Journal of Applied Geophysics 115 (2015) 40–50

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Journal of Applied Geophysics

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jappgeo

The basement structure below the peat–lignite deposit in the Philippi

sub-basin (Northern Greece) inferred by electromagnetic and
magnetic methods
M. Gurk a,⁎, N. Tougiannidis b, I.K. Oikonomopoulos c, D. Kalisperi d
a
Institute of Geophysics and Meteorology, University of Cologne, Pohligstr. 3, 50969 Cologne, Germany
b
Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, University of Cologne, Zuelpicher Str. 49a, 50674 Cologne, Germany
c
Core Laboratories LP, Petroleum Services Division, 6316 Windfern Road, Houston, TX 77040, USA
d
Technological Educational Institute of Crete, 3 Romanou St., 73100, Chania, Crete, Greece

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: During 2009 and 2010 electromagnetic (EM) soundings and a high-resolution magnetic survey were conducted
Received 3 September 2014 to study the deeper structure of the peat–lignite deposit in the Philippi sub-basin in Northern Greece. The
Received in revised form 4 February 2015 primary intention of investigating the basement structure of the Philippi sub-basin is to propose the ideal location
Accepted 5 February 2015
for a deep and continuous paleoclimate drill site.
Available online 11 February 2015
Data were collected along a 12 km transect (NNE–SSW) through the largest extension of the basin from Krinides
Keywords:
at the North to Eleftheroupolis at the South. We used a combined set of Radiomagnetotelluric (RMT), Time
Audiomagnetotelluric soundings Domain Electromagnetic (TEM) and Audiomagnetotelluric (AMT) soundings to derive a 2D model of the electrical
Magnetic anomaly resistivity distribution versus depth using a joint inversion approach. This model was then cross correlated with a
Peat 2D forward model of magnetic anomaly data. The magnetic survey detected strong anomalies in the North that
Philippi sub-basin appeared to have been generated by the Philippi granitoid pluton. All three individual data sets support each
Philippi granitoid pluton other and have jointly been analyzed. From this study we yield an asymmetric graben model of the basin structure
that shows maximum thickness (ca. 500 m) in the northern part of the basin leading to a reduction of the thickness
to the South. The interface between the basin fill and the bedrock ascend steeply in the North. The overall assess-
ment of the deeper basin structure reveals a detachment system that is in good accordance with previous findings.
© 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
Northern Greece and the broader Aegean area are characterized by a
subsequent series of NW–SE stretching basins. The Philippi sub-basin
(Figs. 1 and 2) represents the southeastern part of the great Plain of
Drama in eastern Macedonia (Northeastern Greece), which tectonically
is the most labile area. In the Philippi sub-basin, filled with late tertiary
and quaternary formations, the sedimentation started in later Miocene
times and continued on until the present day. Since early Pleistocene
times the area was dominated by the accumulation of limno-telmatic
sediments until the sub-basin was drained due to agricultural activity
between 1931 and 1944. After Tzedakis et al. (2006) the sedimentation
of peat inside the subsiding area of the Philippi sub-basin endured over
the last 1.35 My leading to the formation of, approximately 55 km2 large
and almost 200 m thick, peat–lignite deposit of Philippi (Teichmüller,
1968), which today is described as the largest and thickest known
⁎ Corresponding author.
E-mail addresses: geogurk@web.de (M. Gurk), geo.Nikolas@gmx.de (N. Tougiannidis),
Ioannis.Oikonomopoulos@corelab.com, giannis@metal.ntua.gr (I.K. Oikonomopoulos),
dkalisperi@chania.teicrete.gr (D. Kalisperi).
quaternary peat land in the world (Seymour et al., 2004). Additionally,
the peat–lignite deposit of Philippi represents the largest fossil hydro-
carbon resource in the Balkans (Christanis, 1987). Within the basin
there are some tertiary granitic intrusions. One of them is the Philippi
granitoid in the northwest of Krinides with a total surface outcrop of
about 1 km2. After Stampolidis et al. (2000) this outcrop is associated
with a large intrusion interpreted as the source of a magnetic anomaly
in the Philippi area.
Electromagnetic basin studies are becoming increasingly more
important in basin exploration programs, usually in combination with
seismic, gravity and/or magnetic data. Maillard et al. (2010) used a seis-
mic marker to study the spatial evolution of the Messin. Controlled
Source Electromagnetics (CSEM) exhibit in the electrical field
component the best sensitivity to resistive target formations; making
this technique particularly suitable to characterize hydrocarbon reser-
voirs or salt formations (Constable and Weiss, 2006). In turn, the
Magnetotelluric technique (MT) is powerful in delineating subsurface
zones with aqueous fluid-filled porosity networks, which are character-
ized by low bulk electrical resistivity.
Previous electromagnetic investigations of basin structures in
Greece are scarce or unpublished, and concentrate mostly on seismic

