Mehrdad Bastani

Automatic interpretation of magnetic dike parameters using the analytical signal technique

The analytical signal of the magnetic field is used to automatically determine the source parameters of dikelike structures. The method is particularly useful for interpreting large amounts of data collected during airborne surveys because it makes full use of the high density of data along the flight lines while simultaneously checking for two‐dimensionality and strike directions by searching for coherent signals in neighboring profiles. The maximum horizontal curvature of the amplitude of the analytical signal is used to locate the dikes along a given profile. Tests with synthetic data show that the dike’s horizontal position is resolved accurately. Magnetic data from the Siljan impact structure in Sweden show that the estimated strikes are reliable and that dip, depth, and width estimates are coherent, especially for well‐isolated dikelike structures.

Geophysical assessment and geotechnical investigation of quick-clay landslides – a Swedish case study

We present a preliminary assessment of the potential utility of various geophysical measurements carried out over a quick-clay landslide site in south-west Sweden. The multidisciplinary approach includes active P- and S-wave seismic investigations, including 2D and 3D reflection and refraction surveys, passive single and 3C seismic surveys, electrical resistivity tomography and electromagnetic surveys including controlled-source and radio-magnetotellurics, ground-penetrating radar and potential field studies. The P-wave and particularly S-wave reflection seismic data show a highresolution image of bedrock topography and the stratigraphy of a 100 m thick sequence of sediments that lies on top, which include lightly consolidated quick-clays. Of particular interest is the identification of a layer of relatively coarse-grained material between 10–20 m below the ground surface. Geotechnical investigations indicate that most but not all quick-clays at the site are located above this layer. Further studies are required to determine the importance of their relationship and whether the coarse-grained layer may have had a role in triggering quick-clay landslides in the region. Geoelectrical and electromagnetic methods provide high-resolution images of the unconsolidated subsurface and particularly the normal and leached clays. Radio-magnetotelluric methods proved valuable near the river where traditional geoelectrical methods failed to provide sufficient depth coverage. The study shows that geophysical data are able to image major subsurface structures associated with quick-clay landslides.

Groundwater exploration using combined controlled-source and radiomagnetotelluric techniques

Radiomagnetotelluric (RMT) (14–250 kHz) combined with controlled-source magnetotelluric (CSMT) (1–12 kHz) measurements were applied to the exploration of groundwater located in sandy formations at depths as great as 20 m below thick clay lenses. A combination of approximately 30 radio frequencies and controlled-source frequencies is essential for penetrating the thick clay layers. The electromagnetic transfer functions of impedance tensor and tipper vectors point toward a structure that is largely two-dimensional, although clear three-dimensional effects can be observed where the sandy formation is close to the surface. The determinant of the impedance tensor was chosen for inversion using two-dimensional models. The final two-dimensional model fits the data to within twice the estimated standard errors, which is considered quite satisfactory, given that typical errors are on the level of 1% on the impedance elements. Comparison with bore-hole results and shallow-reflection seismic sections show that the ...

Some characteristics of the electromagnetic field from radio transmitters in Europe

The radiomagnetotelluric (RMT) method utilizes man-made signals generated by distant transmitters or by dedicated local transmitters. Man-made electromagnetic (EM) signals in the 1-250-kHz frequency band come mainly from two sources: (1) distant radio transmitters operating in the 15-250-kHz band and (2) nearby or distant industrial sources emitting either transients or higher harmonics of 50 Hz. The natural or background EM signals form a kind of noise floor. In Europe for the 15-250-kHz band, there generally are sufficient transmitters available to estimate the EM transfer functions completely, i.e., the full impedance tensor and the tipper vector. We show examples of the variability of power spectra and azimuthal distributions of transmitters from sites in Sweden, Hungary, The Netherlands, and Spain. We also show that the estimated transfer functions are stable as a function of time; even under typical noisy conditions, simple stacking of spectra in narrow frequency bands provides good-quality estimates of transfer functions.

