Magnetic constraints and susceptible inversions of Balapur Fault at central Kashmir Basin, NW Himalaya

Abstract

Research subject. Subsurface investigations of the Balapur Fault at central Kashmir Basin, NW Himalaya through groundmagnetic surveys and data interpretations. Materials and methods. The total magnetic intensity data was obtained using ground magnetic surveys carried out by proton precession magnetometers at 15 m spacing. The magnetic constraints and inversions of the Balapur fault in the central Kashmir basin of NW Himalaya were analyzed. Results. The total magnetic intensity was found averaging at 97.7 with 45.8 nT as magnetic minima and 140.9 nT as magnetic maxima. The minima’s ranging from 45.8 and 55.8 nT in the gridded profile are inferred at the Balapur fault. Further, the fault-related susceptibility index was recorded from 0.0035 SI to 0.0015 SI, and the observed and predicted response values were found ranging between 67.1 to 87.7 and 67.4 to 86.6 nT respectively. Conclusion. The study suggests that the Balapur fault in the central Kashmir has produced high subsurface hydraulic activities and, therefore, evident low magnetic anomalies. The analysis reveals a thick minima region related to the fault and also indicated the presence of associated structures with the main Balapur fault segment.