Satellite and surface geophysical expression of anomalous crustal structure in Kentucky and Tennessee

An equivalent layer magnetization model obtained from inversion of long-wavelength satellite magnetic anomaly data indicates a very magnetic source region centered in south central Kentucky. The magnetization maximum nearly coincides with a gravity high elongated north-south and extending into Tennessee. Previous refraction profiles suggest that the source of the gravity anomaly is a large mass of rock occupying much of the crustal thickness. The outline of the source delineated by gravity contours is also discernible in aeromagnetic anomaly patterns. Taken together, the geophysical data suggest a large, localized mass of intracrustal rock which is both dense and very magnetic. A simple magnetization/density model is given which accounts for the gravity and long-wavelength aeromagnetic anomalies due to the body. We interpret it as a mafic plutonic complex, and several lines of evidence are consistent with a rift association. The body is, however, clearly related to the inferred position of the Grenville Front. It is bounded on the north by the fault zones of the 38th Parallel Lineament. The inferred mean magnetization (4 A/m) of the body is large, but not inconsistent with values reported by others for deep crustal bodies associated with long-wavelength magnetic anomalies. Such magnetization levels can be achieved with magnetic mineralogies produced by normal oxidation and metamorphic processes and enhanced by viscous build-up, especially in mafic rocks of alkaline character.     

Age of the source of the Jarrafa gravity and magnetic anomalies offshore Libya and its geodynamic implications

The interpretation of the Jarrafa magnetic and gravity highs, NW Libyan offshore, suggests that it may be caused by a body of high-density and high magnetization. Analysis of their power spectra indicates two groups of sources at: (1) 2.7 km depth, probably related to the igneous rocks, some of which were penetrated in the JA-1 borehole, (2) 5 km depth, corresponding to the top of the causative body and (3) 10 km depth, probably referring to the local basement depth. The boundary analysis derived from applied horizontal gradient to both gravity and magnetic data reveals lineaments many of which can be related to geological structures (grabens, horsts and faults).The poor correlation between pseudogravity fields for induced magnetization and observed gravity fields strongly suggests that the causative structure has a remanent magnetization (D = −16°, I = 23°) of Early Cretaceous age, fitting with the opening of the Neo Tethys 3 Ocean.Three-dimensional interpretation techniques indicate that the magnetic source of the Jarrafa magnetic anomaly has a magnetization intensity of 0.46 A/m, which is required to simulate the amplitude of the observed magnetic anomaly. The magnetic model shows that it has a base level at 15 km.The history of the area combined with the analysis and interpretation of the gravity and magnetic data suggests that: (1) the source of the Jarrafa anomaly is a mafic igneous rock and it may have formed during an Early Cretaceous extensional phase and (2) the Jarrafa basin was left-laterally sheared along the WNW Hercynian North Graben Fault Zone, during its reactivation in the Early Cretaceous.     

A new technique of interpreting gravity and vertical magnetic anomalies due to infinite horizontal cylindrical ore bodies

Summary A novel method of interpreting gravity and magnetic anomalies is presented here. Two diagrams of master curves, one for gravity and the other for vertical magnetic interpretation are presented. They are useful in calculating the depth of burial and the radius of infinite horizontal cylindrical bodies irrespective of density contrast or strength and direction of magnetisation. This method also enables us to infer the direction of magnetisation, resultant intensity of magnetisation and from them the susceptibility contrast; and density contrast. ThoughHenderson [8]²) reported the applicability of continuations and derivatives in the interpretation of magnetic anomalies for the first time, the authors have treated them in a more exhaustive manner in the present paper to obtain valuable relationships.     

Geophysical observations on an exposed seamount in the Afar Depression

Topographic, magnetic and gravity surveys have been made over an extinct volcano in the Afar Depression. Previous work showed that this volcano was formed under water. Gravity measurements over the volcano indicate that a positive mass contrast of 1 gm. cm^?3 is required below the volcano, which could be explained by the density contrast between a basalt plug and surrounding sediments. There is no observable magnetic anomaly over the volcano. The hyaloclastites of which the volcano is mainly composed have magnetization which is small in intensity but consistent in direction with the Earth’s magnetic field. Basalt cobbles which are present in small quantities have a fairly high intensity of magnetization but directions which bear no relationship to the direction of the Earth’s field. The absence of a magnetic anomaly suggests that the basalt plug below the volcano must have been sufficiently brecciated so that random rotations of portions of the plug have occurred, thus reducing the mean magnetization, and explaining the absence of a magnetic anomaly.     