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jappgeo.2015.02.004
0926-9851/© 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
 M. Gurk et al. / Journal of Applied Geophysics 115 (2015) 40–50
Fig. 1. Geotectonic setting of Greece and the broader Aegean. AL: Albania, BG: Bulgaria, FYROM: Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, TR: Turkey.
After Rondogianni‐Tziambaou and Bornovas (1983) and Tougiannidis (2009).
hazards. MT, in combination with other methods, has been applied to
the EUROSEISTEST test area in the Mygdonian basin in Greece
(Thessaloniki, National Strong-Motion Station). This study showed
that electromagnetic geophysical techniques are useful to investigate
sedimentary basins in order to characterize the seismic hazard and its
dependency on site effects (Bastani et al., 2011; Dimitriu et al., 1998;
Gurk et al., 2008; Savvaidis et al., 2000; Widodo et al., 2010). Towards
the East, the Thrace basin in Turkey has been investigated with MT to
map electrical resistivity variations of the major stratigraphic units
(Bayrak et al., 2004). Regional MT studies in western Turkey focused
mostly on crustal-scale investigations of fault zones (Candansayar
et al., 2012; Ernst, 2005; Gürer and Bayrak, 2007).
In our survey area, we expect a high contrast in the electrical
resistivity between the resistive basement rocks and the conductive
basin sedimentary infill, making the MT method suitable for studying
the internal structure and the top-of basement distribution of the
Philippi sub-basin by means of a combined resistivity-magnetic
model. From this model we then suggest the best location for a deep
and continuous paleoclimate drill site to be within the maximum thick-
ness of the sediments.
2. Geological settings
2.1. Geology — stratigraphy
Northeastern Greece (Figs. 1 and 2) is dominated by marbles,
amphibolites, and orthogneisses of the Rhodope Massif (Fig. 1), which
is considered to be an Alpine nappe of continental and oceanic crust
(Burg et al., 1996; Kronberg et al., 1970; Marchev et al., 2005; Meyer,
41
1969; Ricou et al., 1998; van Hinsbergen et al., 2005). The ages of the
plutonic protoliths of the orthogneisses range from 310 to 270 Ma.
The marbles and amphibolites are interpreted as metamorphosed
sedimentary and volcanic cover of the plutonic basement (Brun and
Sokoutis, 2007; Liati and Fanning, 2005; Liati and Gebauer, 1999;
Turpaud and Reischmann, 2003; Wawrzenitz and Krohe, 1998). The
pre-Neogene basement of the Drama Basin and the borders of the
Philippi peatland are constituted by the Rhodope Metamorphic
Province (RMP) (Dinter, 1998).
The Rhodope massif is subdivided into the lower tectonic (or
Pangeon) unit and the upper tectonic (or Sidironeron) unit (Burg
et al., 1996; Dimadis and Zachos, 1989; Kyriakopoulos et al., 1996;
Mposkos and Liati, 1993; Papanikolaou and Panagopoulos, 1981;
Zachos and Dimadis, 1983), which show evidence for greenschist facies
metamorphism (Mposkos and Liati, 1993). Several acid plutonic bodies
were emplaced in the Pangeon unit during the Oligocene and Miocene
(Kilias and Mountrakis, 1998; Soldatos et al., 2001).
No volcanic rocks have been observed in the Drama Basin, however
two main ploutonites are present; the “Granodiorite of Symvolon” that
is Oligocene in age (Dinter et al., 1995), and the Phillipi granitoid that is
Late Oligocene–Middle Miocene in age (Tranos et al., 2009). Both the
“Granodiorite of Symvolon” and “Phillipi granitoid” are emplaced into
the marbles and schists of the Pangeon Unit (Tranos et al., 2009).
The neogene sediments of the Drama basin underlie either the
lignite beds or the peat and include terrestrial and fluvial deposits.
The Philippi peatland (fen) covers an area of 55 km2 in the southern
