the Australian Continent through collaboration between Geoscience Australia, state and territory governments and academics. This data is resulting in a step change in our understanding of the lithosphere and basin architecture. Abstract submitted/presented at 2017 Target Conference (https://www.aig.org.au/events/target-2017/)

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.

Magnetotelluric (MT) data allow geoscientists to investigate the link between mineralisation and lithospheric-scale features and processes. In particular, the highly conductive structures imaged by MT data appear to map the pathways of large-scale palaeo-fluid migration, which is an important element of several mineral systems. New data were collected as part of the Australian Lithospheric Architecture Magnetotelluric Project (AusLAMP) under Geoscience Australia Exploring for the Future (EFTF) program in northern Australian. We use this dataset to demonstrate that the MT method is a valuable tool for mapping lithospheric-scale features and for selecting prospective areas for mineral exploration. Our results image a number of major conductive structures at depths up to ~200 km or deeper in the survey region, for example, the Carpentaria Conductivity Anomaly in east of Mount Isa; and the Tanami Conductive Anomaly along the Willowra Suture Zone. These significant anomalies are lithospheric- scale highly conductive structures, and show spatial correlations with major suture zones and known mineral deposits. These results provide important first-order information for lithospheric architecture and possible large footprint of mineral systems. Large-scale crustal/mantle conductivity anomalies mapping fluid pathways associated with major sutures/faults may have implications for mineral potential. These results provide evidence that some mineralisation occurs at the gradient of or over highly conductive structures at lower crustal and lithospheric mantle depths. These observations provide a powerful means of highlighting greenfields for mineral exploration in under-explored and covered regions.

The Australian Lithospheric Architecture Magnetotelluric Project (AusLAMP): New South Wales (NSW) magnetotelluric survey is a collaborative project between the Geological Survey of New South Wales (GSNSW) and Geoscience Australia. Long period magnetotelluric data are being acquired at around 305 sites on a half degree grid spacing across the state of NSW. <u>Phase one</u> This record outlines the field acquisition, data QA/QC, and data processing methodologies relating to the 224 sites released in phase one. The data are released in EDI format containing impedance estimates and transfer functions for each processed site. <u>Phase two</u> A further 73 EDI format data are released as part of phase two. These data were collected and processed using the same methodology as described in the GA record released as part of phase one.

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.

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.

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.

We have developed a Bayesian inference algorithm and released open-source code for the 1D inversion of audio-frequency magnetotelluric data. The algorithm uses trans-dimensional Markov chain Monte Carlo to solve for a probabilistic resistivity-depth model. The inversion employs multiple Markov chains in parallel to generate an ensemble of millions of resistivity models that adequately fit the data given the assigned noise levels. The trans-dimensional aspect of the inversion means that the number of layers in the resistivity model is solved for rather than being predetermined. The inversion scheme favours a parsimonious solution, and the acceptance criterion ratio is theoretically derived such that the Markov chain will eventually converge to an ensemble that is a good approximation of the posterior probability density (PPD). Once the ensemble of models is generated, its statistics are analysed to assess the PPD and to quantify model uncertainties. This approach gives a thorough exploration of model space and a more robust estimation of uncertainty than deterministic methods allow. We demonstrate the application of the method to cover thickness estimation for a number of regional drilling programs. Comparison with borehole results demonstrates that the method is capable of identifying major stratigraphic structures with resistivity contrasts. Our results have assisted with drill site targeting, and have helped to reduce the uncertainty and risk associated with intersecting targeted stratigraphic units in covered terrains. Interpretation of the audio-frequency magnetotelluric data has also improved our understanding of the distribution and geometries of sedimentary basins undercover. From an exploration perspective, mapping sedimentary basins and covered near-surface geological features supports the effective search for mineral deposits in greenfield areas. <b>Citation: </b> Wenping Jiang, Ross C. Brodie, Jingming Duan, Ian Roach, Neil Symington, Anandaroop Ray, James Goodwin, Probabilistic inversion of audio-frequency magnetotelluric data and application to cover thickness estimation for mineral exploration in Australia, <i>Journal of Applied Geophysics</i>, Volume 208, 2023, 104869, ISSN 0926-9851, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jappgeo.2022.104869.

Geoscience Australia is the custodian of the most comprehensive publicly available Australian airborne magnetic, gamma-ray, seismic, electromagnetic and gravity data sets. The airborne geophysics data set contains approximately 34 million line kilometres of data, which, at current prices, would cost approximately $197 million to acquire. The gravity data set contains more than 1.57 million reliable onshore stations gathered during more than 1800 surveys. The collection also includes a large number of seismic surveys from Australia's offshore basins. The onshore component of this data set was previously approved for RDSI for 8 TB. This proposal extends the collection to 150TB. The data types and access methods for the Offshore and Onshore data are identical Certain holdings are additionally hosted at the NCI (see downloads)