Delineating structures controlling sandstone‐hosted base‐metal deposits using high‐resolution multicomponent seismic and radio‐magnetotelluric methods: a case study from Northern Sweden

Over the past few decades seismic methods have increasingly been used for the exploration of mineral, geothermal, and groundwater resources. Nevertheless, there have only been a few cases demonstrating the advantages of multicomponent seismic data for these purposes. To illustrate some of the benefits of three-component data, a test seismic survey, using 60 digital three-component sensors spaced between 2 m and 4 m and assembled in a 160 m-long prototype landstreamer, was carried out over shallow basement structures underlying mineralized horizons and over a magnetic lineament of unknown origin. Two different types of seismic sources, i.e., explosives and a sledgehammer, were used to survey an approximately 4 km-long seismic profile. Radio-magnetotelluric measurements were also carried out to provide constraints on the interpretation of the seismic data over a portion of the profile where explosive sources were used. Good quality seismic data were recorded on all three components, particularly when explosives were used as the seismic source. The vertical component data from the explosive sources image the top of the crystalline basement and its undulated/faulted surface at a depth of about 50 m–60 m. Supported by the radiomagnetotelluric results, however, shallower reflections are observed in the horizontal component data, one of them steeply dipping and associated with the magnetic lineament. The vertical component sledgehammer data also clearly image the crystalline basement and its undulations, but significant shear-wave signals are not present on the horizontal components. This study demonstrates that multicomponent seismic data can particularly be useful for providing information on shallow structures and in aiding mineral exploration where structural control on the mineralization is expected.

Leveling HEM and aeromagnetic data using differential polynomial fitting

We introduce a new technique to level aerogeophysical data. Our approach is applicable to flight-line data without any need for tie-line measurements. The technique is based on polynomial fitting of data points in 1D and 2D sliding windows. A polynomial is fitted to data points in a 2D circular window that contains at least three flight lines. Then the same procedure is done inside a 1D window placed at the center of the 2D window. The leveling error is the difference between 1D and 2D polynomial fitted data at the center of the windows. To demonstrate the reliability of the method, it was tested on a synthetic aeromagnetic data set contaminated by some linear artifacts. Using the differential polynomial fitting method, we can remove the linear artifacts from the data. The method then was applied to two real airborne data sets collected in Iran. The leveling errors are removed effectively from the aeromagnetic data using the differential polynomial fitting. In the case of helicopter-towed electromagnetic (HEM) data, the polynomial fitting method is used to level the measured real (in-phase) and imaginary (quadrature) components, as well as the calculated apparent resistivity. The HEM data are sensitive to height variations, so we introduce an average-height scaling method to reduce the height effect before leveling in-phase and quadrature components. The method also is effective in recovering some of the attenuated anomalies. After scaling, the differential polynomial fitting method was applied to the data and effectively removed the remaining line-to-line artifacts.

2D joint inversion of RMT and ERT data versus individual 3D inversion of full tensor RMT data: An example from Trecate site in Italy

Tensor radiomagnetotelluric (RMT) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) data were acquired along 10 parallel lines to image electrical resistivity of the vadose and the saturated zone in an a ...

High-resolution 3D reflection seismic investigation over a quick-clay landslide scar in southwest Sweden

Quick-clay landslides often occur in the northern hemisphere in areas that were covered by Pleistocene glaciation. They are particularly common along the shorelines of the Gota River in southwester ...

Multi-method high resolution geophysical and geotechnical quick clay mapping

Quick clay is highly sensitive, marine clay with an unstable mineral structure due to post glacial heaving and consequent leaching of saline pore fluids by surface- and groundwater. Extended quick clay layers pose a serious geo-hazard in Scandinavia and North America and need to be delineated in detail. Geophysical methods, especially resistivity methods, have been tested for small scale quick clay mapping at a research site close to Oslo, Norway. By scrutinizing results from Electric Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and Controlled Source Radiomagnetotellurics (CSRMT) and integrating them to geotechnical borehole data with the help of a resistivity logging tool (RCPT) we confirm the value of this integrated study for quick clay hazard zonation. ERT is an ideal tool to interpolate limited borehole results and thus to provide a more cost efficient and detailed result than with boreholes alone. Our resistivity data from ERT, RCPT and lab measurements are consistent and appear isotropic.

Boat-towed radio-magnetotellurics — A new technique and case study from the city of Stockholm

We have developed a new data acquisition system and technique to measure the radio magnetotelluric (RMT) signals from distant radio transmitters with the objective of mapping and modeling electric ...