The oldest dated rocks from the Acasta gneisses of the western Slave Province, Canada present an igneous age of ~4030 Ma. Following this the detrital zircons from the Jack Hills, Narryer Gneiss Terrane, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia are identified as 4404 ±8 Ma. These discoveries suggest that crustal formation started as early as the Priscian Eon. Hitherto the Earth has gone through a series of interactions involving the atmosphere, hydrosphere, crust, mantle and core. However, only limited remnants of these early processes remain on the accessible crust due to extensive crustal reworking. The Southern Granulite Terrane (SGT) in the southern part of India represents the most extensive exposure of lower crustal granulite terranes in the world. This study mainly focuses on the characteristics of Archean (~2500 Ma) tectonics and nature of subsequent crustal growth, which led to the formation of Archean Nilgiri Block. Detailed fieldwork in this terrane and subsequent petrographic analysis revealed charnockites, hornblende-biotite gneiss, metagabbro/mafic granulite, websterite, amphibolite, Grt-Ky metasediment, metatuff and banded iron formation as the main rock types in this terrane. Field and petrographic results show a regional trend with garnet-orthopyroxene-biotite-quartz-plagioclase-K- feldspar bearing charnockites in the southern part which gets subsequently enriched in clinopyroxene that forms garnet-absent two pyroxene granulites consisting of orthopyroxene-clinopyroxene-quartz-plagioclase-K-feldspar towards the central part. Further north, metagabbro/mafic granulite is enriched in garnet-clinopyroxene-plagioclase assemblage. Websterite, amphibolite, metasediment, metatuff and banded iron formation are stacked and closely associated within this mafic belt in the north. The metagabbro represents peak P-T conditions of ~850°C and ~14kbar compared to the charnockites, which recorded a peak P-T of ~850°C and 9-10kbar. Petrographic results of oxide minerals show that the southern charnockitic part is abundant in rutile-ilmenite association represent reduced conditions compared to the oxidized magnetite-hematite-ilmenite associations in the mafic rocks. This oxidation trend is followed by pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite enriched southern charnockitic region that transforms to pyrite rich northern mafic belt. Ilmenite¬titanite association with no sulphides characterizes the hornblende-biotite gneiss in the entire Nilgiri Block. The geochemical variations of major, trace and rare earth elements show that the granulite-amphibolite grade felsic rocks evolved in an arc magmatic process leaving behind mafic magma, which later intruded into these rocks, in a subduction related arc magmatic process. The U-Pb LA-ICPMS and SHRIMP dating of charnockite, hornblende-biotite gneiss and met gabbros shows ca. 2550 Ma formation age and ca. 2450 Ma metamorphism in this terrane.

xiv, 103 p. : ill. (some col.) / Results from a recent mid-ocean ridge tomography study along the fast-spreading, northern East Pacific Rise (EPR) reveal that the axis of mantle upwelling beneath the ridge is skewed with respect to the spreading axis, giving rise to regions of both rise-centered and off-axis mantle melt accumulation. Here, we investigate the effects of off-axis melt accumulation on the architecture of overlying crust as well as off-axis melt delivery on crustal construction along the ridge axis. We first present evidence for off-axis magmatism 20 km from the spreading center in 300-ka-old crust overlying a region of off-axis melt supply. Seismic data reveal an intrusive complex ∼2 km beneath the seafloor that is limited in lateral extent (<5 km) and comprises a melt lens underlain by low-velocity, high-attenuation crust, which provides the necessary conditions to drive off-axis volcanic and hydrothermal activity. We next present results from thermodynamic modeling that show systematic, along-axis variations in the depth of crystallization and degree of differentiation of magma produce crustal density variations of ∼0.1 g/cm 3 . These density anomalies are on the order inferred from a recent study that shows increasing axial depth along the northern EPR correlates with an increase in crustal density and offset of mantle upwelling with respect to the ridge axis. Our results, along with geophysical and geochemical data from the 9°-10°N region of the EPR, suggest that along-axis deeps correspond with magmatic systems that have significant near-Moho (i.e., crust-mantle transition) crystallization, which we attribute to off-axis delivery of mantle melt. As this investigation is motivated by the EPR tomography