A terracing operator for physical property mapping with potential field data

Geophysics ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 621-634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindrith Cordell ◽  
A. E. McCafferty
Keyword(s):  
Gravity Data ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Physical Property ◽  
Digital Data ◽  
Magnetic Data ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Potential Field Data ◽  
Density Mapping ◽  
Domain Boundaries ◽  
Property Model

The terracing operator works iteratively on gravity or magnetic data, using the sense of the measured field’s local curvature, to produce a field comprised of uniform domains separated by abrupt domain boundaries. The result is crudely proportional to a physical‐property function defined in one (profile case) or two (map case) horizontal dimensions. This result can be extended to a physical‐property model if its behavior in the third (vertical) dimension is defined, either arbitrarily or on the basis of the local geologic situation. The terracing algorithm is computationally fast and appropriate to use with very large digital data sets. Where gravity and magnetic data are both available, terracing provides an effective means by which the two data sets can be compared directly. Results of the terracing operation somewhat resemble those of conventional susceptibility (or density) mapping. In contrast with conventional susceptibility mapping, however, the terraced function is a true step function, which cannot be depicted by means of contour lines. Magnetic or gravity fields calculated from the physical‐property model do not, in general, produce an exact fit to the observed data. By intent, the terraced map is more closely analogous to a geologic map in that domains are separated by hard‐edged domain boundaries and minor within‐domain variation is neglected. The terracing operator was applied separately to aeromagnetic and gravity data from a 136 km × 123 km area in eastern Kansas. Results provide a reasonably good physical representation of both the gravity and the aeromagnetic data. Superposition of the results from the two data sets shows many areas of agreement that can be referenced to geologic features within the buried Precambrian crystalline basement. The emerging picture of basement geology is much better resolved than that obtained either from the scanty available drill data or from interpretation of the geophysical data by inspection.

Potential‐field sounding using Euler’s homogeneity equation and Zidarov bubbling

Geophysics ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 59 (6) ◽  
pp. 902-908 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindrith Cordell
Keyword(s):  
Potential Field ◽  
Gravity Data ◽  
Physical Property ◽  
Volume Density ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Magnetic Data ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Potential Field Data ◽  
Homogeneity Equation ◽  
Upper Density

Potential‐field (gravity) data are transformed into a physical‐property (density) distribution in a lower half‐space, constrained solely by assumed upper bounds on physical‐property contrast and data error. A two‐step process is involved. The data are first transformed to an equivalent set of line (2-D case) or point (3-D case) sources, using Euler’s homogeneity equation evaluated iteratively on the largest residual data value. Then, mass is converted to a volume‐density product, constrained to an upper density bound, by “bubbling,” which exploits circular or radial expansion to redistribute density without changing the associated gravity field. The method can be developed for gravity or magnetic data in two or three dimensions. The results can provide a beginning for interpretation of potential‐field data where few independent constraints exist, or more likely, can be used to develop models and confirm or extend interpretation of other geophysical data sets.

scholarly journals Potential-field modelling of the prospective Chibougamau area (northeastern Abitibi subprovince, Quebec, Canada) using geological, geophysical, and petrophysical constraints

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Amir Maleki ◽  
Richard Smith ◽  
Esmaeil Eshaghi ◽  
Lucie Mathieu ◽  
David Snyder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Potential Field ◽  
Gravity Data ◽  
Geophysical Data ◽  
Magnetic Data ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Seismic Section ◽  
Potential Field Data ◽  
Abitibi Subprovince ◽  
Seismic Sections ◽  
Potential Field Modelling

This paper focusses on obtaining a better understanding of the subsurface geology of the Chibougamau area, in the northeast of the Abitibi greenstone belt (Superior craton), using geophysical data collected along a 128 km long traverse with a rough southwest–northeast orientation. We have constructed two-dimensional (2D) models of the study area that are consistent with newly collected gravity data and high-resolution magnetic data sets. The initial models were constrained at depth by an interpretation of a new seismic section and at surface by the bedrock geology and known geometry of lithological units. The attributes of the model were constrained using petrophysical measurements so that the final model is compatible with all available geological and geophysical data. The potential-field data modelling resolved the geometry of plutons and magnetic bodies that are transparent on seismic sections. The new model is consistent with the known structural geology, such as open folding, and provides an improvement in estimating the size, shape, and depth of the Barlow and Chibougamau plutons. The Chibougamau pluton is known to be associated with Cu–Au magmatic-hydrothermal mineralisation and, as the volume and geometry of intrusive bodies is paramount to the exploration of such mineralisation, the modelling presented here provides a scientific foundation to exploration models focused on such mineralisation.