Gravity anomalies of three-dimensional bodies with a variable density contrast

The exponential decrease in the density contrast of anomalous bodies is equated to a quadratic function. The three-dimensional body is divided into a series of parallel vertical polygonal sections of unit thickness each. The gravity effect of each side of the vertical polygonal cross-section with a quadratic density variation is derived in closed form. Gravity effects of a few equispaced and representative cross-sections are integrated to obtain the gravity anomaly of the entire body. When used in modelling gravity data, the method of considering vertical cross-sections has the unique advantage of easily allowing changes in theZ-coordinates of polygonal sections.     

Interpretation of magnetic and gravity gradient tensor data using normalized source strength – A case study from McFaulds Lake,Northern Ontario,Canada

In this paper, we present a case study on the use of the normalized source strength (NSS) for interpretation of magnetic and gravity gradient tensors data. This application arises in exploration of nickel, copper and platinum group element (Ni‐Cu‐PGE) deposits in the McFaulds Lake area, Northern Ontario, Canada. In this study, we have used the normalized source strength function derived from recent high resolution aeromagnetic and gravity gradiometry data for locating geological bodies. In our algorithm, we use maxima of the normalized source strength for estimating the horizontal location of the causative body. Then we estimate depth to the source and structural index at that point using the ratio between the normalized source strength and its vertical derivative calculated at two levels; the measurement level and a height h above the measurement level. To discriminate more reliable solutions from spurious ones, we reject solutions with unreasonable estimated structural indices. This method uses an upward continuation filter which reduces the effect of high frequency noise. In the magnetic case, the advantage is that, in general, the normalized magnetic source strength is relatively insensitive to magnetization direction, thus it provides more reliable information than standard techniques when geologic bodies carry remanent magnetization. For dipping gravity sources, the calculated normalized source strength yields a reliable estimate of the source location by peaking right above the top surface. Application of the method on aeromagnetic and gravity gradient tensor data sets from McFaulds Lake area indicates that most of the gravity and magnetic sources are located just beneath a 20 m thick (on average) overburden and delineated magnetic and gravity sources which can be probably approximated by geological contacts and thin dikes, come up to the overburden.     

Line integrals of potential field data1

Information on the mass and the spatial location of an arbitrary source body can be obtained by performing suitable integrations of 3D gravity and magnetic data along an infinite straight line. No assumptions on the density/magnetization distribution or the shape and location of the source are required. For an oblique borehole, a relationship between the lower limit of the source mass and the distance to the body is obtained. The mass contrast and the magnetic moment of the source can also be estimated. For a vertical borehole, both gravity and vertical magnetic component anomalies have equal areas to the left and right of the depth axis. The particular case of a horizontal gallery not intersecting the body is also studied. If the source is intersected, a lower limit is estimated for the maximum thickness of the body along the gallery. Information on the vertical coordinate of the centre of mass of the source can also be obtained. Numerical tests with synthetic gravity data support the theoretical results.     

三度体（物性随深度变化模型）位场波谱的正演计算

本文将均质的任意二维、三维物体位场的波谱解析表达式的研究成果推广到变密度、变磁化强度的更一般的情形。对密度差随深度呈指数函数衰减或线性变化的模型,获得了任意倾斜多边形质量面、斜平行六面体以及一般的多面体等形体的重力谱的解析表达式。它们的结构与均质体相应表达式一样简单,易于计算。以上结果表明,在很一般的条件下,位场波谱具有指数函数和的形式。     

给定观测精度下的点(线)源模型重力与磁力垂向识别能力研究

重、磁勘探具有效率高、成本低、工作范围广等优点,已在地球物理勘探中得到了广泛应用.前人大多在不考虑重、磁勘探观测精度的条件下进行了垂向识别能力的研究,但在考虑重、磁观测精度条件下,重力（重力异常、重力张量）与磁力（磁力异常、磁力三分量、磁力张量）对孤立异常的垂向识别能力如何则需要进行深入的理论研究.本文从重、磁场正演理论出发,以球体（点源模型）和无限延伸水平圆柱体（线源模型）为例,考虑给定观测精度条件下,以重力和磁力幅值大小与观测精度的关系来研究垂向识别能力,从而消除了背景场的影响,提高了研究结果的可靠度.通过研究表明,对于孤立异常,重力张量在浅部一定深度内比重力异常的垂向识别能力强,该深度与重力异常和重力张量观测精度的比值成正比;垂直磁化磁力张量在浅部一定深度内比化极磁力异常的垂向识别能力强,该深度与磁力异常与磁力张量观测精度的比值成正比;磁力在浅部一定深度内比重力的垂向识别能力强,该深度与地质体的磁化强度和剩余密度比值、重力观测精度和磁力观测精度比值成正比.通过重力和磁力垂向识别能力的研究将为重、磁勘探的实际应用起到指导作用.     

