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At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
USGS1993

Application of borehole geophysics in defining the wellhead protection area for a fractured crystalline bedrock aquifer

Wellbore geophysical techniques were used to characterize fractures and flow in a bedrock aquifer at a site near Blackwater Brook in Dover, New Hampshire. The primary focus ofthis study was the development of a model to assist in evaluating the area surrounding a planned water supply well where contaminants introduced at the land surface might be induced to flow towards a pumping well. Well logs and geophysical surveys used in this study included lithologic logs based on examination of cuttings obtained during drilling; conventional caliper and natural gamma logs; video camera and acoustic televiewer surveys; highresolution vertical flow measurements under ambient conditions and during pumping; and borehole fluid conductivity logs obtained after the borehole fluid was replaced with deionized water. These surveys were used for several applications: 1) to define a conceptual model of aquifer structure to be used in groundwater exploration; 2) to estimate optimum locations for test and observation wells; and 3) to delineate a wellhead protection area (WHPA) for a planned water supply well. Integration of borehole data with surface geophysical and geological mapping data indicated that the study site lies along a northeast-trending intensely fractured contact zone between surface exposures of quartz monzonite and metasedimentary rocks. Four of five bedrock boreholes at the site were estimated to produce more than 150 gallons per minute (gpm) (568 L/min) of water during drilling. Aquifer testing and other investigations indicated that water flowed to the test well along fractures parallel to the northeast-trending contact zone and along other northeast and north-northwest-trending fractures. Statistical plots of fracture strikes showed frequency maxima in the same northeast and north-northwest directions, although additional maxima occurred in other directions. Flowmeter surveys and borehole fluid conductivity logging after fluid replacement were used to identify water-producing zones in the boreholes; fractures associated with inflow into boreholes showed a dominant northeast orientation. Borehole fluid conductivity logging after fluid replacement also gave profiles of such water-quality parameters as fluid electrical conductivity (FEC), pH, temperature, and oxidation-reduction potential, strengthening the interpretation of crossconnection of boreholes by certain fracture zones. The results of this study showed that the application of these borehole geophysical techniques at the Blackwater Brook site led to an improved understanding of such parameters as fracture location, attitude, flow direction and velocity, and water quality; all of which are important in the determination of a WHPA.

Log Analyst↗
USGS2004

Use of borehole radar methods and borehole geophysical logs to monitor a field-scale vegetable oil biostimulation pilot project at Fridley, Minnesota

Cross-hole and surface-to-borehole radar and conventional borehole geophysical logs were used to monitor subsurface injections of vegetable oil emulsion conducted as part of a field-scale biostimulation pilot project at the Anoka County Riverfront Park (ACP), located downgradient of the Naval Industrial Reserve Ordnance Plant (NIROP), in Fridley, Minnesota. The pilot project was undertaken to evaluate biostimulation using emulsified vegetable oil for treatment of ground water contaminated with chlorinated hydrocarbons. The objectives of the geophysical investigations were to delineate the distribution of vegetable oil injected at NIROP, and evaluate the utility of adding geophysical tracers to the vegetable oil emulsions. Geophysical data were acquired by the U.S Geological Survey in five site visits over 1.5 years. This paper presents (1) level-run radar traveltime and amplitude data; (2) radar cross-hole traveltime tomograms; (3) vertical-radar profile diffraction tomograms; and (4) borehole electromagnetic induction logs. Based on comparison of pre- and postinjection data sets, a conceptual model was developed to define the distribution of emulsified vegetable oil and the extent of ground water having altered chemistry resulting from injections and, possibly, enhanced microbial degradation of chlorinated hydrocarbons. Radar slowness (reciprocal velocity) anomalies indicate that the emplaced oil emulsion remained close to the injection wells, whereas attenuation anomalies indicate changes in ground-water chemistry downgradient of all three injections.

