Gradiometers (uses multiple mags to find

gradients/changes in magnetic field, concept

similar to use of base station)
 Applications: Archeology studies
à changes in magnetic susceptibility at archaeological sites
à may also have remanent magnetization in buried objects
Stanton Drew Henge, UK
(3000-2000 BC)

(Aveling, 1997 and www.eng-

h.gov.uk/archaeometry/
StantonDrew/)
CAUSE OF CIRCLES?
- biogentic magnetite from bacteria
that lived in the rotting wood
- burnt deposits
- backfill of topsoil
(Aveling, 1997 and www.eng-
h.gov.uk/archaeometry/
StantonDrew/)
 Engineering and Environmental Applications
Detection of voids and tunnels
• negative magnetic anomaly
• example: data across a pyroclastic
flow in Mexico
• conduct surveys before construction
or using ground for agriculture

Landfill studies
• can map the extent of a landfill

(Figures 7.38 and 7.40 from

Burger et al. textbook)
Detecting buried metal objects (ferromagnetic)
• oil drums
• old well casings
• unexploded ordnance (UXO)

(Butler, 2001) (Figure 7.39 from Burger et al. texbook)

 Mineral exploration
Ore bodies à usually contain magnetite (ferrimagnetic)
à appear as high amplitude anomalies
à aeromagnetic survey – reconnaissance in remote areas

Mt. Milligan
gold/copper
deposit,
central BC

(http://www.eos.ubc.ca/ubcgif/iag/foundations/apegbc/)
BEWARE – some ore bodies may
contain hematite and little to no
magnetite
Hematite – anti-ferromagnetic
à no magnetic signal

Aeromagnetic anomalies from

South Australia – economic iron
ore is associated with hematite

(Kearey et al., 2002)

 Kimberlites and diamonds
• deep seated volcanic rocks
(100-300 km depth) usually found in
cratons (old, cold continental
lithosphere)
• pass through diamond stability field
and carry diamonds to surface
 often a positive anomaly (high
Magnetic signature magnetite content)
of kimberlites: • sometimes negative or no anomaly
- remnant magnetization
- lower k than host rock
Ekati Mine (Lac de Gras), NWT
Variable magnetic signature of
three kimberlite pipes

(www.fugroairborne.com)

Panda
Pit
Forte à la Corne Kimberlites, Saskatchewan
Magnetic field intensity
(red = high intensity) MAGNETIC DATA
•first found from analysis of
airborne magnetic data
• more magnetic than the
surrounding rocks and
show up as circular
magnetic highs

(www.fugroairborne.com)
 Hydrocarbon exploration
Oil and gas – no magnetic signature (not detected directly)
But can use magnetic data to understand local geology
à sedimentary basins, reservoir potential

SEDIMENT THICKNESS
à depth to magnetic
basement
Bowser Basin, BC: basin depth
and structure from magnetic data

(Lowe et al., 2006)

 SALT STRUCTURES

Salt is diamagnetic
à k<0
à small negative
anomaly
à in contrast, igneous
intrusions usually
have a strong
magnetic signature

1 gamma = 1 nT

(Gibson and Millegan, 1998)

 Tectonic studies
SEAFLOOR MAGNETIC ANOMALIES
à positive and negative anomalies
à ~symmetric about mid-ocean ridge
Vine & Matthews (1963): Seafloor spreading
• spreading ridge + magnetic field reversals
+ remanent magnetization
CRUSTAL STRUCTURE OF ALBERTA
• Archean and Proterozoic basement
covered by WCSB
• study using magnetic and gravity
data, plus rocks from oil wells
(Pilkington et al., 2000)

MAGNETIC ANOMALIES BOUGUER GRAVITY

 CRUSTAL MODELS
• models of gravity + magnetic data
• constrained with seismic reflection
(Hope and Eaton, 2002)