Magnetotelluric survey data acquired in association with the L189 Gawler-Curnamona-Arrowie Deep Crustal Seismic Survey over the Gawler Craton. This survey was a collaborative project with the University of Adelaide and was funded through the Onshore Energy Security Program. The aim of the survey was to produce a two-dimensional image of electrical conductivity structure of the crust and upper mantle over the Gawler Craton. This information is complementary to the reflection seismic and gravity data acquired along the 08GA-G1 traverse. Data are supplied as EDI files with support information.

The Australian Lithospheric Architecture Magnetotelluric Project (AusLAMP): New South Wales (NSW) magnetotelluric survey is a collaborative project between the Geological Survey of New South Wales (GSNSW) and Geoscience Australia. Long period magnetotelluric data are being acquired at 320 sites on a half degree grid spacing across the state of NSW. This record outlines the field acquisition, data QA/QC, and data processing methodologies relating to the 224 sites released in phase one. The data are released in EDI format containing impedance estimates and transfer functions for each processed site.

Long-period magnetotelluric (MT) data allow geoscientists to investigate the link between mineralisation and lithospheric-scale features and processes. In particular, the highly conductive structures imaged by MT data appear to map the pathways of large-scale palaeo-fluid migration, the identification of which is an important element of several mineral system models. Given the importance of these data, governments and academia have united under the Australian Lithospheric Architecture Magnetotelluric Project (AusLAMP) to collect long-period MT data across the continent on a ~55 km-spaced grid. Here, we use AusLAMP data to demonstrate the MT method as a regional-scale tool to identify and select prospective areas for mineral exploration undercover. We focus on the region between Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory and east of Mount Isa in Queensland. Our results image major conductive structures up to 150 km deep in the lithosphere, such as the Carpentaria Conductivity Anomaly east of Mount Isa. This anomaly is a significant lithospheric-scale conductivity structure that shows spatial correlations with a major suture zone and known iron oxide–copper–gold deposits. Our results also identify similar features in several under-explored areas that are now considered to be prospective for mineral discovery. These observations provide a powerful means of selecting frontier regions for mineral exploration undercover.. <b>Citation:</b> Duan, J., Kyi, D., Jiang, W. and Costelloe, M., 2020. AusLAMP: imaging the Australian lithosphere for resource potential, an example from northern Australia. In: Czarnota, K., Roach, I., Abbott, S., Haynes, M., Kositcin, N., Ray, A. and Slatter, E. (eds.) Exploring for the Future: Extended Abstracts, Geoscience Australia, Canberra, 1–4.

Magnetotelluric (MT) measures the natural variations of the Earth's magnetic and electrical (telluric) fields. The Audio-Magnetotelluric method (AMT) samples signals in the frequency range of 10k Hz down to ~1Hz and provides information to the upper few kilometres of the crust. AMT data were collected at ten sites in the southern Thomson Orogen using Phoenix Geophysics equipment (MTU-5A, MTC-150L and PE5 electrodes). Instrument deployment periods were 7/Oct -29/Oct 2015 and 03/Aug-10/Aug 2016. Time series data were processed into frequency domain using remote reference and Robust Processing scheme. After quality assurance, processed data were exported to industry-standard EDI files. Time series data are available on request.

Magnetotellurics (MT) is a passive geophysical method which uses natural time variations of the Earth's magnetic and electric fields to measure the electrical resistivity of the sub-surface. Electrical resistivity is a bulk property of a volume of Earth material and is associated with factors such as rock composition, porosity and permeability as well as temperature and pressure. The Magnetotelurics (MT) Data Collection includes datasets from The Australian Lithospheric Architecture Magnetotelluric Project (AusLAMP) and regional-scale MT surveys across the Australian continent. These data were collected by Geoscience Australia in collaboration with the State and Territory Geological Surveys and other partners. <b>Value: </b>Magnetotelluric data to expand the geoscientific understanding of the earth’s lithospheric structure and provide new insights into Australia’s onshore energy and mineral potential. <b>Scope: </b>AusLAMP is being conducted over multiple years to create a national MT dataset and map lithospheric structure of the Australian continent. MT data have also been acquired for mapping crustal structure and resource potential at regional scale. These data provide valuable information for multi-disciplinary interpretations. To view the magnetotellurics data via the Geoscience Australia internet page click on the following URL: <a href="https://www.ga.gov.au/about/projects/resources/regional-mt-program">https://www.ga.gov.au/about/projects/resources/regional-mt-program</a> For further information about the Australian Lithospheric Architecture Magnetotelluric Project (AusLAMP) click on the following URL: <a href="https://www.ga.gov.au/about/projects/resources/auslamp">https://www.ga.gov.au/about/projects/resources/auslamp</a> <b>To view catalogue records associated with this collection, click on the keyword "HVC_144686" in the below Keyword listing</b>

The magnetotelluric (MT) data were acquired along a total of 690 km of the Youanmi deep seismic reflection traverses 10GA-YU1, 10GA-YU2 and 10GA-YU3-in Western Australia. This was a collaborative project between Geoscience Australia (GA) and the Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA), which provided the funding. The aim of the MT survey was to produce information of the electrical conductivity structure of the crust and upper mantle. This information is complementary to that obtained from deep seismic reflection, gravity, magnetic and geological data, which together provide new knowledge of the crustal architecture, rock properties and geodynamics of the region, important for helping to determine the potential for both mineral and energy resources. Data are supplied as EDI files with support information.

