Tipper Data Research Articles

Electrical conductivity structure of north-west Fennoscandia from three-dimensional inversion of magnetotelluric data

New magnetotelluric (MT) data in north-west Fennoscandia were acquired within the framework of the project “Magnetotellurics in the Scandes” (MaSca). The project focuses on the investigation of the crustal and upper mantle lithospheric structure in the transition zone from stable Precambrian cratonic interior to passive continental margin beneath the Caledonian orogen and the Scandinavian Mountains in western Fennoscandia. An array of 59 simultaneous long period and 220 broad-band MT sites were occupied in the summers of 2011 to 2013.The 3-D inversion of the MaSca data was obtained using the ModEM 3-D code. The full impedance and tipper data were used for the inversion. The rocks of Archaean and Proterozoic basement towards east and the Caledonian nappes towards west are modelled as resistive structures. In the central and southern parts, the whole crust is resistive and reflects the Trans-Scandinavian Igneous Belt granitoids. The middle to lower crust of the Svecofennian province is conductive. An uppermost crustal conductor is revealed in the Skellefteå Ore District. The south end of the Kittilä Greenstone Belt is seen in the models as a strong upper to middle crustal conductor. In the Caledonides, the highly conductive alum shales are observed along the Caledonian Thrust Front. A map of the crustal conductance for the north-west Fennoscandian Shield is presented.

An assessment of 3D ZTEM results over three deposits

The ZTEM airborne EM system was introduced into commercial service by Geotech Ltd. in 2006. ZTEM is unlike other EM systems in that it relies on the measurement of natural occurring EM fields in the AFMAG frequency range of 25-720 Hz. As a primary survey outcome, a ZTEM survey produces in-line and cross-line tipper data; Tzx and Tzy, at a series of frequencies. The contractor provides a suite of filtered X and Y spatial grids and 2D conductivity depth inversions have typically been provided using the Tzx component.More recent, full 3D inversion of data has begun to be applied which provides concurrent information about cross-line (derived from the Tzx) and along line (derived from the Tzy) data.The exploration value of inversions whether 2D or 3D is not yet well established due to 1) the limited surveys available to date and 2) limited availability of inversion codes and their application. In the present assessment, 2D and 3D inversion results over three deposits will be examined and considered in terms of the geological knowledge available at each site.

Upper crustal electrical resistivity structures in the vicinity of the Çatalca Fault, Istanbul, Turkey by magnetotelluric data

A magnetotelluric survey was performed at the Catalca Region, west of Istanbul, Turkey with the aim of investigating geoelectrical properties of the upper crust near the Catalca Fault and its vicinity. Broadband magnetotelluric data were collected at nine sites along a single southwest-northeast profile to image the electrical resistivity structure from surface to the 5 km depth. The dimensionality of the data was examined through tensor decompositions and highly two-dimensional behavior of the data is shown. Following the tensor decompositions, two-dimensional inversions were carried out where E-polarization, B-polarization and tipper data were utilized to construct electrical resistivity models. The results of the inversions suggest: a) the Catalca Fault extends from surface to 5 km depth as a conductive zone dipping to southwest; b) the thickness of the sedimentary cover is increasing from SW to NE to 700 m with low resistivity values between 1–100 Ωm; c) the crystalline basement below the sedimentary unit is very resistive and varies between 2000–100000 Ωm; d) a SW-dipping resistivity boundary in the northeastern part of our profile may represent the West Black Sea Fault.

Resistivity Structure of the Central Indian Tectonic Zone (CITZ) from Multiple Magnetotelluric (MT) Profiles and Tectonic Implications

The Central Indian Tectonic Zone (CITZ) is a major tectonic feature extending across the Indian subcontinent. It was formed in the Paleoproterozoic when the Bastar Craton and the Bundelkhand Craton were sutured together. This region is recognized in the geological record as a persistent zone of weakness with many tectonothermal events occurring over geologic time. The weakness of this region may have caused the late Cretaceous/early Tertiary Deccan volcanism to have been localized in the CITZ. The zone is still tectonically active, as evidenced by sustained levels of seismic activity. This paper presents the first systematic investigation of the resistivity structure of the CITZ using multiple magnetotelluric (MT) transects. Two-dimensional (2D) resistivity models were generated for five north–south profiles that cross the CITZ and encompass an area of ~60,000 km2. The models were based on the joint inversion of transverse electric (TE), transverse magnetic (TM) and tipper (Hz) data. All the profiles showed a low resistive (10–80 Ωm) middle to lower crust beneath the CITZ with a crustal conductance of 300–800 S. The presence of an interconnected fluid phase and/or hydrous/metallic minerals appears to be the most likely explanation for the elevated conductivity that is observed beneath the CITZ. The presence of fluids is significant because it may indicate the cause of persistent weakness at crustal depths. A northward dip of both the crustal conductive layer and coincident seismic reflections favor a northward polarity of the subduction process associated with the formation of the CITZ.

