High-resolution unmanned aerial vehicle aeromagnetic surveys for mineral exploration targets

Recent advancements in geophysical exploration have been realized through reliably integrating unmanned aerial vehicle platforms with lightweight, high-resolution magnetometer payloads. Unmanned aerial vehicle aeromagnetic surveys can provide a contemporary data product between the two end-members of coverage and resolution attained using manned airborne and terrestrial magnetic surveys. This new data product is achievable because unmanned aerial vehicle platforms can safely traverse with magnetometer payloads at flight elevations closer to ground targets than manned airborne surveys, while also delivering an increased coverage rate compared to walking conventional terrestrial surveys. This is a promising new development for geophysical and mineral exploration applications, especially in variable terrains. A three-dimensional unmanned aerial vehicle aeromagnetic survey was conducted within the Shebandowan Greenstone Belt, northwest of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, in July 2017. A series of two-dimensional grids (∼500 m × 700 m) were flown at approximate elevations of 35, 45 and 70 m above ground level using a Dà-Jiāng Innovations multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle (S900) and a GEM Systems, Inc., Potassium Vapour Magnetometer (GSMP-35U). In total, over 48 line-km of unmanned aerial vehicle aeromagnetic data were flown with a line spacing of 25 m. The collected aeromagnetic data were compared to a regional heliborne aeromagnetic survey flown at an elevation of approximately 85 m above the terrain, with a line spacing of 100 m, as well as a follow-up terrestrial magnetic survey. The first vertical derivative of the gathered unmanned aerial vehicle total magnetic field data was calculated both directly between each of the different flight elevations, and indirectly by calculating the values predicted using upward continuation. This case study demonstrates that low flight elevation unmanned aerial vehicle aeromagnetic surveys can reliably collect industry standard total magnetic field measurements at an increased resolution when compared to manned airborne magnetic surveys. The enhanced interpretation potential provided by this approach also aided in delineating structural controls and hydrothermal fluid migration pathways (a pair of adjacent shear zones) related to gold mineralization on site. These structural features were not clearly resolved in the regional manned airborne magnetic data alone, further demonstrating the utility of applying high-resolution unmanned aerial vehicle aeromagnetic surveys to mineral exploration applications. The conclusions and interpretations drawn from the unmanned aerial vehicle aeromagnetic data, coupled with historical data, were applied to make a new gold mineralization discovery on the site, assayed at 15.7 g/t.     

GOSSES BLUFF AIRBORNE MAGNETIC SURVEY*

An airborne magnetic survey of an area of 580 km² centred on Gosses Bluff was flown in 1968. This survey formed part of a joint project by the Australian Bureau of Mineral Resources and the United States Geological Survey to evaluate the hypothesis that Gosses Bluff is of impact origin. Analyses of the magnetic data show that shallow sources of magnetic disturbance flank the Bluff on its southern side. Interpretation of the magnetic anomalies indicates their source to be shock-melted breccias of possible Jurassic age.     

Influence of Neoproterozoic tectonic fabric on the origin of the Potiguar Basin,northeastern Brazil and its links with West Africa based on gravity and magnetic data

The Potiguar Basin is a ∼6,000 m thick aborted NE-trending rift that was formed during the Cretaceous in the continental margin of northeastern Brazil. Its ∼E–W-trending offshore faults form part of the successful continental margin rift that evolved into the South Atlantic Ocean. The region represents one of the most significant pre-Pangea breakup piercing points between eastern South America and West Africa. We used gravity, aeromagnetic, and geological data to assess the role of reactivated Precambrian shear zones and major terrain boundaries in the development of the Potiguar Basin from the Cretaceous to the Cenozoic. We also looked for possible links between these structures in northeastern Brazil and their continuation in West Africa. Our results indicate that the major fault systems of the Potiguar Basin were superimposed on the Precambrian fabric. Both gravity and magnetic maps show lineaments related to the shear zones and major terrain boundaries in the Precambrian crystalline basement, which also characterize the architecture of the rift. For example, the Carnaubais fault, the master fault of the rift system, represents the reactivation of the Portalegre shear zone, the major tectonic boundary between Precambrian terrains in the crystalline basement. In addition, part of the Moho topography is controlled by these shear zones and developed during the period of main rift extension in the Neocomian. The shear zones bounding the Potiguar rift system continue in West Africa around and underneath the Benue Basin, where fault reactivation also took place.     

