THE DIRECT APPROACH TO MAGNETIC INTERPRETATION AND ITS PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Abstract

This paper discusses the solution of the inverse potential problem and its practical application in the interpretation of field data which have a scalar potential distribution. The discussion will be in terms of the interpretation of magnetic data. Among the topics discussed are: the direct calculation of basement relief, the derivation of the potential and the horizontal components of the field from the vertical intensity, the continuation of the field upward, the continuation of the field downward towards its source, the calculation of derivatives of the vertical intensity with special attention to the second and fourth, and the estimation of depths to igneous basement rocks. The uses of these tools and the information of practical value which can be obtained by their use are discussed and illustrated. Methods of rapidly making calculations using magnetic field data are given.