Audio-frequency Magnetotelluric Data Research Articles

Improving deep groundwater aquifer characterization with deep learning inversion of audio-frequency magnetotelluric data

Deep groundwater is a crucial resource for drinking, industry, and ecosystems. However, its extensive subsurface distribution poses challenges for traditional hydrological sampling methods. Audio-frequency Magnetotelluric (AMT) is commonly used to image shallow subsurface resistivity distribution, but its application for quantifying deep groundwater aquifers is challenging. In this study, we propose a two-step strategy deep learning (DL) to estimate subsurface water information from AMT data. First, we employ an inversion DL network to directly predict subsurface resistivity distribution from AMT data. To assess the impact of data and prior information on DL inversions, we progressively include more input data during training, from apparent resistivity to apparent resistivity, phase, and Bostick transformed initial models. In the second step, we use another DL network to predict subsurface structure from AMT inversion results. We then estimate water content based on unit-specific petrophysical relationships. Evaluating our algorithm with synthetic cases, we find that including more information generally improves network performance, particularly when incorporating initial Bostick transformed models. Applying the algorithm to a field hydrogeological survey, we compare the inversion network trained with apparent resistivity, phase, and Bostick transformed initial models to traditional regularization inversions. The new approach shows better consistency with borehole data. Another network extracts structure information, enabling the estimation of subsurface water content and gaining valuable hydrogeological insights. To summarize, our study presents a novel DL-based approach to quantitatively delineate deep groundwater aquifers using AMT data. The proposed algorithm demonstrates promising performance in estimating subsurface hydrologic properties, providing valuable insights for hydrogeological investigations.

Trial-and-error modeling of ground-airborne electromagnetic data in the Yishu Faulting Basin, China

Although trial-and-error modeling may give some level of interpretation about the subsurface while sacrificing certainty, it is a viable alternative for precise 3D interpretation of real ground-airborne frequency-domain electromagnetic (GAFEM) data. In this sense, a semiautomatic trial-and-error modeling approach is developed. Specifically, we first develop the 3D GAFEM forward-modeling code. Its accuracy is demonstrated using a 3D synthetic model with topography and a tilted anomalous body. Second, an initial model is established based on known geologic constraints. Then, the code is conducted repeatedly, and the parameters of the model are renewed semiautomatically based on a predefined geometry-resistivity combination list. Finally, the model that can achieve the minimum error between the computed response and the collected GAFEM data is selected as the final model. Furthermore, we apply the presented semiautomatic trial-and-error modeling approach to the geothermal resources survey at the Yishu Faulting Basin, China. The purpose of the survey is to interpret the resistivity structure of the subsurface and evaluate the potential development of the geothermal resources in the survey area. As a result, the final model obtained by the trial-and-error modeling, which is constrained by the known geologic information and subsurface geoelectric structures inferred from 2D models inverted by the magnetotelluric and controlled-source audio-frequency magnetotelluric data measured at the same location, indicates the existence of the geothermal resources. This indication is proven by the drilling result of a well site located on the survey line. To further verify the reliability, a comparative analysis is conducted between the model obtained by the trial-and-error modeling and the models obtained by 3D inversion of a GAFEM data set and apparent resistivity calculation using the same data. The results indicate that different approaches can achieve similar subsurface geometry and resistivity distribution of the faulting basin structure.

Delineation of shallow volcanic structures from audio-frequency magnetotelluric data beneath Ulleung Island, East Sea (Sea of Japan)

