Multi-channel surface NMR instrumentation and software for 1D/2D groundwater investigations

Multi-channel surface nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) instrumentation and software, developed in the United States, has been applied to investigate 1D and 2D hydrology at various locations in the Western US. The GeoMRI instrument offers several practical improvements over the previous state of the art in surface NMR instrumentation, including a multi-channel transmit/receive capability, a significantly shorter measurement dead-time of 10 ms, and an ultra-low receiver input noise density of less than 0.4 nV/sqrt (Hz). Two multi-channel NMR processing techniques, reference coil-based noise cancellation and integrated FID imaging, are shown to increase effective signal to noise ratios by an order of magnitude or more. These effective SNR gains enable multi-coil surface NMR to produce useful and reliable images when the post-averaged SNR is less than 1. We also suggest an alternate approach to imaging, in which NMR signals are initially isolated in the space domain, and then NMR parameter estimation is applied in the time domain. Experimental results are presented for recent surface NMR groundwater investigations conducted in Nebraska and Texas, USA.     

Determination of the 3D structure of an earthflow by geophysical methods: The case of Super Sauze, in the French southern Alps

In order to evaluate the risk associated by an earthflow to abruptly evolve into a torrential flow, the knowledge of its internal structure is necessary. Geotechnical methods are important to reach this goal. However, because of the rough topography associated with earthflows, their surface heterogeneities, and the spatial variations of the thickness of the potentially moving mass, non-intrusive geophysical methods offer a very useful tool that complements traditional geotechnical methods. We report the results of a comprehensive study covering a 150 m by 200 m area of the Super Sauze earthflow. This earthflow developed in black marls in the southern French Alps. Shallow electrical conductivity investigations, derived using low frequency domain electromagnetics, maps hidden gullies and crests and lateral variations of the clay and the water content within the first 5 m below the ground surface. Electrical resistivity tomography allows to extrapolate this information down to 10 m below the ground surface along selected transects. The vertical structure of the earthflow, down to the substratum, is defined precisely thanks to joint inversion of DC and TDEM vertical soundings along one profile: the flowing upper layer and the position of the substratum are clearly evidenced. Combining this geophysical datasets with geotechnical tests and drill holes, we provide an estimate of both the location and the volume of the potentially most dangerous areas of the earthflow.     

Thermal characteristics of coal fires 2: Results of measurements on simulated coal fires

In this paper we present thermal characteristics of coal fires as measured during simulated fires under an experimental setting in Germany in July 2002. It is thus a continuation of the previously published paper “Thermal surface characteristics of coal fire 1: Results of in-situ measurement”, in which we presented temperature measurements of real subsurface coal fires in China [Zhang, J., Kuenzer, C., accepted for publication. Thermal Surface Characteristics of Coal Fires 1: Results of in-situ measurements. Accepted for publication at Journal of Applied Geophysics.]. The focus is on simulated coal fires, which are less complex in nature than fires under natural conditions. In the present study we simulated all the influences usually occurring under natural conditions in a controllable manner (uniform background material of known thermal properties, known ventilation pathways, homogeneous coal substrate), creating two artificial outdoor coal fires under simplified settings. One surface coal fire and one subsurface coal fire were observed over the course of 2 days. The set up of the fires allowed for measurements not always feasible under “real” in-situ conditions: thus compared to the in-situ investigations presented in paper one we could retrieve numerous temperature measurements inside of the fires. Single temperature measurements, diurnal profiles and airborne thermal surveying present the typical temperature patterns of a small surface-and a subsurface fire under undisturbed conditions (easily accessible terrain, 24 hour measurements period, homogeneous materials). We found that the outside air temperature does not influence the fire's surface temperature (up to 900 °C), while fire centre temperatures of up to 1200 °C strongly correlate with surface temperatures of the fire. The fires could heat their surrounding up to a distance of 4.5 m. However, thermal anomalies on the background surface only persist as long as the fire is burning and disappear very fast if the heat source is removed. Furthermore, heat outside of the fires is transported mainly by convection and not by radiation. In spatial thermal line scanner data the diurnal thermal patterns of the coal fire are clearly represented. Our experiments during that data collection also visualize the thermal anomaly differences between covered (underground) and uncovered (surface) coal fires. The latter could not be observed in-situ in a real coal fire area. Sub-surface coal fires express a much weaker signal than open surface fires and contrast only by few degrees against the background. In airborne thermal imaging scanner data the fires are also well represented. Here we could show that the mid-infrared domain (3.8 μm) is more suitable to pick up very hot anomalies, compared to the common thermal (8.8 μm) domain. Our results help to understand coal fires and their thermal patterns as well as the limitations occurring during their analysis. We believe that the results presented here can practicably help for the planning of coal fire thermal mapping campaigns — including remote sensing methods and the thermal data can be included into numerical coal fire modelling as initial or boundary conditions.     

