Magnetotelluric Data, Mid Valley, Nevada Test 

Site, Nevada 

By Jackie M. Williams, Erin L. Wallin, Brian D. Rodriguez, Charles R. Lindsay, and 

Jay A. Sampson 

Open-File Report 2007–1123 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior 

DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary 

U.S. Geological Survey

Mark D. Myers, Director 

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia 2007 

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Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security

Administration Nevada Site Office, Office of Environmental Management under Interagency

Agreement DE-AI52-07NV28100. 

Suggested citation: 

Williams, J.M., Wallin, E.L., Rodriguez, B.D., Lindsey, C.R., and Sampson, J.A., 2007, 

Magnetotelluric Data, Mid Valley, Nevada Test Site, Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File 

Report 2007-1123, 137 p. 

Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply

endorsement by the U.S. Government. 

Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual 

copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted material contained within this report. 

2
Contents

Introduction .................................................................................................................................4

Electrical Rock Properties .............................................................................................................4

Magnetotelluric Method.................................................................................................................6

Magnetotelluric Survey..................................................................................................................6

Magnetotelluric Data .....................................................................................................................7

References....................................................................................................................................9

Figure 

1. Index image showing magnetotelluric stations in the Mid Valley Area ..................................... 5

Table

1. Magnetotelluric Station Locations .............................................................................................7

Appendix 

Magnetotelluric Data Plots ..........................................................................................................11

3
Introduction 

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Nuclear Security Administration 

(NNSA) at their Nevada Site Office (NSO) are addressing ground-water contamination resulting from

historical underground nuclear testing through the Environmental Management (EM) program and, in 

particular, the Underground Test Area (UGTA) project. 

One issue of concern is the nature of the somewhat poorly constrained pre-Tertiary geology and its 

effects on ground-water flow. Ground-water modelers would like to know more about the 

hydrostratigraphy and geologic structure to support a hydrostratigraphic framework model that is under 

development for the Rainier Mesa/Shoshone Mountain Corrective Action Unit (CAU) (Bechtel Nevada, 

2006). 

During 2003, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the DOE and NNSA-NSO, 

collected and processed data at the Nevada Test Site in and near Yucca Flat (YF) to help define the 

character, thickness, and lateral extent of the pre-tertiary confining units. We collected 51 magnetotelluric 

(MT) and audio-magnetotelluric (AMT), stations for that research (Williams and others, 2005a, 2005b, 

2005c, 2005d, 2005e, 2005f). In early 2005 we extended that research with 26 additional MT data stations 

(Williams and others, 2006), located on and near Rainier Mesa and Shoshone Mountain (RM-SM). The 

new stations extended the area of the hydrogeologic study previously conducted in Yucca Flat. This work 

was done to help refine what is known about the character, thickness, and lateral extent of pre-Tertiary 

confining units. In particular, a major goal was to define the upper clastic confining unit (UCCU). The 

UCCU is comprised of late Devonian to Mississippian siliciclastic rocks assigned to the Eleana Formation 

and Chainman Shale. The UCCU underlies the Yucca Flat area and extends westward towards Shoshone 

Mountain, southward to Buckboard Mesa, and northward to Rainier Mesa. Late in 2005 we collected 

another 14 MT stations in Mid Valley and in northern Yucca Flat basin. That work was done to better 

determine the extent and thickness of the UCCU near the southeastern RM-SM CAU boundary with the 

southwestern YF CAU, and also in the northern YF CAU. The purpose of this report is to release the MT 

data at those 14 stations shown in figure 1. No interpretation of the data is included here. 

Electrical Rock Properties 

Electromagnetic geophysical methods detect variations in the electrical properties of rocks-in 

particular, electrical resistivity, or its inverse, electrical conductivity. Electrical resistivity can be 

correlated with geologic units on the surface and at depth using lithologic logs to provide a 

three-dimensional (3-D) picture of subsurface geology. In the upper crust the resistivity of geologic units 

is largely dependent upon their fluid content, pore-volume porosity, interconnected fracture porosity, and 

conductive mineral content (Keller, 1989). Although there is not a one-to-one relationship between 

lithology and resistivity, there are general correlations that can be made using typical resistivity values, 

even though values vary from one location to another (Palacky, 1987). Fluids within the pore spaces and 

fracture openings, especially if saline, can reduce resistivities in what would otherwise be a resistive rock 

matrix. Resistivities can also be lowered by the presence of electrically conductive clay minerals, 

graphitic carbon, and metallic mineralization. It is common, for example, for altered volcanic rocks to 

contain replacement minerals that have resistivities ten times lower than those of the surrounding rocks 

