Register      Login
Exploration Geophysics Exploration Geophysics Society
Journal of the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists
RESEARCH FRONT

Joint inversions of two VTEM surveys using quasi-3D TDEM and 3D magnetic inversion algorithms

Vlad Kaminski 1 3 Domenico Di Massa 2 Andrea Viezzoli 1
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

1 Aarhus Geophysics, Aps, Lollandsgade 52, Aarhus, DK-8000, Denmark.

2 Department of Earth, Environment and Resources Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Largo San Marcellino 10, Naples 80138, Italy.

3 Corresponding author. Email: vlad.kaminski@aarhusgeo.com

Exploration Geophysics 47(4) 260-268 https://doi.org/10.1071/EG16014
Submitted: 7 February 2016  Accepted: 31 March 2016   Published: 30 May 2016

Abstract

In the current paper, we present results of a joint quasi-three-dimensional (quasi-3D) inversion of two versatile time domain electromagnetic (VTEM) datasets, as well as a joint 3D inversion of associated aeromagnetic datasets, from two surveys flown six years apart from one another (2007 and 2013) over a volcanogenic massive sulphide gold (VMS-Au) prospect in northern Ontario, Canada. The time domain electromagnetic (TDEM) data were inverted jointly using the spatially constrained inversion (SCI) approach. In order to increase the coherency in the model space, a calibration parameter was added. This was followed by a joint inversion of the total magnetic intensity (TMI) data extracted from the two surveys. The results of the inversions have been studied and matched with the known geology, adding some new valuable information to the ongoing mineral exploration initiative.

Key words: airborne EM, inversion, magnetics, TDEM, VMS.


References

Christiansen, A. V., Auken, E., and Sørensen, K., 2009, The transient electromagnetic method in groundwater geophysics: Springer.

Geological Survey of Ontario, 2011, Preliminary map, 1 : 250000. Available at: http://www.geologyontario.mndm.gov.on.ca/

Hannington, M. D., Barrie, C. T., and Bleeker, W., 1999, The giant Kidd Creek volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit, western Abitibi Subprovince, Canada, in M. D. Hannington, and C. T. Barrie, eds., The giant Kidd Creek volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit, Western Abitibi Subprovince, Canada: Economic Geology Monograph 10, 1–30.

Kaminski, V., Oldenburg, D., and Prikhodko, A., 2011, Using ERA low frequency E-field profiling and UBC 3D frequency-domain inversion to delineate and discover a mineralized zone in Porcupine district, Ontario: SEG Technical Program, Expanded Abstracts, 1262–1266.

Kirkegaard, C., and Auken, E., 2015, A parallel, scalable and memory efficient inversion code for very large-scale airborne electromagnetics surveys: Geophysical Prospecting, 63, 495–507
A parallel, scalable and memory efficient inversion code for very large-scale airborne electromagnetics surveys:Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Li, Y., and Oldenburg, D., 1996, 3D inversion of magnetic data: Geophysics, 61, 394–408
3D inversion of magnetic data:Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Meju, M., 1998, A simple method of transient electromagnetic data analysis: Geophysics, 63, 405–410
A simple method of transient electromagnetic data analysis:Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Robert, F., and Poulsen, K. H., 1997, World-class Archaean gold deposits in Canada: an overview: Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 44, 329–351
World-class Archaean gold deposits in Canada: an overview:Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXltVCjur4%3D&md5=947fc8e3a307573d22586f50f43de324CAS |

Sapia, V., Oldenborger, G. A., Viezzoli, A., and Marchetti, M., 2014, Incorporating ancillary data into the inversion of airborne time-domain electromagnetic data for hydrogeological applications: Applied Geophysics, 104, 35–43
Incorporating ancillary data into the inversion of airborne time-domain electromagnetic data for hydrogeological applications:Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Viezzoli, A., Christiansen, A. V., Auken, E., and Sørensen, K., 2008, Quasi-3D modeling of airborne TEM data by spatially constrained inversion: Geophysics, 73, F105–F113
Quasi-3D modeling of airborne TEM data by spatially constrained inversion:Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |