Synthetic magnetotelluric modelling of a regional fault network – implications for survey design and interpretation
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
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- Date (Creation)
- 2021-05-27T13:30:00
- Date (Publication)
- 2022-12-05
- Date (Revision)
- 2022-12-07T06:11:33
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Digital Object Identifier
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Role Organisation / Individual Name Details Author Kirkby, A.
MEG Internal Contact Author Doublier, M.
MEG Internal Contact
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Scientific article
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Role Organisation / Individual Name Details Point of contact Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia)
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MEG Internal Contact Resource provider Minerals, Energy and Groundwater Division
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EARTH SCIENCES
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Electrical and Electromagnetic Methods in Geophysics
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magnetotellurics
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fault
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mineral system
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inversion
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synthetic modelling
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EFTF
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Published_External
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This study was completed under the Exploring for the Future initiative, as part of the Darling-Curnamona-Delamerian project.
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Australian Government Security Classification System
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MEG Internal Contact
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AU/NZS ISO 19115-1:2014
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ISO 19115-1:2014
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ISO 19115-3
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