As part of Geoscience Australia’s Exploring for the Future Program, Broadband and Audio Magnetotelluric (MT) data were acquired at 131 stations in the East Tennant region, Northern Territory, in 2019. This survey aimed to characterise major crustal structures, to map cover thickness to assist in stratigraphic drill targeting, and to help understand mineral potential in the region. The data package was released in December 2019 (http://dx.doi.org/10.26186/5df80d8615367) and the 3D resistivity model was released in March 2020 (https://pid.geoscience.gov.au/dataset/ga/135011). We applied a probabilistic approach to inverting high-frequency MT data for cover thickness estimation using the 1D Rj-McMCMT code, newly developed in Geoscience Australia. The inversion employs multiple Markov chains in parallel to generate an ensemble of millions of resistivity models that adequately fit the data given the assigned noise levels. The algorithm uses trans-dimensional Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques to solve for a probabilistic resistivity-depth model. Once the ensemble of models is generated, its statistics are analysed to assess the posterior probability distribution of the resistivity at any particular depth, as well as the number of layers and the depths of the interfaces. This stochastic approach gives a thorough exploration of the model space and a more robust estimation of uncertainty than deterministic methods allow. This release package includes the results of probabilistic inversion of Audio Magnetotelluric data at the 131 stations. They can be used to estimate cover thickness for drill site planning, and to map the base of geological basins in the region. Model data files are large, but can be made available on request to clientservices@ga.gov.au.

Magnetotelluric survey data acquired in association with the L184 Isa-Georgetown Deep Crustal Seismic Survey and L185 Charters Towers Deep Crustal Seismic Survey. These surveys were funded through the Geoscience Australia's Onshore Energy Security Program and the Queensland Governments Smart Mining - Future Prosperity Program. Quantec Geoscience were contracted to acquire and process these data. The aim of the surveys was to produce a two-dimensional image of electrical conductivity structure of the crust and upper mantle over the Isa and Georgetown blocks. This information is complementary to the reflection seismic and gravity data acquired along lines 07GA-IG1, 07GA-IG2 and 07GA-GC1. Data are supplied as EDI files with support information and models.

Geoscience Australia (GA) and the Geological Surveys of Queensland (GSQ) and NSW (GSNSW) are undertaking a multi-year, multi-disciplinary collaborative project with the aim of characterising the largely unexplored southern Thomson Oregon region (Figure 1). As part of this, a number of precompetitive geophysical datasets have been acquired or are planned to be acquired within the southern Thomson region. These datasets will support an improved understanding of the: - thickness and nature of cover; - geology obscured by recent sedimentary cover or regolith; and, - mineral systems potential of the region. Magnetotellurics is a passive geophysical technique which records the earth's natural time-varying electrical and magnetic fields to provide a measure of the subsurface conductivity/resistivity (these two physical properties are related as resistivity is the inverse of conductivity). The frequencies of magnetic and electrical sources recorded provide different depth information - audiomagnetotellurics (AMT) which records higher frequency data and images shallower electrical structure, while broadband MT (BBMT) records lower frequencies that image relatively deeper electrical structure. Although the depth of investigation of the technique varies according to the local resistivity structure, in general AMT images the shallowest upper crust only (14 km depth) and BBMT images the crust (~60 km depth). For the southern Thomson region, BBMT was acquired along 2 long and one shorter transect to provide pictures of the entire crust of the region, while AMT was acquired along shorter and higher-resolution lines to provide knowledge of the cover of the region. Within this document we detail the acquisition, processing and analysis of the MT data, and present preliminary resistivity models. These data, their analyses and models are released as underpinning datasets to support future geophysical analyses and geological interpretation. Accordingly, this report focuses primarily on the core geophysical aspects from acquisition through to preliminary modelling.

The Coompana Project is a collaborative project between Geoscience Australia (GA) and the Geological Survey of South Australia (GSSA), which aims to provide new precompetitive geological, geophysical and geochemical data in the under-explored Coompana Province in South Australia. The pre-drilling geophysics program was undertaken to assist the drilling process by reducing the uncertainty associated with intersecting the targeted stratigraphy. Firstly, the magnetotellurics (MT) technique was tested at six sites where previous drill holes were located to benchmark the application of MT method with respect to estimating cover thickness in the region. Comparison with drill-hole details indicates that the method is capable of identifying major stratigraphic structures and providing cover thickness estimates with a reasonable accuracy (within 10%). Subsequently, MT data were acquired at eight proposed drilling sites in February 2017. 1D and 2D data modelling were undertaken using different algorithms to improve confidence level. Finally, estimates of the cover thickness with specified uncertainty at proposed drilling sites are produced. This report presents MT data acquisition and processing, data inversion and preliminary interpretation of model results. Limitations and uncertainty associated with the MT technique is discussed.