Minnesota↗
USGS2004

Combined use of borehole geophysics and packers to site potable wells in a contaminated area in Montville, Connecticut

A leaking underground gasoline tank contaminated a crystalline bedrock aquifer in Montville, Connecticut, USA with MTBE and benzene. At the original residential bedrock supply wells, the median MTBE concentration was 165 micrograms per liter (mg/L), and the median benzene concentration was 320 mg/L. The maximum concentrations of MTBE and benzene were 4,300 mg/l and 1,700 mg/L, respectively. Because of the unavailability of a public water supply and the long-term expense of point-of-use (on-site) treatment systems, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Leaking Underground Storage Tank Program considered drilling replacement wells for water supply, if suitable drill sites could be located. Borehole geophysical methods were used as part of the investigation to find suitable drill sites. The U.S. Geological Survey performed borehole radar logging in three of the most contaminated wells. Other geophysical logs were run in two of the wells to enhance the hydrogeological characterizations. These data, combined with straddle-packer testing provided by a drilling contractor, formed the basis of a conceptual model used in the search for discrete fractures with better water quality than provided by an open-hole sample. At Property A, a single transmissive fracture was identified at the bottom of the well. This well, although having historically lower gasoline concentrations than the other two wells, had persistent high iron bacteria fouling of the filtration system. By 2002, concentrations of MTBE and benzene had decreased to 59 and 3 mg/L, respectively, and the water was treatable except for the iron. Because no water-bearing fractures were encountered above the well bottom, an alternate well site was selected based on a set of vertical fractures observed in a nearby outcrop, rather than on the geophysical data. The new well, sited along the strike of these fractures, yielded 9 gallons per minute (gpm) but was found to be more contaminated than the original well. MTBE and benzene were detected at 224 and 7 mg/L, respectively. At Property B, the isolated fractures associated with four radar reflections contained MTBE in concentrations ranging from 460 to 680 mg/L, with concentration increasing with depth. A new well site was selected based upon topography and physical limitations of the property. A target drilling depth was selected to avoid encountering the most contaminated fracture, as projected from the radar data in the contaminated well. A new well, drilled to the target depth, yielded 2 gpm, which was sufficient for domestic supply. No contaminants were detected during 7 years of annual sampling. Over the next 2 years, MTBE was detected twice at 2 and 8 mg/L. At Property C, the isolated fractures associated with 12 radar reflections and acoustic televiewer images yielded MTBE concentrations ranging from 47 to 1,200 mg/L and benzene concentrations from 6 to 1,000 mg/L, with concentrations generally increasing with depth. A new well site was selected based upon physical limitations of the site. A target drilling depth was chosen to avoid encountering the most contaminated fractures, as projected from the radar data in the contaminated well. A new well, drilled to the target depth, yielded 6 gpm. MTBE was detected at concentrations ranging from trace levels to 12 mg/L for 6 years. Benzene was not detected. These case histories suggest that the combined use of borehole geophysics and discrete-fracture sampling can, in some cases, be used to predict the locations of less contaminated or uncontaminated fractures, at distances of tens of feet from contaminated bedrock wells. This information may be used to improve the chances of successfully siting alternate potable water wells. Likewise, the same data and approach potentially could be used for targeting specific fractures for remediation.

Connecticut↗
USGSDate not supplied

Integrated geophysical characterization of the Winthrop Landfill Southern Flow Path, Winthrop, Maine

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with United Technologies Corporation, used an integrated suite of borehole, surface, and water-borne geophysical methods near the site of the former Winthrop Landfill, Winthrop, Maine, to investigate the hydrogeology controlling the transport of leachate from the landfill to nearby Annabessacook Lake. During the fall of 2000 and summer of 2001, the USGS conducted borehole electromagnetic (EM) induction and gamma logging, and inductive terrain-conductivity, two-dimensional (2D) resistivity, continuous seismic reflection, and magnetic surveys. The objectives of this integrated geophysical study were to provide constraints on the location and extent of the southern flow path(s) of contamination from the landfill to the lake; identify shoreline seep geophysical signatures; identify potentially hidden seeps in the lake; and determine depth to bedrock below Annabessacook Lake in the study area. Interpretation of surface 2D resistivity, magnetic, and inductive terrain-conductivity data and borehole EM logs delineates an electrically conductive anomaly consistent with a leachate plume moving from the current landfill boundary southward through the overburden to the shores of Annabessacook Lake. Surface and borehole geophysical data collected south and southeast of the landfill indicate the presence of discrete, shallow conductive anomalies at the southeastern edge of the landfill and near the lakeshore. The conductive anomalies appear at increasing depths closer to the lake. Magnetic anomalies offshore confirm the presence of iron-rich landfill leachate discharging into the lake south of the landfill. High-resolution swept-frequency seismic data used to map sediment and grain size distribution in the lake sub-bottom along the shoreline identified sediment-infilled bedrock lows that may act as conduits for contaminant migration.

