We are excited to invite you to the 8th seminar of the 2025 Geology and Geophysics Seminar Series, featuring Sinan Özaydın, a post-doctoral research fellow in School of Geosciences, University of Sydney. Sinan will be presenting on “Using thermomechanical modelling to decode anomalies from magnetotelluric models: an example from a pull-apart basin.” presenting a new approach that transforms thermomechanical models into synthetic geophysical observables using the pide toolkit, sharing fresh insights and innovative methods in geoscience.
Date: May 7, 2025
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. AEST
Location: Room 335 (Conference Room), Madsen Building (F09), School of Geosciences
or Online (Join via zoom)
We look forward to seeing you there in person or joining us online!
https://uni-sydney.zoom.us/j/84796471781?from=addon
Using thermomechanical modelling to decode anomalies from magnetotelluric models: an example from a pull-apart basin.
Abstract
Interpreting electrical conductivity anomalies in magnetotelluric (MT) models is often difficult. Researchers face challenges due to the inherent non-uniqueness of magnetotelluric (MT) modeling and the open-ended nature of interpretations caused by limited knowledge of Earth’s subsurface. One method to interpret conductivity anomalies involves using experimental measurements of electrical conductivity in minerals or rocks to estimate composition. However, this approach can overlook the complex geometries present in real geological environments and how these complexities are represented in MT models. To bridge this methodological gap, we developed a new toolkit called ‘pide’ that can transform thermomechanical models into geophysical observables, including electrical conductivity.
In this study, by applying our approach to a pull-apart basin, we demonstrate that networks of high-strain zones—which primarily control fluid movement through the lithosphere—have a dominant influence on the distribution of conductivity. Our research reveals that an exponential relationship between conductivity and strain produces a synthetic magnetotelluric model that remarkably resembles actual MT survey results from the Marmara pull-apart basin. The connection between mechanically weak, high-strain areas and highly conductive anomalies receives additional validation from an observed correlation between reduced seismic activity and elevated conductivity along the North Anatolian Fault, emphasizing magnetotellurics’ potential application as a tool for seismic hazard assessment.
Graphical Abstract
