Spectral correlation of magnetic and gravity anomalies of Ohio

Abstract

Geologic interpretation of Ohio's magnetic or gravity anomalies is hindered by the effects of anomaly superposition and source ambiguity inherent to potential field analysis. A common approach to minimizing interpretational ambiguities is to consider analyses of anomaly correlations. A spectral procedure is adapted which correlates anomaly fields in the frequency domain to produce filters separating positively and negatively correlated, as well as null correlated features. The correlation filter passes or rejects wavenumbers between coregistered fields based on the correlation coefficient between common wavenumbers as given by the cosine of their phase difference. This procedure is applied to reduced‐to‐pole magnetic and first vertical derivative gravity anomalies of Ohio for mapping correlative magnetization and density contrasts within the basement rocks. The analysis reveals predominantly positive correlations between anomaly maxima and minima. Correlative anomaly maxima may be generally modeled as mafic bodies of the upper crust. They map out a possible dike complex in northwestern Ohio, a batholith as a possible source of volcanic rocks in southwestern Ohio, and numerous mafic bodies related presumably to Keweenawan rifting and Grenville tectonics. Correlative anomaly minima include several isolated features that may define felsic terranes of the upper crust, and ringed features around some of the larger mafic bodies which also may contain significant edge‐effect components. A large circular feature in south‐central Ohio involves correlative minima of a possible anorthosite body that is ringed by an inversely correlative zone of positive density and negative magnetization contrasts. Another prominent negative correlation involves an extensive area of possible extrusive rocks with positive magnetization and negative density contrasts just north of the batholith in southwestern Ohio.