（T2,D）二维核磁共振测井识别储层流体的方法

当地层孔隙中油气和水同时存在时,在核磁共振T₂分布上不同流体信号往往重叠,很难有效识别.本文采用改变回波间隔测量多组自旋回波串序列实现了（T₂,D）二维核磁共振方法,为有效识别储层流体提供了基础.通过数值模拟系统研究了（T₂,D）方法在不同储层、不同测量信噪比以及不同外加磁场梯度条件下识别流体的效果.结果表明：（T₂,D）方法识别中、低黏度油层具有优势,随着信噪比增加和外加磁场梯度加大,分辨油和水的效果将变好.在气层,对磁场梯度有一定要求,并且,测量数据的信噪比越高,分辨气与水的效果越好,当测量数据信噪比低于70时（T₂,D）方法在气层可能失效.在2MHz共振频率下,利用MARAN核磁共振岩芯分析仪器,对含顺磁性物质的饱和流体岩样进行了实验测量,验证了（T₂,D）方法的有效性.     

Noise characteristics of an electromagnetic sea-ice thickness sounder on a fixed wing aircraft

In this paper, the noise sources of an airborne electromagnetic frequency domain instrument used to measure sea-ice thickness are studied. The antennas are mounted on the wings of an aircraft. The paper presents real data examples showing that strong noise limited the accuracy of the thickness measurement to ± 0.5 m in the best case. Even drift cor­rection and frequency ?ltering did not reduce the noise to a level necessary for sea ice thickness measurements with an accuracy of 0.1 m. We show results of 3D ?nite element modeling of the coupling between transmitter and receiver coils and the aircraft, which indicate that wing ?exure is the primary cause of the strong noise. Wing de?ection angles below 5° relative to the fuselage are large enough to cause changes higher than the wanted signal from the seawater under the ice. Wing ?exure noise can be divided into an inductive and geometric contribution, both of the same order. Most of the wing ?exure signal appears on the inphase component only, hence the quadrature component should be taken for sea ice thickness retrievals when wing ?exure is present even when the inphase produces a larger ocean sig­nal. Results also show that pitch and roll movements of the aircraft and electromagnetic coupling between seawater and aircraft can contribute signi?cantly to the total noise. For ?ight heights of 30 m over the ocean these effects can change the sig­nal by about 10% or more. For highly quantitative measurements like sea-ice thickness all these effects must be taken into account. We conclude that a ?xed wing electromagnetic instrument for the purpose of measure­ments in a centimeter scale must include instrumentation to measure the relative position of the antenna coils with an accuracy of 1/10 mm. Furthermore the antenna separation distance should be as large as possible in order to increase the measured ratio of secondary to primary magnetic field strength.     

Comparison of gravimetric and seismic constraints on the structure of the Aegean lithosphere in the forearc of the Hellenic subduction zone in the area of Crete

The island of Crete is located in the forearc of the Hellenic subduction zone, where the African lithospheric plate is subducting beneath the Eurasian one. The depth of the plate contact as well as the internal structure of the Aegean plate in the area of Crete have been a matter of debate. In this study, seismic constrains obtained by wide-angle seismic, receiver function and surface wave studies are discussed and compared to a 3D density model of the region.The interface between the Aegean continental lithosphere and the African one is located at a depth of about 50 km below Crete. According to seismic studies, the Aegean lithosphere in the area of Crete is characterised by strong lateral, arc–parallel heterogeneity. An about 30 km thick Aegean crust is found in central Crete with a density of about 2850 kg/m³ for the lower Aegean continental crust and a density of about 3300 kg/m³ for the mantle wedge between the Aegean crust and the African lithosphere. For the deeper crust in the area of western Crete two alternative models have been proposed by seismic studies. One with an about 35 km thick crust and another one with crustal velocities down to the plate contact. A grid search is performed to test the consistency of these models with gravimetric constraints. For western Crete a model with a thick lower Aegean crust and a density of about 2950 kg/m³ is favoured. The inferred density of the lower Aegean crust in the area of Crete correlates well with S-wave velocities obtained by surface wave studies.Based on the 3D density model, the weight of the Aegean lithosphere is estimated along an E–W oriented profile in the area of Crete. Low weights are found for the region of western Crete.     

