scholarly journals Influence of pre-existing structure on pluton emplacement and geomorphology: The Merrimac plutons, northern Sierra Nevada, California, USA

Geosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
V.E. Langenheim ◽  
J.A. Vazquez ◽  
K.M. Schmidt ◽  
G. Guglielmo ◽  
D.S. Sweetkind
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Drainage Density ◽  
Magnetic Data ◽  
Surface Uplift ◽  
Western Cordillera ◽  
Gravity And Magnetic ◽  
Landscape Morphology ◽  
Depth Extent ◽  
Gravity And Magnetic Data ◽  
Existing Structure

In much of the western Cordillera of North America, the geologic frame­work of crustal structure generated in the Mesozoic leaves an imprint on later plutonic emplacement, subsequent structural setting, and present landscape morphology. The Merrimac plutons in the northern Sierra Nevada (California, USA) are a good example of the influence of pre-existing structure at a larger scale. This paper updates and refines earlier studies of the Merrimac plutons, with the addition of analysis of gravity and magnetic data and new 206Pb/238U zircon dates. The gravity and magnetic data not only confirm the presence of two different neighboring plutons, but also (1) support the presence of a third pluton, (2) refine the nature of the contact between the Merrimac plutons as being structurally controlled, and (3) estimate the depth extent of the plutons to be ~4–5 km. The zircon 206Pb/238U dates indicate that the two main plutons have statistically different crystallization ages nearly 4 m.y. apart. Geomorphic analyses, including estimates of relief, roughness and drainage density and generation of chi plots, indicate that the two main plutons are characterized by different elevations with large longitudinal channel knickpoints that we speculatively attribute to possible reactivation of pre-existing structure in addition to lithologic variations influencing relative erosion susceptibility in response to prior accelerated surface uplift.

Automatic 3-D interpretation of potential field data using analytic signal derivatives

Geophysics ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Debeglia ◽  
Jacques Corpel
Keyword(s):  
Signal Amplitude ◽  
Vertical Gradient ◽  
Analytic Signal ◽  
Magnetic Data ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Potential Field Data ◽  
Gravity And Magnetic ◽  
Second Derivatives ◽  
Gravity And Magnetic Data ◽  
Derivatives Of

A new method has been developed for the automatic and general interpretation of gravity and magnetic data. This technique, based on the analysis of 3-D analytic signal derivatives, involves as few assumptions as possible on the magnetization or density properties and on the geometry of the structures. It is therefore particularly well suited to preliminary interpretation and model initialization. Processing the derivatives of the analytic signal amplitude, instead of the original analytic signal amplitude, gives a more efficient separation of anomalies caused by close structures. Moreover, gravity and magnetic data can be taken into account by the same procedure merely through using the gravity vertical gradient. The main advantage of derivatives, however, is that any source geometry can be considered as the sum of only two types of model: contact and thin‐dike models. In a first step, depths are estimated using a double interpretation of the analytic signal amplitude function for these two basic models. Second, the most suitable solution is defined at each estimation location through analysis of the vertical and horizontal gradients. Practical implementation of the method involves accurate frequency‐domain algorithms for computing derivatives with an automatic control of noise effects by appropriate filtering and upward continuation operations. Tests on theoretical magnetic fields give good depth evaluations for derivative orders ranging from 0 to 3. For actual magnetic data with borehole controls, the first and second derivatives seem to provide the most satisfactory depth estimations.

3D inversion modeling of joint gravity and magnetic data based on a sinusoidal correlation constraint

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 519-529
Author(s):  
Xiu-He Gao ◽  
Sheng-Qing Xiong ◽  
Zhao-Fa Zeng ◽  
Chang-Chun Yu ◽  
Gui-Bin Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Data ◽  
3D Inversion ◽  
Gravity And Magnetic ◽  
Gravity And Magnetic Data

Application of gravity and magnetic methods to assess geological hazards and natural resource potential in the Mosida Hills, Utah County, Utah

Geophysics ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 65 (5) ◽  
pp. 1514-1526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alvin K. Benson ◽  
Andrew R. Floyd
Keyword(s):  
Gravity Data ◽  
Magnetic Data ◽  
Geological Hazards ◽  
Mafic Lava ◽  
Subsurface Geology ◽  
Gravity And Magnetic ◽  
Geophysical Surveys ◽  
Utah County ◽  
Gravity And Magnetic Data ◽  
Hills Area

Gravity and magnetic data were collected in the Mosida Hills, Utah County, Utah, at over 1100 stations covering an area of approximately 58 km2 (150 mi2) in order to help define the subsurface geology and assess potential geological hazards for urban planning in an area where the population is rapidly increasing. In addition, potential hydrocarbon traps and mineral ore bodies may be associated with some of the interpreted subsurface structures. Standard processing techniques were applied to the data to remove known variations unrelated to the geology of the area. The residual data were used to generate gravity and magnetic contour maps, isometric projections, profiles, and subsurface models. Ambiguities in the geological models were reduced by (1) incorporating data from previous geophysical surveys, surface mapping, and aeromagnetic data, (2) integrating the gravity and magnetic data from our survey, and (3) correlating the modeled cross sections. Gravity highs and coincident magnetic highs delineate mafic lava flows, gravity lows and magnetic highs reflect tuffs, and gravity highs and magnetic lows spatially correlate with carbonates. These correlations help identify the subsurface geology and lead to new insights about the formation of the associated valleys. At least eight new faults (or fault segments) were identified from the gravity data, whereas the magnetic data indicate the existence of at least three concealed and/or poorly exposed igneous bodies, as well as a large ash‐flow tuff. The presence of low‐angle faults suggests that folding or downwarping, in addition to faulting, played a role in the formation of the valleys in the Mosida Hills area. The interpreted location and nature of concealed faults and volcanic flows in the Mosida Hills area are being used by policy makers to help develop mitigation procedures to protect life and property.

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