Gravity Survey of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals Dammam Dome, Saudi Arabia

The study area is a part of Dammam Dome that is situated at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) campus, Dhahran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The gravity survey was conducted as a pilot case study to explore part of Dammam Dome in greater detail. Gravity data were collected solely during night hours due to low noise levels. A significant part of the survey was conducted during the summer holiday period, , when there was no student are on campus. A total of 235 gravity measurements were made using a Scintrex CG5 gravitometer, while a Trimble R10+ differential GPS (DGPS) was used to measure the stations’ location and elevation with the highest accuracy. All gravity data were reduced using several algorithms, and their outcomes were cross-compared. The Complete Bouguer anomaly map for the campus was then generated. Several enhancement filters including edged detection and shallow to deeper source separation were applied. Data were inverted, and 2.5D and 3D models were created to image the subsurface conditions. The main purpose of this study is to better understand the subsurface geology, tectonic settings of the Dammam Dome by applying the high-resolution gravity method before carrying out any comprehensive geophysical (seismic) 3D survey.

DETERMINATION AND MAPPING OF THE TERRESTRIAL GRAVITY ANOMALIES IN THE MOUNTAINOUS AREAS OF IRAQ

Gravity data and computing gravity anomalies are regarded as vital for both geophysics and physical geodesy fields. The mountainous areas of Iraq are characterized by the lack of regional gravity data because gravity surveys are rarely performed in the past four decades due to the Iraq-Iran war and the internal unstable political situation of this particular region. In addition, the formal map of the available terrestrial gravity which was published by the French Database of Bureau Gravimetrique International (International Gravimetric Bureau-in English) (BGI), introduces Iraq and the study area as a remote area and in white color because of the unavailability of gravity data. However, a dense and local (not regional) gravity data is available which was conducted by geophysics researchers 13 years ago. Therefore, the regional gravity survey of 160 gravity points was performed by the authors at an average 11 km apart, which was covers the whole area of Sulaymaniyah Governorate (part of the mountainous areas of Iraq). In spite of Although the risk of mine fields within the study area, suitable safe routes as well as a helicopter was used for the gravity survey of several points on the top of mountains. The survey was conducted via Lacoste and Romberg geodetic gravimeter and GPS handheld. The objective of the study is to determine and map the gravity anomalies for the entire study area, the data of which would assist different geosciences applications.

Quantitative depth estimation using analytic signal at low-latitude for ground gravity survey of Gbede, Oyo State

This paper presents the insitu gravity survey of basement complex rock in Southwestern Nigeria. In the E-W direction, LaCoste and Romberg Gravity Meter type G309 was used to carry out a ground gravity survey where ten traverses were established over a distance of 1000 m by 500 m with station spacing of 20m and a traverse interval of 50 m. Observed gravity values were corrected, analyzed and interpreted quantitatively. The corrected bouguer gravity data were presented as bouguer anomaly graphs. Analytic Signal at low-latitude was adopted to compute the depth to source of iron-ore for a contact, a thin sheet (dyke) and a horizontal cylinder. The result revealed a depth range of 5.45 m-8.25 m for a contact, 9.44 m-14.29 m for a thin sheet (dyke) while a depth range of 12.31 m-18.05 m was estimated for a horizontal cylinder respectively. An average depth of 11.81±3.64 m was estimated for the entire area irrespective of the structural model, this was compared with published magnetic results of the study area and a small disparity of potential field measurements was recorded. The overall computed results signified the existence of iron mineral deposits at low depths across the study area.

Gravity Analysis for Subsurface Characterization and Depth Estimation of Muda River Basin, Kedah, Peninsular Malaysia

Gravity survey is one of the passive geophysical techniques commonly used to delineate geological formations, especially in determining basement rock and the overlying deposit. Geologically, the study area is made up of thick quaternary alluvium deposited on top of the older basement rock. The Muda River basin constitutes, approximately, of more than 300 m of thick quaternary alluvium overlying the unknown basement rock type. Previous studies, including drilling and geo-electrical resistivity surveys, were conducted in the area but none of them managed to conclusively determine the basement rock type and depth precisely. Hence, a regional gravity survey was conducted to determine the thickness of the quaternary sediments prior to assessing the sustainability of the Muda River basin. Gravity readings were made at 347 gravity stations spaced at 3–5 km intervals using Scintrex CG-3 covering an area and a perimeter of 9000 km2 and 730 km, respectively. The gravity data were then conventionally reduced for drift, free air, latitude, Bouguer, and terrain corrections. These data were then consequently analyzed to generate Bouguer, regional and total horizontal derivative (THD) anomaly maps for qualitative and quantitative interpretations. The Bouguer gravity anomaly map shows low gravity values in the north-eastern part of the study area interpreted as representing the Main Range granitic body, while relatively higher gravity values observed in the south-western part are interpreted as representing sedimentary rocks of Semanggol and Mahang formations. Patterns observed in the THD anomaly and Euler deconvolution maps closely resembled the presence of structural features such as fault lineaments dominantly trending along NW-SE and NE-SW like the trends of topographic lineaments in the study area. Based on power spectral analysis of the gravity data, the average depth of shallow body, representing alluvium, and deep body, representing underlying rock formations, are 0.5 km and 1.2 km, respectively. The thickness of Quaternary sediment and the depth of sedimentary formation can be more precisely estimated by other geophysical techniques such as the seismic reflection survey.

Measurement of Height of Mt. Sagarmatha

The height measurement of the highest peak of the world “Sagarmatha” was conducted by Nepal for the first time. The methodology for the measurement was finalized from the workshop held in Kathmandu with the constructive comments from national and international experts. Trignometrical levelling, precise levelling, GNSS survey and gravity survey was conducted. Previous air borne gravity data and present surface gravity data was used to determine the precise regional geoid for this program. Thus orthometric height was determined as 8848.86 m from the ellipsoid height observed at the top of Sagarmatha and precise geoid determined. The height was determined on the base of International Height Reference System (IHRS) and final height was announced jointly from Nepal and China on 8th of December 2020 from Kathmandu and Beijing through virtual media.