results, we conclude with a numerical study that examines the travel time sensitivity of Pn , a sub-crustal head wave commonly used in local travel time tomography, to crustal and mantle heterogeneity. Our results indicate that Pn travel times and Fresnel zones are insensitive to normal sub-axial crustal thickness anomalies, mantle velocity gradients and crust-mantle velocity contrast variations and that mantle low-velocity zones must be at least 3 km thick to produce significant, near-constant Pn delay times. Our data support the validity and interpretation of the EPR tomography results. This dissertation includes both previously published and unpublished co-authored material. / Committee in charge: Dr. Douglas R. Toomey, Chairperson; Dr. Paul J. Wallace, Member; Dr. Eugene Humphreys, Member; Dr. James Isenberg, Outside Member

Jusqu’à peu, Mars était vue comme une planète à substrat crustal homogène, dominé par des basaltes à olivine. Les missions in situ ont contribué à bouleverser cette vision si simpliste. Le rover Curiosity qui sillonne le cratère d’impact de Gale formé à l’Hespérien (3.5-3.8 Ga) creusé dans des roches noachiennes (> 3.8 Ga), a ainsi découvert, grâce aux analyses LIBS (‘laser induced breakdown spectroscopy’) de l’instrument ChemCam, des roches ignées alcalines felsiques noachiennes, révélant un magmatisme primitif évolué (Sautter et al., 2016) : ce résultat est en accord avec l’identification récente de clastes ignés felsiques d’âge Noachien observés dans la brèche martienne NWA 7533 et ses paires. Une croûte primitive martienne évoluée de type ‘continentale’ aurait-elle existé ? C’est ce que suggère ce travail de par l’observation orbitale GRS de plusieurs terrains noachiens felsiques enrichis en K et Th et abondants en feldspaths. Par ailleurs, du fait de l’identification de feldspaths peu calciques dans les roches et clastes de Gale et de la brèche, il est envisagé ici que la croûte primitive martienne ait pu se former selon un modèle différent de l’océan de magma défini sur la Lune. De plus, la quantification de Li, Rb, Sr et Ba dans l’ensemble des matériaux ignés de Gale analysés par la LIBS ainsi que leurs concentrations dans les clastes ignés de la brèche, suggèrent l’existence de plusieurs réservoirs magmatiques primitifs. En parallèle, la quantification du Cu à partir des données LIBS effectuée dans cette étude, met en évidence des abondances anormalement élevées dans des roches potassiques de la région de Kimberley. Majoritairement associées à des silicates détritiques ignés, ces phases de cuivre proviendraient d’une source magmatique primitive siliceuse localisée dans le flanc Nord de Gale. Au Noachien, la circulation hydrothermale dans un magma évolué aurait formé un gisement métallifère de cuivre aux alentours du cratère. Finalement, la Terre et Mars sont géologiquement plus proches que jamais / Until recently, Mars was considered as a planet with a homogeneous crust dominated by olivine-rich basalts. This simplistic vision has been largely disrupted especially with results of recent in situ missions. In this way, the Curiosity rover that travels in Gale crater, which formed by impact during the Hesperian period (3.5-3.8 Gyr) within igneous basement rocks dated at 4.2 Gyr, discovered Noachian alkaline igneous rocks (> 3.8 Gyr) using the ChemCam LIBS instrument (‘laser induced breakdown spectroscopy’): this observation along with the recent identification of Noachian igneous felsic clasts within the breccia meteorite NWA 7533 and subsequent paired stones, revealed an evolved primitive magmatic system (Sautter et al., 2016). Would an evolved ‘continental’ primitive crust have ever existed on Mars? This is favored in this work by orbital GRS observations showing several Si-K-Th-rich Noachian terrains displaying abundant feldspars. Besides, the identification of low-Ca feldspars within the clasts of the breccia and Gale rocks, suggests that the primitive martian crust may have formed according to a model that differs from the lunar magma ocean. In addition, the LIBS quantification of Li, Rb, Sr and Ba presented in this work in igneous rocks, along with the distribution of alkali trace elements within the igneous clasts of the breccia, suggests the potential occurrence of several magmatic reservoirs. Concurrently, in the Kimberley formation, copper quantification using LIBS data, reveals anomalously elevated abundances within potassic rocks: these Cu-phases mainly associated with detrital igneous silicates, would come from a primitive felsic igneous source located in the northern rim. During the Noachian period, the hydrothermal circulation within an evolved magmatic chamber favored the formation of a Cu-bearing deposit in Gale vicinity. After all, the Earth and Mars are geologically closer than ever

