Intro to Mag Survey  The aim of a magnetic survey is to

investigate subsurface geology on the basis

The basic task of magnetic methods in prospection geophysics is
to differentiate subsurface according to its magnetic properties.
The original use of magnetic method was in the field of iron-ore
prospection but Later on, when more sensitive measuring
devices were constructed, the method started to be used also in
other fields like geological mapping or archaeological
prospection.
of anomalies in the Earth’s magnetic field
resulting from the magnetic properties of the
underlying rocks
 Magnetic surveys can be performed on land,
at sea and in the air.
 the technique is widely employed, because
of the speed of operation of airborne
surveys makes the method very attractive in
the geological mapping for larger areas

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10/14/2021
 Magnetic surveys are useful in:

• Locating buried drums,

• tanks, and other metal objects
• Finding abandoned wells
• Mapping geologic structures
• Locating utilities
• Investigating landfills
• Gathering of forensic evidence

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 Introduction to Magnetic Exploration
 Often cheap relative to other geophysical techniques.

 Can be measured with ground-based or airborne equipment.

 Not usually very useful when looking at sedimentary structures.

(We’ll see why later!)

 Measuring a potential field (like gravity!)

 Interpretation is more difficult than for gravity data because

magnetization is a vector

 Changes in the field, not the absolute value of the field is important.

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 Earth Magnetic field

Resembles that of a bar magnet near the the center with its axis inclined at aboat
11,5 degres W of GeoPole

Earth's magnetic field, also known as the geomagnetic field, is the magnetic
field that extends from the Earth's interior out into space, where it meets the
solar wind, a stream of charged particles emanating from the Sun.

Its magnitude at the Earth's surface ranges from 25 to 65 microteslas (0.25 to

0.65 gauss).

The North geomagnetic pole, located near Greenland in the northern

hemisphere, is actually the south pole of the Earth's magnetic field, and the
South geomagnetic pole is the north pole. Unlike a bar magnet,
however,Earth's magnetic field changes over
time because it is generated by a geodynamo

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 The dipole model of the Earth's

 The dipole model of the Earth's magnetic field is a first

order approximation of the rather complex true Earth's
magnetic field. Due to effects of the interplanetary
magnetic field, and the solar wind
 the dipole model is particularly inaccurate at high L-
shells (e.g., above L=3), but may be a good
approximation for lower L shells.

For more precise work, or for any work at higher L-shells,

a more accurate model that
incorporates solar effects,

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 Three componenets of Earth’s magentic field

 1. The main field originating within the Earth’s interior and changing relatively slowly.
{Paleomagnetism}

 2. A small field (compared to the main field) which varies relatively rapidly and
originates outside of the Earth.

 3. Spatial variations of the main field, usually smaller than the main field and usually
invariant in the time and place, caused by the inhomogeneities of the Earth’s crust.
These are the target of the magnetic exploration.

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 Geodynamo

 Circulation of molten material in Earth’s core causes Earth’s

magnetism

By the electromagnetic theory the magnetic field is a

consequence of a flow of electrically charged particles (electric
current). A current flowing in a circular loop acts as a magnetic
dipole located in the center of the loop

The magnetic field of the Earth (the geomagnetic field) is

supposed to be formed – by the electric currents flowing in the
outer core, the geodynamo. The currents are generated by
convection currents in the conductive liquid outer core

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 MAGNETOSPHERE
Solar wind = charged particles ejected
from the Sun
Magnetosphere = a zone of charged particles trapped by
Earth’s magnetic field

Magnetotail = portion of a magnetosphere

that is pushed away from the sun by the
solar wind

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 At any location, the Earth's magnetic field can be represented by a three-dimensional vector..
Its angle relative to true North is the declination (D) or variation. Facing magnetic North,
the angle the field makes with the horizontal is the inclination (I) or magnetic dip.
The intensity (F) of the field is proportional to the force it exerts on a magnet. Another common representation is
in X (North), Y (East) and Z (Down) coordinates

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 magnetic declination

• angle between geographic north and the north to which a

compass needle points

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10/14/2021 H. Dewah for HXGP 216 @ MSU Geosciences
 intensity

 The intensity of the field is often measured in gauss (G),

 but is generally reported in nanoteslas (nT), with 1 G = 100,000 nT. A

 nanotesla is also referred to as a gamma (γ).The tesla is the SI unit of

 the Magnetic field, B. The field ranges between approximately 25,000

 and 65,000 nT (0.25–0.65 G). By comparison, a strong refrigerator

 magnet has a field of about 100 gauss (0.010 T).

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 Magnetic Monopoles
The mathematical expression for the magnetic force experienced between two magnetic monopoles

where μ is a constant of proportionality known as the magnetic permeability,

p1 and p2 are the strengths of the two magnetic monopoles,
r is the distance between the two poles.

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@ MSU Geosciences
  Unlike the gravitational constant, G, the magnetic permeability, μ, is a property of the
material in which the two monopoles, p1 and p2, are located.

 • Unlike m1 and m2, p1 and p2 can be either positive or negative in sign. If p1 and p2
have the same sign, the force between the two monopoles is repulsive.

 If p1 and p2 have opposite signs, the force between the two monopoles is attractive.

magnetic monopoles that we have been describing have never actually been
observed (Magnetic Dipole exist)

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 Units Associated with Magnetic Poles

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