Density mapping from gravity data using the Walsh transform

Geophysics ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 637-642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Keating
Keyword(s):  
Potential Field ◽  
Gravity Data ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Physical Property ◽  
Walsh Transform ◽  
Magnetic Data ◽  
Earth Model ◽  
Horizontal Gradient ◽  
Rectangular Array ◽  
Density Mapping

One of the main purposes of geophysical mapping is the identification of units that can be related to known geology. On a regional scale, aeromagnetic and gravity maps are the most useful tools presently available, although other techniques such as conductivity mapping (Palacky, 1986) or remote sensing (Watson, 1985) are very helpful in locating lithologic boundaries. Interpretation now makes extensive use of enhanced maps: susceptibility maps for magnetic data, density maps for gravity data, first and second vertical derivative, and horizontal gradient maps for both types of data. The objective of susceptibility and density mapping is to transform the potential field data into a physical property map. For physical property mapping, some hypotheses and simplifications are made. The earth model is assumed to consist of right rectangular prisms of finite (gravity) or infinite (magnetics) depth extent. For ease of data processing, the potential field is interpolated onto a regular rectangular array, so that each point in the array corresponds to one prism.

Computer Application in Geosciences: Imaging of the Subsurface by Structural Coupled Inversion of Potential Field Data

2014 ◽  
Vol 644-650 ◽  
pp. 2670-2673
Author(s):  
Jun Wang ◽  
Xiao Hong Meng ◽  
Fang Li ◽  
Jun Jie Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Potential Field ◽  
Field Data ◽  
Gravity Data ◽  
Computer Application ◽  
Magnetic Data ◽  
Imaging Method ◽  
Inversion Algorithm ◽  
Constant Property ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Potential Field Data

With the continuing growth in influence of near surface geophysics, the research of the subsurface structure is of great significance. Geophysical imaging is one of the efficient computer tools that can be applied. This paper utilize the inversion of potential field data to do the subsurface imaging. Here, gravity data and magnetic data are inverted together with structural coupled inversion algorithm. The subspace (model space) is divided into a set of rectangular cells by an orthogonal 2D mesh and assume a constant property (density and magnetic susceptibility) value within each cell. The inversion matrix equation is solved as an unconstrained optimization problem with conjugate gradient method (CG). This imaging method is applied to synthetic data for typical models of gravity and magnetic anomalies and is tested on field data.

Integrated Geophysical Interpretation of Kerio Valley Basin Stratigraphy, Kenya Rift

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Godfred Osukuku ◽  
Abiud Masinde ◽  
Bernard Adero ◽  
Edmond Wanjala ◽  
John Ego
Keyword(s):  
Gravity Data ◽  
Gravity Anomalies ◽  
Fault System ◽  
Magnetic Data ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Seismic Profiles ◽  
The West ◽  
Seismic Reflection Data ◽  
Basement Rocks ◽  
Western Side

Abstract This research work attempts to map out the stratigraphic sequence of the Kerio Valley Basin using magnetic, gravity and seismic data sets. Regional gravity data consisting of isotactic, free-air and Bouguer anomaly grids were obtained from the International Gravity Bureau (BGI). Magnetic data sets were sourced from the Earth Magnetic Anomaly grid (EMAG2). The seismic reflection data was acquired in 1989 using a vibrating source shot into inline geophones. Gravity Isostacy data shows low gravity anomalies that depict a deeper basement. Magnetic tilt and seismic profiles show sediment thickness of 2.5-3.5 Km above the basement. The Kerio Valley Basin towards the western side is underlain by a deeper basement which are overlain by succession of sandstones/shales and volcanoes. At the very top are the mid Miocene phonolites (Uasin Gishu) underlain by mid Miocene sandstones/shales (Tambach Formation). There are high gravity anomalies in the western and southern parts of the basin with the sedimentation being constrained by two normal faults. The Kerio Valley Basin is bounded to the west by the North-South easterly dipping fault system. Gravity data was significantly of help in delineating the basement, scanning the lithosphere and the upper mantle according to the relative densities. The basement rocks as well as the upper cover of volcanoes have distinctively higher densities than the infilled sedimentary sections within the basin. From the seismic profiles, the frequency of the shaley rocks and compact sandstones increases with depths. The western side of the basin is characterized by the absence of reflections and relatively higher frequency content. The termination of reflectors and the westward dip of reflectors represent a fault (Elgeyo fault). The reflectors dip towards the west, marking the basin as an asymmetrical syncline, indicating that the extension was towards the east. The basin floor is characterized by a nearly vertical fault which runs parallel to the Elgeyo fault. The seismic reflectors show marked discontinuities which may be due to lava flows. The deepest reflector shows deep sedimentation in the basin and is in reasonable agreement with basement depths delineated from potential methods (gravity and magnetic). Basement rocks are deeper at the top of the uplift footwall of the Elgeyo Escarpment. The sediments are likely of a thickness of about 800 M which is an interbed of sandstones and shales above the basement.

