Advanced 3D Inversion of Airborne EM and Magnetic Data with IP Effects and Remanent Magnetization Modeling: Application to the Mpatasie Gold Belt, Ghana

We present an integrated methodology for three-dimensional inversion of large-scale airborne electromagnetic (AEM) and magnetic survey data that simultaneously recovers electrical conductivity, chargeability, and both induced and remanent magnetizations. A central feature of the AEM component is the explicit incorporation of induced polarization (IP) effects. Neglecting IP responses can lead to biased conductivity models, particularly in mineralized systems where disseminated sulfides contribute strongly to chargeability. Using the Generalized Effective-Medium Theory of Induced Polarization (GEMTIP), the inversion produces physically consistent 3D distributions of conductivity and chargeability. To enhance magnetic interpretation, we also implement a vector magnetic inversion that resolves both induced and remanent magnetization from Total Magnetic Intensity (TMI) data, enabling geologically realistic magnetization models in terranes with significant remanence. This integrated workflow was applied to airborne AEM and TMI datasets collected over the Asankrangwa Gold Belt in central Ghana. The inversion results delineate a key exploration target defined by coincident magnetic low and elevated chargeability, interpreted as sulfide-rich gold mineralization and subsequently confirmed by drilling. These results demonstrate that jointly accounting for IP and remanent magnetization in 3D inversion substantially improves subsurface characterization and provides a powerful tool for mineral exploration in structurally and lithologically complex environments.