基于能量运算的磁共振信号尖峰噪声抑制方法

磁共振探测信号微弱,使用高灵敏度的核磁共振地下水探测仪,极易受到环境噪声干扰.其中,工频谐波噪声和尖峰噪声,是影响信号质量最严重的两类噪声.国内外研究表明,通过参考线圈的布设,依据探测线圈和参考线圈中噪声相关性,利用自适应参考对消算法,能够有效抑制工频谐波噪声.然而,尖峰噪声的存在严重影响了主通道与参考道的数据相关性,成为了参考对消算法应用的难题与障碍.为解决这一问题,本文提出磁共振信号中尖峰噪声的抑制方法,推导了能量域磁共振信号表达式,通过计算信号能量,可有效检测尖峰噪声并突出不易识别的小幅度尖峰噪声,采用基于中位数的绝对偏差法确定阈值,进而剔除尖峰噪声.为了验证去噪效果,与应用较广的统计叠加法进行对比研究.仿真结果表明,对于干扰幅度较大、持续时间较长的尖峰噪声,能量运算法和统计叠加法均能识别并剔除,且不损失有效的磁共振信号,标准差偏差控制在0.3%以内,可以满足实际应用的要求;对于小于信号幅度1.5倍的尖峰噪声,能量运算法可有效识别并剔除,而统计叠加法无法实现.针对多通道探测系统,使用能量运算法剔除尖峰噪声后,可明显提高主通道和参考道的数据相关性,为后续自适应参考对消算法的应用奠定了基础.实测数据处理结果进一步证明了本文方法的实用性.     

CARE Dose 4D技术联合低kV及低剂量对比剂在MSCT头颈CTA应用

目的:探讨128层螺旋CT头颈部血管成像(CTA)应用CARE Dose 4D技术联合低剂量对比剂优化扫描方案的可行性及价值。方法:前瞻性选取接受头颈部血管成像检查的60例患者,随机分为对照组(A组)和双低剂量组(B组),每组各30例。对照组(A组)管电压120 kV,采用CARE Dose 4D技术参考管电流120 mA,对比剂用量65 mL;双低剂量组(B组)管电压80 kV,采用CARE Dose 4D技术参考管电流120 mA,对比剂用量45 mL。测量双侧颈总动脉、双侧颈内动脉及双侧大脑中动脉M1段CT值、噪声、信噪比(SNR)进行客观图像质量评价。由两名高年资主治医师采用双盲法进行图像质量评分评价。对比A组与B组间辐射剂量。结果:两名主治医师对动脉图像量质评分的一致性较高(Kappa=0.782,P<0.05)。两组动脉图像质量评分、SNR比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。双低剂量组各动脉强化CT值均高于对照组;双低剂量组容积CT剂量指数、剂量长度乘积和有效剂量均明显低于对照组;差异均具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:128层MSCT头颈血管成像应用低kV及CARE Dose 4D技术联合低剂量对比剂扫描方案,不仅辐射剂量降低68%,同时造影剂用量降低30.7%,降低对比剂危害风险并节省费用,保证诊断图像质量值得临床推广。      

Broadband synthetic aperture borehole radar interferometry

Trials in mines have established that wideband VHF borehole radars (BHR), working in the 10–100-MHz band, can be used to probe the rockmass between boreholes over ranges from <5 m to as much as 150 m with submeter resolution. There is evidence that ore bodies reflect these radar signals both specularly and diffusely, much as the ground/air interface does when overflown by synthetic aperture radar (SAR). In both SAR and BHR, multiple flight lines, together with diffuse reflections admit the possibility of developing interferometric 3D images of the object. This paper examines the possibility of imaging buried objects in three dimensions by interferometrically combining broadband VHF borehole radar profiles shot in adjacent pairs of boreholes. Broadbanding in BHR has the advantage of releasing the image from 2nπ phase ambiguities, but practically, interferometric borehole radar (InBHR) needs high signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) to avoid noise capture. This means that 3D InBHR is limited to ranges in wavelengths which are less than the rock's attenuation factor Q. Interferometric methods are developed which are capable of mapping ore bodies and other structures in three dimensions. Tangent plane migration methods are developed here in order to reconstruct surfaces that lie in the near-field of sparse interferometric arrays.     