The implementation of multi-task geophysical survey to locate Cleopatra Tomb at Tap-Osiris Magna, Borg El-Arab, Alexandria, Egypt “Phase II”

According to some new discoveries at Tap-Osiris Magna temple (West of Alexandria), there is potentiality to uncover a remarkable archeological finding at this site. Three years ago many significant archeological evidences have been discovered sustaining the idea that the tomb of Cleopatra and Anthony may be found in the Osiris temple inside Tap-Osiris Magna temple at a depth from 20 to 30m. To confirm this idea, PHASE I was conducted in by joint application of Ground Penetrating Radar “GPR”, Electrical Resistivity Tomography “ERT” and Magnetometry. The results obtained from PHASE I could not confirm the existence of major tombs at this site. However, small possible cavities were strongly indicated which encouraged us to proceed in investigation of this site by using another geophysical approach including Very Low Frequency Electro Magnetic (VLF-EM) technique.VLF-EM data were collected along parallel lines covering the investigated site with a line-to-line spacing of 1m. The point-to-point distance of 1m along the same line was employed. The data were qualitatively interpreted by Fraser filtering process and quantitatively by 2-D VLF inversion of tipper data and forward modeling. Results obtained from VLF-EM interpretation are correlated with 2-D resistivity imaging and drilling information. Findings showed a highly resistive zone at a depth extended from about 25–45m buried beneath Osiris temple, which could be indicated as the tomb of Cleopatra and Anthony. This result is supported by Fraser filtering and forward modeling results. The depth of archeological findings as indicated from the geophysical survey is correlated well with the depth expected by archeologists, as well as, the depth of discovered tombs outside Tap-Osiris Magna temple. This depth level has not been reached by drilling in this site. We hope that the site can be excavated in the future based on these geophysical results.

Two-dimensional resistivity imaging in the Kestelek boron area by VLF and DC resistivity methods

Abstract A VLF and DC resistivity investigation was conducted in the Kestelek area, western Turkey, to determine the two-dimensional images of the boron deposits. The two-dimensional resistivity images were obtained by the inversion of tipper and resistivity data for VLF and DC resistivity methods, respectively. The VLF tipper data also were improved applying the Fraser and Karous & Hjelt (K&H) filtering to delineate the boundaries of the subsurface boron deposits. The main findings are: (1) moderate (> 25 Ωm) and relatively high (> 40 Ωm) resistivity zones in the two-dimensional models, which is mostly supported by the K&H real part of tipper as the negative current density peaks, may be interpreted as middle level of potatoes type colemanite and lower level of crystal type colemanite boron deposits inside the conductive units, respectively. (2) Transition from positive peaks (conductive zones) to negative peaks (resistive zones) in the K&H real part of tipper current density pseudosections may indicate the potential locations of the boron deposits. (3) Drilling well results obtained around two profiles of the study area are consistent with distribution of the resistive boron deposits in the two-dimensional resistivity models and K&H real part of tipper filtering images.

Three-dimensional interpretation of sparse survey line MT data: Synthetic examples

Currently, most of MT (magnetotelluric) data are still collected on sparse survey lines and interpreted using 2D inversion methods because of the field work cost, the work area environment, and so on. However, there are some 2D interpretation limitations of the MT data from 3D geoelectrical structures which always leads to wrong geological interpretations. In this paper, we used the 3D inversion method to interpret the MT sparse lines data. In model testing, the sparse lines data are the MT full information data generated from a test model and processed using the 3D conjugate gradients inversion code. The inversion results show that this inversion method is reasonable and effective. Meanwhile, we prove that for inversion results with different element parameters, the results by joint inversion of both the impedance tensor data and the tipper data are more accurate and closer to the test model.