part of the Drama basin and the sedimentological sequence comprises
alternations of clayey-calcareous peat with clayey-calcareous muds
and clayey-marly layers. Lignite represents the deeper telmatic facies
42 M. Gurk et al. / Journal of Applied Geophysics 115 (2015) 40–50
Fig. 2. The location of the survey area (red ellipse) in Northern Greece with main tectonic units. The Philippi peat–lignite deposit is located in the Philippi sub-basin southeast of Drama.
After Maith (2010).
of this basin (Kaouras et al., 1991; Teichmüller, 1968). The whole peat/
lignite sequence reaches a maximum thickness of 190 m. Drilling work
carried out in the central and southern part of the Philippi basin up to a
depth of about 390 m indicates that since early to Middle Pleistocene
telmatic conditions often dominated over an area of 150 km2 proximal
to the western margins (Broussoulis et al., 1991; Melidonis, 1969,
1981).
Quaternary (Pliostocene) deposits are observed in most parts of the
Drama basin and consist of terrestrial, fluvio-terrestrial, and lacustrine
sediments containing marls, clays, sands, and organic beds (Christanis,
1983; Melidonis, 1969). Tephra layers at 7.61 m and also between
12.87 and 12.64 m depth in the Philippi sub-basin, which were geo-
chemically characterized and correlated with tephras from known
eruptions, have been dated at 21.950 cal yr BP (Wulf et al., 2002) and
39.3 kyr BP (De Vivo et al., 2001) respectively.
According to unpublished results of geophysical surveys by the
Greek Public Petroleum Corporation, the thickness of the Neogene
and Quaternary sediments filling the Drama basin reaches 2000 m
(Christanis et al., 1998).
2.2. Tectonics
The exposed granitoids in the Rhodope massif was the result of a
Tertiary extension that dominated the Rhodope massif forming a meta-
morphic core complex (Kilias and Mountrakis, 1998). Strain analysis of
the microgranitoid enclaves using the Rf/φ technique and the study of
the faulting affecting the Philippi granitoid suggested that during the
Middle Miocene the faulting deformation progressively changed to
oblique NW–SE pure extension. The tectonic regime which gave rise
to the formation of the Rhodope massif metamorphic core complex
was a NE–SW radial extension activating normal faults since the Late
Miocene (Tranos et al., 2009). The radial NE–SW extension is similar
in deformation with that recognized to form the large Struma/Strymon
graben system, the Drama basin and other basins in the internal part of
the Hellenic orogen since the Late Miocene (Mercier et al., 1989;
Pavlides and Kilias, 1987; Tranos, 1998; Tranos et al., 2008, 2009). In
general, the deformation history of the Philippi granitoid fits well with
the Late Oligocene–Middle Miocene crustal deformation described in
other regions of the Hellenic hinterland and which have been attributed
to the transpressional deformation driven by the late-collisional pro-
cesses between the Apulia and Eurasia plates (Tranos, 2009; Tranos
et al., 2008).
Neotectonic studies dealing with the deformation of the Neogene
and Quaternary basinal sediments in Northern Greece established that
the onset of the neotectonic regime took place in the Late Miocene
with a NE–SW extension and since the Lower Pleistocene has been
changed to N–S extension (Lyberis, 1984; Mercier et al., 1989;
Pavlides and Kilias, 1987; Tranos, 1998).
3. Geophysical data
3.1. Previous works in the Philippi sub-basin
A first attempt to study the peat deposit with geophysical methods
was carried out by Voutetakis (1969). He used Vertical Electrical Sound-
ings (VES) to get information about extension and thickness of the peat–
 M. Gurk et al. / Journal of Applied Geophysics 115 (2015) 40–50 43

