Case studies of magnetotelluric method applied to mapping active faults

Mekkawi, M. and Saleh, A. (2007) Case studies of magnetotelluric method applied to mapping active faults. Acta Geodaetica et Geophysica Hungarica, 42 (4). pp. 383-397. ISSN 1217-8977

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Abstract

Magnetotelluric method (MT) offers opportunity to detect crustal fluids along faults due to their high conductivity anomaly. Supposing that fluids deposited minerals in the conductive fractures (faults, dykes) decreasing the resistivity, the high seismicity in the area can be explained by the presence of these fluids. MT measurements were carried out in the period range 0.001–420 s crossing the Kalabsha fault (Aswan, Egypt) and Remiremont fault (Southern Vosges, France). In these work we detect geoelectrical resistivity anomalies of the Earth’s crust and link them to local seismic activity. Seismic events having magnitude (M<5) are found along fault zones in Kalabsha and Remiremont. The goals of our measurements are various. We would like to determine the precise location of the active faults, to study the connection of the Remiremont and Kalabsha seismicity to the MT resistivity structures, and to support the idea of the influence of the fluid-bearing conducting faults in the Remiremont and Kalabsha areas to the earthquake. These applications afford the unusual opportunity to study the percolation of water into the faults system and its effect on the seismicity, to reveal geological structures and the stress field covered by thin Quaternary formations. Data are analysed by 2D simultaneous inversion of both polarizations. The resulting models are compared with the local seismicity map. Our MT model reveals the conductive signature of the fault, as well as geological and tectonic stresses prevailing in active regions.

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