Adama Science and Technology University

Faculty Of Applied Natural Science

Department of Applied Geology

Course Title: Exploration Geophysics (Geol

3322)

Chapter Two : Gravity Method

By: Abdela B.

Date: Nov 11, 2021

Outline:
 Introduction
 Basic Theory
 Unit of Gravity
 Density of the Rocks
 Measuring Instruments and Techniques
 Data processing Methods
 Gravity Forward and Inverse Problem
 3D underdetermined Problems of Gravity Data
 Geological Interpretation of Gravity Data
 Applications of Gravity Method
 2.1 Introduction
 In gravity surveying subsurface
geology is investigated on the basis of
variations in Earth’s gravitational
field arising from density contrast
between the subsurface rocks.
 A causative body is a rock unit of
different density from its surroundings.
A causative body represents a
subsurface zone of anomalous mass and
causes a localized perturbation in the
gravitational field known as a gravity
anomaly.
 2.1 Introduction
 major gravity anomalies are generated
by granite plutons or sedimentary basins
 Gravity anomalies a difference
between the locally observed and the
theoretically calculated value of
gravity that reflects local variations in
density of underlying rocks and is often
helpful in geophysical prospecting.
 Interpretation of gravity anomalies
allows an assessment to be made of the
probable depth and shape of the
causative body.
 2.2 Basic Theory
 The basis theory of the Gravity method is
Newton’s Law of Gravitation.
 Newton`s Law of Gravitation states that the
force of attraction (F) between two masses
() and ( whose dimensions are small with
respect to the distance (r) between them, is
given by:

F = (2.1)
Where, G is the Gravitational Constant ( ,
 2.2 Basic Theory
 Consider the gravitational attraction of a
spherical,
non-rotating, homogeneous Earth of mass (M)
and radius (R)on a small mass (m) on its
surface.
 It is relatively simple to show that the mass
of a sphere acts as though it were
concentrated at the Centre of the sphere
and by substitution in equation (2.1).
F = = mg
 Force is related to mass by an acceleration
and the term g =is known as the
gravitational acceleration or gravity
 2.2 Basic Theory
 On an Earth, gravity would be constant.
However, the Earth’s ellipsoidal shape,
rotation, irregular surface relief and internal
mass distribution cause gravity to vary over its
surface.
 The gravitational field is most usefully defined
in terms of the gravitational potential U:
 Gravity measurements are a reflection of
the earth's gravitational attraction, its
centripetal force, tidal accelerations due
to the sun, moon, and planets, and other
applied forces
 2.3 Units of Gravity
 The mean value of gravity at the Earth’s
surface is about 9.8 m
 Variations in gravity caused by density
variations in the subsurface materials.
 In gravity surveys on land an
accuracy of ±0.1gu.
 At sea the accuracy obtainable is
considerably less, about ±10 gu.
Density of the Rocks
Density of the Rocks
 2.4 Measuring Instruments and
Techniques

 The gravimeter is the measuring instrument of the

gravitational field of Earth at specific locations.
 The instrument works on the principle of measuring
constant downward acceleration of gravity.
 Methods of measuring Gravity:
1. Absolute gravity Measurements
2. Relative Gravity Measurements
3. Gravity Gradiometers
.
 Measuring Instruments and Techniques
1. Absolute Gravimeter(pendulum, falling mass
 The measurement of an absolute value of
gravity is difficult and requires complex apparatus
and a length period of observation.
 Such measurement is classically made using large
pendulums or falling body techniques which
can be made with a precision of 0.01gu
 Instrument measuring absolute gravity in field
were original bulk, expensive and slow the read.
 It could applied per day up to 10 site that covered
around 30km2
 It measures the magnitude of the entire gravity
field
 2.4 Measuring Instruments and
Techniques
2. Relative Gravimeter
 It measures the difference in gravity between
two locations(points) but not gravity and is
the standard procedure in gravity surveying.
 Relative Gravimeters are spring based.
 It is a specially assembled extremely sensitive
spring balance carrying a fixed mass.
 The basic principle is that the changes in
gravity will result change in weight of fixed
mass with change of location.
 Type of relative Gravimeter: Spring balance
with constant mass, Lacoste and Romberg
gravimeter and Superconducting Gravimeter
 2.4 Measuring Instruments and Techniques

