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GRAVITY AND MAGNETIC FILTERING TECHNIQUES

Chapter · September 2014

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 GRAVITY
AND
MAGNETIC
FILTERING
TECHNIQUES

١
 COMPARE BETWEEN THE BOUGUER, REGIONAL
AND RESIDUAL GRAVITY ANOMALIES?

Bouguer gravity anomalies are the integrated summation of the

stratigraphic and structural implications of all units forming the
sedimentary sequence, in addition to those of the basement
complex. Bouguer gravity anomalies are usually classified into
two main groups; regionals and residuals.

Regional gravity anomalies are generally of large areal

extension, smooth, having high amplitudes and are associated
primarily with considerable, broad and deeper features within
and at the basement surface. The Regional field is caused by
large-scale geologic structure that is not of interest the
gravitational acceleration produced by these large-scale
features are referred to as the Regional Gravity Anomaly.

Residual gravity anomalies, on the other hand, are generally of

local areal extension, having low amplitudes and are
accompanied essentially with small and shallow features within
the sedimentary section. That portion of the gravitational
acceleration associated with the local structures is referred to
as the Local or the Residual Gravity Anomaly.

٢
Because the Regional Gravity Anomaly is often much larger in
size than the Local Gravity Anomaly it is imperative that we
develop a means to effectively remove this effect from our
gravity observations before attempting to interpret the gravity
observations for local geologic structure.

WHAT ARE THE SOURCES OF THE LOCAL AND

REGIONAL GRAVITY ANOMALIES?

 The sources of the Regional Gravity Anomaly is due to

large-scale sources at deeper locations

 The sources for the Local Gravity Anomalies are due to

small-scale sources close to the surface).

 The broader gravity anomaly associated with the deeper

source could be considered a Regional Gravity
Contribution.

 The sharper anomaly associated with the more shallow

source would contribute to the Local Gravity Anomaly.

 Regional contributions to the observed gravity field that

are large in amplitude and broad in shape are assumed to
be deep (producing the large breadth in shape) and large
in aerial extent (producing a large amplitude).

٣
 COMPARE BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES
OF GRAVITY AND MAGNETIC SEPARATION?

The Gravity and, magnetic Separation techniques are:

1) Graphical Estimates:
These techniques are based on simply plotting the observations,
sketching the interpreter's estimate of the regional gravity anomaly,
and subtracting the regional gravity anomaly estimate from the raw
observations to generate an estimate of the local gravity anomaly.

2) Mathematical Estimates:
This represents any of a wide variety of methods for determining the
regional gravity contribution from the collected data through the use
of mathematical procedures. Examples of how this can be done
include:
o Moving Averages: In this technique, an estimate of the
regional gravity anomaly at some point along a profile is
determined by averaging the recorded gravity values at several
nearby points. Averaging gravity values over several observation
points enhances the long-wavelength contributions to the
recorded gravity field while suppressing the shorter-wavelength
contributions.
o Function Fitting: In this technique, smoothly varying
mathematical functions are fit to the data and used as estimates
of the regional gravity anomaly. The simplest of any number of
possible functions that could be fit to the data is a straight line.

٤
3) Filtering: These are more sophisticated mathematical techniques
for determining the long-wavelength portion of a data set. Those
interested in finding out more about these types of techniques can
find descriptions of them in any introductory geophysical textbooks.

WRITE SHORT NOTES ON THE GRAVITY AND MAGNETIC

SEPARATION STEPS AND DESCRIBE THE DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN BOUGUER, REGIONAL AND RESIDUAL MAPS

1) Separation of the Bouguer gravity anomaly map is carried out

to identify the local structures from those of regional nature.
2) An estimate of the regional gravity anomaly at some point
along a profile is determined by averaging the recorded gravity
values at several nearby points.
3) Generally, the anomaly separation procedure consists of the
removal of the regional effect by using an array of values,
usually in a regular grid.
4) By this way, the value of the regional component can be
estimated at a certain station point.
5) This calculated regional is subtracted from the integrative value
of the gravity effect at this station to result the residual values.
6) The regional values and the residual values can contour to
produce the regional and residual maps.
7) The regional gravity anomaly map is mostly similar to the
original Bouguer gravity anomaly map in the anomalies
polarities, trends, shapes and areal extension.