Les teneurs en éléments majeurs et trace, les isotopes Sr-Nd-Pb, les teneurs en H2O et l’isotope de l’O des phénocristaux de cpx des basaltes cénozoïques de 11 sites du Sud Est Chinois situés dans des contextes géodynamiques variables ont été mesurés pour identifier les différents composants faisant partie de leur source. Les basaltes Cénozoïques de Zhejiang se sont mi en place durant deux périodes, 20-27Ma et après 11Ma. Leurs teneurs en H2O varient de 1.3-2.6%. Les basaltes Cénozoïques du Fujian ont fait éruption il y a moins de 10 Ma. Le teneurs en H2O initial des basaltes de Shiheng s’étend de 1.3-2.4%; les diabases de Bailin ont des teneurs s en eau estimés de 1.9-2.1%, et ceux de Mingxi des teneurs es initiaux de 0.3-0.5%. Les teneurs en H2O des basaltes de sont de 1.3-2.6%. Les basaltes de Xilong (Zhejiang), Mingxi (Fujian) et Leihuling (Hainan) ont des sources mantelliques contaminées par de la croûte océanique recyclée, ceux de Gaoping et Shuangcai (Zhejiang), Shiheng, Bailin et Niutuoshan (Fujian) et Maanling, Dayang et Fujitian (Hainan) voient leurs sources mantelliques contaminées par à la fois des sédiments et la croûte océanique recyclés. Les matériaux recyclés diffèrent suivant l’âge et la localisation. En résumé, les basaltes cénozoïques SE chinois ont des signatures élémentaires et isotopiques marquées par la présence de matériaux océaniques recyclés dans leurs sources mantelliques. Les matériaux recyclés varient entre les différentes localités, tant dans leurs proportions que leur degré d’évolution. Nos résultats montrent que la plaque subductée Ouest Pacifique affecte probablement la composition du manteau sous continentale du Sud Est Chinois / The major and trace element contents, Sr-Nd-Pb isotope, H2O contents and the cpx phenocryst O isotope of Cenozoic basalts from 11 places with distinct geological backgrounds in SE China have been measured to decipher the relationship between the possible recycled components and mantle geochemical heterogeneities. Zhejiang basalts erupted in two stages, 20-27Ma and after 11Ma. Their H2O contents range from 1.3-2.6%. The estimated H2O contents of initial basaltic melts for the Shiheng basalts range from 1.3-2.4%; the Bailin diabases have “fake” basaltic melt water contents from 1.9-2.1%; and the Mingxi basalts have initial H2O contents of 0.3-0.5%, in Fujian. H2O content the basalts from Leihuling (LH), Dayang (DY) and Fujitian (FJT) areas in Hainan are 2.7 wt. %, 1.3 wt. %, and 2.6 wt. %. The Xilong basalts from Zhejiang, Mingxi basalts from Fujian and Leihuling basalts from Hainan involved recycled oceanic crust components in the mantle source, while the Gaoping and Shuangcai basalts from Zhejiang, Shiheng, Bailin, and Niutoushan basalts from Fujian as well as the Maanling, Dayang and Fujitian basalts from Hainan involved recycled oceanic sediments and crust components in their mantle source. Overall, the SE China Cenozoic basalts have involved the recycled oceanic materials in their mantle source. The recycled oceanic materials have different existential state and locations, when the geological history of SE China are considered. The subducted Pacific slab most likely effect the composition of mantle in SE China

Esta pesquisa investigou a cobertura pedológica para compreender os processos pedogenéticos que atuam na formação e evolução das depressões fechadas existentes no Compartimento Três Cantos. A área de estudo está situada no sudoeste do município de Maracaí-SP, no interflúvio entre o ribeirão das Anhumas e o rio Capivara, afluentes do rio Paranapanema. A área apresenta depressões fechadas na parte cimeira, com solos vermelho-amarelos e vermelhos, de textura média, e couraças. Para atingirmos o nosso objetivo avaliamos duas topossequências na depressão da lagoa Mandacaru, e os fatores regionais e locais que poderiam contribuir para a formação e evolução das depressões. O estudo da cobertura pedológica seguiu os procedimentos da Análise Estrutural da Cobertura Pedológica propostos por Boulet et al. (1982). Os resultados mostraram que os processos pedológicos que predominam na área são latossolização, a hidromorfia e a iluviação. A latossolização transforma a couraça em Latossolos. A hidromorfia ataca a couraça e os horizontes Bw, transformando-os em uma estrutura em blocos quando seca, e maciça quando úmida, é combinada com o processo de iluviação que transforma o horizonte A e Bt em E, resultando em Argissolos. A latossolização foi o primeiro processo à transformar as couraças, e com a instalação de condições mais úmidas, a hidromorfia transformou as couraças e os