SIMPLIFIED GRAVITY INTERPRETATION BY GRADIENTS—THE GEOLOGICAL CONTACT

Abstract

A simple method is presented for the on‐site interpretation of gravity anomalies arising from a geological contact. The method is very easy and rapid to apply; it is unambiguous and does not necessarily require computing facilities but may be automated if desired. The method employs the second horizontal derivative of the gravitational anomaly which results in a very high rejection of neighboring disturbances at the expense of reduced tolerance to instrument reading errors. As the interpretation requires only a relatively short length of traverse, it is economic to overcome measurement errors by increasing the number of readings within the traverse and smoothing the curve. The gradient method has the advantages of high immunity to regional and topographic interference and is independent of latitude.