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Density perturbations in the subsurface are the main driver of mantle convection and can contribute to lithospheric deformation. However, in many places the density structure in the subsurface is poorly constrained. Most geodynamic models rely on simplified equations of state or use linear seismic velocity perturbations to density conversions. In this study, we investigate the density structure beneath the Rungwe Volcanic Province (RVP), which is the southernmost volcanic center in the Western Branch of the East African Rift (EAR). We use shear-wave velocity perturbations ( dlnv(s) ) as a reference model to perform constrained inversions of satellite gravity data centered on the RVP. We use the code jif3D with a dlnv(s) -density coupling criterion based on mutual information to generate a 3D density model beneath the RVP up to a depth of 660 km. Our results reveal a conspicuous negative density anomaly (& SIM;-200 kg/m(3)) in the sublithospheric mantle (at depths ranging from similar to 100 km to similar to 250 km) beneath the central part of the Malawi Rift extending to the west, beneath the Niassa Craton, coincident with locations with positive shear-wave velocity perturbations (+7%). We calculate a 3D model of the velocity-to-density conversion factor (f) and find negative f-values beneath the Niassa Craton which suggests the observed negative density anomaly is mostly due to compositional variations. Apart from the Niassa Craton, there are generally positive f-values in the study area, which suggest dominance of temperature control on the density structure. Although the RVP generally shows negative density anomalies and positive f-values, at shallow depths (< 120 km), f asymptotic to 0, which suggests important contributions of both temperature and composition on the density structure possibly due to the presence of plume material. The negative buoyancy of the Niassa Craton contributes to its long stability, while constituting a barrier to the southward flow of

This study uses ground penetrating radar (GPR) data as constraints in the inversion of radio-magnetotelluric (RMT) data, to provide an improved model at shallow depth. We show that modification of the model regularization matrix using all GPR common-offset (CO) reflections can mislead the constrained inversion of RMT data. To avoid such problems, common mid-point (CMP) GPR data are translated to a resistivity model by introducing a new petrophysical relationship based on a combination of Topp's and Archie's equations. This model is updated through a semi-iterative method and is employed as an initial and prior model in the subsequent inversion of RMT data. Finally, a water content model that fits the GPR CMP and RMT data is derived from the resistivity model computed by the constrained inversion of RMT data. To assess the proposed scheme, it is applied to a synthetic data set. Then, real RMT data collected along an 870 m-long profile across a known aquifer situated in the north of Heby, central Sweden, are inverted. By removing the smoothness constraints across GPR CO interfaces or using CMP-based inversion, thick (> 10 m) vadose and saturated zones are resolved and shown to correlate with logs from nearby boreholes. Nevertheless, the application of our CMP-based inversion was the only efficient scheme to retrieve thin (~ 3 m) saturated zones and the water table at a depth of 7-15 m in the RMT models. The estimated models of water content are in good agreement with the available hydrogeological information in the study area.

The data and inversion processing technique for tonnage calculation by constrained Cartesian cut-cell inversion is demonstrated using magnetic and gravity surveys of the defined extent of the region of the mined-out 18 000 000 t Hajjar polymetallic deposit in Morocco, presenting a great benefit in saving time while providing accurate and realistic results. The potential-field signatures of what are regarded to be geologically expressive features are sought within the magnetic and gravity data. The preliminary stage for tonnage calculation was residual anomaly processing and depth estimation of the orebody using spectral analysis. Progressing towards extracting the deposit signature, the method invested the gravity signature of the orebody with adequacy regarding the magnetic signature. Finally, the tonnage calculation was developed by constrained Cartesian cut cell inversion using Voxi Earth ModellingTM. The importance of the obtained results lies in their qualitative and quantitative accuracy, which add value to the governmental geological and geophysical survey., The data and inversion processing technique for tonnage calculation by constrained Cartesian cut-cell inversion is demonstrated using magnetic and gravity surveys of the defined extent of the region of the mined-out 18 000 000 t Hajjar polymetallic deposit in Morocco, presenting a great benefit in saving time while providing accurate and realistic results. The potential-field signatures of what are regarded to be geologically expressive features are sought within the magnetic and gravity data. The preliminary stage for tonnage calculation was residual anomaly processing and depth estimation of the orebody using spectral analysis. Progressing towards extracting the deposit signature, the method invested the gravity signature of the orebody with adequacy regarding the magnetic signature. Finally, the tonnage calculation was developed by constrained Cartesian cut cell inversion using Voxi Earth ModellingTM. The importance of the obtained results lies in their qualitative and quantitative accuracy, which add value to the governmental geological and geophysical survey.