3. Gravity Gradiometers
 Gravity gradiometry is the study and
measurement of variations (anomalies) in
the Earth's gravitational field.
 The gravity gradient is the spatial rate of
change of gravitational acceleration.
 As acceleration is a vector quantity,
with magnitude and three-dimensional
direction
 Gravity gradiometry is used by oil and
mineral prospectors to measure the
density of the subsurface
 The unit of gravity gradient is the eotvos
(abbreviated as E), which is equivalent to
10−9 s−2 (or 10−4 mGal/m).
 Full tensor gradiometers measure the rate
of change of the gravity vector in all three
perpendicular directions giving rise to a
gravity gradient tensor
2.5 Gravity method Data Processing
1 Reduction of gravity data
2 Filtering Gravity Map
3.Inversion
 2.5.1 Reduction of Gravity Data
 Before result of gravity data could be
interpreted its necessary to make
correct for variation in the earth’s
gravitational fields b/c variation
density of underlying rocks, elevation
and latitude etc.
 This process is called reduction gravity
data.
 The goal of data reduction is to
remove the known effects caused by
predictable features that are not part of
the “target.”
 2.5.1 Reduction of Gravity Data
The are five Basic correction in gravity survey;
1.Linear correction of instrumental drift
2.Latitude or normal correct
3.Elevation: free-air and Bouguer correction
4.Eötvös correction
5. Isostatic correction:
 Drift Correction

 Correction for instrumental drift is based on repeated

readings at base station at recorded
times throughout the day.
 Gravimeter reading is plotted against time.
 Drift correction at time t is d which is subtracted
from the observed value.
 After drift correction the difference in gravity
between an observation point and the
base station is found by multiplication of the
difference in meter reading by the
calibration factor of the gravimeter.
 Latitude (Normal) Correction
 Gravity varies with latitude because of
the non-spherical shape of the Earth
and
 And also because the angular velocity
of a point on the Earth’s surface a
maximum at the equator to zero at the
poles.
 Centripetal acceleration generated by
this rotation has a negative radial
component which consequently causes
gravity to decrease from pole to equator.
 Elevation Correction
 Correction for the differing elevations of
gravity stations is made in three
parts.
1.Free-air correction
2.Bouguer correction
3 Terrain correction
Eötvös correction
 Isostatic correction
 variations layer thickness density of
the Earth's crust
 2.5.2 Filtering Gravity Map

 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)
 Two-dimensional wavelength filtering is a
means of separating anomalies of different
horizontal extensions on magnetic and
gravity maps.
 Filters used to separate anomalies according
to the depth of source.
 Main target of filtering techniques is the
separation of anomalies of different
wavelengths from each other:
 the local anomalies of shallow sources are
 Filtering Gravity Map
 Upward or downward continuation is a
process that attenuates or deattenuates
data to simulate what might be observed
at different vertical datum's
 Upward continuation : is used to separate
between long and short wavelengths, to
enhance the long wavelengths: regional
effect of deep or large structures
 Derivatives is enhancing processes that
tend to emphasize the shorter
wavelength anomalies
 2.6 Forward and Inverse Problem
 Gravity forward modelling is the
computation of the gravitational field
generated by some source mass
distribution
 Numerical modeling of geophysical data
for a given model parameter is often
referred to as a forward problem
 The foundation of Gravity forward modeling is
Newton’s law of universal gravitation
force (F)
 Solution to the forward problem
enables us to predict geophysical data
 2.6Forward and Inverse Problem

 An inverse problem is the process of

calculating from a set of observations the
causal factors that produced them:
 For example, calculating the density of the
Earth from measurements of its gravity field.
 It is called an inverse forward problem
because it starts with the effects and then
calculates the causes.
 Inverse problem in gravity prospection is
the determination of the anomaly density,
given by the values of the gravity field.
 Ultimate goal of geophysical observations
is to determine geological structures from
geophysical data.
2.6 Forward and Inverse Problem
2.7 3D underdetermined inverse Problem of Gravity Data
2.8 Geological Interpretation of Gravity Data
 Gravity interpretation proceeds via
the methods of 1. Direct
Interpretation
2. Indirect Interpretation
 2.8.1 Direct Interpretation

 This Method interpret gravity data

based on the following parameters:
1. Limiting Depth
2. Excess mass of the body:
Shape, Denisty
3. Inflection Point
4. Approximate Thickness
2.8.2 Indirect Interpretation
 Application of Gravity
Method
 Hydrocarbon exploration: Oil and
Gas
 Mineral exploration:
 Geothermal and groundwater
exploration
 Environment and site Investigation
 Regional geological studies
 Detection of sub-surface
cavities(microgravity)
 Location of buried rock-valleys
 ?
Thank you so much for your
Attention!!