Nomograms for determining fault parameters from gravity data application to the Mersa Matruh Basin, Egypt

Abstract

Rigorous calculation of gravity effects of faults for the interpretation of subsurface structure from exploration gravity surveys is time-consuming and tedious. Resort to electronic computers is convenient but not always necessary. Simple hand calculations can be instructive and are often adequate and useful. This paper confirms the basic ideas of some geophysicists on the usefulness of approximating most fault structures by one semi-infinite horizontal slab, and presents two simple nomograms to determine the slab parameters from gravity very rapidly. A field example from the Mersa Matruh Basin, Western Desert of Egypt, is presented in which the thickness and depth of a fault are estimated from the nomograms and verified from drilling data.