(Nelson and Anderson, 1992). Fine-grained sediments, such as clay-rich alluvium, marine shales, and 

other mudstones, are normally conductive from a few ohm-meters (ohm-m) to a few tens of ohm-m

(Keller, 1987; Palacky, 1987). Metamorphic rocks (non-graphitic) and unaltered, unfractured igneous 

rocks are normally moderately to highly resistive (a few hundreds to thousands of ohm-m). Carbonate 

rocks can have similarly high resistivities depending on their fluid content, porosity, and impurities 

4
(Keller, 1987; Palacky, 1987). Fault zones may be moderately conductive (tens of ohm-m) when 

comprised of rocks fractured enough to have hosted fluid transport and consequent mineralogical 

alteration (Eberhart-Phillips and others, 1995). Higher subsurface temperatures cause higher ionic 

mobility that reduces rock resistivities (Keller, 1987; Palacky, 1987). Tables of electrical resistivities for a 

variety of rocks, minerals, and geological environments may be found in Keller (1987) and Palacky 

(1987). 

 

 Figure 1. Index image showing magnetotelluric stations in the Mid Valley Area. 

5
Magnetotelluric Method 

The MT method is a passive-surface electromagnetic geophysical technique that measures 

variations in the Earth's natural electromagnetic fields to investigate the electrical resistivity structure of 

the subsurface from depths of tens of meters to tens of kilometers (Vozoff, 1991). Worldwide lightning 

activity at frequencies of 10,000 to 1 Hertz (Hz) and geomagnetic micro-pulsations at frequencies of 1 to 

0.001 Hz provide the majority of natural signal used by the MT method. The natural electromagnetic 

wave propagates vertically into the Earth due to the large resistivity contrast between the air and the Earth, 

causing a vertical refraction of the electromagnetic wave transmitted into the Earth (Vozoff, 1972). 

The natural fields are recorded in the xyz direction for the magnetic field and the xy direction for 

the electric field at the Earth’s surface. The resulting time-series signals are used to derive tensor 

apparent-resistivities and phases by first converting them to complex cross-spectra using 

Fourier-transform techniques. Least squares, cross-spectral analysis (Bendat and Piersol, 1971) are used to 

solve for a tensor transfer function. Prior to conversion to apparent resistivity and phase, the tensor is 

normally rotated into principal directions that usually correspond to the direction of maximum and 

minimum apparent resistivity. For a two-dimensional (2-D) Earth, in which Earth’s resistivity structure 

varies with depth and in one lateral direction, the MT fields can be decoupled into transverse-electric (TE) 

and transverse-magnetic (TM) modes; 2-D resistivity modeling is generally computed to fit both modes. 

When the geology satisfies the 2-D assumption, the MT data for the TE mode represents electric fields 

that are oriented parallel to geologic strike, and the data for the TM mode represents electric fields 

oriented perpendicular to strike. The MT method is well suited for studying complicated geological 

environments because the electric and magnetic fields are sensitive to vertical and horizontal variations in 

resistivity. The method is capable of establishing whether the electromagnetic fields are responding to 

subsurface rock bodies of effectively 1, 2, or 3 dimensions. An introduction to the MT method and 

references for a more advanced understanding are contained in Dobrin and Savit (1988) and Vozoff 

(1991).

Magnetotelluric Survey 

In October of 2005 we collected 14 MT stations around Rainier Mesa and Shoshone Mountain and 

in northern Yucca Flat (fig. 1). The station locations were chosen to constrain the 

geologic/hydrostratigraphic interpretation, for proximity to roads, and to avoid, where possible, electrical 

noise from power lines and vehicles. The MT data were collected with an Electromagnetic Instruments, 

Inc., (EMI) MT-1 system (EMI, 1996). Horizontal electric fields were measured using three copper/copper 

sulfate porous-pot electrodes placed in an L-shaped array with dipole lengths of 30 meters (m). The 

orthogonal, horizontal magnetic fields in the direction of the electric-field measurement array were sensed 

using EMI’s high-magnetic-permeability, mu-metal-cored induction coils. The MT data were recorded as 

non-remote referenced single stations. 