lignite deposit. Due to the limited exploration depth, the method failed in subsurface of uniform resistivity ρ. In the electromagnetic induction
detecting the underlying sequences of the peat and the basement technique we often use the term skin-depth δ skin at which the
structure. electromagnetic wave is attenuated by a factor 1/e from its surface
A predominant magnetic anomaly has been revealed by conducting amplitude:
aeromagnetic surveys (ABEM, 1967). This data set was the base for var-
pffiffiffiffiffiffi
ious publications related to potential field anomalies generated by the δskin ≈0:5 Tρ in km: ð1Þ
Philippi granitoid pluton (Stampolidis and Tsokas, 2002; Stampolidis
et al., 2000; Tsokas et al., 2013).
In 2009 the shallow structure of the basin was investigated using The longer the period of the electromagnetic wave, the deeper it
geophysical methods including TEM, RMT, and VES soundings to obtain penetrates into a halfspace of uniform resistivity. It is possible to use
a geophysical data set that can be jointly inverted (Gurk et al., 2010; signals of different periods to estimate a series of depth dependent
Maith, 2010). In a second stage of the project we acquired additional elements of the full MT impedance tensor Z:
AMT deep soundings at the same location as the TEM, VES and RMT
     
sites and a magnetic survey to infer the deeper structure of the Philippi Ex Z xx Z xy B
sub-basin. ¼  x : ð2Þ
Ey Z yx Z yy By

3.2. RMT/AMT data For a 1D resistivity distribution, the impedance tensor becomes a
scalar number:
The principal method used in this study is the MT technique. De-
pending on the selected frequency band and exploration depth the  
0 Z xy
method can be subdivided into Long period MT (LMT), AMT and RMT. Z¼ ; with Z xy ¼ −Z yx : ð3Þ
Z yx 0
LMT and AMT are generally passive methods that use natural electro-
magnetic field (EM) variations measured at surface, whereas the RMT
method uses signals from radio transmitters in the kHz range The resistivity distribution in a 2D environment is a function of the
(Cagniard, 1953; Simpson and Bahr, 2005; Tikhonov, 1950; Vozoff, depth and of one horizontal direction:
1972). A sketch of a generalized MT field setup is displayed in Fig. 3.
 
This sensor setup will record time series of the horizontal components 0 Z xy
of the magnetic (Bx and By) and electric fields (Ex and Ey). The horizontal Z¼ ; with Z xy ≠−Z yx ; : ð4Þ
Z yx 0
electric field components are measured as the voltage drop between
two grounded non-polarizable electrodes. Alternatively, the electric
field may be measured using two decoupled electric field lines using Formula (4) is only valid if the measured EM fields are aligned
four electrodes. Since we probe the subsurface with a time varying hor- with the direction of the geological strike θ. Otherwise, the diago-
izontal magnetic field of period T, the skin-effect will yield impedances nal elements of the tensor will not disappear and we cannot imme-
that are related to different propagation depths of the wave in the diately distinguish between a 3D and a 2D resistivity distribution.