Large-Scale Crustal Conductivity Pattern in Central Europe and Its Correlation to Deep Tectonic Structures

The results of magnetovariational (MV) soundings are usually presented in the form of induction arrows. However, many examples show that the horizontal magnetic tensor (HMT) is more informative. The distribution of some HMT invariants directly traces the location of well-conducting rocks in the crust and upper mantle. The HMT determination requires simultaneous observations in an entire region, which is a substantial disadvantage. Yet, it is possible to apply techniques capable of restoring all the magnetic field components necessary for HMT estimation from tipper data arrays alone. These techniques exploit the spatial relationships between electromagnetic field components in a non-conducting atmosphere. For Central Europe, a large data set of induction arrows has been collected by the effort of many groups during the last 50 years. Based on these data, HMT values were calculated, and the results are very significant. The spatial behavior of certain HMT invariants demonstrates the presence of deeply seated, well-conducting rocks in the crust. Anomaly maximums display an arc-shaped trend that may be genetically linked with the Caledonian and/or Variscan margin thrust belts, which developed following the collision between Baltica and Avalonia and/or Gondwana-derived terranes, respectively. This is an important finding because the position of these deformation fronts in relation to the edge of the East European Platform is still controversial.

Results of monitoring the geomagnetic variations at the Magadan and Paratunka observatories

We analyze the magnetic tensor and tipper data in the interval of periods from a few minutes to a few hours for the geomagnetic time series of 2007–2008. The frequency responses, the polar diagrams, and the real and imaginary induction arrows which reflect the effects of geoelectric heterogeneities are calculated. The monitoring of the tipper and tensor data series revealed the annual variations in these parameters, which are caused by the changes in the electric conductivity of the lithosphere. The anomalous variations identified in the behavior of the magnetic tipper and tensor are probably due to earthquakes with M ≥ 6.3.

Three-dimensional conjugate gradient inversion of magnetotelluric full information data

Based on the analysis of impedance tensor data, tipper data, and the conjugate gradient algorithm, we develop a three-dimensional (3D) conjugate gradient algorithm for inverting magnetotelluric full information data determined from five electric and magnetic field components and discuss the method to use the full information data for quantitative interpretation of 3D inversion results. Results from the 3D inversion of synthetic data indicate that the results from inverting full information data which combine the impedance tensor and tipper data are better than results from inverting only the impedance tensor data (or tipper data) in improving resolution and reliability. The synthetic examples also demonstrate the validity and stability of this 3D inversion algorithm.

A VLF survey using current gathering phenomena for tracing buried faults of Fethiye–Burdur Fault Zone, Turkey

Fethiye–Burdur Fault Zone (FBFZ) produces moderate to large earthquakes which can severely affect the surrounding cities spreading towards the basins of the region. In this study, with the aim of feature city planning, very low frequency electromagnetic (VLF) survey was carried out across (FBFZ) to locate subsurface faults covered by basin fills. VLF parameters such as the apparent resistivity, phase (VLF-R response) real and imaginary parts of tipper (VLF-EM response) were obtained using GBZ, a well known radio station in England at Oxford, which give a strong signal in our survey area with a suitable frequency (19.6 kHz) for our purposes. VLF method is called as VLF-EM, when it is only relying on the measurement of horizontal and vertical magnetic fields. However, when it includes measurement of horizontal electric field, providing resistivity values, it is referred as VLF-R method. In this study, the direction of horizontal electric field is perpendicular to fault strike describing the H-polarization mode. Although this mode produces strong VLF-R (resistivity) response, we also obtained quite clear and characteristic VLF-EM anomalies along some of the survey profiles. Both VLF-R and VLF-EM responses with the contribution of the vortex and gathered (direct) currents, in E and H-polarization modes, are reviewed and VLF anomalies observed over FBFZ are discussed. In FBFZ, current gathering anomalies become stronger in the presence of high conductivity contrast and in the presence of parallel fault branches separating the medium into resistors in series. In these conditions, changing electrical charge at the contacts of faults cause successive variations in E-field. As a result VLF-R response is strengthened and also secondary magnetic field which causes VLF-EM anomalies may be enhanced, in H-polarization mode. Interpretation of resistivity, phase and tipper data with current density pseudosections, over our survey lines, showed the location of buried faults of FBFZ beneath the sedimentary covers of the basins.

