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Controlled source
AudiomagnetoTellurics
(CSAMT)
Outline | Detail | Results |

OUTLINE
Conventional magneto-telluric survey
techniques, such as natural-source MT
and audio frequency MT, utilise the
magnetic and electric components of
naturally occuring magneto-telluric fields
in order to map variations in subsurface
resistivity to depths of up to several
hundred kilometres. CSAMT is a specific
derivation of conventional natural-source
and audio frequency magneto-telluric
methods that utilises an artificial source
(typically in the range 0.1Hz to 10kHz)
in addition to the natural fields. This
provides a more reliable and stronger
signal and enables imaging of shallower
targets than would otherwise be possible
with low frequency natural signals alone.

DETAIL
Temporal variations in the Earth's
magnetosphere and ionosphere, caused
by factors such as the solar wind and
diurnal variation of the Earth's magnetic
field, result in natural low-frequency
magneto-telluric fields across the globe
which induce alternating telluric currents
within the ground. Higher frequency
signals resulting from worldwide
electrical storms are superimposed on
these low-frequency fields. Conventional
magneto-telluric survey techniques, such
as natural-source MT and audio
frequency MT, utilise the magnetic and
electric components of the MT fields and
currents in order to map variations in
subsurface resistivity to depths of up to

several hundred kilometres. However,

the erratic nature of the source in terms
of strength and direction mean that the
signal has to be stacked for long periods
of time at each station.
CSAMT is a specific derivation of
conventional natural-source and audio
frequency magneto-telluric methods, that
utilises an artificial source (typically in
the range 0.1Hz to 10kHz) in order to
speed up data acquisition and provide a
more reliable and stronger signal. The
source normally comprises either a loop
or long grounded dipole of up to several
kilometres length. The dipole may be
combined with a second orthogonal
transmitter in order to provide two
source polarisations. Simultaneous
measurements of five separate
parameters are taken at each location;
the two components of the electric field
and the three components of the
magnetic field. Electric field
measurements are acquired using
orthogonal dipoles whilst the magnetic
field vectors are measured using multiturn high permeability coils. Modern
CSAMT instruments also enable
measurement of natural and audiofrequency MT signals in order to provide
an extended exploration depth range (the
lower the frequency the greater the depth
of investigation).
Measurement of the change in the
electric and magnetic fields over a range
of frequencies enables an apparent
resistivity sounding curve to be
constructed. Apparent resistivity is
combined with a measure of the phase
difference between the electric and
magnetic components. Over isotropic
homogeneous ground the magnetic
component will lag behind the electric
component by Pi/4. However, if the
resistivity varies with depth the
measured phase difference will be
different. Joint inversion of the data
using both phase and apparent resistivity

provides a more robust

interpretation. The data are normally
displayed as apparent resistivity versus
frequency and phase difference versus
frequency plots.

RESULTS
Raw results from CSAMT surveys are
commonly displayed as log-log graphs
of apparent resistivity and phase against
frequency (see right above). However, a
number of other plotting conventions
may be adopted depending on the
particular parameters being measured.
Combination of 1D resistivity inversions
or joint phase/resistivity inversions leads
to the formation of 2D pseudosections of
resistivity versus depth. In the image
right low resistivity areas are displayed
in blue. High resistivities are in red. The
low resistivity area below Station 200
displayed a coincident IP chargeability
high and was later identified as a
sulphide ore body.
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