As volcanoes are closely related to the living environment of humans, in particular via natural hazards and geothermal energy, scientific studies on volcanic edifice structures are required. Ulleung Island is a Quaternary volcanic island located in the mid-western East Sea (Sea of Japan). In this study, we conducted an audio-frequency magnetotelluric (AMT) survey to image the substructure of the Ulleung volcanic edifice. In addition, the electrical structure was interpreted from the geothermal system perspective, geochemical compositions of volcanic rocks, and the possibility of the presence of a magma reservoir. AMT data were obtained from 25 stations and processed using the remote reference technique. Then, the three-dimensional (3-D) approach was reasonably adopted according to dimensionality analysis. Before conducting the 3-D inversion, the effects on topography and ocean were analyzed using a simplified 3-D synthetic model, because Ulleung Island is surrounded by sea and the topography is undulating. Most AMT stations on Ulleung Island are distorted by topographical and oceanic effects; in particular, oceanic effects are significant at frequencies lower than 10 Hz. The 3-D inversion was conducted with full impedance components and vertical magnetic transfer functions in a frequency range of 10,000–1 Hz. The results show that the Ulleung volcanic edifice is characterized by two layers of electrical structures as follows: near-surface resistive anomalies and an underlying conductive layer. Considering the high geothermal gradient on Ulleung Island, we suggest that the conductive layer of the volcanic edifice is due to hydrothermal alteration of basaltic rocks, with a potential heat source underneath. Based on the geochemical characteristics of the Ulleung volcanic rocks, the possibility of heat transfer from a trachytic magma reservoir within the shallow crustal is suggested. In summary, this study presents a geological interpretation of shallow volcanic structures beneath Ulleung Island and the possibility of an active magma reservoir as a potential heat source for the volcanic edifice.Graphical

Application of audio-frequency magnetotelluric data to cover characterisation – validation against borehole petrophysics in the East Tennant region, Northern Australia

The characterisation of the thickness and geology of cover sequences significantly improves targeting for mineral exploration in buried terrains. Audio-frequency Magnetotelluric (AMT) data is applicable to characterise cover sequences, where their conductivity (inverse resistivity) can be differentiated. We present a regional study from the under-cover East Tennant region in the Northern Territory (Australia) where we have applied deterministic and probabilistic inversion methods to derive 2D and 1D resistivity models. We integrated these models with information of co-located basement penetrating boreholes (lithological and geophysical logs) to ground-truth and validate the models and to improve geophysical interpretations. In the East Tennant region, borehole lithology and wireline logging demonstrate that the modelled AMT response is largely controlled by the mineralogy of the cover and basement rocks. The bulk conductivity is due primarily to bulk mineralogy and the success of using the AMT models to predict cover thickness is shown to be dependent on whether the bulk mineralogy of cover and basement rocks are sufficiently different to provide a detectable conductivity contrast. Our investigation of a range of geological scenarios that differ in thickness, complexity and geology of the cover and basement rocks suggests that in areas where there is sufficient difference in bulk mineralogy and where the stratigraphy is relatively simple, AMT models predict the cover thickness with high certainty. In more complex scenarios interpretation of AMT models may be more ambiguous and requires integration with other data (e.g. drilling, wireline logging, potential field modelling). Overall, we conclude that the application of the method has been validated and the results compare favourably with borehole stratigraphy logs once geological (i.e. bulk mineralogical) complexity is understood. This demonstrates that the method is capable of identifying major litho-stratigraphic units with resistivity contrasts. Our results have assisted with the planning of regional drilling programs and have helped to reduce the uncertainty and risk associated with intersecting targeted stratigraphic units in covered terrains.

Audio Magnetotellurics Study of the Geoelectric Structure across the Zhugongtang Giant Lead–Zinc Deposit, NW Guizhou Province, China