Joint inversion of potential-fields data over the DO-27 kimberlite pipe using a Gaussian mixture model prior

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. SS47-SS62
Author(s):  
Thibaut Astic ◽  
Dominique Fournier ◽  
Douglas W. Oldenburg
Keyword(s):  
Gaussian Mixture Model ◽  
Mixture Model ◽  
Joint Inversion ◽  
Gravity Data ◽  
Physical Property ◽  
Gaussian Mixture ◽  
Kimberlite Pipe ◽  
Magnetic Data ◽  
High Porosity ◽  
Rock Types

We have carried out petrophysically and geologically guided inversions (PGIs) to jointly invert airborne and ground-based gravity data and airborne magnetic data to recover a quasi-geology model of the DO-27 kimberlite pipe in the Tli Kwi Cho (also referred to as TKC) cluster. DO-27 is composed of three main kimberlite rock types in contact with each other and embedded in a granitic host rock covered by a thin layer of glacial till. The pyroclastic kimberlite (PK), which is diamondiferous, and the volcanoclastic kimberlite (VK) have anomalously low density, due to their high porosity, and weak magnetic susceptibility. They are indistinguishable from each other based upon their potential-field responses. The hypabyssal kimberlite (HK), which is not diamondiferous, has been identified as highly magnetic and remanent. Quantitative petrophysical signatures for each rock unit are obtained from sample measurements, such as the increasing density of the PK/VK unit with depth and the remanent magnetization of the HK unit, and are represented as a Gaussian mixture model (GMM). This GMM guides the PGI toward generating a 3D quasi-geology model with physical properties that satisfies the geophysical data sets and the petrophysical signatures. Density and magnetization models recovered individually yield volumes that have physical property combinations that do not conform to any known petrophysical characteristics of the rocks in the area. A multiphysics PGI addresses this problem by using the GMM as a coupling term, but it puts a volume of the PK/VK unit at a location that is incompatible with geologic information from drillholes. To conform to that geologic knowledge, a fourth unit is introduced, PK-minor, which is petrophysically and geographically distinct from the main PK/VK unit. This inversion produces a quasi-geology model that presents good structural locations of the diamondiferous PK unit and can be used to provide a resource estimate or decide the locations of future drillholes.

Three-dimensional depth-to-basement modelling based on seismic and potential field data – basement configuration in the westernmost Polish Outer Carpathians

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mateusz Mikołajczak ◽  
Jan Barmuta ◽  
Małgorzata Ponikowska ◽  
Stanislaw Mazur ◽  
Krzysztof Starzec
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Cross Sections ◽  
Potential Field ◽  
Field Data ◽  
Gravity Data ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Magnetic Data ◽  
Gravity Inversion ◽  
Potential Field Data ◽  
Outer Carpathians

<p>The Silesian Nappe in the westernmost part of the Polish Outer Carpathians Fold and Thrust Belt exhibits simple, almost homoclinal character. Based on the field observations, a total stratigraphic thickness of this sequence equals to at least 5400 m. On the other hand, the published maps of the sub-Carpathian basement show its top at depths no greater than 3000 m b.s.l. or even 2000 m b.s.l. in the southern part of the Silesian Nappe. Assuming no drastic thickness variations within the sedimentary sequence of the Silesian Nappe, such estimates of the basement depth are inconsistent with the known thickness of the Silesian sedimentary succession. The rationale behind our work was to resolve this inconsistency and verify the actual depth and structure of the sub-Carpathian crystalline basement along two regional cross-sections. In order to achieve this goal, a joint 2D quantitative interpretation of gravity and magnetic data was performed along these regional cross-sections. The interpretation was supported by the qualitative analysis of magnetic and gravity maps and their derivatives to recognize structural features in the sub-Carpathian basement. The study was concluded with the 3D residual gravity inversion for the top of basement. The cross-sections along with the borehole data available from the area were applied to calibrate the inversion.</p><p>In the westernmost part of the Polish Outer Carpathians, the sub-Carpathian basement comprises part of the Brunovistulian Terrane. Because of great depths, the basement structure was investigated mainly by geophysical, usually non-seismic, methods. However, some deep boreholes managed to penetrate the basement that is composed of Neoproterozoic metamorphic and igneous rocks. The study area is located within the Upper Silesian block along the border between Poland and Czechia. There is a basement uplift as known mainly from boreholes, but the boundaries and architecture of this uplift are poorly recognized. Farther to the south, the top of the Neoproterozoic is buried under a thick cover of lower Palaeozoic sediments and Carpathian nappes.</p><p>Our integrative study allowed to construct a three-dimensional map for the top of basement the depth of which increases from about 1000 m to over 7000 m b.s.l. in the north and south of the study area, respectively. Qualitative analysis of magnetic and gravity data revealed the presence of some  basement-rooted faults delimiting the extent of the uplifted basement. The interpreted faults are oriented mainly towards NW-SE and NE-SW. Potential field data also document the correlation between the main basement steps and important thrust faults.</p><p> </p><p>This work has been funded by the Polish National Science Centre grant no UMO-2017/25/B/ST10/01348</p>