٥
 8) The regional anomaly map reveals more simpler and smoother
contours than the Bouguer gravity anomaly map.
9) The discrepancies arisen between the regional and Bouguer
gravity maps may be observed in the absence of the local
anomaly, reduction in the size,
10) The residual gravity anomaly map represents actually the
distribution of the gravity field after removing the regional effect.
It reveals the local positive and negative gravity anomalies of
shallow nature.
11) Also, the gradients separating the fore-going positive and
negative residual anomalies may reflect the effect of faults of
shallow origin.
12) Added, the residual anomalies can be interpreted through the
fact that, the crowded distribution and considerable relief of the
residuals are related to structures and density contrasts of the
basement complex.
13) On the other hand, the gentle relief and large areal extension
reveal local and widely separated structural and lithologic
variations lie within the depth range of the sedimentary section
of these parts.
14) The residual anomaly map is characterized by the presence of a
number of local gravity anomalies of variable areal extension,
vertical relief, directions and shapes. In other words, each of
them reflects a certain causative body of certain mass
distribution, density, depth and configuration.

٦
COMPARE BETWEEN TRADITIONAL SEPARATION

TECHNIQUES AND FILTERING TECHNIQUES

 The main aim of the gravity separation is the removal of the

regional anomalies that produced from the deep-seated
implications from the residual anomalies that resulted from the
shallow-seated manifestations.
 The gravity isolation separates the residual from regional along
a certain depth, utilizing one of the traditional girding methods
as that of Griffin (1949), taking in to consideration the relation
between the depth of separation and the dimensions of both
types of anomalies.
 The main target of filtering techniques is the separation of
anomalies of different wavelengths from each other, i.e. the
local anomalies of shallow sources are corresponding to short
wave lengths or high frequencies and the regional anomalies of
deep-seated sources are corresponding to long wavelengths or
low frequencies.
 Two dimensional linear filtering is used to extract the gravity
signals from a background of random noises, making the
distortion of the original signals kept at the minimum, according
to a proper choice of spacing and number of coefficients.
 The aim needed is to develop filters, which pass or reject
certain wavelengths.
 The filters used can be grouped into three categories, namely;
regional, residual and band-pass filters.

٧
 A regional filter is defined as a filter, which passes long
wavelengths and rejects all wavelengths smaller than the cut-
off wavelength.
 A residual filter emphasizes short wavelengths and eliminates
wavelengths larger than the cut-off wavelength.
 A band-pass filter passes wavelengths within a certain range.
Wavelengths longer than the upper cut-off limit or smaller than
the lower cut-off limit are rejected
 The terms; regional and residual filters correspond exactly to
the term low-cut filters and high-cut filters as utilized in the
information theory; high and low referring to frequency or wave
number.

WRITE SHORT NOTES ON GRAVITY

AND MAGNETIC FILTERING

 Generally, there are two main types of digital filters:

a. Frequency (convolution) filters; which discriminate the
components of an input waveform in the form of low-pass
(LP), high-pass (HP) and band-pass (BP) in terms of their
frequency response, as shown in the potential field data
processing, and
b. Inverse (deconvolution) filters; which are used to remove
the adverse effects of the fore-mentioned filtering
operation, as exhibited in the seismic data processing.