latossolos, deformando o platô em que estavam instalados. A hidromorfia, portanto, seria a responsável pelo início da formação da depressão, e o processo de iluviação seria subsequente e contribuiria para o aprofundamento e alargamento das depressões. A formação das depressões está relacionada à estrutura geológica, e as depressões são o estágio inicial da rede de drenagem, como pode ser observado nas áreas em que as depressões foram abertas e que os solos ainda não estão ajustados à nova forma das vertentes. / This research investigates the pedological cover to understand genetic processes at work in the formation and evolution of closed depressions in the Três Cantos compartment. The study area is located in the municipality Maracaí-SP (Brazil), at the interfluve between Anhumas and Capivara rivers, both tributaries of the Paranapanema River. The area has closed depressions in the top of local surface, with red-yellow and red soils and iron crust. To achieve our goal we evaluated two toposequences in the Mandacaru depression, as well as regional and local factors that could contribute to the formation and evolution of depressions. The procedures adopted for this research were based on the Structural Analysis of the Pedologic Coverage, proposed by Boulet et al. (1982). The results showed that the pedological processes that dominate are latosolization, hydromorphy and illuviation. The latosolization transforms the iron crust into Latosol in the Brazilian System of Soil Classification (Ferrasols -FAO, 2006). The hydromorphy that attacks the iron crust and Bw horizons resulting in a block structure when dry, and massive when wet combined with the illuviation process that transforms the horizons A and Bt into E result in Argisol in the Brazilian System of Soil Classification (Lixisols FAO, 2006). The latosolization process was the first to transform the iron crust, followed by wet conditions, transforming the iron crust and latosols due to hydromorphy action; consequently, the plateau was deformed. Hydromorphy, therefore, was responsible for initiating depression formation and subsequently the illuviation process contributed to it. Currently these two processes act deepening and widening the depressions. The formation of depressions is related to the geological structure, and these depressions are the initial stage of the areas drainage system, as may be observed in areas where the depressions have been opened, and where the soils are not yet adjusted to the new form of the slope.

Two suites of intermediate-felsic plutonic rocks were recovered by dredges RD63 and RD64 (R/V KK81-06-26) from the northern wall of the Mariana trench near Guam, which is located in the southern part of the Izu-Bonin-Mariana (IBM) island arc system. The locations of the dredges are significant as the area contains volcanic rocks (forearc basalts and boninites) that have been pivotal in explaining processes that occur when one lithospheric plate initially begins to subduct beneath another. The plutonic rocks have been classified based on petrologic and geochemical analyses, which provides insight to their origin and evolution in context of the surrounding Mariana trench. Based on whole rock geochemistry, these rocks (SiO2: 49-78 wt%) have island arc trace element signatures (Ba, Sr, Rb enrichment, Nb-Ta negative anomalies, U/Th enrichment), consistent with the adjacent IBM volcanics. Depletion of rare earth elements (REEs) relative to primitive mantle and excess Zr and Hf compared to the middle REEs indicate that the source of the plutonic rocks is similar to boninites and transitional boninites. Early IBM volcanic rocks define isotopic fields (Sr, Pb, Nd and Hf-isotopes) that represent different aspects of the subduction process (e.g., sediment influence, mantle provenance). The southern Mariana plutonic rocks overlap these fields, but show a clear distinction between RD63 and RD64. Modeling of the REEs, Zr and Hf shows that the plutonic suites formed via melting of boninite crust or by crystallization from a boninite-like magma rather than other sources that are found in the IBM system. The data presented support the hypothesis that the plutonic rocks from RD63 and RD64 are products of subduction initiation and are likely pieces of middle crust in the forearc exposed at the surface by faulting and serpentine mudvolcanoes. Their existence shows that intermediate-felsic crust may form very early in the history of an intra-oceanic island arc system. Plutonic rocks with similar formation histories may exist in obducted suprasubduction zone ophiolites and would be evidence that felsic-intermediate forearc plutonics are eventually accreted to the continents.

