AEM inverted resistivity models, Shellmound, Mississippi, March 2018

Airborne electromagnetic (AEM), magnetic, and radiometric data were acquired in late February to early March 2018 along 2,364 line-kilometers in the Shellmound, Mississippi study area. Data were acquired by CGG Canada Services, Ltd. with three different helicopter-borne sensors: the CGG Canada Services, Ltd. RESOLVE frequency-domain AEM instrument that is used to map subsurface geologic structure at depths up to 100 meters, depending on the subsurface resistivity; a Scintrex CS-3 cesium vapor magnetometer that detects changes in deep (hundreds of meters to kilometers) geologic structure based on variations in the magnetic properties of different formations; and a Radiation Solutions RS-500 spectrometer that detects the abundance of natural radioelements potassium, uranium, and thorium in the upper 20-30 cm that is used to determine differences in soil constituents. The survey was flown at an average sensor flight height of 30 m above terrain to form block-style coverage with 250 to 1,000-meter spaced east-west flight lines. This data release includes laterally-constrained inverted depth sections along all flight lines from the AEM data. Digital data of the laterally constrained inversions are provided and fields are defined in the data dictionary (https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/5ca6a4e6e4b0c3b0064c2c2b). An important driver for this survey is a managed aquifer recharge pilot project developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service investigating the use of bank filtration along the Tallahatchie River as a source for recharge in areas of significant groundwater decline by direct injection into the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer (MRVA). Understanding the structure of the aquifer, including both shallow and deep confining units, is important for the success of this pilot engineering study and will be even more important for potential future large-scale engineering projects and groundwater model development efforts. REFERENCES U.S. Geological Survey, The National Map, 2017, 3DEP products and services: The National Map, 3D Elevation Program Web page, accessed October 2018 at https://nationalmap.gov/3DEP/3dep_prodserv.html.