Maine↗
USGS2002

Preliminary geophysical characterization of two oil production sites, Osage County, Oklahoma - Osage Skiatook Petroleum Environmental Research Project

Ground electromagnetic and dc resistivity geophysical surveys were used to interpret the subsurface distribution of salinized soil, water, and bedrock at two sites (A and B) and to characterize the larger scale hydrologic setting. Measurements were made on grids of about 1000 square meters using a very shallow penetrating (less than 10 m) electromagnetic (EM) geophysical system (EM31). At site A, high subsurface conductivities (more than 100 millisiemens per meter) found below disposal ponds extended down the local hydrologic gradient to below the normal level of near by Lake Skiatook. At site B, areas of highest subsurface electrical conductivity were offset about 10 m from the center of salt scars. The area of high subsurface electrical conductivity extends in the subsurface below the normal level of Skiatook Lake. DC resistivity soundings were made in and around the two sites in order to characterize deeper (30-60 m) electrical properties of the subsurface lithology and ground water. These soundings indicate that the tight shale that dominates the local lithology is moderately electrically conductive (5 milliseimems per meter). DC soundings done in several areas at the Skiatook Lake shoreline indicate an electrically conductive (less than 10 millisiemens per meter) zone exists below the shore even away from the oil production sites. This conductive zone may indicate a mixing between fresh lake water and local ground water that has high dissolved solids. Borehole geophysical logs at site B and laboratory rock property measurements are currently being used to refine interpretation of ground geophysical measurements.

Oklahoma↗
USGS2020

Preparing for geophysical science on the surface of the moon enabled by Artemis

Geophysical methods have been extremely successful in identifying resources on Earth as they provide a means of characterizing and mapping the sub-surface using data gathered on and above the target structures. Geophysics on the Moon will be an important tool for identifying key targets for geological prospecting, scientific sampling, assessing hazards and risks to crew and infrastructure, and determining the near subsurface and deeper workings of the lunar interior. Artemis will require 21st century geophysics instruments to advance lunar science and exploration, similar to how Apollo gathered geophysical data that is still leading to scientific discoveries 50 years later.

Report↗
USGS2022

Advancing geophysical techniques to image a stratigraphic hydrothermal resource

Sedimentary-hosted geothermal energy systems are permeable structural, structural-stratigraphic, and/or stratigraphic horizons with sufficient temperature for direct use and/or electricity generation. Sedimentary-hosted (i.e., stratigraphic) geothermal reservoirs may be present in multiple locations across the central and eastern Great Basin of the USA, thereby constituting a potentially large base of untapped, economically accessible energy resources. Sandia National Laboratories has partnered with a multi-disciplinary group of collaborators to evaluate a stratigraphic system in Steptoe Valley, Nevada using both established and novel geophysical imaging techniques. The goal of this study is to inform an optimized strategy for subsequent exploration and development of this and analogous resources. Building from prior Nevada Play Fairway Analysis (PFA), this team is primarily 1) collecting additional geophysical data, 2) employing novel joint geophysical inversion/modeling techniques to update existing 3D geologic models, and 3) integrating the geophysical results to produce a working, geologically constrained thermo-hydrological reservoir model. Prior PFA work highlights Steptoe Valley as a favorable resource basin that likely has both sedimentary and hydrothermal characteristics. However, there remains significant uncertainty on the nature and architecture of the resource(s) at depth, which increases the risk in exploratory drilling. Newly acquired gravity, magnetic, magnetotelluric, and controlled-source electromagnetic data, in conjunction with new and preceding geoscientific measurements and observations, are being integrated and evaluated in this study for efficacy in understanding stratigraphic geothermal resources and mitigating exploration risk. Furthermore, the influence of hydrothermal activity on sedimentary-hosted reservoirs in favorable structural settings (i.e., whether fault-controlled systems may locally enhance temperature and permeability in some deep stratigraphic reservoirs) will also be evaluated. This paper provides details and current updates on the course of this study in-progress.

Geothermal Resources Council Transactions↗
USGS2023

Geophysical logging For hydrogeology

Geophysical logging is the measurement and analysis of electrical, acoustic, nuclear, and other physical properties in a borehole using wireline or direct push technology. Geophysical logging is one of the primary methods of collecting subsurface information for hydrogeologic investigations. Groundwater scientists and engineers should have a basic understanding of borehole geophysics and how it is applied in the characterization of aquifer systems. In this book, the different types of geophysical logs and equipment used in hydrogeologic investigations are reviewed. Applications and analysis methods are illustrated by specific examples in both unconsolidated deposits and bedrock settings. Key references for further exploration of the methods and applications are provided. Hands-on exercises are included for students to develop and practice log-analysis skills.