The Andean Southern Volcanic Zone (SVZ) is a vast and complex continental arc that has been studied extensively to provide an understanding of arc-magma genesis, the origin and chemical evolution of the continental crust, and geochemical compositions of volcanic products. The present study focuses on distinguishing the magma/sub-arc crustal interaction of eruptive products from the Azufre-Planchon-Peteroa (APP 35°15’S) volcanic center and other major centers in the Central SVZ (CSVZ 37°S - 42°S), Transitional SVZ (TSVZ 34.3-37.0°S), and Northern SVZ (NSVZ 33°S - 34°30’S). New Hf and Nd isotopic and trace element data for SVZ centers are consistent with former studies that these magmas experienced variable depths of crystal fractionation, and that crustal assimilation is restricted to the lower crustal depths with an apparent role of garnet. Thermobarometric calculations applied to magma compositions constrain the depth of magma separation from mantle sources in all segments of the SVZ to(70-90 km). Magmatic separation at the APP complex occurs at an average depth of ~50 km which is confined to the mantle lithosphere and the base of the crust suggesting localized thermal abrasion both reservoirs. Thermobarometric calculations indicate that CSVZ primary magmas arise from a similar average depth of (~54 km) which confines magma separation to the asthenospheric mantle. The northwards along-arc Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic data and LREE enrichment accompanied with HREE depletion of SVZ mafic magmas correlates well with northward increasing crustal thickness and decreasing primary melt separation from mantle source regions indicating an increased involvement of lower crustal components in SVZ magma petrogenesis. The study concludes that the development of mature subduction zones over millions of years of continuous magmatism requires that mafic arc derived melts stagnate at lower crustal levels due to density similarities and emplace at lower crustal depths. Basaltic underplating creates localized hot zone environments below major magmatic centers. These regions of high temperature/partial melting, and equilibration with underplated mafic rocks provides the mechanism that controls trace element and isotopic variability of primary magmas of the TSVZ and NSVZ from their baseline CSVZ-like precursors.

This thesis presents the results of a combined magnetic fabric and palaeomagnetic analysis of lower crustal rocks exposed in the Oman (Semail) ophiolite. This has long been an important natural laboratory for understanding the construction of oceanic crust at fast spreading axes and its subsequent tectonic evolution, but magnetic investigations in the ophiolite have been limited. Analyses presented here involve using: (i) magnetic anisotropies as a proxy for magmatic petrofabrics in lower crustal rocks in order to contribute to outstanding questions regarding the mode of accretion of fast-spread oceanic crust; and (ii) classical palaeomagnetic analyses to determine the nature of magnetization in these rocks and gain further insights into the regional-scale pattern of tectonic rotations that have affected the ophiolite. The extensive layered gabbro sequences exposed in the Semail ophiolite have been sampled at a number of key localities. These are shown to have AMS fabrics that are layer-parallel but also have a regional-scale consistency of the orientation of maximum anisotropy axes. This consistency across sites separated by up to 100 km indicates large-scale controls on fabric development and may be due to consistent magmatic flow associated with the spreading system or the influence of plate-scale motions on deformation of crystal mushes emplaced in the lower crust. Detailed analysis of fabrics in a single layer and across the sampled sections are consistent with either magmatic flow during emplacement of a melt layer into a lower crustal sill complex, or traction/drag of such layers in response to regional-scale stresses (e.g. mantle drag). Together, results support formation of the layered gabbros by injection of melt into sill complexes in the lower crust. New anisotropy data from the overlying foliated gabbros sampled at two key localities also provide insights into the style of melt migration at this crustal level. Fabrics are consistent with either focused or anastomosing magmatic upwards flow through this layer, reflecting melt migration beneath a fossil axial melt lens. Previous palaeomagnetic research in lavas of the northern ophiolitic blocks has demonstrated substantial clockwise intraoceanic tectonic rotations. Palaeomagnetic data from lower crustal sequences in the southern blocks, however, have been more equivocal due to complications arising from remagnetization. Systematic sampling resolves for the first time a pattern of remagnetized lowermost gabbros and retention of earlier magnetizations by uppermost gabbros and the overlying dyke-rooting zone. Results are supported by a positive fold test that shows that remagnetization of lower gabbros occurred prior to Campanian structural disruption of the Moho. NW-directed remagnetized remanences in the lower units are consistent with those used previously to infer lack of significant rotation of the southern blocks. In contrast, E/ENE-directed remanences in the uppermost gabbros imply a large, clockwise rotation of the southern blocks, of a sense and magnitude consistent with that inferred from extrusive sections in the northern blocks. Hence, without the control provided by systematic crustal sampling, the potential for different remanence directions being acquired at different times may lead to erroneous tectonic interpretation.

