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Introduction
Gravity surveying is a well established geophysical
technique for the invesUgation of geologic structures. The
basic approach first measures differences in the force of
gravity between stations distributed over the surveyed
area. After these values have been corrected for all known
effects, the remaining differences are due to lateral vari-
aUons in subsurface rock density. Interpretation consists
of constructing density models which are consistent with
the geologic control and could produce the observed
gravity differences. Gravity surveys have been used to
search for salt domes, define the configuraUon of sedi-
mentary basins, and explore the deep structure of
Figure l. The Super-G electrostoticolly controlled grovimeter. The
mountains. continents, and oceans. Parasins (I986),
smoll box which is ottoched to the side of the G-meter cose
Telford and others (1976), Nettleton (1976), Robinson
contoins the electronics thot null the beom. The computer finds
and Coruh (1988), and other geophysics texts describe
ond disploysthe tide-corrected, level-corrected, continuous grov-
the gravity survey technique. Hinze (199O) provides a
ity reoding.
detailed review of the engineering and environmental
applications of gravity surveying.
The accuracy of a survey depends on the accuracy of bilitjes which ensure broader use of gravity survqfin! for
the gravimeter and the accuracy of tJ-e correcUons which future engineering, groundwater, and environmental in-
are applied to the obserued values. The accuracy of these vestigations. This article describes these developments
corrections depends on the measured station elevations and some of the survey targets which are now within the
and the focused effort that goes into calculation of the pracUcal range of gravity suwq;ing. A detailed description
terrain corrections. The skill and dedication of the gra- of the data reducUon process and suggestions for field
vimeter operator is another concerrr. Because of these procedures are also included. The purpose of the artjcle
limitations, the final reduced or Bouguer gravity values is to provide a comprehensive review of the basic informa-
have an inherent inaccuracy which must be evaluated tion necessan/ to successfully conduct high precision
during the interpretation. Survey inaccuracy has tradi- gravity surveys. The intent is to help others understand
tionalll' limited the size and types of geologic targets that and use this powerful survey tecturique.
can be reliably mapped with the gravi$ technique. The
relatively high cost of the sun'eys is another factor that
Background
can limit the applications. The Earth's Gravtty Fleld
Recent developments have significantly reduced the Sea level gravity varies between 983 Gals at t-Le Earth's
cost, enhanced the'hccuracy. and simplified the conduct poles to 978 Gals at the equator where one Gal (for Galileo)
of gravily surveys. ihese include electrostatically control- is an acceleraUon of one centjmeter per second squared.
led gravimeters, the global posiUoning satellite system The targets of interest in engineering and environmental
(GPS), and digital elevation models of the topography sun'eys can be as small as O.OOOOlOGals, so we normally
(DEMs). AJong u'ith the new developments come new capa- work with either milliGals or microGals. One microGal
K(SZ)b sin c
temperature variaUons, and possible site instabilities so
I
Y
Substitute lhr trigonom.tric rcletion
its mean value is determined over a user-selected Ume-
i
Y
sinO = \'/S cose averaged interval, typically 15 or 3O seconds. Normally
thrn lhc countcr-clocknisc torque is tlrree or four of these time-averaged readings are used to
K Y b ( l - Z S ) c o s€ find a final reading for the stailon. Another concern is the
Rotetionrl rtrbilitl rcquirts lhrt th? nct lorquc is zcro difficulty of maintaining an exact instrument level, espe-
l\lga cose = KYb(l-ZS) cose cially on soft ground. The level of both tlle convenHonal
K)'b LaCoste & Romberg G-meter and the Super-G meter is
s= (l-zJsl
tu, measured with internal electronic ievels and adjusted by
Diffcrcntirrion f iclds the operator using leveling screws. With the conventional
Kl'b z
oa= -n_r, as design the leveling is tJ:en complete: with the new design
Then if 'Z' is vcn vcn rmrll. r rmall changc in grer it1
'dg' any off-level changes are conUnually sensed and incorpo-
*ill producr r rehtiveh largr chenge in thc rpring length 'dS' rated into the gravity reading by the computer. This
Tht micromctcr scrch is uscd to bring lhc bcem rnd mrss lo
'null'
computer driven fine-tuning is necessa-ry if microGal
r rpccilied position.
accuracy is to be obtained. The Super-G meter has an
Figure2, Bosicmechonicsof o zero-lengfh-spring grovimeter.By accuracy of one or two microGals.