Fig. 3. Map view of the Philippi peat–lignite deposit with drainage system and the survey line A–A′ from Krinidis to Eleftheroupolis. The location of the Audiomagnetotelluric (AMT) sites is
indicated with black dots.
After Maith (2010).
44 M. Gurk et al. / Journal of Applied Geophysics 115 (2015) 40–50

For this purpose, the skew (Simpson and Bahr, 2005) is a useful combination with Metronix MFS06 induction coils. The horizontal elec-
parameter: tric field components were measured with non-polarizable Ag/AgCl
  electrodes. Whenever possible, the electrode spacing was extended to
S 
Skew ¼  1  with S1 ¼ Z xx þ Z yy and D2 ¼ Z xy −Z yx : ð5Þ a maximum of 100 m using a symmetric cross shaped configuration,
D2 having a ground electrode in its center. Data were recorded for approx.
24 h in two bands with a sampling frequency of 20 Hz and 1 kHz. The
The Skew will vanish for a 1D resistivity distribution. time series were processed with the robust remote reference code of
For a given 2D resistivity distribution, two independent modes of the Smirnov (2003). Several time segments for 1 kHz and 20 Hz recordings
EM fields exist: the transversal magnetic (TM) and the transversal were treated independently and thereafter averaged together to obtain
electric (TE) mode. Each mode can be analyzed and modeled indepen- the final estimates of the AMT impedance tensor for a period ranging
dently. To decompose the tensor into these two principle surface between T = 0.004 s and T = 3 s. Some of the AMT impedances are
impedances, the tensor will be mathematically rotated by: evaluated in a shorter period range, depending on the registration
   time of the instruments. During robust averaging using the reduced
1 2ReðD1 S2 Þ π M-estimator we calculated error bars based on the bootstrap method
θ¼ arctan  ; with S2 ¼ Z xy þ Z yx and D1
4 jD1 j2 −jS2 j2 2 (Smirnov, 2003). The vertical magnetic field component has been re-
¼ Z xx −Z yy ð6Þ corded as well but it shows poor quality in our survey and has not
been used in the modeling process.
in such a way that one of the electric field component is parallel to the RMT data were collected at 241 sites along the profile spaced 50 m
strike (TE mode) whereas the other electric field component is normal apart. For this purpose we used a scalar operating RMT device devel-
to the strike (TM mode): oped for hydrogeological investigations on karst areas (Müller, 1982a,
  b; Turberg et al., 1994). The instrument makes use of remote radio
0
T cos θ sin θ
Z ¼ RZR ; with R ¼ : ð7Þ transmitters in a frequency range f = 10–250 kHz. The system displays
− sin θ cos θ
the measured values of the apparent resistivity and phase. Data have
been acquired at three frequencies: f1 = 261 kHz, f2 = 153 kHz and
From the tensor elements we get the apparent resistivities and their f3 = 23.4 kHz with respect to the geological strike of 100°N in the TM
phases: mode. No TE mode data were recorded.
!
 2 ImZ i j
  3.3. Total magnetic field data
ρai j ¼ 0:2  T Z i j  and φi j ¼ arctan ; i j ¼ xy or yx: ð8Þ
ReZ i j
The total magnetic field has been measured in 2010 with a GSM-19 T
Contrary to the applied AMT method where the full impedance ten- magnetometer every 25 m along the profile. Diurnal variations on the