Non-invasive geophysical exploration methods a play key role in the exploration of ore deposits. In the present study, the audio-frequency magnetotelluric (AMT) method was applied to metallic mineral exploration. The metallic mineral deposit targeted was the recently discovered super large lead–zinc deposit of the Zhugongtang mining area of Hezhang County in the northwestern Guizhou province in China. The main objectives of this study were to estimate the geoelectric strike and generate geoelectric models that estimate both the depth and distribution of resistivity structures across the deposit. To achieve the objectives, we deployed sixty-one (61) AMT survey sites with an interstation separation of 20 m on a 1280 m survey track perpendicular to the geological strike across the Zhugongtang deposit. We operated in fifty-three (53) frequencies in the range 1–10,400 Hz to record the resistivity distribution of subsurface to a depth of more than 1200 m. The results from the AMT data computations estimated the geoelectric strike that varies between NE285° and NE315°. This range of strikes suggested that structures across the deposit are oriented in the NW–SE direction. Obtained two-dimensional (2D) models elucidated a remarkably low resistivity body (<15 Ωm) at an elevation of less than 1600 m above sea level (>0.50 km depth), thus extending to great depth and were interpreted as lead–zinc mineralization. Furthermore, low resistivity (<63 Ωm) features were imaged both in superficial and deeper depths and interpreted as shale, sandstone, claystone, and silty mudstone units. Dolomite and limestone lithologies were found widely distributed with high resistivity (>1000 Ωm). Bioclastic limestone and dolomite limestone were inferred and characterized by moderate-high resistivity (>250 Ωm) and were not widely distributed. A unit of basalts was found with moderate resistivity (>63 Ωm). In addition, it was also found that regions with high number of faults tend to have low resistivity values compared to regions with a low fault number. In summary, this case study presents the results of applying an AMT approach to explore the conductivity characteristics of structures across the Zhugongtang deposit. The findings may contribute to the literature about this deposit.

Probabilistic inversion of audio-frequency magnetotelluric data and application to cover thickness estimation for mineral exploration in Australia

We have applied a Bayesian inference algorithm and released open-source code for the 1D inversion of audio-frequency magnetotelluric data. The algorithm uses a trans-dimensional Markov chain Monte Carlo technique to solve for a probabilistic resistivity-depth model. The inversion employs multiple Markov chains 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 units 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 improved our understanding of the distribution and geometries of sedimentary basins. From an exploration perspective, mapping sedimentary basins and covered near-surface geological features supports the effective search for mineral deposits in greenfield areas.

Metallogenic model of the Shuangjianzishan Ag-Pb-Zn district, Northeast China: Revealed from integrated geophysical investigation

The Shuangjianzishan deposit in Inner Mongolia is a typical Ag-Pb-Zn deposit of the southern Great Xing’an Range. Proven reserves of Ag, Pb, and Zn in this deposit have reached the scale of super-large deposits, with favorable metallogenic conditions, strong prospecting signs, and high metallogenic potential. This paper reports a study involving integrated geophysical methods, including controlled-source audio-frequency magnetotelluric, gravity, magnetic, and shallow-seismic-reflection methods, to determine the spatial distribution of ore-controlling structures and subsurface intrusive rock for a depth range of <2000 m in the Shuangjianzishan ore district. The objective of this study is to construct a metallogenic model of the ore district and provide a scientific basis for the exploration of similar deposits in the deep and surrounding regions. We used three-dimensional inversion for controlled-source audio-frequency magnetotelluric data based on the limited memory quasi-Newton algorithm, and three-dimensional physical-property inversion for the gravity and magnetic data to obtain information about the subsurface distribution of ore-controlling structures and intrusive rocks. Under seismic reflection results, regional geology, petrophysical properties, and borehole information, the geophysical investigation shows that the Dashizhai group, which contains the main ore-bearing strata in the ore district, is distributed within a depth range of <1239 m, and is thick in the Xinglongshan ore block and the eastern part of the Shuangjianzishan ore block. The mineralization is spatially associated with a fault system characterized by NE-, NW-, and N-trending faults. The magnetic and electrical models identify large, deep bodies of intrusive rock that are inferred to have been involved in mineralization, with local shallow emplacement of some intrusions. Combining the subsurface spatial distributions of ore-bearing strata, ore-controlling faults, and intrusive rock, we propose two different metallogenic models for the Shuangjianzishan ore district, which provide a scientific basis for further prospecting in the deep regions of the ore district and surrounding areas.