核磁共振共轭梯度解谱方法研究

核磁共振（NMR）解谱技术是核磁共振资料应用的基础和关键.本文将核磁共振解谱的混定线性反演问题转化为求目标函数极小值的最优化问题,然后利用共轭梯度算法具有二次终止性、收敛速度快的特点解决上述最优化问题.将该方法应用于无噪声和不同信噪比的理论数据解谱以及岩心NMR实验解谱并与真谱及实验室国外软件解谱结果对比表明：在信噪比SNR≥5时解谱结果和真谱符合得很好,谱线光滑连续;随着信噪比的降低对初始点的要求随之提高;两块岩心解谱结果与实验室结果符合得很好,利用解谱结果计算的核磁孔隙度与实验室氦孔隙度绝对误差分别为0.78%和0.57%.因此,本文方法有效、实用,具有较强的抗噪能力,对初始点的要求不高,能够应用于生产和科研实践中.     

(T2,D)二维核磁共振测井混合反演方法与参数影响分析

一维核磁共振(1D NMR)测井技术在流体识别中具有一定的局限性.二维核磁共振(2D NMR)测井能同时测量到多孔介质中横向弛豫时间(T₂)和扩散系数(D)等信息,利用这两个参数区分流体性质,较一维核磁共振测井技术具有明显的优越性.针对梯度场下的2D NMR测井弛豫机理和数学模型,提出了适用于求解大型稀疏矩阵方程的反演方法-基于非负最小二乘法(LSQR)和截断奇异值分解(TSVD)法的混合算法.为验证方法的有效性,先根据多回波观测模式合成回波串数据,然后再用混合反演算法进行反演,反演得到横向弛豫时间(T₂)和扩散系数(D),并构建T₂-D二维谱图.结果对比表明,该混合反演算法得到的T₂-D二维谱与流体模型一致性好,计算精度均比单一反演方法有较大改善,表明该混合反演方法可用于油气储集层2D NMR测井的反演和流体识别.此外,分别对油水同层和气水同层模型进行了正演模拟和反演实验, 系统考察了不同磁场梯度、不同回波间隔组合对反演效果的影响,为2D NMR参数设计提供依据.     

Caldera-scale inflation of the Lazufre volcanic area, South America: Evidence from InSAR

Collapsed calderas are the structural surface expression of the largest volcanic eruptions on Earth and may reach diameters of tens of kilometres while erupting volumes larger than 1000 km³. Remnants of collapse calderas can be found along the South American volcanic arc and are thought to be inactive. However, this study shows that systems of such dimension may become active in a relatively short period of time without attracting much attention. Using satellite-based InSAR data, a 45 km wide elongated area of ground deformation was observed in the Lazufre volcanic region (Chile), where no deformation was detected 10 years ago. The deformation signal shows an uplift of up to ~ 3 cm yr^− 1 during 2003–2006, affecting an area of about 1100 km², comparable in size to super-volcanoes such as Yellowstone or Long Valley. This deformation signal can be explained by an inflating magma body at about 10 km depth, expanding and propagating laterally at a velocity of up to 4 km per year. Although it is not clear whether this intrusion will lead to an eruption, its dimensions and the rapid deformation rate insinuate that a potentially large volcanic system is forming.     

Research on the imaging of concrete defect based on the pulse compression technique

When the synthetic aperture focusing technology (SAFT) is used for the detection of the concrete, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and detection depth are not satisfactory. Therefore, the application of SAFT is usually limited. In this paper, we propose an improved SAFT technique for the detection of concrete based on the pulse compression technique used in the Radar domain. The proposed method first transmits a linear frequency modulation (LFM) signal, and then compresses the echo signal using the matched filtering method, after which a compressed signal with a narrower main lobe and higher SNR is obtained. With our improved SAFT, the compressed signals are manipulated in the imaging process and the image contrast is improved. Results show that the SNR is improved and the imaging resolution is guaranteed compared with the conventional short-pulse method. From theoretical and experimental results, we show that the proposed method can suppress noise and improve imaging contrast, and can also be used to detect multiple defects in concrete.     

