Interpretation of the geothermal probable source in Sabalan area using 3-D inverse modeling of MT data

Since the true Earth is three-dimensional (3-D) in nature، 3-D interpretation of these structures can be more efficient relative to the one or two-dimensional (1-D or 2-D) interpretation of them. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the probable geothermal source of the northern area of Sabalan in Iran using 3-D modeling of the Magnetotelluric (MT) data. For obtaining this purpose using various techniques it was indicated the subsurface structures of the area is complex and the structural dimensionality particularly at the long periods (>2sec.) is 3-D in overall and 3-D modeling of the data is necessary. Then by designing the appropriate mesh and applying the 3-D inverse modeling algorithm، the suitable model of resistivity for the MT data was obtained. Using 3-D modeling results، geological information map and existence 2-D modeling results، the geothermal area was investigated and interpreted and the geometry location of the hotter zone as the geothermal source was identified. Also the location of the alteration zones relevant with the geothermal source were detected and delineated using the 3-D results and geological information.