Gravity Modelling

Basic Shapes 1
Spheres and Cylinders spreadsheet
Adjust densities and depths and look at the corresponding anomalies produced

What can you say about the steepness of the curves and depth of burial? What can you say about depth of burial versus density? What can you say about sphere versus cylinder (Hint - match the peak anomalies and look at the anomaly shapes)?

Basic Shapes 2
The Fault / edge of a slab anomaly the Slab spreadsheet

Try adjusting the angle of the fault and throw across the fault?
What is the basic shape of the gravity anomaly across a sharp edge (fault or intrusive contact) and where would you pick the contact?

Basic Shapes 3
Layer equivalence Grav2dColumn spreadsheet Open One profile try adjusting the densities and thickness of the columns (btw do not touch the cells below !) Open two profiles and compare !!!!

Basic shapes basic lessons

The nearer the surface the higher the gradient Elongate bodies have a contribution to their anomalies from the distant part of the body Layer equivalence points to what is called the non-unique nature of gravity anomalies they are the product of density contrast and volume very different shapes can give the same answer ! Be aware, very aware !!!!

Now for something real

The Cornubian Batholith aka the granites of SW England. The granites of SW England have been of long interest as the gravity over them was first measured & modelled back in the 50 and 60s and they helped form a significant stepping stone in our understanding of modelling sub-surface bodies. More recently there has been renewed interest due to the fact that they are hot i.e. radioactive. This means that if they are thick enough then they might act as a source of geothermal energy and indeed they are being exploited for this now (e.g. Redruth, St Austell)

Forward Modelling
Suck it and see ! Compare the anomaly of a known shape with the field data, adjust the shape of the body and recalculate until you get a satisfactory fit.

Relies upon geological knowledge and plausability of the final model

GRAVCADW
available at http://www.cas.umt.edu/geosciences//faculty /sheriff/Sheriff_Vita_abstracts/Sheriff_softwar e.htm You need to download and install the software. (unfortunately I cannot get this on to University machines)

Try adjusting the corners of the bodies, the densities and the bodies positions. Also use the view tab to adjust what you can see. BE AWARE do not use the full screen button to expand the modelling window it fails. Equally you can expand the window by dragging the edges BUT only so far ! You will (like me) cause it to fail!

Switch View > anomalies to each and sum

Drag bodies

Adjust densities

Dartmoor
Run GRAVCADW from fresh File
Gravity or Elevations Open file dartmoor2.dat When it says draw a new Model make sure you switch the scale to kilometres and allow 70 km for th horzontal and 15 km for the vertical scales!!!!!

Bodmin
Run GRAVCADW from fresh File
Gravity or Elevations Open file Bodmin2.dat When it says draw a new Model make sure you switch the scale to kilometres and allow 70 km for th horzontal and 15 km for the vertical scales!!!!!

Density contrast for our models

For our purposes -0.13 gm.cc-1

Some questions ?
How deep do you think the sheets of granite are and how realistic is this ? What factors do you need to control? In the end can we get a real answer?

Gravity Modelling Summary

Gravity is monopole and relatively easy to model regular and hence irregular shapes in 2, 2.5 (strike corrected for cylinders) and 3D It suffers from the non-unique solution as do all potential fields (anomaly is the product of shape * density)

With geological and geophysical controls you can come up with sensible geological models

Inversion Modelling
Essentially flat topped or flat bottomed Doesnt rely on pre-determined input from the user has some independence from the user bias Does not necessarily have any geological meaning! Relies on basic shapes/controls e.g. flat top, flat bottom.