Crustal resistivity structure from magnetotelluric soundings in the Colorado Plateau‐basin and range provinces, central and western Arizona

Abstract

Resistivity structure to about 25 km depth is defined from two‐dimensional modeling of 29 magnetotelluric (MT) soundings (0.002–5 Hz) that traverse 280 km of the southwestern Colorado Plateau, transition zone, and Basin and Range provinces in Arizona. From the surface to 5 km depth, the MT model suggests structural relationships between low‐resistivity sedimentary and volcanic rocks (50–300 ohm m) and high‐resistivity granitic and gneissic basement (500–9000 ohm m). In the Basin and Range province, the MT model and a seismic reflection section show a generally consistent distribution of supracrustal rocks that have relatively low to moderate resistivity (MT) and relatively strong, locally coherent reflectivity. The supracrustal zone defined by these physical properties is inferred to be composed of upper plate rocks above a middle Tertiary detachment fault system which has been mapped in surrounding ranges. Some low‐angle fault zones inferred from seismic reflections to extend into high resistivity basement below the supracrustal rocks are not resolved by the MT model. A low‐resistivity zone with a conductance of 500 S or more is modeled in the crust at an average depth of about 15 km in the Basin and Range province and transition zone and may deepen below the southwestern part of the Colorado Plateau. In the Basin and Range province, the top of the low resistivity may correspond to a reflective layer with a 6‐s two‐way‐travel time. This deep low‐resistivity zone might be caused by a small fraction of connected hydrous solutions or silicic melts.