Abstract
This research deals with the processing and analyzing of magnetic and gravitational data for an area covering the region of Habbanieyah - Razzaza Lakes and its adjacent areas. The study includes data processing and mapping of the total gravity and magnetic anomalies for only the concerned region, then separating the residual anomalies by adopting the polynomial regression graphical method. The residual gravity anomaly reflects the variations of rock densities within the sedimentary cover. The horizontal gradient filter has been applied to the residual gravity anomaly in order to conduct the locations of fault planes within the sedimentary cover where sudden variations of gravity field take place. The quantitative interpretation for both gravity and magnetic anomalies yielded a preliminary determination for the depth to the center of major faults within the sedimentary cover. By constructing a gravity model along a profile which directed NE-SW and passing through the middle part of the study region, depth to the center of the effective faults found. This depth variation is due to the effect of tectonic activity which produced a set of faults, such faults caused the upward and downward structural motions and were responsible for positioning the deep high density causative slabs of bedrock. The residual magnetic field quantitative interpretation along two profiles crosses over anomalies at the NE and SW parts of the region yielded the depth to the top of magnetized basement rocks. The difference in depth of the basement rocks and the shifted anomaly locations reflects the effect of tectonic activity which may relate to a strike slip faulting in the higher depths.
Highlights
The gravity method was successful in detecting basement rocks structures in which some of them are affected by uplift structural motions, some of these structures could be promising locations for mining and petroleum exploration (Saibi et al, 2021)
Gravity model along the profile A-A\ which directed NE-SW and passing through the middle part of the study region conducted in order to find the depth to the center of the effective faults or the causative slabs which found variable between 5.5 to 7.5 Km
This depth variation is may result due to the effect of tectonic activity which produced a set of faults, such faults caused the upward and downward structural motions which are similar to graben and horst fault motions and were responsible of positioning the deep high density causative slabs of bedrock
Summary
The gravity method was successful in detecting basement rocks structures in which some of them are affected by uplift structural motions, some of these structures could be promising locations for mining and petroleum exploration (Saibi et al, 2021). The two-dimensional models derived from gravity profiles are very effective in detecting subsurface graben faults or trenches which are produced by shifting of normal faults (Hasanah et al, 2016). The combination between gravity and magnetic data processing filtering and interpretation is very helpful in detecting subsurface structures, especially faults and their trending to find the depth to the basement rocks (Eshanibli et al, 2021). Deducing the residual Bouguer anomaly map is applicable in detecting fault locations and their extension. Gravity horizontal gradient maps could be used to detect high gradients anomalies over subsurface fault planes, this could be helpful when deriving quantitative interpretations along a certain profile within the surveyed area. Gravity modeling helped find the depth to the fault plane center which was found about 2.5 Km toward the SW direction of Qa’im city in Iraq (Al-Khafaji, 2017). The current research aims to investigate the locations, depths and extensions of the major faults within the sedimentary cover, those which are extends to higher depths within the basement rocks, to provide a clear vision about faults and the subsurface structural situation of the region
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