This thesis presents two new algorithms for doing constrained Magnetotelluric (MT) inversion based on an existing Occam 2D inversion program. The first algorithm includes borehole resistivity logs as prior information to constrain resistivity directly in the vicinity of boreholes. The second algorithm uses reflection seismic data as prior constraints to transfer structural information from seismic images to 2D resistivity models. These two algorithms are efficient (proved through tests of synthetic examples) and widely applicable. In this thesis, they have been successfully applied to the COSC (Collisional Orogeny in the Scandinavian Caledonides) MT data. The COSC project aims to study the mountain belt dynamics in central Sweden by drilling two 2.5 km deep boreholes. MT data were collected to locate the main décollement that separates the overlying Caledonian allochthons and the underlying Precambrian basement, as the main décollement is associated with very conductive Alum shale. The previous interpretation based on part of the COSC seismic profile (CSP) was that the main décollement was located along a reflection with depth of 4.5 km underneath Åre and ~3 km underneath Mörsil, in central Jämtland. The MT resistivity model reveals a very conductive layer in the central and western parts of the profile, the top of which coincides with the first seismic reflection. This means that the first conductive alum shale layer occurs at less than 1 km depth, supporting a new interpretation of the main décollement at shallower depth. In a re-interpretation of the CSP data based on the MT model, the main décollement occurs a few hundred metres below the top of the conductor and is coincident with a laterally continuous seismic reflection. Further, the overlying seismic reflections resemble imbricated alum shale of the Lower Allochthon. MT inversion using seismic constraints from CSP gives further support to the new interpretation. Moreover, MT investigations were conducted in

This thesis presents two new algorithms for doing constrained Magnetotelluric (MT) inversion based on an existing Occam 2D inversion program. The first algorithm includes borehole resistivity logs as prior information to constrain resistivity directly in the vicinity of boreholes. The second algorithm uses reflection seismic data as prior constraints to transfer structural information from seismic images to 2D resistivity models. These two algorithms are efficient (proved through tests of synthetic examples) and widely applicable. In this thesis, they have been successfully applied to the COSC (Collisional Orogeny in the Scandinavian Caledonides) MT data. The COSC project aims to study the mountain belt dynamics in central Sweden by drilling two 2.5 km deep boreholes. MT data were collected to locate the main décollement that separates the overlying Caledonian allochthons and the underlying Precambrian basement, as the main décollement is associated with very conductive Alum shale. The previous interpretation based on part of the COSC seismic profile (CSP) was that the main décollement was located along a reflection with depth of 4.5 km underneath Åre and ~3 km underneath Mörsil, in central Jämtland. The MT resistivity model reveals a very conductive layer in the central and western parts of the profile, the top of which coincides with the first seismic reflection. This means that the first conductive alum shale layer occurs at less than 1 km depth, supporting a new interpretation of the main décollement at shallower depth. In a re-interpretation of the CSP data based on the MT model, the main décollement occurs a few hundred metres below the top of the conductor and is coincident with a laterally continuous seismic reflection. Further, the overlying seismic reflections resemble imbricated alum shale of the Lower Allochthon. MT inversion using seismic constraints from CSP gives further support to the new interpretation. Moreover, MT investigations were conducted in