An analytic signal approach to the interpretation of total field magnetic anomalies1

The analytic signal (AS) is defined as the square root of the sum of the squares of the vertical and the two horizontal derivatives of the total magnetic field ΔT. This paper verifies theoretically that peaks of the AS correlate directly with their magnetic causative bodies and are positioned symmetrically over them, i.e. the main feature of the AS is that it is independent of the inclination of the magnetic field. This avoids the difficulties that are often faced in the conventional process of reduction to pole for ΔT, when the direction of magnetization of the causative bodies is not known. In addition, the AS has characteristics similar to the derivative features of the magnetic field, so that it is very sensitive to edge effects of the causative magnetic bodies. The theoretical derivations are tested by comparison with calculations on models, and, in a field example from Hunan Province, China, the AS is applied successfully to the interpretation of ΔT, whereas the conventional process of reduction to pole fails, due to the reverse magnetization of the causative body.     

A New Best-Estimate Methodology for Determining Magnetic Parameters Related to Field Anomalies Produced by Buried Thin Dikes and Horizontal Cylinder-like Structures

A new best estimate methodology is proposed and oriented towards the determination of parameters related to a magnetic field anomaly produced by a simple geometric-shaped model or body such as a thin dike and horizontal cylinder. This approach is mainly based on solving a system of algebraic linear equations for estimating the three model parameters, e.g., the depth to the top (center) of the body (z), the index parameter or the effective magnetization angle (θ) and the amplitude coefficient or the effective magnetization intensity (k). The utility and validity of this method is demonstrated by analyzing two synthetic magnetic anomalies, using simulated data generated from a known model with different random errors components and a known statistical distribution. This approach was also examined and applied to two real field magnetic anomalies from the United States and Brazil. The agreement between the results obtained by the proposed method and those obtained by other interpretation methods is good and comparable. Moreover, the depth obtained by such an approach is found to be in high accordance with that obtained from drilling information. The advantages of such a proposed method over other existing interpretative techniques are clarified, where it can be generalized to be automatically applicable for interpreting other geological structures described by mathematical formulations.     

Magnetic field transforms with low sensitivity to the direction of source magnetization and high centricity

Magnetic data interpretation faces difficulties due to the various shapes of magnetic anomalies and the positions of their extrema with respect to the causative bodies for different directions of the source magnetization. The well‐known transforms — reduction to the pole, pseudogravity field, and analytic signal (total gradient) — help in reducing the problem. Another way to achieve the required effect is the transformation of magnetic data, ΔT or Z, into values of the anomalous magnetic intensity T. In this respect, we have found some transforms based on differential operators such as the gradient of T and its modulus R = |?T|, the Laplacian L = ?²T, the product T ?²T and its square root Q, and the Laplacian ?²(T²) and its square root E, to be useful. They are slightly sensitive to the magnetization orientation and their extrema occur above the sources. For a 2D anomaly of a homogeneous causative body, the proposed transforms do not depend on the inclination of magnetization. In the 3D case, such independence does not exist even for the elementary field of a point dipole. The influence of the magnetization direction is estimated by an integral coefficient of sensitivity. This coefficient takes values of up to 2.0 for ΔT or Z anomalies, while their transforms T, R, E, Q and L have values of less than 0.28, 0.29, 0.24, 0.16 and 0.07, respectively, i.e. on average, 10 times less. The estimation of the centricity is carried out using the relative deviation of the principal extremum of the anomaly or its transforms from the epicentre of the model body at a depth equal to 100 units. For a ΔT anomaly this deviation is up to 67%; for the L transform it is less than 8%; for Q, E, R and T it is less than 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%, respectively. The proposed transforms take only non‐negative values. With respect to their shape, the peripheral magnetic extrema are removed, the anomalous configuration is simplified and the resolution of complicated interference patterns is improved. Their calculation does not require additional data for the direction of magnetization, which is an essential advantage over the reduction‐to‐the‐pole and pseudogravity‐field transforms. A joint analysis of the measured field and its transforms T, E and L offers possibilities for more confident separation of the anomalous effects and direct correlation to their sources. The model tests performed and the 3D field applications to real magnetic data confirm the useful properties of the transforms suggested here.     