Les profils de sismique réflexion de Marges Passives Volcaniques imagent une croûte inférieure réflective formée de deux domaines distincts. Ces réflecteurs sont interprétés comme des intrusions mafiques associées à la formation de la marge. Les observations géophysiques ne permettent pas de comprendre les conséquences associées à la mise en place de ces magmas sur la rhéologie et la déformation effective de la croûte inférieure des marges volcaniques. Cette thèse explore deux exemples géologiques de croûte inférieure à l’affleurement qui ont été affectés par d’importants volumes magmatiques pendant leur histoire extensive : la Zone d’Ivrée (Alpes italiennes) et la province de Seiland (Calédonides finmarkiennes). Une étude approfondie de terrain, associée à des analyses géochimiques et isotopiques ainsi qu’à des expériences de déformation en Presse Paterson permet, (1) de définir la structure synthétique finie d’une croûte inférieure extensive affectée par un ou plusieurs épisodes magmatiques intenses et d'identifier dans la Zone d’Ivrée une croûte moyenne ductile, dans laquelle s’enracinent les failles de la croûte supérieure, (2) de montrer l’évolution de la rhéologie et de la déformation ductile de la croûte inférieure relativement à la mise en place des magmas (3) de caractériser à partir de Seiland l’interface croûte manteau dans un contexte d’extension synmagmatisme mafique. L’ensemble des résultats montre la complexité des relations, à la fois structurales, spatiales et temporelles, entre les magmas et roches mafiques et la déformation en extension dans la croûte inférieure. / Seismic reflection profiles of Volcanic Passive Margins show a two-domain reflective lower crust. The particular reflectors are interpreted as mafic intrusions associated to the margin evolution.From those geophysical observations it is not possible to understand the consequences of mafic magma emplacement on the rheology and effective deformation of volcanic margins lower crust. This thesis explores two geologic examples of outcropping lower crusts affected by important volumes of magma during their extensional story: the Ivrea Zone (Italian Alps) and Seiland (Finmarkian Caledonides). An important field study associated to geochemical and isotopic analyses, and to Patersonapparatus deformation experiences led to (1) define a synthetic structure of an extensional lower crust affected by one or more major magmatic events and to indentify a ductile middle crust in the Ivrea Zone where roots the upper crust faults, (2) show the rheologic and deformation evolution of the lower crust in relation to magma emplacement timing, (3) characterize, from Seiland observations, the crustmantle interface in an extensional System. The whole study shows the complexity of the temporal, spatial and structural relationships between mafic rocks (as magma and as crystallised rock) and extensional deformation in the lower crust.

Recent advances in computational power, as well as the hard work of a handful of brilliant scientists, have made Bayesian inversion of geophysical observations possible. This development is highly significant, as it permits the quantification of uncertainty, not only on the inverted model parameters, but also on related properties of interest. This dissertation focuses on the application of a particular kind of Bayesian inversion – trans-dimensional Markov chain Monte Carlo – to electromagnetic data, specifically airborne transient electromagnetic, magnetotelluric, and surface-towed controlled source electromagnetic data. In chapters 2-4, these data, both real and synthetic, are inverted for 1D models of subsurface electrical resistivity. In chapter 5, magnetotelluric data are inverted for 2D models of resistivity – the first time, to the best of my knowledge, that trans-dimensional Bayesian inversion of magnetotelluric data for 2D models has been achieved. In each instance, the uncertainty on bulk resistivity provided by the Bayesian inversion is used to estimate uncertainty on related subsurface properties, including pore fluid resistivity and salinity, porosity, melt fraction, melt volatile content, and bulk mantle volatile inventory. Chapter 1 introduces the topic of Bayesian inversion of electromagnetic data. Chapter 2 concerns trans-dimensional Bayesian inversion of airborne transient electromagnetic data. These data were collected above Taylor Glacier in the McMurdo Dry Valleys region of Antarctica in 2011, and were inverted using deterministic inverse methods to image a conductive channel beneath the glacier, interpreted as a package of brine-saturated sediments. The Bayesian inversion of these data confirms the existence of a conductive channel and provides quantitative uncertainties on the resistivity as a function of depth. These uncertainties are used in conjunction with Archie’s Law to estimate uncertainty on the resistivity of the pore fluids in the sediments. Additionally, the Kullback-Leibler divergence – a statistical measure of the dissimilarity of two distributions – is introduced