This thesis presents two new algorithms for doing constrained Magnetotelluric (MT) inversion based on an existing Occam 2D inversion program. The first algorithm includes borehole resistivity logs as prior information to constrain resistivity directly in the vicinity of boreholes. The second algorithm uses reflection seismic data as prior constraints to transfer structural information from seismic images to 2D resistivity models. These two algorithms are efficient (proved through tests of synthetic examples) and widely applicable. In this thesis, they have been successfully applied to the COSC (Collisional Orogeny in the Scandinavian Caledonides) MT data. The COSC project aims to study the mountain belt dynamics in central Sweden by drilling two 2.5 km deep boreholes. MT data were collected to locate the main décollement that separates the overlying Caledonian allochthons and the underlying Precambrian basement, as the main décollement is associated with very conductive Alum shale. The previous interpretation based on part of the COSC seismic profile (CSP) was that the main décollement was located along a reflection with depth of 4.5 km underneath Åre and ~3 km underneath Mörsil, in central Jämtland. The MT resistivity model reveals a very conductive layer in the central and western parts of the profile, the top of which coincides with the first seismic reflection. This means that the first conductive alum shale layer occurs at less than 1 km depth, supporting a new interpretation of the main décollement at shallower depth. In a re-interpretation of the CSP data based on the MT model, the main décollement occurs a few hundred metres below the top of the conductor and is coincident with a laterally continuous seismic reflection. Further, the overlying seismic reflections resemble imbricated alum shale of the Lower Allochthon. MT inversion using seismic constraints from CSP gives further support to the new interpretation. Moreover, MT investigations were conducted in

This thesis presents two new algorithms for doing constrained Magnetotelluric (MT) inversion based on an existing Occam 2D inversion program. The first algorithm includes borehole resistivity logs as prior information to constrain resistivity directly in the vicinity of boreholes. The second algorithm uses reflection seismic data as prior constraints to transfer structural information from seismic images to 2D resistivity models. These two algorithms are efficient (proved through tests of synthetic examples) and widely applicable. In this thesis, they have been successfully applied to the COSC (Collisional Orogeny in the Scandinavian Caledonides) MT data. The COSC project aims to study the mountain belt dynamics in central Sweden by drilling two 2.5 km deep boreholes. MT data were collected to locate the main décollement that separates the overlying Caledonian allochthons and the underlying Precambrian basement, as the main décollement is associated with very conductive Alum shale. The previous interpretation based on part of the COSC seismic profile (CSP) was that the main décollement was located along a reflection with depth of 4.5 km underneath Åre and ~3 km underneath Mörsil, in central Jämtland. The MT resistivity model reveals a very conductive layer in the central and western parts of the profile, the top of which coincides with the first seismic reflection. This means that the first conductive alum shale layer occurs at less than 1 km depth, supporting a new interpretation of the main décollement at shallower depth. In a re-interpretation of the CSP data based on the MT model, the main décollement occurs a few hundred metres below the top of the conductor and is coincident with a laterally continuous seismic reflection. Further, the overlying seismic reflections resemble imbricated alum shale of the Lower Allochthon. MT inversion using seismic constraints from CSP gives further support to the new interpretation. Moreover, MT investigations were conducted in

This thesis presents two new algorithms for doing constrained Magnetotelluric (MT) inversion based on an existing Occam 2D inversion program. The first algorithm includes borehole resistivity logs as prior information to constrain resistivity directly in the vicinity of boreholes. The second algorithm uses reflection seismic data as prior constraints to transfer structural information from seismic images to 2D resistivity models. These two algorithms are efficient (proved through tests of synthetic examples) and widely applicable. In this thesis, they have been successfully applied to the COSC (Collisional Orogeny in the Scandinavian Caledonides) MT data. The COSC project aims to study the mountain belt dynamics in central Sweden by drilling two 2.5 km deep boreholes. MT data were collected to locate the main décollement that separates the overlying Caledonian allochthons and the underlying Precambrian basement, as the main décollement is associated with very conductive Alum shale. The previous interpretation based on part of the COSC seismic profile (CSP) was that the main décollement was located along a reflection with depth of 4.5 km underneath Åre and ~3 km underneath Mörsil, in central Jämtland. The MT resistivity model reveals a very conductive layer in the central and western parts of the profile, the top of which coincides with the first seismic reflection. This means that the first conductive alum shale layer occurs at less than 1 km depth, supporting a new interpretation of the main décollement at shallower depth. In a re-interpretation of the CSP data based on the MT model, the main décollement occurs a few hundred metres below the top of the conductor and is coincident with a laterally continuous seismic reflection. Further, the overlying seismic reflections resemble imbricated alum shale of the Lower Allochthon. MT inversion using seismic constraints from CSP gives further support to the new interpretation. Moreover, MT investigations were conducted in