Magnetotelluric measurements in central Alberta

Abstract Magnetotelluric measurements were made in the period range 1-1000 sec at sixteen sites in central Alberta. Tensor impedances and tensor apparent resistivities were computed with digital spectral techniques. The results indicate that the magnetotelluric fields in the plains of central Alberta are controlled by the strike of the contacts of undeformed sedimentary rocks of the plains with the crystalline rocks of the underlying Precambrian basement on the one hand, and with the deformed sedimentary rocks of the Rocky Mountains on the other. One-dimensional models derived from the apparent resistivities for E-polarization are consistent with the known sedimentary section of the area.