Airborne Geophysics: Application to a Ground-Water Study in Botswana

Summary
A ground-water study carried out in the Serowe area of eastern Botswana between 1985–1988 has provided the opportunity to evaluate the role of a multiparameter low-level airborne geophysical survey in a hydrogeological investigation. The survey included magnetic, VLF (very low frequency), and coaxial EM (electromagnetic) measurements. In total, 7,500 line kilometers were flown over an area of 3,300 km2 with a nominal ground clearance of 20 m and a line spacing of 400 m.
The main aquifer, the Ntane Sandstone Formation (Karoo age), is confined between mudstones below and basalt above, and is broken into a series of graben and horst structures by numerous E-W striking faults. All bedrock, however, is completely masked by a 20–60 m thick overburden of sands, calcretes, silcretes, and sandstones known collectively as the Kalahari beds.
Airborne magnetic and VLF geophysical surveys have been used to penetrate this masking cover. Images and stacked profiles obtained from the survey revealed structural and geological features of major hydrogeological significance. This provided the information necessary for the formulation of a conceptual model.
The results helped guide the subsequent exploration drilling program in an efficient and effective manner, cutting down the need for extensive ground surveys. The investigation confirmed the availability of a 35,000 m3/day resource, sustainable for a 25-year period. Highest yields were obtained from fracture zones associated with VLF anomalies. Potential wellfields were identified in confined sections of the aquifer, with production boreholes to be sited, where possible, on fractures associated with VLF anomalies.     

A new model of back-arc spreading in the Parece Vela Basin, northwest Pacific margin

Abstract Swath bathymetric data, single-channel seismic reflection profiles, magnetic and gravity anomalies in the northern part of the Parece Vela (West Mariana) Basin were obtained by comprehensive surveys conducted by the Hydrographic Department of Japan. The central zone of the Parece Vela Basin is characterized by the north-south trending chain of depressions in a right-stepping en echelon alignment. The morphology of these depressions is diamond shaped and bordered by steep escarpments of 1000-1500 m relative height. These fault escarpments extend northeastward and southwestward from the depressions into the surrounding basin floor and then gradually fade out. These escarpments have an S-shaped trend, and their geometry seems to be symmetric about the depressions. Minor ridges and troughs trending orthogonal to these escarpments are recognized. It is concluded that these depressions and escarpments are the topographic expression of extinct spreading axes and S-shaped transform faults, respectively. The age of the central depressions seems to be young, although details of tectonic processes forming them remains unsolved. The western province of the basin floor and basement is extremely rugged and characterized by minor ridges and troughs trending in a north-south direction. Although magnetic anomalies of the basin are very weak, magnetic lineations trending parallel to the topographic trend are recognizable in the central and western parts of the basin. Based on updated geomorpholog-ical features and magnetic anomalies revealed by the present survey, together with the previously published data including drilling results, it is proposed that the evolution of Parece Vela Basin took place in four stages of opening and tectonic activity: rifting, east-west spreading, northeast-southwest spreading with counter-clockwise rotation of spreading axes, and post-spreading deformation and volcanism. This proposed spreading model of the Parece Vela Basin is similar to that of the adjacent Shikoku Basin. The spreading axes of both basins were segmented and gradually rotated counter-clockwise in a later phase of the basin evolution, after the cessation of relatively uniform spreading nearly in an east-west direction.     

Aeromagnetic surveying using a simulated unmanned aircraft system

Carleton University and Sander Geophysics are developing an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for aeromagnetic surveying. As an early indication of the expected performance of the unmanned aircraft system, a simulated unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) was built. The simulated unmanned aircraft system is a T‐shaped structure configured as a horizontal gradiometer with two cesium magnetometers spaced 4.67 m apart, which is the same sensor geometry as planned for the unmanned aircraft system. The simulated unmanned aircraft system is flown suspended beneath a helicopter. An 8.5 km² area in the Central Metasedimentary Belt of the Grenville Province, near Plevna, Ontario, Canada, was surveyed with the simulated unmanned aircraft system suspended 50 m above ground. The survey site was chosen on the basis of its complex geological structure. The total magnetic intensity (TMI) data recorded were compared to that obtained during a conventional fixed‐wing survey and a ground survey. Transverse magneto‐gradiometric data were also recorded by the simulated unmanned aircraft system. The simulated unmanned aircraft system total magnetic intensity data have a higher resolution than the conventional fixed‐wing data and were found to have a similar resolution to that of the ground survey data. The advantages of surveying with the simulated unmanned aircraft system were: (1) the acquisition of a detailed data set free of gaps in coverage at a low altitude above the terrain and (2) substantial saving of time and effort. In the survey site, the 4.67 m simulated unmanned aircraft system gradiometer measured the transverse magnetic gradient reliably up to an altitude of 150 m above ground.     