St. John's Island (Red Sea): a new geophysical model and its implications for the emplacement of ultramafic rocks in fracture zones and at continental margins

New gravity and magnetic data from the northern Red Sea reveal the extent of the large gravity anomaly (164 mgal) and the presence of significant magnetic anomalies over St. John's Island. Spectral transformation and three-dimensional potential-field modelling delineate the surface configuration and vertical extent of the causative body and the enormous density contrast required (1.2 g/cm³) suggests that it is composed of unserpentinised peridotite (density 3.4 g/cm³) to a depth of at least 8 km.St. John's Island is uniquely located, not only at a passive continental margin but also within a fracture zone at the transition from plate separation by seafloor spreading to extension by lithospheric attenuation. This precludes several suggested mechanisms for the emplacement of ultramafic bodies in fracture zones.Thermal contraction, serpentinite diapirism and changes in the poles of rotation do not seem possible mechanisms in this tectonic environment and the emplacement is most probably related to the spreading readjustment necessary to create a continent-to-continent fracture zone. A post-Mesozoic age of emplacement, associated with the onset of continental rifting and the rejuvenation of a pre-existing continental fracture, seems most probable.     

The ionospheric up-flowing He ion distribution in the magnetosphere

Based on ion distribution function found from the dynamic equation, the density distribution of He⁺ ions originating from the polar ionosphere and up-flowing along the magnetic field line is studied during quiet and weakly disturbed geomagnetic conditions. The results show the following. (1) The ionospheric up-flowing He⁺ ions mainly reside in the inner magnetosphere and their density has a negative radial gradient. (2) The ionospheric up-flowing He⁺ ion distributions along the magnetic field line are mainly controlled by gravity and the geomagnetic field configuration. Larger the gravity, larger is the ion density. Smaller the intensity of magnetic field, smaller is the ion density. (3) If the geomagnetic activity index K_p is high, more up-flowing He⁺ ions will enter the magnetosphere and the region where the up-flowing ions are dominant will grow. This is consistent with observations of ionospheric up-flowing ions. Some features of the geopause can be understood based on our theoretical results.     

Gravity and magnetic investigation on the distribution of volcanic rocks in the Qinggelidi area,north‐eastern Junggar Basin (north‐west China)

A detailed investigation on the location of magmatic intrusions in the Carboniferous strata of the Qinggelidi area, north‐eastern Junggar Basin, is presented based on the interpretation of gravity and magnetic data constrained by petrophysical data, seismics and surface geology. The wavelet multi‐resolution analysis based on the discrete wavelet transform is adopted to the regional‐residual separation of gravity and magnetic anomalies. A power spectrum analysis is applied to estimate the source depths corresponding to different scales. A comparative analysis on the characteristics of local gravity and magnetic anomalies improved our understanding of volcanic rock distribution in the Carboniferous strata. Generally speaking, in total 75 anomalies are recognized, among which 23 are inferred to be the responses of basalts, diabases and andesites with high density and strong magnetization. Twelve anomalies are assumed to be caused by andesites, rhyolites and volcanic breccias with medium‐low density and high magnetization. There are still five anomalies that are believed to be generated by volcanic tuffs with low density and weak magnetization. Lastly, four cross‐sections in 3D gravity and magnetic modelling are displayed to provide a more thorough image of volcanic rocks in our study area.     

Interpretation of gravity and magnetic data in the Phlegraean fields geothermal area, Naples, Italy

