Application of multiscale magnetotelluric data to mineral exploration: an example from the east Tennant region, Northern Australia

The footprint of a mineral system is potentially detectable at a range of scales and lithospheric depths, reflecting the size and distribution of its components. Magnetotellurics is one of a few techniques that can provide multiscale data sets to image and understand mineral systems. We have used long-period data from the Australian Lithospheric Architecture Magnetotelluric Project (AusLAMP) as a first-order reconnaissance survey to resolve large-scale lithospheric architecture for mapping areas of mineral potential in northern Australia. The 3-D resistivity model reveals a broad conductivity anomaly extending from the Tennant Creek district to the Murphy Province in the lower crust and upper mantle, representing a potential fertile source region for mineral systems. Results from a higher-resolution infill magnetotelluric survey reveal two prominent conductors in an otherwise resistive host whose combined responses result in the lithospheric-scale conductivity anomaly mapped in the AusLAMP model. Integration of the conductivity structure with deep seismic reflection data reveals a favourable crustal architecture linking the lower, fertile source regions with potential depositional sites in the upper crust. The enhanced conductivity likely resulted from the remnant (metallic) material deposited when fluids were present during the ‘ancient’ tectonic events. This observation strongly suggests that the deep-penetrating major faults potentially acted as pathways for transporting metalliferous fluids to the upper crust where they could form mineral deposits. This result and its integration with other geophysical and geochronological data sets suggest high prospectivity for major mineral deposits in the vicinity of these major faults, that is, Gulunguru Fault and Lamb Fault. In addition to these insights, interpretation of high-frequency magnetotelluric data acquired during the infill survey helps to characterize cover and assist with selecting targets for stratigraphic drilling which, in turn, can validate the models and improve our understanding of basement geology, cover sequences and mineral potential. This study demonstrates that integration of geophysical data from multiscale surveys is an effective approach to scale reduction during mineral exploration in covered terranes with limited geological knowledge.