sor is estimated, our scalar operating RMT instrument requires choosing field have been removed using a base magnetometer station. Based on
one of the modes in advance to install the magnetic and electric field the IGRF, we calculated the following geomagnetic field parameter for
sensors in accordance to the geological strike. The choice of the mode our survey: F = 46,913.6; I = 58.02° and D = 4.06°. Measurements of
will be made upon available transmitter frequencies and transmitter the magnetic susceptibility on outcrops in the area for typical rock
directions with respect to the strike of the resistivity anomaly. types were: granitoid: 0.031 S.I.: sediments: 0.011S.I. and 0.000 S.I. for
Fig. 4 shows the location of the 11 AMT sites along a ca. 12 km tran- the marbles (Atzemoglou, 1997).
sect normal through the Philippi sub-basin. The AMT site spacing on this
line is 500 m to 1000 m depending on the accessibility in the peat land. 3.4. Data evaluation and analysis
Some areas are not covered due to a flooding event in spring 2010. AMT
data were collected using 2 MTU-2000 instruments made by Uppsala Fig. 5 displays the RMT apparent resistivities (Fig. 5a) and phases
University. The instrument utilizes Earth Data PR6-24 loggers in (Fig. 5b) along the profile. In the center of the basin (y = 6000 m),
the apparent resistivities exhibit values between 7 and 40 Ωm, the
phases are generally above 45° implying a decrease of the resistivity
with depth. Based on the Bostick transformation (Goldberg and
Rotstein, 1982), the depth of investigation in the center of the basin is
not deeper than ca. 20 m. Approaching the rims of the basin, the eleva-
tion (Fig. 5d) and the resistivities increase and the phase drops down
below 45°, indicating the onset of the resistive basement.
The distribution of the magnetic field anomaly along the profile is
plotted in Fig. 5c. In the North, the anomaly pattern shows a steep gra-
dient that we address to the presence of the Philippi granitoid pluton.
Towards the South, the magnitude of the anomaly decreases more or
less continuously from values of 150 nT down to − 50 nT. The overall
data quality of the RMT and magnetic data is good. Some data have
been removed due to the influence of power- and pipe-lines crossing
the profile. Especially the most northern part of the profile is affected
by cultural noise of the Krinides village.
The strike and dimensionality analysis of the AMT impedances show
a general geological strike of ca. 100°N and skew values between 0 and
0.1 for longer periods, indicating a 1D to 2D resistivity distribution. All
AMT impedances have been rotated by 10° into the strike and the im-
pedance tensor is decomposed into the principle impedances: Z′xy =
Fig. 4. Generalized sketch of a Magnetotelluric setup. The magnetic field sensors are orien-
ZTM and Z′yx = ZTE.
tated to the North and to the East. The electric field is measured as the voltage drop be- One of our innovative ideas in the survey design is the combination
tween two grounded non-polarizable electrodes in North–south and East–west direction. of scalar RMT, TEM and full tensor AMT data into one coherent set of TE
 M. Gurk et al. / Journal of Applied Geophysics 115 (2015) 40–50 45