昌马盆地内发现活动正断层

昌马盆地为祁连山西端的山间盆地,前人一直关注其周边断裂(如昌马断裂)的构造变形,盆地内部变形则鲜有研究。基于遥感解译和野外考察、探槽开挖、差分GPS和放射性碳(¹⁴C)测年等方法,发现昌马盆地西北部的一条活动断层。断层长约4 km,总体走向NEE,倾向SE,倾角陡立,断层地貌表现为陡坎、复陡坎、断层沟槽等,陡坎高度0～5.6 m,由WS向NE逐渐增大。断层运动性质以正断为主,最新活动时代为全新世,并识别出2期古地震事件：6 670～6 885 a B.P.和26 330～26 915 a B.P.。研究结果表明,在青藏高原东北缘向NE方向挤压扩展的背景下,祁连山造山带发生NW-SE向伸展,导致其西端受到SE向拉张作用而形成正断层。     

Allowance for the vertical gradient in an airborne gravity survey

When processing the results of an airborne gravity survey flown in the Arctic at flight heights of 2000 to 3000 m, the authors encountered conditions, when the values of the free-air anomaly of gravity exceeded the values taken from the anomaly map, with a trend towards “heavier” values. The formula for calculation of the vertical gradient as a function of the latitude of the locality has been refined. The tentative calculations reported in the paper also indicate that a free-air gravity anomaly above the mountainous areas will contain additional positive systematic components, since only the effect of the vertical gradient of the normal gravity field is taken into account here, and the flight’s height during an airborne gravity survey, above a mountainous area, should be held constant, otherwise it would be necessary to take into account additional systematic biases, obtained in different flights, which are caused by the different values of the vertical gradient at different heights.     

北黄海盆地烃渗漏蚀变带“磁亮点”的识别研究

北黄海盆地是我国近海海域尚未取得油气勘探突破的盆地之一.在海洋环境中应用海底油气藏的烃渗漏现象寻找油气有利区具有良好应用前景,为了给该区的含油气远景评价及下一步油气勘探缩小靶区提供地球物理依据,本文利用磁法这一经济、有效的油气渗漏异常地球物理判别手段,开展了识别海底烃渗漏引发磁异常的方法研究.给出一种根据“有导师”的模式识别技术,在充分利用磁异常多种数值特征及纹理特征的基础上,提取烃渗漏蚀变带磁异常的方法.通过已知约束信息（如见油井位等）的点、线、面三种基元及其邻近数据网格点组成基类,将其提取的模式或特征向量作为待识别异常匹配或学习的模板,利用加权欧氏距离函数计算待识别异常特征向量与模板向量之间的相似性,进行模式匹配,从而识别出与模板相似程度较高的异常.应用此方法圈定了北黄海盆地的烃渗漏“磁亮点”分布,从“磁亮点”异常区与中生代地层的分布以及地球化学异常（低层大气烃类检测和海底微生物异常）的对应情况来看,表明该识别方法是识别烃渗漏弱磁异常的一种有效手段.对研究区构造特征、磁异常及地球化学异常特征的综合分析表明,位于北黄海研究区东部和北部的“磁亮点”异常区可能是北黄海盆地较好的含油气远景区.     

Contribution de l'aeromagnetisme a l'etude du golfe de Valence (Mediterranee occidentale)

We present an aeromagnetic survey of the Gulf of Valencia and the Balearic Islands (western Mediterranean). A total field anomaly map and a map of the anomalies reduced to the pole have been obtained. From these maps, it is apparent that there are two regions of opposing magnetic style: the Balearic archipelago which is magnetically very smooth, and the north Balearic basin (or Gulf of Valencia) where anomalies are in places very intense. From a comparison of these two domains, we conclude that the Valencian basin was created during an extensional tectonic phase.     