as a measure of how much influence the observations have on the model parameters as a function of depth. The utility of Bayesian inversion in estimating the noise floor necessary to effectively resolve model structure is demonstrated. In chapter 3, a joint Bayesian framework for inverting electromagnetic data is introduced. A modified version of the algorithm utilized in chapter 2 is applied to jointly invert marine magnetotelluric and surface-towed controlled source electromagnetic data. These data were collected offshore New Jersey in 2015 to image a freshwater aquifer in the continental shelf. Deterministic inversions of this data clearly image a resistive body at depths consistent with low salinity from bore hole measurements collocated with the electromagnetic survey. The Bayesian inversion of this data set again confirms the existence of the resistive region while further providing uncertainty on the inverted resistivity with depth. In some instances, bimodality in the posterior distribution is found, demonstrating the importance of Bayesian inverse methods for fully exploring the model space. The uncertainty on bulk resistivity is used in conjunction with Archie’s Law and the porosity from bore hole measurements in a Monte Carlo framework to estimate uncertainty in the salinity of the pore water as a function of depth for three well locations. These estimates match well with measured salinities at these locations, validating the use of the Bayesian posterior in the context of a Monte Carlo framework to estimate uncertainty on related physical properties. In chapter 4, seafloor magnetotelluric data are again inverted for 1D models of subsurface resistivity, this time to image a conductive channel at the base of the lithosphere. The data are a subset of a deployment of 50 Broadband MT instruments on the seafloor above the Cocos plate offshore Nicaragua. Deterministic inversions of this data revealed a conductive structure at 45-70 km depth, beneath the Cocos plate. This earlier analysis concluded that melt was required at the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB) to explain the inverted resistivity, but the deterministic inverse tools available at the time did not permit quantitative uncertainties – on the conductive anomaly itself, the requirement for partial melt, the degree of partial melt, or the degree of mantle hydration. Bayesian inversion of data from two magnetotelluric sites confirm that the conductor is indeed robust, and that melt is required by nearly 100% of the models that fit the data. Further, the resistivity uncertainty from the Bayesian inversion is used in conjunction with petrological modeling of partial melting in the mantle and an estimated probability distribution for temperature to place constraints on the degree of partial melt and mantle volatile (water and carbon) inventory over the depth range 45-63 km. This analysis concludes that large melt fractions and either high temperatures or a high degree of mantle hydration are likely needed to explain the resistivities produced by the Bayesian inversion, potentially explaining the mechanism for plate sliding that enables plate tectonics. Finally, chapter 5 introduces 2D trans-dimensional Bayesian inversion of magnetotelluric data, for the first time to my knowledge. A Gaussian Process-parametrized, trans-dimensional Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm is used with MARE2DEM to invert synthetic data as well as field data from the Gemini data set from the Gulf of Mexico. For Bayesian inversion to be computationally feasible beyond inverting for 1D models, the cost of forward modeling must be reduced, as well as the number of model parameters that the algorithm must sample over. The first challenge is addressed through high performance computing. The forward modeling is performed on a cluster. In addition, we implement parallel tempering, where multiple Markov chains are run in parallel and swap models at each iteration, vastly increasing the rate at which the model space is explored and sampled. The curse of dimensionality is addressed by utilizing a Machine Learning technique known as a Gaussian Process to represent the model with far fewer parameters than required in a typical discrete finite difference or finite element representation of the subsurface. The Bayesian inversion of the Gemini data successfully recovers the model structure obtained by deterministic inversion of the same data, but additionally provides uncertainty on bulk resistivity. This thesis demonstrates the power and utility of Bayesian inversion to move beyond single estimates of subsurface resistivity. Not only does the work in this dissertation show that Bayesian inversion can provide uncertainty on inverted resistivity, it shows that these inverted uncertainties can be used to place quantitative constraints on parameters related to bulk resistivity. This is crucial to rendering the information obtained from inversion of electromagnetic data useful to disciplines far beyond electromagnetic geophysics.