There are indications that some long-dormant or seemingly inactive volcanoes may have potentially active magma storage systems. One such system is Ciomadul volcano, which is located at the south-eastern terminus of the Carpathian volcanic chain (Romania). With the last eruption occurring at ~30 ka, this is the youngest volcano in eastern-central Europe. Understanding the nature and structure of the magma plumbing system is crucial to elucidating the evolution of the volcano and to assessing its hazard potential. This includes the depth, size, and geometry of the magma storage region, the amount and composition of the melt present, and the link between mantle and crustal processes. Ciomadul is situated in a geodynamically active region about 50 km from the Vrancea zone, where deep earthquakes are frequent. These earthquakes may represent the descent of a dense lithospheric slab beneath a continental collision zone and this may imply an asthenospheric upwelling due to return flow of mantle material. To the north-west of Ciomadul lies a chain of older volcanic complexes, the Călimani–Gurghiu-Harghita volcanic complex; about 40 km west of Ciomadul towards the Transylvanian Basin, a monogenetic basaltic volcanic region was developed at 1.2–0.5 Ma (Perşani volcanic field). Seismic tomography has revealed low-velocity columns through the lithosphere beneath both Ciomadul and Perşani. However, high-resolution images of the complex geometry of the system are lacking. We report here on a 3-D electrical resistivity model of the region that was generated from 41 magnetotelluric measurements acquired in 2022 that form a 75 km by 75 km array. The data typically had reliable periods from 128 Hz to 4,100+ s. Choosing appropriate locations for measurement was critical, away from sources of cultural electromagnetic noise that can contaminate the signals, as was careful data processing, including applying data pre-selection schemes and manual time windows in addition to standard approaches using robust statistics. Phase tensor analysis suggests that the data are 3-D at all scales. The 3-D electrical resistivity model reveals conductive anomalies (<10 ohm-m) in the subvolcanic crust. These are interpreted as melt-bearing magma reservoirs distributed in the mid-lower crust (depths of ~10–25 km) and a quasi-vertical conduit extending to the near surface. The crustal reservoir is oriented north-south, has its western margin beneath the surface vent of Ciomadul, and extends ~20 km eastward. These results are consistent with the quantitative petrological models placing the upper melt-bearing silicic crystal mush reservoir at a depth of 5–20 km beneath Ciomadul, and a magma-generation area in the asthenosphere (85–105 km depth). In contrast, no strong conductive anomaly is observed in the crust below Perşani, which fits the magma evolution model, i.e. small batches of mantle-derived magmas ascend rapidly through the crustal column. Our results suggest that Ciomadul, a seemingly inactive volcano, is still underlain by a melt-bearing magma body and therefore can be regarded as having potential for reactivation and further volcanic eruptions.@en

Ciomadul volcano, located at the south-eastern terminus of the Carpathian volcanic arc (Romania), is the youngest volcano in eastern-central Europe, with the last eruption occurring at 32 ka. Petrological and geophysical constraints indicate a melt-bearing silicic crystal mush body beneath Ciomadul, approximately 5–20 km below surface. This suggests that long-dormant or seemingly inactive volcanoes may have potentially active magma storage systems. However, the geometry and size of the magma storage region is unknown. Understanding the nature and structure of the volcanic plumbing system is crucial to understanding the evolution of the system, as well as to assess the hazard potential. In this presentation, we will report on 41 new magnetotelluric measurements acquired in 2022. The survey design consists of an irregular grid with dimensions of approximately 75 km by 75 km, centered around Ciomadul in the corner of the south-eastern Carpathian Mountains. This makes an array suitable for three-dimensional modelling. A 100 km long NW-SE transect across the array has a measurement spacing of less than 15 km. The newly acquired data complement previous measurements (recorded in 2010) near Ciomadul and Băile Tuşnad within an area of approximately 5 km by 10 km. The new data extend westward to the Perşani volcanic field (Racoș, Homorod), about 40 km west of Ciomadul, towards the Transylvanian Basin, and to the south-east to the edge of the seismically active Vrancea zone, often attributed to the descent of a slab, more than 50 km south-east of Ciomadul, towards the Focșani Basin. Both regions are targets for future measurement campaigns. Recordings were carried out at each location for approximately 1–5 days. The data typically had reliable periods of up to 1,000–4,000 s. The data are not homogenous and have characteristics of three-dimensionality. At some locations, cultural electromagnetic noise contaminated the signals and degraded the data; thus choosing appropriate locations for measurement was critical. Estimating local and inter-station transfer functions required special care, such as applying data pre-selection schemes and manual time windows, in addition to standard approaches including using robust statistics and the remote reference method. Overall, the preliminary analysis is encouraging and the results show that it is possible to obtain usable magnetotelluric data in this region.@en

