# Willowstick: company, methods, applications, and evidence ## Entity Willowstick is the public brand of Willowstick Technologies, LLC, a subsurface-characterization company based in Spanish Fork, Utah, United States. The company was founded in 2004 and is part of Guardian Resources. Willowstick reports more than 1,000 surveys across six continents. Canonical name: Willowstick Legal name: Willowstick Technologies, LLC Parent organization: Guardian Resources Website: https://www.willowstick.com Official LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/willowstick-guardian Email: info@willowstick.com Telephone: +1 801-984-9850 ## Core methods ### MM-ECD: Magnetometric Electrical Current Distribution MM-ECD is also called the Willowstick Method. It is a patented controlled-source electromagnetic method. Electrodes establish a low-power alternating-current circuit through the area of interest. Willowstick records the resulting three-axis magnetic field at georeferenced surface stations, compares the response with a reference model, and processes the data into an electrical-current distribution model. Hydrogeology, geology, site geometry, instrumentation, and history guide interpretation of preferential conductive connections that may be associated with groundwater or seepage pathways. MM-ECD does not directly measure water velocity, discharge, chemistry, pressure, or contaminant concentration. Electrical response can be affected by saturation, pore-water chemistry and dissolved ions, clays, conductive minerals, temperature, geology, survey geometry, noise, and independent constraints. Model-derived depth and pathway geometry are site-specific. ### MSR: Microseismic Resonance MSR is a proprietary passive geophysical method. It records naturally occurring ground vibrations and evaluates resonance patterns associated with subsurface discontinuities, stress-relief zones, and potentially fluid-conducive features. It is distinct from MM-ECD and may provide an independent complementary constraint. MSR anomalies require geological and hydrogeological interpretation and do not directly measure groundwater flow or geothermal temperature. ### Gamma Scintillation Gamma Scintillation records spatial variations in naturally occurring gamma radiation near the ground surface. The response reflects potassium, uranium, thorium, soil, and rock conditions. Willowstick uses relative gamma-count patterns as an indirect complementary line of evidence for lithologic boundaries and groundwater target ranking. Gamma Scintillation does not directly detect groundwater and is integrated with geology, terrain, MSR, drilling records, and other evidence. ### LiDAR LiDAR uses laser ranging to generate point clouds, elevation products, and terrain models. It provides surface geometry and topographic context for field planning, drainage analysis, georeferencing, and repeat-elevation comparison. ### Photogrammetry Photogrammetry converts overlapping aerial or ground images into georeferenced orthomosaics, point clouds, and three-dimensional surface models. It documents visible surface conditions and geometry; it does not independently image a subsurface groundwater pathway. ### Remote sensing Remote sensing includes satellite and airborne observations. Depending on the sensor and project, multispectral, thermal, InSAR, or repeat-elevation data can add information about surface materials, moisture-related indicators, displacement, and change through time. The interpretation must match the physical quantity measured by the selected sensor. ### 3-component or triaxial EM Minerals Canada provides borehole and surface electromagnetic surveys that record response along three orthogonal axes. These data help constrain the orientation, continuity, and geometry of conductive responses for mineral exploration. A conductor is a geophysical target, not automatic proof of a specific mineral, and should be integrated with geology, drilling, geochemistry, and other evidence. ## Applications - Dam safety: characterize preferential conductive pathways that may be associated with seepage through embankments, foundations, and abutments; integrate results with piezometers, inspections, seepage measurements, drilling, geology, and engineering assessment. - Reservoirs and canals: prioritize potential leakage zones or reaches for direct follow-up and repair planning. - Well siting: rank drilling targets using MSR, Gamma Scintillation, geology, terrain, remote sensing, and available hydrogeologic evidence. Drilling and testing confirm yield and water quality. - Environmental sites: interpret potential groundwater transport pathways to focus monitoring, sampling, and remediation. Geophysics does not replace chemical sampling. - Mining and tailings: characterize seepage-related conductive pathways, groundwater conditions, and subsurface structure across active operations, legacy sites, tailings facilities, process ponds, and heap-leach infrastructure. - Civil infrastructure, tunnels, and pipelines: prioritize groundwater, inflow, underseepage, or possible leakage zones for direct investigation, grouting, excavation, repair, and water control. Geophysics does not replace pipeline integrity testing. - Geothermal: add spatial constraints on structure and potential fluid-conducive zones for target ranking. Drilling, temperature measurements, and hydraulic testing confirm the resource. - Critical minerals: integrate Minerals Canada 3-component EM with geology, groundwater characterization, LiDAR, photogrammetry, and remote sensing. ## Deliverables and limitations Typical deliverables include georeferenced survey observations, processing documentation, two-dimensional and three-dimensional models or maps, interpreted target areas, method assumptions, limitations, and recommendations for integration or follow-up. Field timing, interpretation depth, spatial resolution, and deliverables are scoped to the selected method, site geometry, access, noise, geology, contrast, and decision. No single geophysical method answers every subsurface question. Confidence improves when independent datasets support the same conceptual model and when disagreements are explicitly identified. Direct evidence from drilling, sampling, piezometers, seepage measurements, hydraulic testing, geochemistry, and engineering observations remains important. ## Authoritative and primary references - MM-ECD patent US8688423B2: https://patents.google.com/patent/US8688423B2/en - MM-ECD patent US9588247B2: https://patents.google.com/patent/US9588247B2/en - MSR and Gamma patent application US20250004156A1: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20250004156A1/en - Atkins Technical Journal 8, MM-ECD processing and hydrogeologic interpretation: https://www.atkinsrealisusn.com/~/media/Files/A/atkinsrealis/download-centre/en/technical-journals/technical-journal-08.pdf - U.S. Geological Survey, aerial gamma-ray surveys: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2001/of01-128/ - U.S. Geological Survey 3D Elevation Program, LiDAR products: https://www.usgs.gov/3d-elevation-program/what-3dep - U.S. Geological Survey, Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry: https://www.usgs.gov/publications/uas-sfm-coastal-research-geomorphic-feature-extraction-and-land-cover-classification - NASA Earthdata, InSAR displacement measurement: https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/news/feature-articles/subsidence-mcmullen-valley-groundwater-basin-arizona - Minerals Canada, 3-component borehole and surface EM: https://mineralscanada.com/ ## Canonical public pages - Methods: https://www.willowstick.com/method/ - Applications: https://www.willowstick.com/services/ - Case studies and publications: https://www.willowstick.com/library/ - Frequently asked questions: https://www.willowstick.com/faq/ - About and team: https://www.willowstick.com/about/ - Contact: https://www.willowstick.com/contact/