٨
 It is considered more practical to use wavelengths instead of
wave numbers where possible, because the user of a map
measures lengths and would have to go into additional
calculations in order to derive wave numbers.
 The filters are named according to their cut-off wavelengths.
 The aim is to separate anomalies of different sizes from each
other, in order to define better anomaly trends and
configurations and other features that are not easily detectable
on the original map, which can be brought out with more clarity.
 Filtering the maps serves to improve the understanding of the
geological configuration of the basement and the overlying
sedimentary cover.
 The filtering theory regarding the mathematical principles,
practical filters and convolution process was dealt with in
details in the work of Zurflueh (1967). Three sets of filtering
coefficients have been used in this work. These sets are as
follows:
(1) Coefficients of the 8-unit regional filter
(2) Coefficients of the 16-unit regional filter and
(3) Coefficients of the 21.3-unit regional filter (Table 3).
 For applying the filtering technique, the Bouguer gravity
anomaly map must be digitized through the interpolation of the
given gravity data, checked and stored in the computer under a
file name. Then, the filtering process is preceded, using the
low-cut, high cut and band-pass filters


٩
 COMPARE BETWEEN LOW-CUT GRAVITY
AND MAGNETIC FILTERING MAPS

 Low-cut gravity filtering isolates the regional features from the

local ones.
 The filtering process is carried out three times, where three
sets of filtering coefficients are applied upon the Bouguer
gravity anomaly map.
 Thus, three regional gravity anomaly maps are produced.
 The gravity map with 8-unit regional filter
o shows nearly analogous configuration for the distribution
of the produced anomalies as compared with the regional
anomalies of the Bouguer gravity anomaly map.
o The similarities can be seen in the polarities, locations
and trends of the resulted regional belts.
o The minor discrepancies can be observed in the
decrease of anomalies reliefs and gradients magnitudes,
in addition to the generation of a local anomaly
o These can be attributed to the insertion of some residual
anomalies within the regional style of anomalies at the
selected depth boundary.
 The gravity map filtered with 16-unit regional filter
o exhibits similar configuration for the anomalies
distribution, as correlated with that of the 8-unit regional
filter.
o The similarities can be seen in the polarities, trends and
locations of the resulted belts.

١٠
 o The differences between them are implied in the
decrease of anomalies reliefs and gradients magnitudes,
o In addition to the absence of some local anomalies that
present in the 8-unit regional filter map.
o This is essentially due to the larger depth at which the
filtering process is carried out.

 The gravity map filtered with 21.3-unit regional filter

o represents more or less identical distribution for the
gravity anomalies, as compared with that of the 16-unit
regional filter.
o The differences between them are manifested in the
more smoothed anomalies and more released gradients
with the 21.3-unit regional filter,
o In addition to the slight decrease of anomalies reliefs.

 The increase of filter operator from 8-unit to 16-unit to 21.3-unit

o Passes the longer wavelengths of more uniform nature
as compared with the shorter wavelengths of more
heterogeneous nature.
o Thus, it is very essential to note that, as the utilized
regional filter is increased from 8-unit to 16-unit to 21.3-
unit, a comparable increase in the lateral extension,
release in the gravity gradients and decay of the local
peculiarities are obtained.
o Accordingly, the gravity map with 21.3-unit regional filter
is considered the best allover the other filtered maps of
smaller filter responses.

١١
 COMPARE BETWEEN HIGH-CUT GRAVITY
AND MAGNETIC FILTERING MAPS

 High-cut gravity filtering

o Corresponds to the high-pass filtering, which leads to the
isolation of the local features from the regional ones.
o The maps showing the residual anomalies would be
resulted by subtracting the values of the filtered regional
maps from the original data values.
o By the same way, three residual gravity anomaly maps
are produced.

 The gravity map filtered with 8-unit residual filter

o is nearly more or less analogous to the residual gravity
anomaly map of Griffin's method.
o The similarities can be observed in the polarities,
locations and trends of the residual anomalies.
o The differences arisen in the decrease of the number of
anomalies,
o In addition to the increase of the gravity gradients existed
between the encountered anomalies and the decrease in
the resolution of these residual anomalies.
o Some of the local anomalies are absent, while the others
are integrated in larger ones.
o This reflects the enhancement of the smaller residual
anomalies due to filtering.