Subsurface temperature estimation in a geothermal field based on audio-frequency magnetotelluric data

In geothermal exploration, the subsurface temperature distribution is an important parameter since it is closely related to the existing geothermal system. However, subsurface temperature information can only be obtained from boreholes, requiring a considerable cost and a limited number. A new geothermometry technique based on the relationship between temperature and resistivity has been proposed to overcome this difficulty. In order to enhance the reliability of this method, the subsurface heat condition in a different geological and geographical location was reconstructed. The temperature up to some depth beneath the surface could be estimated incorporating the back-propagation neural network using resistivity determined by high-resolution audio-magnetotelluric soundings. The temperature profiles resulting from the neural network fit with those observed from nearby boreholes, providing a satisfying evaluation result of the model’s predictive powers. Joint interpretation was then carried out following the one-dimensional resistivity inversion result and temperature cross-section. Both resistivity and temperature anomalies show an excellent agreement, so that subsurface anomaly such as altered layers, reservoir zone, and some possible faults was detected. With an appropriate training strategy, this technique can help to significantly reduce the costs at estimating the subsurface temperature.

Three-dimensional inversion of controlled-source audio-frequency magnetotelluric data based on unstructured finite-element method

We propose a new 3D inversion scheme to invert the near- and transition-zone data of CSAMT with topography accurately. In this new method, the earth was discretized into unstructured tetrahedra to fit the ragged topography and the vector finite-element method was adopted to obtain precise responses and good sensitivity. To simulate the attitude and shape of the transmitter, we divided a long-grounded transmitter into dipoles and integrated these dipoles to obtain good responses in the near- and transition-field zones. Next, we designed an L2 norm-based objective functional and applied a standard quasi-Newton method as the optimization method to solve the inverse problem and guarantee steady convergence. We tested our 3D inversion method first on synthetic data and then on a field dataset acquired from select sites near Changbai Mountain, China. In both tests, the new inversion algorithm achieved excellent fitting between the predicted and observed data, even in near- and transition-field zones, and the inversion results agreed well with the true model. These findings reveal that the proposed algorithm is effective for 3D inversion of CSAMT data.

Metallogenic model of the Wulong gold district, China, and associated assessment of exploration criteria based on multi-scale geoscience datasets

The combined use of geological and geophysical modeling is effective for delineating subsurface exploration criteria and conducting quantitative analyses to determine potential mineral targets. In this paper, total horizontal derivative, multi-scale edge detection (worms), and bi-dimensional empirical mode decomposition (BEMD) of district-scale gravity and magnetic data were applied to extract geophysical information reflecting deep-seated structures and concealed intrusions. In addition, deposit-scale 3D modeling and controlled-source audio-frequency magnetotelluric data were used to identify potential ore-controlling structures. The results of our integrated multi-scale geological and geophysical studies suggest that the Early Cretaceous intrusions and gold deposits in the Wulong gold district, which is located on the Liaodong Peninsula, China, at the NE margin of the North China Craton (NCC), are spatially and genetically associated with a network of NE- and NW- striking faults. Gravity and magnetic modeling effectively identified buried Early Cretaceous intrusions and NW- striking faults at depths from zero to five kilometers. In summary, the combined use of multiple-source and multi-scale geophysical information and multi-scale 3D geological modeling facilitated delineation of the metallogenic model and provided exploration criteria for determining potential exploration targets in the study area.

Global optimization of controlled source audio-frequency magnetotelluric data with an improved artificial bee colony algorithm

The inversion of controlled source audio-frequency magnetotelluric (CSAMT) data is a complex nonlinear problem. A linearization of this problem is easily trapped in local minima and the complexity of the artificial source makes CSAMT data interpretation more difficult than that of magnetotelluric (MT) data. This paper presents an improved artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm for the 2.5D inversion of CSAMT data. New initialization and generation strategies are proposed to improve the optimization achieved by the original ABC algorithm. The global optimization of CSAMT by the improved ABC algorithm is realized based on 2.5D forward modeling theory and is used in the inversion of a complex model of water-bearing anomalous bodies in sandstone. Results show that the algorithm can accurately recover the resistivity and spatial distribution of strata and anomalous bodies. The survey data for a suspected collapse column in Shandong Province are also processed using the proposed method, and inversion via the algorithm accurately shows the water abundance of the suspected collapse column. Thus, the results of the theoretical modeling and practical data indicate that the improved ABC algorithm is effective for analyzing CSAMT data. Moreover, this algorithm improves the interpretational accuracy and resolution of CSAMT data.