The Bayankhongor Metal Belt passes through the Valley of the Lakes, south-central Mongolia, between the Hangai Dome and the Gobi-Altai Mountains. It is an important region because it is associated with significant mineral occurences, including important sources of gold and copper. Adjacent to this is the South Hangai suture zone and the Bayankhongor Ophiolite Belt. This is an ancient suture zone and terrane boundary that resulted from the closure of a paleo-ocean, marked by obducted ophiolites, and is possibly the longest continuous ophiolite in the world. Magnetotelluric data were used to generate 3-D electrical resistivity models of the upper crustal structure, which was previously poorly understood. The cratonic upper crust is highly resistive and thus the low-resistivity fault/suture system is easily detected. It is revealed to be a major crustal-scale structure. A clear transition in crustal electrical properties was observed across the zone and may reflect both the rheological and petrological differences across accreted terranes. Furthermore, other anomalous low-resistivity zones are spatially associated with the surface expressions of known mineral occurences and resource extraction projects. By combining electrical resistivity results with geological and petrological data we attempt to gain insights into the potential mineral resources of this unique region and their origin.@en

Central Mongolia is a prominent region of intra-plate volcanism and deformation. To study these processes, many of which are poorly understood, magnetotelluric data was collected in the Hangai and Gobi-Altai region in central Mongolia. The geologic history of this region exhibits features over a wide range of spatial scales, which are coupled through a variety of geodynamic processes. Three-dimensional imaging using magnetotellurics can resolve the distribution of electrical resistivity within the Earth at scales ranging from tens of metres to hundreds of kilometres. However, designing a survey which can probe various scales and running subsequent three-dimensional inversions requires that multiple constraints imposed by the data acquisition cost, logistical efforts and computational complexity are satisfied.

We present an approach to survey design, data acquisition, and inversion that aims to bridge various spatial scales while keeping the required field work and computational costs feasible. This approach was applied to obtain the first 3-D multi-scale resistivity model of the Hangai and Gobi-Altai mountains. Magnetotelluric transfer functions were estimated for a 650 x 400 km2 grid, which included measurements on an array with regular 50 x 50 km2 spacing and along several profiles with a denser 5-15 km spacing for higher crustal resolution. A 3-D finite element forward modelling and inversion code was used in a four stage inversion process to obtain a resistivity model.

The final model reveals a complex resistivity structure and fits the observed data well across all periods and site locations. It resolves shallow structures in the upper crust, linked to surface observables (faults, volcanic provinces, hot springs), together with anomalous lithospheric conductors as well as a large-scale asthenospheric upwelling. This model provides crucial information to constrain numerical modelling of geodynamic processes related to the formation of the Hangai Mountains, as well as intra-continental deformation and volcanism.@en

The Valley of the Lakes, south central Mongolia is located between the uplifted Hangai Dome and the Gobi Altai Mountains , within the Central Asian Orogenic Belt . It includes many interesting features, including t he South Hangai f ault system that represents an ancient suture zone and terrane boundary . This zone is possibly an extension of the Mongol Okhotsk suture that resulted from the closur e of the Mongol Okhotsk Ocean The adjacent obducted Bayankhongor Ophiolite Belt is possibly the longest continuous ophiolite belt in the world. This region is important because it is associated with the Bayankhongor Meta l logenic Belt that is an economic ally significant zone for ore extraction in Mongolia , including important sources of gold and copper.

Electrical resistivity is a key parameter for mineral exploration. Because faults and suture zones are regions of fractured, weakened crust they often have circulating fluids that act to i ncrease their electrical conduc tivity . Additionally, econom ic mineralization is commonly associated with a conductive signature from associated sulfide minerology. We present magnetotelluric data acquired in a n array across central Mongolia (Comeau et al., 2018; K äu fl et al., 2018; Becken et al., 2018; this abstra ct volume) volume). The magnetotelluric data we re used to generate 3 D electrical resistivity models of the shallow crustal structure, which was previously poorly understood. Because the cratonic upper crust is highly resistive (>1000 ohm m) the low res istivity (<30 ohm m) South Hangai f ault system is easily detected . It is revealed to be a major crustal scale structure. A clear transi tion in crustal electrical properties wa s observed across the suture zone and may reflect both the rheological and petrological d iff erences across accreted terranes Furthermore, a nomalous, low resistivity zones in the crust are spatially associated with the surface expressions of known mineralization and resource extraction projects. By combining our electrical resistivity results with other geological and petrological data we attempt to gain insights into the potential mineral resources of this unique region and their origin@en