Mapping water seepage from Lake Nasser, Egypt, using the VLF-EM method: a case study

In order to map the spatial distribution of water seepage from the Nasser Lake to its adjacent shallow Nubian sandstone aquifer, a geophysical survey was carried out at a seismically active area called Khor El Ramlah-west that contains the Khor El Ramlah regional fault. The survey comprised nine, roughly E–W, very-low-frequency electromagnetics (VLF-EM) traverse profiles and three N–S longitudinal profiles. Qualitative interpretation of the VLF-EM data was carried out using Fraser and Karous–Hjelt filters. Quantitative interpretation of the data was done with a 2D code that performs the inversion of the tipper data. The resulted 2D inversion models revealed low resistivity zones that were interpreted as correlated (1) to sandstone formation saturated with water from seepage and (2) to a NW–SE fault that may represent a preferential path for the water flow from the lake to the onshore aquifer.

Mapping groundwater contamination around a landfill facility using the VLF-EM method — A case study

An electromagnetic survey to detect leachate flow and to map its spatial distribution using the VLF-EM method was carried out around a landfill that is operating since 1998. The survey comprised twelve, roughly E–W, VLF-EM profiles in the western part of the landfill where conductive anomalies had been detected in a previous resistivity survey (Wenner and dipole–dipole arrays). The VLF-EM data were interpreted qualitatively, using the Fraser and the Karous–Hjelt filters. The quantitative interpretation of the data was done with a 2-D code that performs the inversion of the tipper data, using the results of the previous resistivity survey to constrain the inversion. Fraser filtered data and relative current density pseudosections indicate the presence of shallow and deep conductive zones that cross the landfill facility along known fracturing directions. The 2-D resistivity models calculated from tipper data indicate that these zones may have resistivity lower than 400 Ω m that is in a good agreement with the results obtained from the previous resistivity data. Chemical analysis of both surface and groundwater collected inside and outside the landfill confirms the presence of a halo of water contamination around the landfill location. This enables to infer that the anomalies detected by VLF-EM data are due to contaminated groundwater flowing in connected fractures.

03/02401 Modeling hydrofluorocarbon compounds as geothermal tracers: Bloomfield, K. K. and Moore, J. N. Geothermics, 2003, 32, (3), 203–218

New magnetotelluric (MT) data in north-west Fennoscandia were acquired within the framework of the project “Magnetotellurics in the Scandes” (MaSca). The project focuses on the investigation of the crustal and upper mantle lithospheric structure in the transition zone from stable Precambrian cratonic interior to passive continental margin beneath the Caledonian orogen and the Scandinavian Mountains in western Fennoscandia. An array of 59 simultaneous long period and 220 broad-band MT sites were occupied in the summers of 2011 to 2013.The 3-D inversion of the MaSca data was obtained using the ModEM 3-D code. The full impedance and tipper data were used for the inversion. The rocks of Archaean and Proterozoic basement towards east and the Caledonian nappes towards west are modelled as resistive structures. In the central and southern parts, the whole crust is resistive and reflects the Trans-Scandinavian Igneous Belt granitoids. The middle to lower crust of the Svecofennian province is conductive. An uppermost crustal conductor is revealed in the Skellefteå Ore District. The south end of the Kittilä Greenstone Belt is seen in the models as a strong upper to middle crustal conductor. In the Caledonides, the highly conductive alum shales are observed along the Caledonian Thrust Front. A map of the crustal conductance for the north-west Fennoscandian Shield is presented.

On small-scale near-surface distortion in controlled source tensor electromagnetics1

Based on a Born approximation of a thin sheet integral equation, it is shown that small-scale surficial heterogeneity significantly distorts the electromagnetic field excited by electric dipoles only when either the source or the receiver are located on the heterogeneities. When a surface heterogeneity is beneath the source, the associated distortion of the electromagnetic field is manifest as a change in the effective electric dipole moment. Hence the magnetotelluric transfer functions and impedance relations remain undistorted in this case. When a surface heterogeneity is beneath the receiver, the electric field is severely distorted, but the magnetic field is only slightly distorted. The impedance tensor is therefore strongly distorted, but the tipper vector is almost unaltered. Since the controlled source tipper is a function of 1D earth conductivity, it is proposed that tipper data should be used in the first stage of 1D interpretation. For a 1D earth, the tipper vector must always point towards the source and, in the near-field limit, should have unit length. These two necessary conditions must be met by the measured tipper before it is interpreted one dimensionally.