The phase tensor analysis of the Nyalindung segment, Cimandiri fault zone, West Java, Indonesia

Dimensionality and regional strike in Nyalindung segment, Cimandiri fault zone, Wes Java, Indonesia is determined using phase tensor analysis from audio frequency magnetotelluric (AMT) data. The AMT data acquisition has been carried out along 26 km profile with 24 AMT observation points. The result presents that the skew angle is -3° ≤ β ≤ 3°. The skew angle can be applied to determine the dimensionality of the study area. Besides, the rose diagrams of the phase tensor analysis show that geoelectrical strike of the study area dominated to be northeast-southwest direction with N80° E. It indicates the regional structure of the study area could be assumed as two dimensional and the calculated regional strike agree well with the previous studies.

Applied geophysics for cover thickness mapping in the southern Thomson Orogen

Potentially mineralised Paleozoic basement rocks in the southern Thomson Orogen region of southern Queensland and northern New South Wales are covered by varying thicknesses of Mesozoic to Cenozoic sediments. To assess cover thickness and methods for estimating depth to basement, we collected new airborne electromagnetic (AEM), seismic refraction, seismic reflection and audio-frequency magnetotelluric data and combined these with new depth to magnetic basement models from airborne magnetic line data and ground gravity data along selected transects. The results of these investigations over two borehole sites, GSQ Eulo 1 and GSQ Eulo 2, show that cover thickness can be reliably assessed to within the confidence limits of the various techniques, but that caveats exist regarding the application of each of the disciplines. These techniques are part of a rapid-deployment explorers’ toolbox of geophysical techniques that have been tested at two sites in Australia, the Stavely region of western Victoria, and now the southern Thomson Orogen in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland. The results shown here demonstrate that AEM and ground geophysics, and to a lesser extent depth to magnetic source modelling, can produce reliable results when applied to the common exploration problem of determining cover thickness. The results demonstrate that portable seismic systems, designed for geotechnical site investigations, are capable of imaging basement below 300 m of unlithified Eromanga Basin cover as refraction and reflection data. The results of all methods provide much information about the nature of the basement–cover interface and basement at borehole sites in the southern Thomson Orogen, in that the basement is usually weathered, the interface has paleotopography, and it can be recognised by its density, natural gamma, magnetic susceptibility and electrical conductivity contrasts.

The effects of 3D topography on controlled-source audio-frequency magnetotelluric responses

We have investigated the 3D topographic effects on controlled-source audio-frequency magnetotelluric data. Two 3D topographic models are considered: a trapezoidal-hill model and a trapezoidal-valley model. Different responses are generated, including the amplitude of the electric field, the amplitude of the magnetic field, the apparent resistivity, and phase data. The responses distorted by the 3D topography are simulated for the source located next to and on the hill/valley. Our study indicates that all electric field, magnetic field, apparent resistivity, and phase data are influenced by 3D topography, but to different extents. These topographic effects depend on the transmission-receiver-topography geometry, the transmission frequency, earth resistivity, and the roughness of the surface. The effects in the near-field generated by topography in the survey area are quite different from those in the far-field because of the existence of the source. Compared with those in the far-field zone, the magnetic field and phase data in the near-field zone are less distorted, but more distortions can be found on the electric field and apparent resistivity data over the hill and valley models. Our results also indicate that not only can the 3D topography in the receiver area lead to strong distortions, but also that at the source position can lead to strong distortions. We concluded our study by quantifying the roughness with which the topographic distortion can be ignored, setting the accepted data distortion to a maximum of 10%.