The following table lists the 14 MT station locations as recorded using a GPS during field 

acquisition. Coordinates are referenced to the 1866 Clarke spheroid and North American 1927 Western 

United States datum. Longitude and latitude format is degrees, minutes, seconds. Universal Transverse 

Mercator (UTM) Zone 11 North and East units are in meters. Station elevation is given in meters. The 

accuracy of the x, y component is ±5 m. The accuracy of the z component is ±10 m. Ex direction is given 

in degrees and is the direction of the measured magnetic (Hx) and electric (Ex) fields. 

6
Table 1. Station Locations 

Station 

Latitude 

(d,m,s) 

Longitude 

(d,m,s) 

Elevation 

(m) 

Northing 

(m) 

Easting 

(m) 

Ex 

dir 

52 36,54'21.2 116,14’50.5 1596 4084493 567053 180

53 36,55'43.0 116,10'59.3 1460 4087063 572750 0

54 36,55'57.4 116,10'14.3 1400 4097522 573860 0

55 36,55'50.9 116,08'40.3 1321 4087336 576187 180

56 36,55'49.7 116,07'17.8 1381 4087314 578229 0

57 36,56'29.0 116,05'16.8 1436 4088553 581213 180

58 36,57'12.9 116,10'31.7 1415 4089848 573490 0

59 36,52'56.8 116,09'59.3 1416 4081955 574354 0

60 36,52'08.6 116,05'37.0 1186 4082376 580776 180

61 36,54'30.8 116,03'43.7 1221 4084935 583550 0

62 37,11'32.4 116,05'55.0 1458 4116384 580001 0

63 37,11'09.1 116,04'50.0 1394 4115683 581613 0

64 37,10'12.6 116,03'42.9 1317 4113957 583282 0

65 37,09'21.4 116,02'53.7 1291 4112395 584511 0

 ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄

Magnetotelluric Data

The recorded time-series data were transformed to the frequency domain and processed to 

determine the impedance tensor, which is used to derive apparent resistivities and phases at each site. 

Rotation of the impedance tensor allows for decoupling into the TE and TM modes. The data provided 

here have not been rotated from the original north-south, east-west acquisition orientation. During the 

analysis and interpretation process, each station will be rotated to a fixed angle determined by the given 

nominal profile orientation. Cross-power files were sorted to select optimal signal-to-noise time-series 

data sets (see Appendix 1). 

The effects of near-surface resistivity anomalies can cause what are known as “static shifts” in the 

data (Sternberg and others, 1988). Cultural features also can affect the measured magnetotelluric 

responses. These features include fences, pipelines, communication lines, railways, and other manmade 

conductors. 

7
The figures in appendix 1 represent the field-processed MT data for each station, after the timeseries data were converted to the frequency domain and the tensor-transfer function was developed. 

For each station, nine separate plots are given: 

Apparent Resistivity (x and o symbols are xy and yx components) 

Impedance Phase (x and o symbols are xy and yx components) 

Rotation Angle 

Impedance Skew 

Multiple Coherency (x and o symbols are xy and yx components) 

Impedance Polar Plots 

Tipper Magnitude 

Tipper Strike 

HzHx (x symbol) and HzHy (o symbol) Coherency 

Error bars (],[) on the Apparent Resistivity, Impedance Phase, Skew, Tipper Magnitude, and 

Tipper Strike plots represent probable errors within one standard deviation of the sample variance 

(Gamble and others, 1979). 

Apparent resistivity is the approximate ratio of the electric-field strength to the magnetic-field 

strength at a given frequency. The impedance phase is proportional to the slope of the apparent resistivity 

curve on a log-log plot, but from baselines at ±45 degrees (Vozoff, 1991). A measure of the 

dimensionality for MT data is provided by the impedance skew of the impedance tensor (Vozoff, 1972). 

If the effective measured resistivity response to the geology beneath a MT station truly is one or two 

dimensional, then the skew will be zero. Instrumental and environmental sources of electrical noise can 

cause non–zero skew values. Skew values typically are small (about 0.1) for relatively low-noise 

recordings. Higher skews (above 0.2) are an indication of either the resistivity response to 3-D geology or 

higher levels of noise. Manmade electrical noise, such as power lines, power generators, and moving 

vehicles and trains, can have a negative effect on MT data quality. All of these local disturbances can 

produce incoherent noise that mainly affects frequencies above 1 Hz. Other manmade electrical noise, 

such as direct-current electric trains and active cathodic protection of pipelines, produces coherent 

electromagnetic signals that mainly affect frequencies below 1 Hz. 