Study of the Santa Catarina aquifer system (Mexico Basin) using magnetotelluric soundings

A tensor magnetotelluric test survey was carried out in the region of Santa Catarina, located in the Chalco sub-basin of the Mexico Basin. The objective was to define the stratification at depth with an emphasis on the geometry of the main aquifer of that region which is partially known from DC resistivity soundings and drilling. High-quality magnetotelluric soundings could be recorded in the immediate vicinity of large urban zones because the sub-surface is very conductive. Interpretation shows that the solid bedrock is located at a depth of at least 800 m to the south and 1300 m to the north; it could, however, be much deeper. Using complementary DC resistivity sounding and well-logging data, three main layers have been defined overlying the bedrock. These layers are, from surface to bottom, an unsaturated zone of sand, volcanic ash and clay about 10 m thick, followed by a very conductive (1.5 ohm·m) 200 m thick layer of sand and ash with intercalated clay, saturated with highly mineralized water, and finally a zone with resistivity increasing gradually to 60 ohm·m. The investigated deep aquifer constitutes most of this third layer. It consists of a sequence of sand, gravel, pyroclastites and mainly fractured basalts. MT resistivity soundings and magnetic transfer functions also indicate that a shallow resistive structure is dipping, from the northwest, into the lacustrine deposits of the basin. This geologic feature is likely to be highly permeable fractured basaltic flows, which provide a channel by which water contaminated by the Santa Catarina landfill may leak into the basin.     

Gravity and magnetic field characteristics and hydrocarbon prospects of the Tobago Basin

The Tobago Basin, which is located offshore northern Venezuela with a southern margin close to Trinidad and Tobago, has an area of approximately 59,600 km². The Tobago Basin has relatively favourable hydrocarbon prospects, and to date, exploration work has mainly concentrated on small areas of the southwestern portion of the basin. To conduct a comprehensive study of the structural framework of the basin and the characteristics of the basement in order to identify prospective zones for hydrocarbon exploration, shipborne‐measured and satellite‐measured gravity data, shipborne‐measured magnetic data, and aeromagnetic survey data were analysed. A regularisation filtering method was used to separate and obtain regional and residual gravity and magnetic anomalies. Directional gradients of gravity and magnetic anomalies and the total horizontal gradient and vertical second derivative of gravity anomalies were employed to extract information about fault structures. Regression analysis methods were used to determine the basement depth. The geological significance of the gravity and magnetic fields was examined, the structural framework of the basin was assessed, the basement depth was estimated, and favourable hydrocarbon exploration prospects within the basin were identified. The results show that the Tobago Basin contains complex structures consisting mainly of two groups of faults trending in northeasterly and northwesterly directions and that the major northeasterly trending faults control the main structural configuration and depositional system within the basin. The basement of the Tobago Basin has deep rises and falls. It can be divided into the following four secondary tectonic units: the western sub‐basin, the central uplift area, the southern sub‐basin, and the northeastern sub‐basin. The central uplift area and northeastern sub‐basin are most likely to have developed hydrocarbon accumulations and should be targeted for further exploration.     

台风影响下巢湖风浪特征研究

基于实测和数值模拟方法分析了台风“摩羯”和“温比亚”过境巢湖流域时的影响.台风“摩羯”和“温比亚”过境时,在巢湖产生较大的风速和风浪过程,其中对东巢湖的影响最大,中巢湖次之,西巢湖最小.东巢湖、中巢湖、西巢湖在台风“摩羯”过境时出现了0.68、0.67和0.48 m的最大有效波高和2.25、2.33和1.95 s的最大平均波周期;而台风“温比亚”过境时则最大有效波高可达1.50、1.47和1.18 m,最大平均波周期可达2.99、3.04和2.74 s.影响较大的区域位于东巢湖与中巢湖连接的湖心水域,总体对东巢湖的影响最为显著,中巢湖次之,西巢湖最小.不同湖区湖心水域由于水深、风区长度大,往往是出现最大风浪强度的区域.     

