Authors / CoAuthors
Kirkby, A. | Doublier, M.
Abstract
The magnetotelluric (MT) method is increasingly being applied to mineral exploration under cover with several case studies showing that mineral systems can be imaged from the lower crust to the near surface. Driven by this success, the Australian Lithospheric Architecture Magnetotelluric Project (AusLAMP) is delivering long-period data on a 0.5° grid across Australia, and derived continental scale resistivity models that are helping to drive investment in mineral exploration in frontier areas. Part of this investment includes higher-resolution broadband MT surveys to enhance resolution of features of interest and improve targeting. To help gain best value for this investment it is important to have an understanding of the ability and limitations of MT to resolve features on different scales. Here we present synthetic modelling of conductive, narrow, near-vertical faults 500 m to 1500 m wide, and show that a station spacing of around 14 km across strike is sufficient to resolve these into the upper crust. However, the vertical extent of these features is not well constrained, with near-vertical planar features commonly resolved as two separate features. This highlights the need for careful interpretation of anomalies in MT inversion. In particular, in an exploration scenario, it is important to consider that a lack of interconnectivity between a lower crustal/upper mantle conductor and conductors higher up in the crust and the surface might be apparent only, and may not reflect reduced mineral prospectivity. Appeared in Exploration Geophysics Journal 05 Dec 2022
Product Type
document
eCat Id
145457
Contact for the resource
Point of contact
Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
Canberra
ACT
2601
Australia
Point of contact
- Contact instructions
- MEG
Resource provider
Keywords
- theme.ANZRC Fields of Research.rdf
-
- EARTH SCIENCESElectrical and Electromagnetic Methods in Geophysics
- ( Discipline )
-
- magnetotellurics
- ( Feature type )
-
- fault
- ( Feature type )
-
- mineral system
- ( Process )
-
- inversion
- ( Process )
-
- synthetic modelling
- ( Project )
-
- EFTF
-
- Published_External
Publication Date
Creation Date
2021-05-27T13:30:00
Security Constraints
Legal Constraints
Status
completed
Purpose
Scientific article
Maintenance Information
asNeeded
Topic Category
geoscientificInformation
Series Information
Lineage
This study was completed under the Exploring for the Future initiative, as part of the Darling-Curnamona-Delamerian project.
Parent Information
Extents
[-44.00, -9.00, 112.00, 154.00]
Reference System
Spatial Resolution
Service Information
Associations
Source Information