In the survey area, noise from a number of small power lines and small moving vehicles was 

negligible at distances greater than 0.4 km from the noise source. Power-line signal levels were measured 

at each site and typically were less than 20 percent of the maximum recordable signals. Noise from larger 

power lines, power generators, pipelines, and trains was negligible at distances greater than 5 km. Local 

lightning, wind, and rainstorms may also degrade data quality. Burying the magnetic induction coils and 

the electric dipole wires minimized wind noise. 

Predicted values of the electric field can be computed from the measured values of the magnetic 

field (Vozoff, 1991). The coherence of the predicted electric field with the measured electric field is a 

measure of the signal-to-noise ratio provided in the multiple coherency plots. Values are normalized 

between 0 and 1; values at 0.5 signify signal levels equal to noise levels. For this data set, coherencies 

generally were at an acceptable level, except at times in the frequency ranges of about 0.1 to 5 Hz 

(traditionally referred to as the “dead band”). 

The field-processed MT data include some scatter and poor signal-to-noise ratios. Spectral results 

were inspected visually for noisy data, and the best signal-to-noise field data were combined into the final 

plots. 

The magnetotelluric impedance polar plots provide a measure of MT data dimensionality (Reddy 

and others, 1977). For 1-D resistivity structures, the principal impedance polar diagram (dashed line) is a 

circle. For 2-D or 3-D resistivity structures, the principal impedance polar diagram (dashed line) 

8
elongates either parallel or perpendicular to strike direction. Over resistors, the principal impedance polar 

diagram elongates perpendicular to strike direction, and over conductors, it elongates parallel to strike 

direction. For 2-D resistivity structures, the additional impedance polar diagram (solid line) attains the 

shape of a symmetric clover leaf. For 3-D resistivity structures, the additional impedance polar diagram

(solid line) elongates in one direction, and its amplitude is comparable to that of the principal impedance 

polar diagram (dashed line). 

The magnetotelluric “tipper” is calculated from the vertical component of the magnetic field. The 

tipper magnitude is a measure of the “tipping” of the magnetic field out of the horizontal plane (Vozoff, 

1991). It will equal zero for the 1-D case. It typically increases to values between 0.1 to 0.5 and seldom

approaches 1, as it responds primarily to vertical and subvertical structures. The tipper strike is used to 

help resolve the 90-degree ambiguity in the impedance rotation angle. The HzHx and HzHy coherency is 

a measure of the signal-to-noise ratio of the vertical magnetic field with respect to each of the orthogonal, 

horizontal magnetic-field directions. Values are normalized between 0 and 1; values at 0.5 signify signal 

levels equal to noise levels. These three-component magnetic-field coherencies provide a check on the 

signal-to-noise ratio of the measured values in the tipper magnitude and tipper strike plots. 

References 

Bechtel Navada, 2006, A hydrostratigraphic model and alternatives for the groundwater flow and 

contaminant transport model of Corrective Action Unit 97: Yucca Flat-Climax Mine, Lincoln and Nye 

counties, Nevada: Report DOE/NV/11718-1119. 

Bendat, J.S., and Piersol, A.G., 1971, Random data analysis and measurement procedures: New York, 

Wiley Interscience, 407 p. 

Dobrin, M.D., and Savit, C.H., 1988, Introduction to geophysical prospecting (4th ed.): New York: 

McGraw-Hill, 867 p. 

Eberhart-Phillips, Donna, Stanley, W.D., Rodriguez, B.D., and Lutter, W.J., 1995, Surface seismic and 

electrical methods to detect fluids related to faulting: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 100, no. B7, 

p. 12,919–12,936. 

EMI, Inc., 1996, MT-1 magnetotelluric system operation manual, version 3.2: Richmond, Calif., 

ElectroMagnetic Instruments, Inc., 220 p. 

Gamble, T.D., Goubau, W.M., and Clarke, J., 1979, Error analysis for remote reference magnetotellurics: 

Geophysics, v. 44, no. 5, p. 959–968. 

