Magnetotelluric Survey in the Anti-Atlas

In October 2025, I assisted with commissioning an MT survey in the Anti-Atlas mountains, about 100 km south of Marrakech, later continuing with remote QC. This was field work on mountain slopes surrounded by stones, scenic views, and sheep passing by from time to time while shepherds guided them to another spot.

The project started with a large team of local workers supporting the operation. The first few days felt quite crowded during orientation, but once we began carrying equipment up the slopes, the extra hands became very helpful.

By the second day, we split into two crews, focusing on building confidence with MT setup. Shortly after, the teams were reorganized into four crews, each led by one specialist with a few workers, and the pace of work increased significantly — at times it even felt like more equipment would have kept everyone fully occupied.

Working in the mountains is a mix of effort and reward. Climbing up with gear is not particularly enjoyable, but once on top, the views make it worthwhile. Setting up MT stations in such terrain is an exercise on its own — either dealing with outcrops or unstable loose rocks underfoot.

A stone tipi had to be built to support the vertical (Hz) sensor, while setting horizontals (Hx & Hy) on a slope is another story.

Once the crews were confident to continue independently, my field role was complete and I returned to Canada. From there, I continued supporting the project remotely — reviewing data quality, responding to WhatsApp messages, and checking field photos.

Mountain terrain adds complexity to both logistics and installation, but once the team is structured and confident, productivity can increase quickly. Maintaining proper setup standards in such conditions remains essential for consistent data quality.