Fig. 5. Radiomagnetotelluric (RMT) and total magnetic field data along profile A–A′. a) TM-mode RMT apparent resistivities for three frequencies along the profile. b) TM-mode RMT phase
values for three frequencies along the profile. c) Magnitude of the total magnetic field anomaly along the profile. d) Elevation above sea level along the profile.

and TM mode impedances. This step is justified since the resistivity dis-
tribution for the first 20 m in the basin is basically one dimensional. The
RMT impedance varies only with depth and is therefore independent of
the mode and we yield Zxy′ = − Zyx′. A typical sounding curve of such
combined data set is displayed for AMT site 02 in Fig. 6. With increasing
period and increasing exploration depth, the apparent resistivities drop
down towards 5 Ωm. The onset of the resistive basement is shown by
the increasing values and the split of the two modes of the apparent re-
sistivity curves at a period of approx. T = 0.1 s. Phase values below 45°
for these periods support this observation. In summation, the analysis of
the impedance tensor indicate a predominant 1D resistivity distribution
from the highest frequencies down to a period range of ca. T = 0.1 s.
With increasing period, the 2D influence of the basement structure is
visible in the sounding curves.
A common problem in studying basin structures with MT is the so
called static shift effect. Small scale resistivity inhomogeneities, that
are too small to have an own inductive response at a given period
range, will deflect or accumulate the electric field lines in the subsur-
face. As a consequence, the AMT apparent resistivity curve in Fig. 6
might be shifted along the resistivity axis and a model of the data
would be misleading. To overcome this problem additional DC, RMT
or TEM soundings can be used to level the affected AMT resistivity
sounding curve. We have checked for static shift effects using available
RMT and TEM data. The gap in the sounding curve shown in Fig. 6
between the near surface RMT and the AMT data is filled up with syn-
thetic resistivities and phase data (black line) calculated from 1D TEM
resistivity models. The good fit of the transition between all three data
sets implies that the AMT impedance tensor is free of static shift effects.
4. Data modeling
For the magnetic and resistivity modeling we used codes developed
by Mackie and Madden (Mackie et al., 1997) that are implemented in
the commercial WinGlinkTM software package. Available RMT and
TEM data at coinciding locations with AMT data are combined into
AMT stations, whereas the remaining RMT data were used as regular
stations in the inversion code.
In total, 230 RMT and 11 combined sites have been taken into account
for the data inversion on a model mesh that consists of 362 horizontal and
72 vertical blocks. A common error floor of 5% was used for the RMT
46 M. Gurk et al. / Journal of Applied Geophysics 115 (2015) 40–50
Fig. 6. Example of a combined sounding curve at AMT site 02. Near surface information is
gained by 1D RMT data, whereas information from the basement is deduced from the AMT
period range. The gap between RMT and AMT range is covered by the AMT model
response which is calculated from 1D time-domain electromagnetic (TEM) modeling.
TEM data are used to cope with static shift effects. The sounding curve is rotated into
the strike direction of the basin. The xy-polarization (red dots) is the TM-mode; the
yx-polarization (blue dots) is the TE-mode of the general 2D resistivity distribution.
Matching modes imply a 1D resistivity distribution.
impedances, whereas the AMT data error was taken from the robust
processing procedure. TE- and TM mode data have jointly been inverted
for 5 interpolated frequencies per decade using a smoothing operator
equal to 3.
Fig. 7. 2D inversion model of AMT (tau = 3, RMS = 2.0%) data along the transect A–A′ through the basin (left). 2D inversion model of RMT&AMT (tau = 3, RMS = 1.9%) data along the
transect A–A′ through the basin. The site distant of the 230 RMT sites is 20 m along the profile (right).
The starting model was a 100 Ωm halfspace. In the first stage of the
data inversion we skipped the RMT and TEM data to solve only for the
deeper structure of the basin. Without any RMT data at the flanks of
the basin, this inversion reproduced there the starting model resistivi-
ties and we do not gain any information. In the second stage of the
data inversion we used all available data sets. The final model produced
an RMS error of 1.9%. Both models are displayed in Fig. 7. Fig. 8 shows a
comparison between the model response and the measured data in
form of pseudo sections. From this Figure we can deduce that the misfit
between model response and measured data is more severe in the
northern part of the profile where we also expect to have stronger
man made noise in the electromagnetic field. An estimate of the inves-
tigation depth gives a reasonable resolution of the resistivity model for
depth down to z = 1000 m. The rims of the basin are solely studied with
RMT soundings and AMT soundings with a shorter frequency range
compared to those measured in the center of the basin. Consequently,
the investigation depths are shallower at the flanks.
Information that is related to deeper structures can be gained from
the 2D forward model of the total magnetic field. Using the above stated
estimates of the magnetic susceptibility, the modeling then allows
separation into 3 units of different magnetization.
5. Results and discussion
The 2D resistivity model of the combined RMT and AMT data and the
2D magnetic model along the profile through the basin are displayed in
the top of Fig. 9.
The model shows the resistivity distribution with depth along the
profile. It reveals low resistivities ranging from 10 Ωm to several
100 Ωm near the surface. The resistivities then increase up to
1000 Ωm and more at greater depth. According to Melidonis (1969),
the peat–lignite deposit can be subdivided into an upper and lower
seam of Pleistocene age. The deepest drilling in the peat–lignite deposit
in the center of the Philippi sub basin (Melidonis, 1969) indicates a total
thickness of these two seams of about 200 m followed by Quaternary
(Pleistocene) deposits consisting of terrestrial, fluvio-terrestrial, and la-
custrine sediments with marls, clays, sands, and organic beds. Therefore,
we address the low resistivities near the surface with the peat–lignite
deposit. High resistivities at greater depth are interpreted as the crystal-
line basement. Due to the limited frequency band of the AMT this data
 M. Gurk et al. / Journal of Applied Geophysics 115 (2015) 40–50 47

Fig. 8. Measured vs. computed apparent resistivities and phase values for both polarizations in the form of a pseudo section. Left column TM mode data; right column TE-mode data.