Book↗
USGS2024

Geophysical identification of potential groundwater – surface water interactions in the Bonita Peak Mining District, San Juan County, Colorado

This report includes the results and interpretation of geophysical investigations to aid in the location, identification, and conceptual site model (CSM) development of the near surface groundwater and surface water hydrology of the Upper Cement Creek and California Gulch of the Animas Rivers within the Bonita Peak Mining Districts (BPMD). Mine influenced water (MIW) from numerous mine adits within the BPMD has altered the geochemistry and ecology of these ground and surface waters. Many studies of varying scales have investigated the geology, hydrogeology, geochemistry, and aqueous chemistry of these adits and impacted areas. Field investigations using non-invasive geophysical methods were conducted in the summer of 2019 to aid in identifying potential groundwater inputs to these streams and further the CSM of the near surface within and along these streams. Two field deployments were completed in August and September of 2019. In August 2019, Phase 1 was completed using multifrequency electromagnetic induction (EMI) and thermal infrared imaging (TIR) to measure the bulk electrical conductivity, magnetic susceptibility, and the temperature response at known and suspected groundwater seeps into the Upper Cement Creek and California Gulch stretches of these alpine streams. Results and interpretation from Phase 1 were used to co-locate stretches of these streams for further detailed fiber optic distributed temperature system (FODTS) monitoring of the temperature dynamics for submeter identification of potential groundwater seeps during Phase 2. Phase 2 included additional EMI measurements, FODTS measurements, and repeated some Phase 1 measurements for improved data quality. All these data were used for the combined qualitative interpretation identifying seep locations. The data from both Phase 1 and Phase 2 are available in the USGS data release at: https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/5f18a30082cef313ed84879b. These data include detailed near-surface electrical conductivity and magnetic susceptibility mapping, discrete TIR imaging, and several kilometers of FODTS data. These data were georeferenced and used to identify potential groundwater seeps into these streams. The results indicate a complex near surface geophysical and hydrogeologic regime. Seeps are classified and spatially correlated to the EMI, TIR, and geochemical sampling results. This report is a thorough compilation of the geophysical field efforts in the summer of 2019, the data processing, and interpretations of these data. These data alone should not be used for final interpretations of the complex hydrogeology within these alpine systems. Rather, these data should be combined with other known data from various investigations to further refine the CSM and guide decisions for future investigations, watershed protective measures, and other site decisions. Geographical information system (GIS) layers of these results are available to project managers for such integration and combined interpretations.

Colorado↗
USGS2024

Preliminary ground and airborne-based geophysical mapping and modelling of an active hydrothermal system at Mammoth Lakes, California

Mammoth Lakes, California hosts a productive hydrothermal system within the seismically active south moat of Long Valley Caldera. Surficial evidence of the shallow hydrothermal system includes discrete zones of tree-kill dispersed between Shady Rest Park and the Casa Diablo Geothermal Power Plant (40 MW), as well as east of the power plant. The tree-kill areas are associated with elevated diffuse CO₂ emissions, heated ground, hydrothermal alteration, diffuse soil H₂S emissions, and gas vents. Previous mapping delineates prominent north and northwest trending structures within the south moat along the southwestern edge of the resurgent dome that may accommodate gas and fluid flow at the Shady Rest Park and Basalt Canyon Tree Kill Areas (SRTKA and BCTKA, respectively). Both tree-kill areas are also located along contacts between resurgent rhyolite, mafic lavas, and surficial deposits which may provide additional pathways for gas and fluid migration in the shallow subsurface. Characterizing structure and lithology using geophysical anomalies is critical to determining primary structural controls on the hydrothermal system and the extent of subsurface alteration at these sites. We conducted ground and airborne-based potential field geophysical surveys to map gravity and magnetic anomalies. These anomalies are then used to model subsurface geology, structure, and hydrothermal alteration. Here we present our preliminary geophysical mapping and modelling results at both tree-kill locations. Gravity and magnetic data suggest complex structural intersections are coincident with heated ground and gas emissions at the SRTKA and BCTKA. Hydrothermal systems are often observed or interpreted to exploit fault intersections which can serve as highly permeable pathways for hydrothermal fluid and gas discharge, enabling economic geothermal energy production. Geophysical mapping and modelling are an effective means of investigating such structural complexity at Mammoth Lakes due to the presence of unidentified and concealed structures.