Available gravity and magnetic data of the Phlegraean Fields geothermal area, Naples, Italy, have been interpreted and the obtained structural models discussed in the light of the other available geological, volcanological and geophysical data.On the basis of the results of a previous seismic reflection survey in the Gulf of Naples and in the Pozzuoli Bay, which delineated a basement characterized by a seismic velocity of 4–6 km/s, it has been possible to evaluate the gravity anomaly connected with the morphology of this horizon ( = 2.7 g/cm³).The residual anomaly map, obtained after subtraction of the regional long-wavelength components relative to mantle and deep crustal structures and the computed components relative to the above-mentioned seismic basement, shows up as a circular low with an amplitude of 10 mgal centred in the Pozzuoli Bay. This gravity low has been interpreted as due to the occurrence, in the centre of Pozzuoli Bay, of light (Δ = −0.2 g/cm³) material with a maximum thickness of about 2 km. However, a contribution to the anomaly due to a narrow magmatic body intruded in the basement, as suggested by volcanological and ground deformation data, cannot be excluded.The aeromagnetic map of the Phlegraean Fields is characterized by three main anomalies which have been fitted by superficial tridimensional parallelepipedic bodies, schematically representing lava flows and domes. Their anomalies have been subsequently subtracted from the observed field, obtaining as a residual a large anomaly centred in the southwestern area of the Pozzuoli Bay. It has been interpreted as being due to a lowmagnetized body which, taking into account the thermal state of the area, should represent that part of the pyroclastic sequence which has lost part of its magnetization by thermo-chemical alteration.     

Estimation of the mass density contrasts and the 3D geometrical shape of the source bodies in the Yilgarn area, Eastern Goldfields, Western Australia

We invert 2D surface gravity data constrained both by geological and seismic information. We use a number of pre-processing tools in order to reduce the general multi-body inversion into several single-body inversions, whereby we can reduce the overall complexity of the inversion task. This is done with as few assumptions as possible. Furthermore, for a single-body inversion we uncouple the determination of the shape of the causative sources from the determination of their mass density contrast to the surroundings. The inversion for the geometrical shape of the source body is done in steps. Firstly, a rough 3D shape of the source is modelled—a model consisting of the vertical mass columns of equal height. The horizontal extension is implied by the surface gravity signal. Subsequently, the shape of each source body is modified to obtain a better fit to the surface gravity data. In each modification step, the overall change of the shape of the source body is followed by an update of the mass density contrast to the surroundings. The technique was applied to a set of gravity data from the Eastern Goldfield area in Western Australia. The area has been widely studied in the past. In 1999, two seismic profiles that cross-sect the area were measured. Furthermore, an extensive geological modelling for the area has been conducted. The practical goal of this work was to verify the geological interpretation using the potential field data (mainly the gravity data although magnetic data were also available) and only weakly constrained by the seismic information. The result was the reconstruction of the ‘rough’ 3D geometry of the source bodies and the estimation of a constant mass density contrast to the surroundings. A possible extension of this technique for detailed studies of the geological model is briefly discussed.     

基于重磁异常相关分析的场源位置及属性识别方法

针对传统的重磁对应分析在场源区域外趋于高相关度的缺点,本文提出了一种基于相关系数和垂向导数的重磁场源位置及属性识别方法,给出了一个新的重磁场源平面位置及属性判别参数(GMCP),该参数能够有效地缩小重磁场源的识别范围.判别参数GMCP值非零分布范围反映了场源的规模.GMCP值的正负反映了场源属性,当GMCP大于零时为正相关,代表了该区域存在高磁高密度或低磁低密度的重磁同源地质体;当GMCP小于零时为负相关,代表了该区域存在高磁低密度或低磁高密度的重磁同源地质体;GMCP趋于零,则表示无重磁同源地质体.两组不同干扰水平的同源复杂组合模型实验、两组不同源组合模型试验以及南海中央海盆实际重磁数据处理结果均验证了该重磁场源位置及属性识别方法的正确性和有效性.     

Separation of magnetic anomalies into induced and remanent magnetization contributions

Inversion of magnetic data is complicated by the presence of remanent magnetization, and it provides limited information about the magnetic source because of the insufficiency of data and constraint information. We propose a Fourier domain transformation allowing the separation of magnetic anomalies into the components caused by induced and remanent magnetizations. The approach is based on the hypothesis that each isolated source is homogeneous with a uniform and specific Koenigsberger ratio. The distributions of susceptibility and remanent magnetization are subsequently recovered from the separated anomalies. Anomaly components, susceptibility distribution and distribution of the remanent and total magnetization vectors (direction and intensity) can be achieved through the processing of the anomaly components. The proposed method therefore provides a procedure to test the hypotheses about target source and magnetic field, by verifying these models based on available information or a priori information from geology. We test our methods using synthetic and real data acquired over the Zhangfushan iron-ore deposit and the Yeshan polymetallic deposit in eastern China. All the tests yield favourable results and the obtained models are helpful for the geological interpretation.