Within the interdisciplinary DFG Special Priority Program SPP “Earthshape” the interaction between geological, biological and mechanical processes is studied using various methods. Thereby the coastal Cordillera is a prime natural laboratory since it stretches of several climatic zones while staying in a similar geological environment. Imaging the physical properties of of the Critical Zone where bedrock transforms into regolith and soil is one of the main goals of our imaging approach using Controlled Source Radio-Magnetotellurics. The electrical conductivity is sensitive to the presence of fluids, mineralisations and clay and serves as a proxy for porosity. These parameters are essential to understand weathering processes. The surface geophysical measurements are accompanied by shallow boreholes that were cored and logged. Results of the studied drill cores together with downhole logging revealed insights into lithological, geochemical, petrophysical and microbiological interactions at the weathering front. With the RMT experiment we are able to extrapolate these findings in lateral direction using 2D and 3D inversion models.

Timeframe

• 2018 - 2027 

Funding

• DFG
• GFZ

Principal Investigators

• PD Dr. Ute Weckmann

Personnel

• Lorenzo Schmitt
• Dr. Jose Cruces-Zalaba
• Dr. Cedric Patzer
• Prof. Dr. Oliver Ritter

Cooperations

• Dr. Jaime Araja, U. Copiapo, Chile

Publications/Results

• Schmitt, L., Platz, A., Weckmann, U., Cruces-Zabala, J., Patzer, C., Ritter, O., Vargas, J. A. (2024): New insights into the DeepEarthShape project (Chile) by comparison of 2D and 3D inversion results of RMT data using GoFEM and ModEM. - In: Börner, J., Yogeshwar, P. (Eds.), - Protokoll über das 30. Schmucker-Weidelt-Kolloquium für Elektromagnetische Tiefenforschung: St. Marienthal, 25. September - 29. September 2023, 30. Schmucker-Weidelt-Kolloquium für Elektromagnetische Tiefenforschung (St. Marienthal 2023), 125-125, 1 p.
• Weckmann, U., Platz, A., Schmitt, L., Cruces-Zabala, J., Patzer, C., Ritter, O., Araya Vargas, J. (2023): Imaging the weathering zone in Chile with active Radio-Magnetotellurics, XXVIII General Assembly of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) (Berlin 2023).
• Krone, L. V., Hampl, F., Schwerdhelm, C., Ganzert, L., Kitte, J. A., Übernickel, K., Dielforder, A., Aldaz Cifuentes, S. R., Oses-Pedraza, R., Perez, J., Sanchez-Alfaro, P., Wagner, D., Weckmann, U., von Blanckenburg, F. (2021): Deep weathering in the semi-arid Coastal Cordillera, Chile. - Scientific Reports, 11, 13057.
  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-90267-7