Exploration of saline water reservoirs using Magnetotelluric Data in North of Iran

We chose three N-S parallel profiles including 20 stations for conducting a magnetotelluric (MT) survey in June 2015. The purpose of the study was to diagnosis regional deep saline aquifer in South of Alagol Lake area, North of Iran. MT data were analyzed and modeled using 1D and 2D inversion schemes. We applied a code from Pedersen (2004) for 1D inversion of the determinant data for all sites to resolve a rational starting model for 2D inversion scheme. 2D inversions of the determinant data were performed using the code of Siripunvaraporn and Egbert (2000). The results of MT investigation clarify signatures of saline water reservoirs in the area. The resistivity model obtained from the MT data is consistent with the geological and resistivity logs of a borehole located at the study area. From the geoelectrical point of view, the study area is generally very conductive and the interpretation of the MT soundings resolves extremely conductive zones (less than 1 Ωm) at a depth of about 700 m in the less conductive host. These zones can be considered as saline aquifer.