Analysis and 1d Joint Inversion of Mt and Tem Resistivity Data From Buranga Geothermal Field, Uganda.

Buranga geothermal prospect is the most promising geothermal area within the western branch of the East African Rift System (EARS). Located at the north-eastern base of the Rwenzori mountains and approximately 50km southwest of Fort portal town in Uganda, Buranga is a deep circulation amagmatic system with resistivity structure controlled by NE SW trending deep-seated faults of the Albertine graben which form a border between the Buranga (Semliki) flood plain and the Rwenzori massif. This paper highlights the key findings of 1D joint inversion of Magneto telluric (MT) and Transient ElectroMagnetic (TEM) data from the area. Data analysis and 1D joint inversion results indicate that the geoelectric strike is in the NE SW direction parallel to the main bounding Bwamba fault and with minor static shifts, mostly away from the soggy sediments. Results from 1D joint inversion indicate a low resistivity in the sediments due to salinity of the geothermal fluids and/or geothermal alteration in the middle of the prospect area at the border of the sedimentary basin and the Rwenzori massif. This conductive zone extends to a depth close to 5km b.s.l, which is close to the depth to the basement that has been estimated at 5000m b.s.l by oil and gas exploration drilling in the vicinity of the prospect.