Seismic, gravity and magnetics, a complementary geophysical study of the Paqualin Structure, Timor Sea, Australia

1989 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.M. Smith ◽  
M. Whitehead
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Data ◽  
Gravity Data ◽  
Seismic Survey ◽  
Magnetic Data ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Intrusive Body ◽  
Geophysical Study ◽  
Timor Sea ◽  
Susceptibility Contrast ◽  
Gravity And Magnetic Data

The presence of a large anomalous structure in the northern part of Permit AC/P2 in the Timor Sea has been recognised ever since seismic data were first acquired in the area. Historically, however, sparse seismic coverage has always prevented a detailed and unambiguous interpretation of the complicated structure. In order to overcome this problem, some 2000 km of 3D seismic data were acquired over the feature. In conjunction with this seismic survey, detailed gravity and magnetic data sets were also recorded over the structure.Interpretation of the new seismic data indicated the presence of a piercement structure which is associated with a small negative Bouguer gravity anomaly and a magnetic intensity anomaly resulting from a positive susceptibility contrast. Modelling of the magnetic data indicated that an acidic or intermediate intrusive body was the most likely cause of the piercement structure. The presence of an acidic intrusive body was consistent with the gravity data which indicated that no large density contrast existed between the material of the piercement structure and the surrounding sediments.The combined interpretation of these three data sets was tested by a well, Paqualin-1, drilled on the flank of the piercement structure. The well encountered a thick evaporite sequence with associated thin bands of magnetitie and intermediate igneous rocks. It was logged with a three component downhole magnetic probe and forward magentic modelling work incorporating the results of the magnetic log gave good agreement with the observed aeromagnetic profiles.

INTEGRATING SEISMIC, GRAVITY AND AEROMAGNETIC DATA IN THE STRUCTURAL INTERPRETATION OF THE MERLINLEIGH SUB-BASIN, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

1997 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 205
Author(s):  
A. J. Mory ◽  
R. P. lasky
Keyword(s):  
Potential Field ◽  
Gravity Data ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Late Carboniferous ◽  
Petroleum Exploration ◽  
Magnetic Data ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Aeromagnetic Data ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Potential Field Data

The southern Merlinleigh Sub-basin is a frontier area for petroleum exploration within the onshore Southern Carnarvon Basin, with limited seismic coverage and only two deep exploration wells. High resolution aeromag- netic and semi-detailed gravity data acquired in 1995 provide relatively low cost structural inf ormation"comple- mentary to the regional seismic coverage.Two-dimensional seismic data can be mapped with confidence if the lines are closely spaced. By identifying lineaments on potential-field images, orientations for structures within the sedimentary succession, and at basement or intra-basement levels, can assist in the interpretation of faults and structures in areas of limited seismic coverage, and to extrapolate them outside areas of seismic control. Consequently, by integrating seismic and potential-field data, a more rigorous interpretation of the structural geometry can be achieved and thereby assists in reconstructing the evolution of a sedimentary basin.The aeromagnetic data provided only limited information about the structure of the Merlinleigh Sub-basin because magnetic anomalies appear to be dominated either by near-surface or deep intra-basement sources. In contrast, the gravity data provide a more reliable definition of the structure at basement level and, to a lesser extent, within the sedimentary sequence.Seismic, gravity and magnetic data show that the region is a large north-trending Late Carboniferous to Permian depocentre and can be sub-divided into two main troughs east of the Wandagee and Kennedy Range Faults. These are en-echelon fault systems with syn- depositional growth during the main period of rifting in the Late Carboniferous to Early Permian.

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