Simple 2D gravity–density inversion for the modeling of the basin basement: example from the Banat area, Serbia

Abstract

We have developed a technique to calculate lateral density distribution of the sedimentary basin basement by combining linear gravity–density inversion and 2D forward modeling. The procedure requires gravity anomaly data, depth-to-basement data and density data for the sediments (density–depth distribution). Gravity effect of density variations in the basement was extracted from the total gravity anomaly by removing the joint effect of the sediments with vertical density variations and homogeneous basement of average density contrast (calculated by 2D modeling). Gravity effect of the sediments was calculated using depth-to-basement data and density–depth function, based on borehole logging data. Bouguer slab formula was used in order to simplify basement model and calculate the operator for the linear inversion of gravity effect of the basement into lateral density distribution. The results were tested by forward modeling, and differences between observed and modeled gravity data were used for the next iteration of the inversion and correction of density values in each point along the profile. The procedure was tested using synthetic models and field example, and both results were satisfying, especially taking into account the simplicity of the inversion technique. The main problem was the effect of abrupt changes in the basement topography on density distribution, but it was downsized by filtering. Basement density maps were compiled based upon the density distribution along the profiles.