Keller, G.V., 1987, Rock and mineral properties, in Nabighian, M.N., ed., Electromagnetic methods in 

applied geophysics theory: Tulsa, Okla., Society of Exploration Geophysicists, v. 1, p. 13–51. 

Keller, G.V., 1989, Electrical properties, in Carmichael, R.S., ed., Practical handbook of physical 

properties of rocks and minerals: Boca Raton, Fla., CRC Press, p. 359–427. 

Nelson, P.H., and Anderson, L.A., 1992, Physical properties of ash flow tuff from Yucca Mountain, 

Nevada: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 97, no. B5, p. 6,823–6,841. 

9
Palacky, G.J., 1987, Resistivity characteristics of geologic targets, in Nabighian, M.N., ed., 

Electromagnetic methods in applied geophysics theory: Tulsa, Okla., Society of Exploration 

Geophysicists, v. 1, p. 53–129. 

Reddy, I.K., Rankin, David, and Phillips, R.J., 1977, Three dimensional modelling in magnetotelluric and 

magnetic variational sounding: Geophysics Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society, v. 51, 

p. 313-325. 

Sternberg, B.K., Washburne, J.C., and Pellerin, Louise, 1988, Correction for the static shift in 

magnetotellurics using transient electromagnetic soundings: Geophysics, v. 53, p. 1,459–1,468. 

Vozoff, Keeva, 1972, The magnetotelluric method in the exploration of sedimentary basins: Geophysics, 

v. 37, p. 980–1041. 

Vozoff, Keeva, 1991, The magnetotelluric method, in Nabighian, M.N., Electromagnetic methods in 

applied geophysics: Tulsa, Okla., Society of Exploration Geophysicists, v. 2, pt. B, p. 641–711. 

Williams, J.M., Rodriguez, B.D., and Asch, T. H., 2005a, Magnetotelluric data, central Yucca Flat, 

Nevada Test Site, Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005-1238, 174 p. 

(http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1238). 

Williams, J.M., Rodriguez, B.D., and Asch, T. H., 2005b, Magnetotelluric data, northern Yucca Flat, 

Nevada Test Site, Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005-1239, 120 p. 

(http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1239). 

Williams, J.M., Rodriguez, B.D., and Asch, T. H., 2005c, Magnetotelluric data, northern Frenchman Flat, 

Nevada Test Site, Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005-1240, 156 p. 

(http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1240). 

Williams, J.M., Rodriguez, B.D., and Asch, T. H., 2005d, Magnetotelluric data, southern Yucca Flat, 

Nevada Test Site, Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005-1241, 210 p. 

(http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1241). 

Williams, J.M., Rodriguez, B.D., and Asch, T. H., 2005e, Magnetotelluric data, across Quartzite Ridge, 

Nevada Test Site, Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005-1242, 174 p. 

(http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1242). 

 

Williams, J.M., Rodriguez, B.D., and Asch, T. H., 2005f, Magnetotelluric data, north-central Yucca Flat, 

Nevada Test Site, Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005-1243, 156 p. 

(http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1243). 

Williams, J.M., Sampson, J.A., Rodriguez, B.D., and Asch, T. H., 2006, Magnetotelluric data, Rainier 

Mesa/Shoshone Mountain, Nevada Test Site, Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 

2006-1215, 240 p. (http://pubs.usgs.gov/of /2006/1215). 

 

10
Appendix 1. Magnetotelluric Data Plots 

There are nine separate plots for each station: 

 

1. Apparent Resistivity for the x-y direction (x symbol) and y-x direction (o symbol) modes 

2. Impedance Phase for the rotated maximum (x symbol) and minimum (o symbol) modes 

3. Rotation Angle for the impedance tensor (corresponds to the x-y direction) 

4. Impedance Skew for the impedance tensor 

5. Multiple Coherency for the x-y direction (x symbol) and y-x direction (o symbol) modes of the electric 

field 

6. Impedance Polar Plots (at 12 selected frequencies) 

7. Tipper Magnitude for the vertical magnetic field 

8. Tipper Strike for the vertical magnetic field 

9. HzHx (x symbol) and HzHy (o symbol) Coherency 

Refer to the “Magnetotelluric Data” section in this report for an explanation of these plots. The 

priorities listed on the plots were determined prior to data acquisition. During post-processing the priority 

ranking was changed. 

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