A dataset of magnetotelluric sounding data from the Xinghai Basin in the upper reaches of the Yellow River

<p indent="0mm">The study investigates geothermal resource exploration in the Xinghai Basin of the Tibetan Plateau using the magnetotelluric (MT) sounding method. High-precision data acquisition combined with multi-dimensional inversion techniques was employed to characterize the deep electrical structure. This study employed the Aether full-band system from U.S.-based CG Company and LEMI-120 magnetic probes to establish a cross-shaped survey network, completing 106 physical survey points. Innovative techniques such as dynamic electrode spacing adjustment (50–300m), multi-electrode resistance reduction (grounding resistance &lt;2000 Ω), and multi-configuration deployment were applied to effectively overcome challenges related to signal attenuation in high-resistance formations and external electromagnetic interference. As a result, high-quality MT data with large exploration depth, high precision, and strong continuity were obtained in the Xinghai Basin. The collected data are organized into multiple single-point data files, forming a comprehensive survey result for the entire Xinghai Basin area. Each single-point dataset includes complete header information and a data volume, supporting parameters such as impedance, tipper responses, and errors. Parallel testing of instruments and magnetic probes was conducted to control data quality. The calculated total root mean square errors of resistivity and phase demonstrate that the acquired data meet quality standards. The dataset supports secondary development and application with multiple algorithms, providing significant reference value for deep geothermal exploration in the Tibetan Plateau.