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Magnetotellurics: Applications to Geothermal Exploration

Smith, Roger D.; Halpin, David

Key words
Exploration; Geophysics; USA; New Mexico; Nevada; Socorro Peak; Railroad Valley; M T Sounding; Intrusions; Magma; Crustal Upwarp; COCORP; 2 D Model; Regional Survey; Heat Sources; Great Basin; Complex Structure; Faults; Geotronics Corp
Location
Socorro, New Mexico; Railroad Valley, Nevada
Conference
Geothermal Resources Council Transactions
Year
1979
Session
Exploration; Geophysical surveys; Magnetotelluric surveys
Language
English

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Abstract

The magnetotelluric method has become widely accepted as a geophysical tool for geothermal exploration. This application is based on the tool's ability to detect electrically conductive zones in the geothermal prospects. This paper will discuss some of the implications derived from magnetotelluric data acquired in the Socorro Peak KGRA, New Mexico, and in the Railroad Valley, Nevada. The magnetotelluric data in Socorro show the response to a shallow (5 km) magma body. The data from Railroad Valley, indicate a classical basin and range, two dimensional boundary response and strong indications of potential geothermal anomalies, even in the presence of the highly two dimesional complex structure.

Copyright 1979, Geothermal Resources Council. Readers who download papers from this site should honour the copyright of the original authors, and may not copy or distribute the work further without the permission of the original publisher.

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