Three-dimensional audio-frequency magnetotelluric imaging of Akebasitao granitic intrusions in Western Junggar, NW China

An audio-frequency magnetotelluric (AMT) array was deployed here to map the resistivity structure of the Akebasitao intrusions and the surrounding area in Western Junggar, China. High quality AMT data were acquired at 463 sites that covered the whole Akebasitao intrusions. The latest 3D electromagnetic inversion system, ModEM, was employed to invert the AMT dataset. A high resolution resistivity model was recovered by using a nonlinear conjugate-gradient scheme. The Akebasitao intrusions, the most pronounced resistive features in the preferred model, are clearly imaged from shallow depths to more than 10km, with some conductive zones and spots in and surrounding it. The shape of the Akebasitao pluton is asymmetrical mushroom-like, suggesting an extension stress environment at its forming age (the Late Carboniferous to the Early Permian) in Western Junggar. Our explanation is consistent with the subducting spreading ridge tectonic model for Western Junggar in the Late Carboniferous, with a paleo-Asia ocean plate subducting northwestward beneath Karamay arc, as former studies proposed. The upwelling channel of the Akebasitao pluton seems to be located at its center. The Darbut Fault has been clearly imaged as a subvertical narrow conductive zone extending from the surface to 3–5km or deeper. The most prominent conductors are two elongate zones in depths deeper than 500m. Other conductive zones can also be identified surrounding the boundaries of the Akebasitao pluton, which can be interpreted as pyrometasomatic metamorphism relating to magmatic activities. Because the ophiolitic rocks outcrop as some lens along these two boundaries, and as previous studies showed that the serpentine metamorphosed from peridotite with well-connected magnetite possessing high conductivity, the conductors may therefore also represent their sources in depth.

Imaging the hydrothermal system beneath the Jigokudani valley, Tateyama volcano, Japan: implications for structures controlling repeated phreatic eruptions from an audio-frequency magnetotelluric survey

This study focuses on the results of an audio-frequency magnetotelluric (AMT) survey across the Jigokudani valley, Tateyama volcano, Japan, to investigate the spatial relationship between the distribution of electrical resistivity and geothermal activity and to elucidate the geologic controls on both its phreatic eruption history and recent increase in phreatic activity. The AMT data were collected at eight locations across the Jigokudani valley in September 2013, with high quality data obtained from most sites, enabling the identification of an underground 2D resistivity structure from the transverse magnetic (TM) mode data. The data obtained during this study provided evidence of a large conductive region beneath the surface of the Jigokudani valley that is underlain by a resistive layer at depths below 500 m. The resistive layer is cut by a relatively conductive region that extends subvertically toward the shallow conductor. The shallow conductive region is divided into an uppermost slightly conductive section that is thought to be a lacustrine sediment layer of an extinct crater lake containing hydrothermal fluids and a lower section containing a mix of volcanic gases and hydrothermal fluids. The low permeability of the clay zone means that the uppermost clayey sediments allow the accumulation of gases in the lower section of the conductive region, suggesting the existence of a cap structure. The deep resistive layer likely consists of units similar to the granitic rocks that are widely exposed throughout the Jigokudani valley. We suggest that the relatively conductive zone that separates these granitic rocks represents a high-temperature volcanic gas conduit, given that the most active fumarole in the Jigokudani valley lies directly along the trajectory of this path.

Regularized inversion of controlled source audio-frequency magnetotelluric data in horizontally layered transversely isotropic media

We present an algorithm for inverting controlled source audio-frequency magnetotelluric (CSAMT) data in horizontally layered transversely isotropic (TI) media. The popular inversion method parameterizes the media into a large number of layers which have fixed thickness and only reconstruct the conductivities (e.g. Occam's inversion), which does not enable the recovery of the sharp interfaces between layers. In this paper, we simultaneously reconstruct all the model parameters, including both the horizontal and vertical conductivities and layer depths. Applying the perturbation principle and the dyadic Green's function in TI media, we derive the analytic expression of Fr?chet derivatives of CSAMT responses with respect to all the model parameters in the form of Sommerfeld integrals. A regularized iterative inversion method is established to simultaneously reconstruct all the model parameters. Numerical results show that the inverse algorithm, including the depths of the layer interfaces, can significantly improve the inverse results. It can not only reconstruct the sharp interfaces between layers, but also can obtain conductivities close to the true value.