١٢
 The gravity map filtered with 16-unit residual filter
o reveals more or less identical pattern for the distribution
of the produced gravity anomalies, as compared with the
8-unit residual filter.
o The similarities can be observed in the polarities,
locations and trends of the residual anomalies.
o The minor discrepancies can be observed in the more
integration of the residual anomalies (due to the decrease
in the number of the residual anomalies) and the slight
increase of the gradients.
 The increase of the filter operator of the residual separation
from 8-unit to 16-unit allows the passing of wider local
anomalies on the expense of the narrower ones, in addition to
the decrease of irregularities in the anomalies contours.
 The gravity map filtered with 21.3-unit residual filter
o Reflects nearly closer anomaly style to the 16-unit
residual filter, but with slight increase of the gravity
gradients, in addition to more integration for the residual
anomalies.
o The increase of the filter operator of the residual
separation from 16-unit to 21.3-unit permits the passing
of more wider local anomalies on the expense of the
relatively intermediate local ones.
 As shown, with the increase of filter operator, the depth of
investigation increases, which passes the shorter wavelengths
within the high-cut, filters.

١٣
 Accordingly, the gravity map filtered with 8-unit residual filter is
the best residual filter allover the others, because of the
harmony in the distribution of the produced local gravity
anomalies, as correlated with the residual anomalies of the
Bouguer gravity map.
 The exceptions are in the decrease of the resolution of the
anomalies and the increase of the gravity gradients.

COMPARE BETWEEN BAND-PASS GRAVITY

AND MAGNETIC FILTERING MAPS

 This process results maps expressing the anomaly pattern

within a certain range of wavelengths.
 These maps are produced by subtracting a regional filter of
certain wavelength from another regional filter of smaller
wavelength.
 This means, if a regional filter of 16-unit is subtracted, point by
point, from the 8-unit regional filter, a filter passing wavelengths
between 8 and 16 grid units is resulted.
 Three maps showing the band-pass effects of the Bouguer
gravity anomaly map are illustrated.
 The gravity map with 16-8 unit band-pass filter shows the
gravity anomalies located in the upper-intermediate interval
(between low-cut filter and intermediate-cut filter).
 Such a map exhibits high frequency content of limited lateral
extension and considerable vertical relief anomalies, which

١٤
 characterize the upper part of the studied section, consequently
reflect residual affinity.
 The gravity map with 21.3-16-unit band-pass filter reveals the
gravity anomalies restricted in the lower-intermediate interval
(between intermediate-cut filter and high-cut filter).
 This map exhibits more or less similar configuration, but with
lower frequency content of larger lateral extension and smaller
vertical relief anomalies, which characterize the lower part of
the studied section, consequently reflect regional affinity.
 The gravity map with 21.3-8 unit band-pass filter shows the
integrated gravity anomalies located within the entire range of
the intermediate interval (between the low-cut filter and the
high-cut filter).
 Such a map exhibits the highest frequencies with the sharpest
relief and steeper gradients thus reflect the optimum band-pass
filter allover the others.

WRITE IN BRIEF THE RESULTS OBTAINED

FROM FILTERING TECHNIQUES

 The comparative study and critical analysis of the regional and

residual gravity maps deduced from filtering technique
(Zurflueh, 1967) reveal that
o The filtering technique seems to be more successful in
the isolation of gravity field than the other traditional
methods.

١٥
 o The gravity map with 21.3-unit regional filter is more or
less similar to the regional gravity map of gridding
method, but with minor exceptions regarding the
decrease of the anomalies reliefs and gradients
magnitudes.
o The gravity map with 8-unit residual filter is more or less
analogous to the residual gravity map of gridding method,
but with small discrepancies concerning the increase of
the anomalies reliefs and the decrease in the resolution
of the anomalies.
o The 8-unit residual filter is optimum for delineating the
smaller elements of shallower depths on the expense of
the 16 and 21.3-units.
o The 21.3-unit regional filter is better for defining the larger

elements of considerable depths on the expense of the 8

and 16-units.
o The 21.3-8-unit band pass is beneficial for following the
interfaces of intermediate depth range on the expense of
the 16-8 and 21.3-16 band passes.

Compare between low and high cut gravity filtering?

What are the main characteristics of the gravity base
stations?
How to establish gravity net?
What are the different types of electrical electrode
configurations?

١٦
 PRACTICAL
EXAMINATION

١٧

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