Geophysical evidence of the Eastern Marginal Fault of the Cheb Basin (Czech Republic)

The western part of the Bohemian Massif hosts an intersection of two regional fault zones, the SW-NE trending Oh?e/Eger Graben and the NNW-SSE trending Mariánské Lázně Fault, which has been reactivated several times in the geological history and controlled the formation of the Tertiary Cheb Basin. The broader area of the Cheb Basin is also related to permanent seismic activity of M_L 3+ earthquake swarms. The Eastern Marginal Fault of the Cheb Basin (northern segment of the Mariánské Lázně Fault) separates the basin sediments and underlying granites in the SW from the Kru?né Hory/Erzgebirge Mts. crystalline unit in the NE. We describe a detailed geophysical survey targeted to locating the Eastern Marginal Fault and determining its geometry in the depth. The survey was conducted at the Kopanina site near the Nový Kostel focal zone, which shows the strongest seismic activity of the whole Western Bohemia earthquake swarm region. Complex geophysical survey included gravimetry, electrical resistivity tomography, audiomagnetotellurics and seismic refraction. We found that the rocks within the Eastern Marginal Fault show low resistivity, low seismic velocity and density, which indicates their deep fracturing, weathering and higher water content. The dip of the fault in shallow depths is about 60° towards SW. At greater depths, the slope turns to subvertical with dip angle of about 80°. Results of geoelectrical methods show blocky fabric of the Cheb Basin and deep weathering of the granite bedrock, which is consistent with geologic models based on borehole surveys.     

云南中甸-大具断裂马家村-大具段古地震初步研究

中甸-大具断裂马家村-大具段位于哈巴雪山北麓及玉龙雪山以北的大具盆地内,总体走向310°～320°,根据卫星影像解译和详细的野外地质地貌调查,认为中甸-大具断裂马家村-大具段自第四纪以来长期活动,横跨断裂的水系右旋位错量可分为8.5～12m、22m左右、47m左右、200～280m、500～510m和1000m左右6个等级。在大具盆地内发现了长约600m的地震地表破裂带,这是该断层段在全新世活动的直接地质证据,在破裂带南东端附近开挖的探槽揭示出自晚更新世以来断裂存在三期活动,可能对应3次地震事件,结合前人在该断裂段获得的地质剖面和断错地貌面测年结果,分析认为马家村-大具段自晚更新世以来至少发生了3次古地震事件,发生时间分别为4910～45 a BP、7000 a BP左右和32.93～19.96ka BP,利用垂直同震位移值估算了水平同震位移量,最终得出每次地震事件的震级为7.5级左右。     

Magnetic variation studies in the lake baikal region

Data on geomagnetic field variations observed at the Patrony and Enkhaluk observatories are used to study the induction vectors in the frequency-time domain. The main features of frequency responses related to conducting zones are examined. The results of monitoring the induction vectors are presented. The induction vectors are reliably determined in the period range 600–1300 s. This range is most suitable for magnetic variation monitoring. Annual variations are discovered in the behavior of induction vectors. Their specific features are examined. Anomalous variations in the modulus of the real part of the induction vectors are identified. These variations can be due to a strong earthquake (K = 15) in southern Lake Baikal.     

Magnetic mineral diagenesis in the post-glacial muddy sediments from the southeastern South Yellow Sea: Response to marine environmental changes

Core YSDP103 was retrieved in the muddy deposit under the cold eddy of the southeastern South Yellow Sea, and the uppermost 29.79 m core represents the muddy sediments formed in the shelf since about 13 ka BP. The lower part from 29.79 to 13.35 m, called Unit A2, was deposited during the period from the post-glacial transgression to the middle Holocene (at about 6 14C ka BP) when the rising sea level reached its maximum, while the upper part above 13.35 m (called Unit A1) was deposited in a cold eddy associated with the formation of the Yellow Sea Warm Current just after the peak of post-glacial sea level rise. Rock-magnetic properties of the uppermost 29.79 m core were investigated in detail. The experimental results indicate that the magnetic mineralogy of the core is dominated by magnetite, maghemite and hematite and that, except for the uppermost 2.35 m, the magnetic minerals were subject to reductive diagene-sis leading to significant decline of magnetic mineral content and the proportion of low-coe     

Precollisional tectonics and terrain amalgamation offshore southern Taiwan:Characterizations from reflection seismic and potential field data