2D and 3D separate and joint inversion of airborne ZTEM and ground AMT data: Synthetic model studies

Abstract The ZTEM (Z-axis Tipper Electromagnetic) method measures naturally occurring audio-frequency magnetic fields and obtains the tipper function that defines the relationship among the three components of the magnetic field. Since the anomalous tipper responses are caused by the presence of lateral resistivity variations, the ZTEM survey is most suited for detecting and delineating conductive bodies extending to considerable depths, such as graphitic dykes encountered in the exploration of unconformity type uranium deposit. Our simulations shows that inversion of ZTEM data can detect reasonably well multiple conductive dykes placed 1 km apart. One important issue regarding ZTEM inversion is the effect of the initial model, because homogeneous half-space and (1D) layered structures produce no responses. For the 2D model with multiple conductive dykes, the inversion results were useful for locating the dykes even when the initial model was not close to the true background resistivity. For general 3D structures, however, the resolution of the conductive bodies can be reduced considerably depending on the initial model. This is because the tipper magnitudes from 3D conductors are smaller due to boundary charges than the 2D responses. To alleviate this disadvantage of ZTEM surveys, we combined ZTEM and audio-frequency magnetotelluric (AMT) data. Inversion of sparse AMT data was shown to be effective in providing a good initial model for ZTEM inversion. Moreover, simultaneously inverting both data sets led to better results than the sequential approach by enabling to identify structural features that were difficult to resolve from the individual data sets.

Fault zone conductors in Northwest Turkey inferred from audio frequency magnetotellurics

A comparison of the electrical properties of the two main branches of the North Anatolian Fault is made based on audio-frequency magnetotelluric (AMT) surveys carried out along three typical profiles across the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ). These two branches are (i) the active northern branch (Izmit-Adapazari Fault (IAF)) where the 17 August, 1999, Izmit earthquake took place, and (ii) the less active southern branch (Iznik-Mekece Fault (IMF)). In this paper, we focus on the shallow depths (surface–1.5 km) in search for conductors near the fault zone for the purpose of comparing these two branches with each other, as well as other strike-slip faults. Phase tensor analyses and Groom-Bailey decompositions were applied to check the dimensionality of the AMT data. Following the tensor analyses and decompositions, two-dimensional inversions were carried out to yield models based on the transverse electric (TE), and transverse magnetic (TM), modes. These models suggest that the North Anatolian Fault exhibits signs of fault zone conductors (FZC) regardless of being active or less active.

Simulated annealing for controlled-source audio-frequency magnetotelluric data inversion

Simulated annealing (SA) is used to invert 1D controlled source audio-frequency magnetotelluric (CSAMT) data. In the annealing process, the system energy is taken as the root-mean-square fitting error between model responses and real data. The model parameters are the natural logarithms of the resistivity and the thickness in each layer of the earth. The annealing temperature decreases exponentially, while the model is refreshed randomly according to the temperature and is accepted according to a Boltzmann probability. We first tested the SA on synthetic data and developed a cooling schedule of model updates specifically for CSAMT data inversion. The redesigned cooling schedule reduces the magnitude of the model updating, and makes the solution converge rapidly and stably. For a three-layer model whose resistivity increases with depth, SA has difficulty in obtaining the global solution for the middle layer. However, the solution for such a layer can be significantly improved by using the mean value of the estimates. The inversion of field data from a northern suburb of Beijing, China, demonstrates that starting from a 1D smooth inversion to determine the range of SA parameters permits the SA to obtain very good results from the CSAMT survey data.