Airborne Time-Domain Electromagnetics for Three Dimensional Mapping and Characterization of the Spiritwood Valley Aquifer

The Geological Survey of Canada commissioned a helicopter-borne time-domain electromagnetic (HTEM) survey over a 1062 km2 area of the Spiritwood Valley in southern Manitoba to test the effectiveness of airborne time-domain electromagnetics for mapping and characterizing buried valley aquifers in the Canadian Prairies. The HTEM data exhibit rich information content; apparent conductivity maps clearly image the Spiritwood Valley in addition to a continuous incised valley along the broader valley bottom. We detect complex valley morphology with nested scales of valleys including at least three distinct valley features and multiple possible tributaries. Conductivity-depth images (CDI) derived from the TEM decays indicate that the fill materials within the incised valleys are more resistive than the broader valley fill, consistent with an interpretation of sand and gravel. Comparison of ground-based electrical resistivity and seismic reflection data allow for calibration of CDI models. Lateral spatial information is in excellent agreement between data sets. The seismic data reveal the presence of additional valley features that are not imaged by the HTEM data as having a distinct electrical signature, possibly due to diamicton fill. The CDI model underestimates the dynamic range of electrical conductivity while overestimating depths to valley bottoms; these issues may be associated with system limitations, system bandwidth, algorithm limitations and penetration depth. The integrated data sets illustrate that HTEM surveys have the potential to map complicated buried valley aquifers at a level of detail required for groundwater prospecting and management.