Sponsored by the Chinese National Fundamental Research and Development Program in 2001,Guang-zhou Marine Geological Survey launched out a long geophysical survey from the northeastern part of the South China Sea (SCS),through the Luzon Arc,to the Huatung Basin and the Gagua Ridge. Based on high-resolution seismic data from this survey,combined with gravimetric and magnetic modeling,a systematic effort is made to the study of the regional geodynamics offshore southern Taiwan. By focusing particularly on precollisional tectonic interactions between adjacent geological units and their tectonic affiliations,this study can help reveal early arc-continent collisional processes that formed the Taiwan orogen. The construction of the Manila accretionary prism and its eastward progressive deformation indicate that the subduction of SCS have experienced multiple phases of increased activity. Active precollisional crustal shortening within the Northern Luzon Trough resulted in tilting of sedimentary layers at angles between 6° and 13°. But the shortening induced by tilting accounts for only a tiny part of regional total crustal compression. The eastern flank of the Luzon Arc appears to be more active than the rest,evidenced by active faulting and folding in the intra-arc basins on the eastern flank. Magnetic modeling/inversion shows that the Luzon Arc may have experienced multiple phases of magmatic activities,causing lateral magnetic inhomogeneity. Bouguer gravity anomalies and gravity modeling indicate that the Huatung Basin has anomalously higher crustal and upper mantle densities than those of SCS and the Luzon Arc. In addition,there is a large bathymetric difference between the Huatung Basin and the northeastern part of SCS basin. These observations argue against early hypothesis that the Huatung Basin and the northeastern part of SCS basin may once have belonged to one single oceanic crust,in part or in whole. The Gagua Ridge,as a sliver of uplifted oceanic crust,may be related to a transient northwestward subduction of the western Philippine plate. All evidences point to the argument that the region offshore southern Taiwan is experiencing multiple terrain amalgamation,which is a classical model for continental growth.     

Study of the Deccan Traps of Cambay Basin by geophysical methods

In the attempt to study the buried Deccan Trap layers in the Cambay Basin, the ground magnetic surveys have not been very useful as the data combine the effect due to the crystalline basement and the Trap thickness. In some parts of the basin, some reflections in the seismograms obtained in the course of seismic surveys, could be correlated to the Trap surface. These can be tied with wells drilled in the basin upto the Traps. The synthesis of the gravity and seismic data has enabled us to prepare a map of the Trap surface in the Cambay basin. The depth of the Trap surlace increases from about 2000 m in the northern part of the basin to about 600 m in its deepest part near Broach. The Trap surface rises gradually south of Narbada in an average direction of SE with depths running from 2500 m to 500 m. The interpretation of the gravity anomalies, assuming their cause to be the variations in the thickness of the Trap, has enabled the determination of the average thickness of the Traps in the basin. The maximum thickness of the Trap is in the central part of the basin and is estimated to be about 2.4 km. The Traps appear to gradually taper towards the flanks of the basin.     

INTEGRATED INTERPRETATION, 3D MAP MIGRATION AND VSP MODELLING PROJECT,NORTHERN U.K. SOUTHERN GAS BASIN1

Depth conversion in the northern part of the U.K. Southern Gas Basin is complicated by the presence of Zechstein (Permian) salt swells and diapirs. In addition, the post-Zechstein (post-Permian) section displays large lateral velocity variations. The primary agents which control the velocity of this stratigraphic section are: (1) depth of burial, (2) lithological variation within individual formations, and (3) the effects of subsequent tectonic inversion. An integrated approach which combines well velocity, seismic velocity and seismic interpretation is required for accurate depth estimation. In 1988 Mobil and partners drilled an exploratory well in the northern part of the U.K. Southern Gas Basin. This well was located near the crest of a Zechstein salt diapir. Over 2000 m of Zechstein was encountered in the well. The Permian Rotliegendes objective was penetrated at a depth of over 3700 m. The initial delineation of the objective structure was based on the results of 3D map migration of the seismic time interpretation. Spatially-variant interval velocity functions were used to depth convert through five of the six mapped horizons. Both well and model-based seismic interval velocity analysis information was used to construct these functions. A moving-source well seismic survey was conducted. The survey was run in two critical directions. In conjunction with presurvey modelling, it was possible to confirm immediately the structural configuration as mapped to a distance of 7 km from the well. Post-survey 3D map migration and modelling was employed to further refine the structural interpretation. Although the question of stratigraphic anisotropy was considered in the evaluation of the long offset modelling, no evidence was found in the field data to support a significant effect. Finally, comparisons were made of: curved-ray versus straight-ray migration/modelling, midpoint-depth velocity versus (depth-dependant instantaneous velocity functions, and Hubral- versus Fermat-based map depth migration algorithms. Significant differences in the results were observed for structural dips exceeding 15^o and/or offsets exceeding 6 km. Map depth migration algorithms which employed both curved rays and spatially-variant instantaneous velocity functions were found to best approximate the ‘true’ geological velocity field in the study area.