California↗
USGS2024

Geophysical modeling of a possible blind geothermal system near Battle Mountain, NV

The northeastern portion of the Reese River basin in north-central Nevada is the focus of detailed geophysical and geological studies as part of the INGENIOUS project, which aims to identify new, commercially viable hidden geothermal systems in the Great Basin region of the western U.S. This location, herein referred to as Argenta Rise, occupies a broad (~15km wide) left-step between major range-front fault systems along the northwestern edge of the Shoshone Range and Argenta Rim, with numerous ENE-striking intra-basin faults presumably accommodating sinistral-normal oblique slip across the step-over. Four discrete regions have been identified within the study area that have favorable structural settings for hosting a blind hydrothermal system. However, with no definitive or extensive surface manifestations of an active hydrothermal system (e.g., geysers, steam vents, sinter, etc.), detailed geophysical studies are necessary to resolve subsurface geology and structure, and identify zones of enhanced structural complexity that may promote hydrothermal fluid flow. Hence, we collected high-resolution gravity, MT, and rock property data (density, magnetic susceptibility), and analyzed the recently acquired GeoDAWN aeromagnetic data to characterize potential geothermal resources in this region. Using the new geophysical datasets, we jointly modeled gravity and magnetic data along a series of intersecting 2D profiles that integrated information from recent, local-scale fault mapping. Rock property measurements performed on outcrops and hand samples throughout the study area constrained the models. The MT data were used to construct a 3D resistivity model that highlights the location of inferred alteration and fluids in the subsurface. Combined MT and potential field results reveal which structures may be most important for controlling hydrothermal fluid migration, as well as which geologic units may host hydrothermal fluids. Our gravity derived depth to basement surface coincides well with the base of shallow conductive anomalies, suggesting hydrothermal fluids may be confined to basin fill sediments and volcanics. This work supports our development of 3D geophysical and geologic models that are focused along the western flank of the northern Shoshone Range and aids the process of selecting sites for temperature gradient drilling.

Nevada↗
USGS2012

Geophysical investigations of geology and structure at the Martis Creek Dam, Truckee, California

A recent evaluation of Martis Creek Dam highlighted the potential for dam failure due to either seepage or an earthquake on nearby faults. In 1972, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed this earthen dam, located within the Truckee Basin to the north of Lake Tahoe, CA for water storage and flood control. Past attempts to raise the level of the Martis Creek Reservoir to its design level have been aborted due to seepage at locations downstream, along the west dam abutment, and at the base of the spillway. In response to these concerns, the U.S. Geological Survey has undertaken a comprehensive suite of geophysical investigations aimed at understanding the interplay between geologic structure, seepage patterns, and reservoir and groundwater levels. This paper concerns the geologic structure surrounding Martis Creek Dam and emphasizes the importance of a regional-scale understanding to the interpretation of engineering-scale geophysical data. Our studies reveal a thick package of sedimentary deposits interbedded with Plio-Pleistocene volcanic flows; both the deposits and the flows are covered by glacial outwash. Magnetic field data, seismic tomography models, and seismic reflections are used to determine the distribution and chronology of the volcanic flows. Previous estimates of depth to basement (or the thickness of the interbedded deposits) was 100 m. Magnetotelluric soundings suggest that electrically resistive bedrock may be up to 2500 m deep. Both the Polaris Fault, identified outside of the study area using airborne LiDAR, and the previously unnamed Martis Creek Fault, have been mapped through the dam area using ground and airborne geophysics. Finally, as determined by direct-current resistivity imaging, time-domain electromagnetic sounding, and seismic refraction, the paleotopography of the interface between the sedimentary deposits and the overlying glacial outwash plays a principal role both in controlling groundwater flow and in the distribution of the observed seepage.

