Edge position detection and depth estimation from gravity data with application to mineral exploration


ELMAS A.

CARBONATES AND EVAPORITES, vol.34, no.1, pp.189-196, 2019 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 34 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2019
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s13146-018-0480-8
  • Journal Name: CARBONATES AND EVAPORITES
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.189-196
  • Karadeniz Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

A method is applied to residual gravity data taken from the Ortaklar mine, Turkey to delineate the edge position and to estimate the depth of a buried ore body. The horizontal gradient magnitude (HGM) and tilt angle map (TAM) techniques are applied to the first vertical derivative (FVD) of the residual gravity data. The maxima contours of the HGM data and the zero contours of the TAM correspond to the edges of the ore body. The half distance between +/- 45 degrees (+/- 0.785rad) TAM contours is used to determine the depths of the body. The obtained results are then compared against the depths retrieved from the Grav2dc inversion program, which inverted two profiles taken across the maximum response of the gravity anomaly map. The depths of the ore body estimated by the two methods are found in good agreement as reveal from drilling information.