Columbia River Basalt Plateau—An integrated approach to interpretation of basalt‐covered areas

Geophysics ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 50 (12) ◽  
pp. 2709-2719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corine Prieto ◽  
Carolyn Perkins ◽  
Ernest Berkman

An interpretation is presented of a 219 km regional profile which traverses the eastern Columbia River Plateau in Washington State. Aeromagnetic, magnetotelluric (MT), and gravity data were first interpreted separately. All three data sets then were satisfied by a single geologic model. The objective of this case study is to illustrate the individual contributions derived from these three geophysical data sets to a final integrated interpretation. The aeromagnetic interpretation has produced regional structural information and data from which rock compositions can be inferred. The MT interpretation shows that the basalt/sediment interface can be determined, and thus a relative sediment thickness can be inferred. The gravity interpretation is dependent upon an additional method to determine either the basalt or basement horizon. In order for the gravity interpretation to approximate depth to basement or sedimentary thickness, the base of the basalt must be determined from another scientific method. From comparison of the regional structural results of the three geophysical techniques we conclude that aeromagnetic or MT data can be used to determine major structural trends. Reasonable rock compositions are also determined from the combined data sets. The interpreter must be aware of the different rock properties measured by each tool when performing an integrated interpretation; comparisons between the various techniques must be based upon similar assumptions. We recommend that detailed, integrated models be included for a thorough evaluation of any basalt‐covered area. The analysis of rock composition and regional structural information thus derived provides a sound basis for a regional tectonic interpretation and subsequent prospect evaluation.

Author(s):  
Richard M. Carruthers ◽  
John D. Cornwell

Lateral variations in the density and magnetization of the rocks within the crust give rise to "anomalies" in the Earth's gravity and magnetic fields. These anomalies can be measured and interpreted in terms of the geology both in a qualitative sense, by mapping out trends and changes in anomaly style, and quantitatively, by creating models of the subsurface which reproduce the observed fields. Such interpretations are generally less definitive in themselves than the results from seismic surveys (see chapter 12), but the data are widely available and can provide information in areas where other methods are ineffective or have not been applied. As the different geophysical techniques respond to specific rock properties such as density, magnetization, and acoustic velocity, the results are complementary, and a fully integrated approach to data collection and interpretation is generally more effective than the sum of its parts assessed on an individual basis. Gravity and magnetic data have been acquired, at least to a reconnaissance scale, over most of the world. In particular, the release into the public domain of satellite altimetry information (combined with improved methods of data processing) means that there is gravity coverage to a similar standard for most of the offshore region to within about 50 km of the coast. Magnetic anomalies recorded from satellites provide global coverage, but the high altitude of the observations means that only large-scale features extending over many 10s of kilometers are delineated. Reconnaissance aeromagnetic surveys with flight lines 10-20 km apart provide a lateral anomaly resolution similar to that of the satellite gravity data. Oceanographic surveys undertaken by a variety of academic and research institutions are another valuable source of data in remote regions offshore which supplement and extend the more detailed coverage obtained over the continental shelves, for example, by oil companies in areas of hydrocarbon interest. Surveys over land vary widely in terms of acquisition parameters and quality, but some form of national compilation is available from many countries. A number of possible applications of the potential field (i.e., gravity and magnetic) data follow from the terms set out by UNCLOS. Paragraph 4(b) of article 76 states, "In the absence of evidence to the contrary, the foot of the continental slope is to be determined as the point of maximum change in the gradient at its base" (italics added).


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily B. Cahoon ◽  
◽  
Martin J. Streck ◽  
Anthony A.P. Koppers ◽  
Daniel P. Miggins

2021 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirjam Bilker-Koivula ◽  
Jaakko Mäkinen ◽  
Hannu Ruotsalainen ◽  
Jyri Näränen ◽  
Timo Saari

AbstractPostglacial rebound in Fennoscandia causes striking trends in gravity measurements of the area. We present time series of absolute gravity data collected between 1976 and 2019 on 12 stations in Finland with different types of instruments. First, we determine the trends at each station and analyse the effect of the instrument types. We estimate, for example, an offset of 6.8 μgal for the JILAg-5 instrument with respect to the FG5-type instruments. Applying the offsets in the trend analysis strengthens the trends being in good agreement with the NKG2016LU_gdot model of gravity change. Trends of seven stations were found robust and were used to analyse the stabilization of the trends in time and to determine the relationship between gravity change rates and land uplift rates as measured with global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) as well as from the NKG2016LU_abs land uplift model. Trends calculated from combined and offset-corrected measurements of JILAg-5- and FG5-type instruments stabilized in 15 to 20 years and at some stations even faster. The trends of FG5-type instrument data alone stabilized generally within 10 years. The ratio between gravity change rates and vertical rates from different data sets yields values between − 0.206 ± 0.017 and − 0.227 ± 0.024 µGal/mm and axis intercept values between 0.248 ± 0.089 and 0.335 ± 0.136 µGal/yr. These values are larger than previous estimates for Fennoscandia.


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