California↗
USGS2021

Airborne geophysical imaging of weak zones on Iliamna Volcano, Alaska: Implications for slope stability

Water‐saturated, hydrothermally altered rocks reduce the strength of volcanic edifices and increase the potential for sector collapses and far‐traveled mass flows of unconsolidated debris. Iliamna Volcano is an andesitic stratovolcano located on the western side of the Cook Inlet, ∼225 km southwest of Anchorage and is a source of repeated avalanches. The widespread snow and ice cover on Iliamna Volcano make surface alteration difficult to identify. However, intense hydrothermal alteration significantly reduces both the electrical resistivity and magnetization of volcanic rock and can therefore be identified with airborne geophysical measurements. We use airborne electromagnetic and magnetic data to map snow and ice thickness and identify underlying alteration zones at Iliamna Volcano, Alaska. Resistivities were calculated to an average depth of >300 m, and a 3‐D susceptibility model extends from the surface to the base of the volcano, about 3,000 m below the summit. Geophysical models image low resistivity (<30 ohm‐m) and low susceptibilities near the summit of Iliamna and below its older vent complex, with the low susceptibilities indicating alteration up to ∼800 m in thickness. Thin conductors (∼50–100 m thick) on the edifice slopes coincide with recorded locations of repeated debris avalanches over the past ∼60 years and are attributed to saturated zones at high elevation. Three‐dimensional slope stability models based upon the geophysically constrained alteration distribution suggest the edifice of Iliamna is unstable and could lead to collapse scars ∼400 m deep near the current and former vent complexes.

Alaska↗
USGS2023

60 years and beyond of Reviews of Geophysics

Reviews of Geophysics is an AGU journal, first established in February 1963. It is a hybrid open access invitation-only journal that publishes comprehensive review articles across various disciplines within the Earth and Space Sciences. The selection criteria are rigorous and many submissions are declined without review. The journal is the highest ranked in the fields of Geochemistry and Geophysics, with a high Journal Impact Factor (JIF 2021 = 24.9), which is indicative of its high visibility and influence within the scientific community. The journal's published review papers, beyond a mere summary of literature, provide crucial context for current work, and establish the framework for comprehensive understanding of research progress, challenges, and interconnections between different communities, so that research may be appreciated by a broad audience. We emphasize the importance of publishing studies that provide a comprehensive overview and synthesis of the current state of knowledge in a field, especially in the case of geophysics, where knowledge is rapidly developing, increasing and becoming more specialized.

Reviews of Geophysics↗
USGS2012

A review of the regional geophysics of the Arizona Transition Zone

A review of existing geophysical information and new data presented in this special section indicate that major changes in crustal properties between the Basin and Range and Colorado Plateau occur in, or directly adjacent to, the region defined as the Arizona Transition Zone. Although this region was designated on a physiographic basis, studies indicate that it is also the geophysical transition between adjoining provinces. The Transition Zone displays anomalous crustal and upper mantle seismic properties, shallow Curie isotherms, high heat flow, and steep down-to-the-plateau Bouguer gravity gradients. Seismic and gravity studies suggest that the change in crustal thickness, from thin crust in the Basin and Range to thick crust in the Colorado Plateau, may occur as a series of steps rather than a planar surface. Anomalous P wave velocities, high heat flow, shallow Curie isotherms, and results of gravity modeling suggest that the upper mantle is heterogeneous in this region. A relatively shallow asthenosphere beneath the Basin and Range and Transition Zone contrasted with a thick lithosphere beneath the Colorado Plateau would be one explanation that would satisfy these geophysical observations.

Journal of Geophysical Research↗
USGS2012

Time series geophysical monitoring of permanganate injections and in situ chemical oxidation of PCE, OU1 area, Savage Superfund Site, Milford, NH, USA

In situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) treatment with sodium permanganate, an electrically conductive oxidant, provides a strong electrical signal for tracking of injectate transport using time series geophysical surveys including direct current (DC) resistivity and electromagnetic (EM) methods. Effective remediation is dependent upon placing the oxidant in close contact with the contaminated aquifer. Therefore, monitoring tools that provide enhanced tracking capability of the injectate offer considerable benefit to guide subsequent ISCO injections. Time-series geophysical surveys were performed at a superfund site in New Hampshire, USA over a one-year period to identify temporal changes in the bulk electrical conductivity of a tetrachloroethylene (PCE; also called tetrachloroethene) contaminated, glacially deposited aquifer due to the injection of sodium permanganate. The ISCO treatment involved a series of pulse injections of sodium permanganate from multiple injection wells within a contained area of the aquifer. After the initial injection, the permanganate was allowed to disperse under ambient groundwater velocities. Time series geophysical surveys identified the downward sinking and pooling of the sodium permanganate atop of the underlying till or bedrock surface caused by density-driven flow, and the limited horizontal spread of the sodium permanganate in the shallow parts of the aquifer during this injection period. When coupled with conventional monitoring, the surveys allowed for an assessment of ISCO treatment effectiveness in targeting the PCE plume and helped target areas for subsequent treatment.