set cannot give more information about the structural interior of the
crystalline basement. The estimated maximum thickness of the
sedimentary infill is about 500 m, in its entirety.
The magnetic modeling reveals three bodies of different magnetic
susceptibilities. The misfit between measured and calculated data is
plotted on the top of Fig. 9. The basement of the basin is represented
by two bodies, the lower one of which exhibits an assumed magnetic
susceptibility of 0.031 S.I.is referred in Fig. 9 as the magnetic basement,
while for the upper one a magnetic susceptibility of 0.000 S.I. is as-
sumed. The near-surface body corresponds to the sedimentary filling
of the basin with a magnetic susceptibility of 0.011 S.I.. On the basis of
the magnetic data, the maximum depth to the basement is also about
500 m for the sedimentary filling. In the northern part of the profile,
the magnetic data is affected by a granitic intrusion. The top of the as-
sumed Philippi granitoid pluton is at a depth approximately 500 m.
The results from the magnetic modeling support those obtained by
the 2D inversion of the RMT and AMT data. Both methods show near-
surface sediments with a maximum thickness in the northern part of
the basin as well as sediment thickness reduction to the SSW, whereas
at the NNE, the boundary between basin fill and bedrock ascends
48 M. Gurk et al. / Journal of Applied Geophysics 115 (2015) 40–50

Fig. 9. 2D inversion model of RMT&AMT (tau = 3, RMS = 1.9%) data along the transect A–A′ through the basin. The site distant of the 230 RMT sites is 20 m along the profile. The black
dashed line in the resistivity model section refers to the estimated investigation depth (DOI) of the AMT method. The white lines are interfaces of the magnetic model. Values of the
magnetic susceptibility are given in S.I. units. The magnetic anomaly data and the 2D model response is shown at the top of this figure. On the bottom is a geological model as derived
from the joint interpretation of the geophysical data.
 M. Gurk et al. / Journal of Applied Geophysics 115 (2015) 40–50
steeply. Thus, the top of the basement in the Philippi sub-basin can be
assumed at a maximum depth of about 500 m.
The bottom of Fig. 9 shows our generalized structural model as
derived from the joint interpretation of our geophysical data and the re-
gional tectonic setting of the area. The overall assessment of the deeper
structure of this basin can be described as a detachment system that is in
good accordance with the findings of Dinter and Royden (1993). On the
basis of these results the best location for a paleoclimate drill site would
be below AMT site 03
6. Conclusion
The basement structure of the Philippi sub-basin was studied with a
combined resistivity-magnetic model. The near surface, especially the
flanks of the basin were investigated with high density scalar RMT
soundings, whereas the deeper structure of the basin is studied by
AMT soundings and magnetic data. Additional TEM data were used to
correct for static shift effects and to fill up the gap in the sounding curves
between the RMT and AMT frequency band. This study was able to reveal
the top of the basement structure in a depth of about 500 m.
Our survey design benefits from scalar RMT data at the rims of the
basin. Its frequency range is well adopted for detecting the near surface
resistivity distribution of the basement. The method is fast (ca. 5 min for
a site) and can even be applied in areas where AMT soundings are diffi-
cult to deploy. In the center of the basin, RMT data serve in combination
with TEM soundings to correct for static shift effects and help to con-
strain the resistivity model. Combining the EM data in the center of
the basin is justified since the resistivity distribution at near surface is
predominantly 1D. This assumption might not be valid for other surveys
and a real joint inversion of time domain and frequency domain data
will be more appropriate.
Acknowledgments
The study was supported by the Marie Curie Reintegration Grant
IGSEA — Integrated Nonseismic Geophysical Studies to Assess the Site
Effect of the EUROSEISTEST Area in Northern Greece — PERG03-GA-
2008-230915 {REF RTD REG/T.2 (2008)D/596232}, the Deutsche
Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG Program: SFB 806) and the Institute of
Engineering Seismology and Earthquake Engineering (ITSAK) in
Thessaloniki. We especially thank the geotechnician of Core Laborato-
ries LP Yosef Winard for proofreading this manuscript.
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