moking the offset between the plot origin ond the extropoloted Solar and lunar Udes affect tJ:e force of gravity at tl:e
force versuslengrthfunction Q) very very smoll,o smollchonge in Earth's surface by as much as 150 microGals with a rate
grovity (dg) produceso relotivelylorge chonge in springlength of change as large as one microcal per minute. With the
Super-G gravimeter, these Udes are calculated internally
appropriate conversion factors into a station reading in using the computer algorithm published by Longman
microGals. The principle behind the meter is relatively (1959) and the tide correction is automatically applied to
simple. However actual meter performance depends on the gravity readings. Tide calculations require the correct
things like: exactly uniform spring and screw charac- date, time to within one minute, and latitude and longi-
teristics, barometric pressure compensation, tempera- tude to within one tentfl of a degree. Time is normally
ture control, damping of the beam oscillaUons, meter maintained in the gravimeter computer as Greenwich
leveling. and hinge or pivot construction. Gravimeters are Mean Time (GMT) but you can use local Ume if you know
among the most sophisticated geophysical survey instm- your international time zone and local versus daylight
ments in existence but despite the care that goes into their savings Ume.
constrllction. the accuracy of traditional meters is limited Survey Procedures
to about 20 microGals.
The raw data from a gravity survey are the differences
The Super-G design adds a capacitor plate to the end
between the readings at the field stations and the reading
of the mechanica-lbeam and corresponding parallel plates
at a base station. These differences are added to the
to the supporting frame. with this design, the beam is first
absolute gravity at the base stailon to obtain the known
adjusted to its approximate null posiUon using the mi-
absolute gravity values at the field stations. If the sun'ey
crometer screw which is tJlen locked in place. For a small
objective is limited to establishing lateral gravity vari-
site, the micrometer screw adJustment is made once
ations within the site, then any reasonable value can be
during the first base station reading and then left in its assumed for absolute gravity at the base station. One
locked position for the remainder of the survey. For larger approach is to set this value equal to the theoretical
sites or sites with large elevation variations it may be grarrlty. On the final Bouguer gravity contour map the zero
necessary to use several different locked screw posiuons. contour line then passes through the base station. How-
At one screw posiilon the operating range of the Super-G ever, if a site survey is to be merged with other surveys or
gravimeter is 4OO0to 5OOOmicroGals.
lf lt is part of a larger proJect,the base staUon value should
Da ta Reduc t lon a n d In te rp re ta tl o n A .
\-/ [less (lbs) = io.l6 z2(hl . mu. mp.
Both the shallow density structures of interest and
deeper density structures will affect the Bouguer gravity
map that results from a site survey. The deep-seated Horizontal C1'lindar (2-D clongate anomall )
features are generally not of interest but will produce a
regional gradient which needs to be removed before the
double hlwidth ---r - muimum rmplitude
remaining data can be interpreted. One approach to \
(microGds)
removing the regional is to use a computer program, like + - 0.5 mu. emplitude
order of the polynomial does not adversely effect the shape Figure4. Grovityeffect of o sphereond horizontolcylinder,These
of the anomalies of interest. two simplemodelscon often be usedto find the moximumdepth
In general, broader anomalies can be attributed to of o body ond itsexcessor mising moss.
deeper bodies. However, the anomalies due to broad,
shallow bodies will also be broad. The upper limit on tlte
model. Despite this problem, there are some generalities
depth to the source body is inherentJy ambiguous and
which are usually valid.
broad shallow trends over the surveyed area cannot be . Consolidated sediments are more dense than uncon-
distinguished from the regional.
solidated sediments.
For adequately resolved gravity anomalies, there are . Igneous or metamorphic basement rocks are more
some useful models that can help establish the maximum
dense than most sedimentary rocks.
depth to the center of gravity of the causaUve body. Two o Mafic igneous rocks like gabbro are more dense than
of the more useful, shown on Figure 4, are for circular
acidic igneous rocks like granite.
anomalies {the sphere) and elongate two dimensional o Clays exhibit a wide range of densities. The actual
anomalies (horizontal cylinder). When using these rela-
value depends largely on the water content and degree
tions, remember that the middle of the causaUve body
of consolidation.
must be at er above the indicated depth. Once the depths . Glacial till, deposited directly by ice. often has a high
have been determined. the indicated relations can be used
clay content and corresponding wide range of densi-
to find the approximate excess or missing mass.
ties. Glacial alluvium, deposited by melt water, tends
Gravity surveys detect lateral variations in the force of
to have densiUes more representative of unconsoli-
gravity caused by lateral variations in subsurface mass
dated sediments.
density. The density difference between materials is the . Limestone exhibits a wide range of densities depend-
physical property of importance. Figure 5, compiled from
ent on porosity and the extent of the weathering. In
a variety of sources, presents approximate densities and
limestone karst terrains, the degree of weathering is
the range of densities for a variety of materials.
extremely variable.