New Hampshire↗
USGS2026

Computational electromagnetic geophysics for groundwater system studies: A review on established practices and recent advances

Identifying effective solutions for locating groundwater resources and ensuring the quality of drinking water is increasingly urgent, given the challenges posed by climate change and population growth. This review investigates electromagnetic geophysical imaging techniques, in both time- and frequency-domain, that can provide valuable insights for groundwater assessment. We explore computational electromagnetic methods used to evaluate electromagnetic data and several recent hydrogeophysical case studies. As open-source frameworks for modeling electromagnetic geophysical problems become available, a broader range of researchers can interpret their data with computationally advanced software. We provide an overview of documented open-source codes for evaluating electromagnetic data and analyze various hydrological targets in relation to their electromagnetic surveying technique and the computational method applied. Furthermore, we evaluate the potential of advanced computational techniques, including three-dimensional modeling, non-deterministic inversion and machine learning, to couple geophysical with numerical groundwater modeling and apply it in groundwater system studies. Despite obstacles such as complexity and resource demands, our findings indicate that the quantification and integration of predictive uncertainties from both electromagnetic and hydrological data and simulations would significantly improve the reliability of hydrogeophysical models. This can lead to a deeper understanding of groundwater systems and improved management practices.

Journal of Hydrology↗
USGS2007

Ore controls in the Charters Towers goldfield, NE Australia: Constraints from geological, geophysical and numerical analyses

The approach taken in this paper, namely synthesising a wealth of previous information with new data and a genetic model, in combination with integrated numerical analyses, led to new insights into the geological controls on the localisation of auriferous veins and residual prospectivity of the Charters Towers goldfield, NE Australia. The method also has implications for the assessment of other "mature" goldfields worldwide. Despite a number of different ore controls having operated within the Charters Towers goldfield, the controlling factors can be linked to a single genetic model for orogenic, granitoid-hosted lode-gold mineralisation in a brittle deformation regime (D4) of NE-SW to NNE-SSW shortening, under conditions of supralithostatic fluid pressure and low stress difference. Spatial autocorrelation results suggest district-scale alignment of the auriferous veins parallel to and overlapping with the ESE-WNW- to E-W-striking Charters Towers-Ravenswood lineament, a major crustal boundary in the basement to the Ravenswood batholith. At the camp-scale, auriferous veins have abundance and proximity relationships with NW-SE-, NNW-SSE-, NE-SW- and ENE-WSW-oriented lineaments, suggesting that structures that controlled gold deposition in one camp did not necessarily control mineralisation in other camps. Fractal dimensions obtained with the box-counting method range from 1.02 to 1.10, whereas veins in the Charters Towers City camp are characterised by a significantly higher fractal dimension of 1.28. This discrepancy may be taken to imply that most or all outcropping and near-surface deposits within the Charters Towers City camp have been found and that new discoveries are more likely to occur at greater levels of depth, or outside the boundaries of this camp. The new understanding has implications for the assessment of the residual prospectivity of the Charters Towers goldfield, where large areas of prospective rock types and structures (e.g., approximately 40% of the Charters Towers-Ravenswood lineament) are hidden under cover. This parameter space was inaccessible to the historic prospectors and has received relatively little attention from recent explorers. The following steps are suggested for the development of a targeting strategy for lode-gold exploration in areas of the goldfield under cover: (1) identify from geological and geophysical data the ENE-WSW (?? 15??) and NNW-SSE (?? 15??) striking structures and geological boundaries within a 20-km-wide corridor parallel to and centred upon the Charters Towers-Ravenswood lineament, the potential control on gold deposit distribution at the regional- to district-scale, (2) interpret from geological and geophysical data the distribution of pre-Middle Devonian granitoids within these areas that are the preferred host rocks of the payable gold deposits, (3) deduce from geophysical data the ENE-WSW (?? 15??) and NNW-SSE (?? 15??) striking structures that cut or bound the intrusions identified in step 2, (4) locate segments along the structures identified in step 3 that deviate most from the geometry of a straight line (e.g., potential bends or splays) and/or intersect other structures or geological contacts, or both, and (5) define and rank potential targets within the prospective areas identified in step 4 and systematically test the best ones. ?? 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ore Geology Reviews↗