Improving waveform inversion using modified interferometric imaging condition

Similar to the reverse-time migration, full waveform inversion in the time domain is a memory-intensive processing method. The computational storage size for waveform inversion mainly depends on the model size and time recording length. In general, 3D and 4D data volumes need to be saved for 2D and 3D waveform inversion gradient calculations, respectively. Even the boundary region wavefield-saving strategy creates a huge storage demand. Using the last two slices of the wavefield to reconstruct wavefields at other moments through the random boundary, avoids the need to store a large number of wavefields; however, traditional random boundary method is less effective at low frequencies. In this study, we follow a new random boundary designed to regenerate random velocity anomalies in the boundary region for each shot of each iteration. The results obtained using the random boundary condition in less illuminated areas are more seriously affected by random scattering than other areas due to the lack of coverage. In this paper, we have replaced direct correlation for computing the waveform inversion gradient by modified interferometric imaging, which enhances the continuity of the imaging path and reduces noise interference. The new imaging condition is a weighted average of extended imaging gathers can be directly used in the gradient computation. In this process, we have not changed the objective function, and the role of the imaging condition is similar to regularization. The window size for the modified interferometric imaging condition-based waveform inversion plays an important role in this process. The numerical examples show that the proposed method significantly enhances waveform inversion performance.     

核磁共振测井的正则化-启发式阈值降噪研究

核磁共振(NMR)测井是在高温、高压的极端条件下进行,样品体积小,回波幅度微弱.受到来源复杂的噪声影响,NMR信号通常被淹没在噪声中,测量数据的信噪比较低.提出正则化-启发式阈值算法(Regularization Heursure, R-Heursure)对小波分解后的细节系数阈值降噪,正则化因子的选取与地层孔隙结构和测量数据的原始信噪比相关.通过最大相关系数能量准则选取最优化的母小波函数、消失矩和分解层次,采用正则化因子约束估计的阈值,使选取的阈值恰好能大于噪声水平而不损失小孔(或微孔)的响应信息.数值模拟和实际测井资料处理验证了R-Heursure算法的降噪性能,NMR测井数据的信噪比得以有效改善,为储层评价提供更准确的信息.     

Imprinting chemical remanent magnetization in claystones at 95 °C

Thermal effects related to burial and hydrothermal alteration leads to chemical remanent magnetization (CRM). We present an experimental study of CRM production by heating claystones at 95 °C. A vertical magnetic field of 2 mT was applied to the claystones during heating and the evolution of the remanence during heating in air is monitored intermittently for up to four months. Solid fragments (9 to 26 g) of claystones are included in a Teflon holder that is placed in the oven under a controlled atmosphere. Newly formed grains acquire a CRM and a thermoviscous magnetization (TVRM), both being parallel to the applied magnetic field. CRM is related to the amount of newly formed grains that pass the critical volume during the reaction. To measure the acquired remanence, the claystones are first cooled in a zero magnetic field and then measured using a 2G SQUID magnetometer.In the frame of the research programme on the feasibility of radioactive waste disposal in a deep geological formation, we investigate the magnetic transformation of Mont Terri Lower Dogger claystones (Switzerland) due to thermal imprinting at 95 °C. We simulate the dehydration that occurs in the walls of galleries after excavation when interstitial water evaporates and rehydration when the galleries are refilled allowing water to move towards dehydrated zones. During dehydration, the remanence gains one order of magnitude at the beginning of the experiment and then it follows a linear rate of 0.23 ± 0.07 mA m^− 1/day between 3 and 14 days. The magnetic susceptibility increases by a few percent. The increase of the remanence and of the magnetic susceptibility stops after 15 days. Mass monitoring indicates that interstitial water evaporates when remanence and magnetic susceptibility stabilizes. During rehydration, the remanence increases again whilst magnetic susceptibility drops by a few percent. After 20 days, the remanence during rehydration follows a rate of 0.42 ± 0.15 mA m^− 1/day. By contrast, when rehydration takes place later, after 66 days, the rate is much lower (0.09 ± 0.04 mA m^− 1/day). Low temperature investigation of magnetic properties indicates an initial magnetic assemblage of magnetite and pyrrhotite. Newly formed magnetite and hematite carry the remanence. We propose that magnetite is formed at the expense of pyrite. Hematite results from the progressive oxidation of newly formed magnetite. Our results suggest the possibility that any claystones that pass the oil window can be remagnetized due to the unique action of temperature.     