The broad range of densities evident on Figure 5 indi- o The relaUon between dense anhydrite (CaSOa)and less
cates an inherent ambiguity in tJle interpretaUon of grar'-
dense Srpsum (CaSOa+nHzO)is complex, especially in
ity data. Determination of the actual densities is a
t].e near surface environment.
significant concern and it is generally advisable to con- . There is a predictable relation between density and
sider a family of models which are based on a range of
porostty because air and water are less dense than
possible density contrasts ratJrer than a single unique
r0 T h e P r o f e s s l o n a l G e o l o g i s t o N O V E I V I B E R1 9 9 6
Denrin (gnr i cc)
South
.i
i i North
down around a pumping well. A gravity survey to map of
the former could aide in the efficient recovery of injected
r-rl gas and in the later case could help define the anisotropic
open cal'e V \ backfill and hydraulic conductivity of the material. Both of these
50 x 20 ft ----'/ \- altered limestone
(-1.3 gm/ cc) applications have been shown by modeling to be theoreti-
(-0.3 gm/ cc)
cally feasible but neither has been applied to an actual
FigureI L Observedond modeled grovity.Thegrovityonomolyis problem. Allis and Hunt (1986) reported on the successful
much too lorge to be due to only on open solutionconduit or
use of repeated surveys to analyze mass movements in
cove. Sedimentfilledsolutionconduiisond olteredlimestoneore
the Wairakei geothermal field. They observed gravity de-
proboblyolsocontributingto the onomoly.
creases of up to l00O microGals and attributed these to
liquid pressure drawdown and the development of a
and there was little or no control over what was deposited. stream zone.
A major challenge to environmental scientists over the Temporal surveying involves repeated gravity measure-
next couple of decades will be to characterrze, stabilize, ments at fixed stations. Except for bedrock exposures. the
and clean up these abandoned faciliUes. This task re- ground surface is subject to soil moisture variaUons
quires establishing what is actually down there. which can change its density and induce shrink-sweil
The lateral extent of abandoned landfills can be estab- disturbances. These introduce additional complexity into
lished by magnetic or electromagnetic surveys but at- the survey procedures. One approach to the surface
tempts to remotely measure their vertical extent have instability problem is to mark the staUons with a piece of
been less successful. Ground Penetrating RADAR, electri- rebar driven to refusal witJrin a four or six foot length of
cal resistivity, and electromagnetic conductivity are gen- PVC pipe that has been set in Ern augured boring. The
e ra l l y uns uc c es s f u l b e c a u s e o f th e h e te ro geneous reference elevation would be the top of the rebar which
electrical properties of Lhe fill. Seismic techniques are would be cut off at or near the ground surface. To
compromised because fill material absorbs the higher distinguish gravity changes due to density changes from
frequency energf which is needed for adequate resolution. those due to surface elevation changes, both the gravity
Magnetics can provide some depth information but there field and the station elevations should be measured dur-
remains a lot of ambiguity in the interpretation. ing each repeat survey. It might also be advisable to
t andfill material typically has densiUes that are much
lower than normal sediments (Figure 5). There is a corre-
sponding negative gravity anomaly that can be measured
and interpreted in terms of the configuration of the fill.
Kick (1993) describes several surveys of landfills in New
England that established the bedrock configuration. He
reported that problems involved in disUnguishing that
part of the gravity anomaly that is due to tJ.e landfill
configuration from that due to geologic density variations
can be handled by careful consideraUon of all available
information. Roberts and others (199O)describe a gravity intheapplication
Specialists of
survey of a landfill in glacial drift that was used to Pressure Technology
Grouting
establish both the configuration and the mean density of groundwater
tocontrol flowand
the lill material.
stabilize inkarst
structures terranes.
Another problem is to predict the pattern of subsidence
that will likely occur on the surface of a landfill. This type " TbePressureGroutingSpecialist"
of information could help in the design of liners between
piggr-backed landfill cells or tJredevelopment of facilities,
like ski slopes, on abandoned facilities. Theoretical calcu-
lations by the lead author indicate that a high precision
Contact:DaveTaylor 314-828-5858
5b
Figure13.Bouguergrovityin the deportmentstore.The
3Z
negotive onomoly of 'An wos identified by o store
employee os the locotion from which the tonk hod
been previously
removed.