SOTEM数据一维OCCAM反演及其应用于三维模型的效果

本文基于垂直磁场分量研究了SOTEM数据的一维OCCAM反演方法,并将其应用于理论三维数据及野外实测数据的反演.对于大部分一维模型,OCCAM反演可取得较好的反演效果,且反演结果不依赖于偏移距;噪声对SOTEM数据的OCCAM反演具有较大影响,但当信号含噪水平不超过5%时,反演结果仍具有较好的准确性;若浅层存在较厚的低阻层,OCCAM反演结果对下部地层的分辨能力下降,仅能获得具有平均效应的电阻率.将一维算法应用于SOTEM三维数据的反演,会产生较大的误差,尤其是在异常体边缘地带影响最为严重.该影响程度与异常体和背景电阻率之间的差异有关,对于大多数电性近似呈连续变化的真实大地而言,一维OCCAM反演算法仍可获得较好的效果.最后通过陕西某煤田深部富水性调查的实测SOTEM数据反演验证了本文的研究成果.     

碳酸盐岩溶洞成像要素分析与研究

碳酸盐岩油气藏储集空间以裂缝和溶洞为主,在地震剖面上主要表现为＂串珠状＂。为了研究溶洞成像规律,本文通过大量的数值模拟,分析溶洞的成像分辨率,探讨溶洞成像与上覆地层、信噪比（SNR）、覆盖次数、偏移速度和偏移方法之间的定量关系。研究认为：①无论是溶洞的纵向分辨率还是横向分辨率,均满足1/4波长调谐规律,可以将薄层机理转用至溶洞分辨率解释;②溶洞的存在会对上覆地层产生下拉效应,使溶洞在地震剖面上呈塌陷等＂非串珠状＂特征;③高覆盖和小道距（面元）可提高串珠能量,压制偏移附带的背景噪声;④叠前偏移能改善资料的SNR,提高成像精度,特别是低SNR资料;⑤偏移速度偏小,串珠边缘下拉,反之会上翘,速度偏大带来的成像质量变差的程度要大于速度偏小;⑥不同偏移方法对缝洞成像效果存在差异,对于低SNR资料,溶洞成像拟选取频率域或频波域方法。     

Effect of small potassium-rich dykes on regional gamma-spectrometry image of a potassium-poor volcanic complex: A case from the Doupovské hory Volcanic Complex, NW Czech Republic

Basaltic rocks with low K, U and Th contents dominate the entire Volcanic Complex of the Doupovské hory Mts. Significant potassium anomaly exceeding 1.5 atomic wt.% of potassium over an area of 4 × 8 km and 2 atomic wt.% of potassium over an area of 2 × 6 km was defined by airborne gamma-ray spectrometry above the central part of the Doupovské hory Volcanic Complex. The following detailed field study, supported by field and laboratory gamma-spectrometry measurements and geochemical analyses of rock samples, resulted in discovery of a swarm of potassium-rich trachytic dykes. The existence of such highly-differentiated rocks in the volcanic complex was unknown till present. These dykes are commonly less than 1 m wide, but their potassium content varies between 4 and 8 atomic wt.%. Owing to this high-K composition and relative abundance of dykes, the dyke rocks significantly modify the regional pattern of gamma-spectrometry data. The potassium anomaly cannot be explained by the presence of Flurbühl intrusive body dominated by ijolites and essexites, as all these rocks are poor in K, with potassium typically not exceeding 1.5 wt.%. On the other hand, much more extensive intermediate trachybasaltic lavas with K content varying within the range 1.8–3 wt.% cause only minor or undetectable anomalies.     

Geophysical imaging of buried volcanic structures within a continental back-arc basin: The Central Volcanic Region, North Island, New Zealand

Hidden beneath the ~ 2 km thick low-velocity volcaniclastics on the western margin of the Central Volcanic Region, North Island, New Zealand, are two structures that represent the early history of volcanic activity in a continental back-arc. These ~ 20 × 20 km structures, at Tokoroa and Mangakino, form an adjacent gravity high and low, respectively. Interpretations from seismic refraction arrivals and gravity modelling indicate the − 65 mgal Mangakino residual gravity anomaly can be modelled, in part, by two low-density bodies that reach depths of ~ 6.5 km, whereas the Tokoroa gravity anomaly is due to a higher density rock coming, at most, to within ~ 650 m of the surface. The Mangakino anomaly is interpreted to be due to the remnants of magma chambers that fed large ignimbrite eruptions from about 1.2 Ma. An andesite volcano or complex volcanic structure is the preferred interpretation for the Tokoroa gravity high. The size of the putative volcanic structure is comparable to the presently active Tongariro Volcanic Complex in the centre of North Island.