The eastern branch of the late Proterozoic Damara Orogenic Belt of central Namibia hosts various copper, gold, manganese and uranium deposits, but in the vicinity of Steinhausen, approximately 145 km northeast of Windhoek, the Damara Belt becomes increasingly covered by recent Kalahari cover sediments resulting in little known geology and subsequent lack of discovered economic mineral deposits. Airborne magnetic and radiometric data over the Steinhausen Study Area was enhanced through image processing and filtering to accentuate characteristics of subsurface geology that, by comparing these characteristics to known geology, aided in the interpretive mapping of lithology, structure and targets for follow-up exploration. As a result, some important observations regarding the regional lithology can be drawn. An arenaceous stratigraphic unit that includes a coarse grained, glassy quartzite below the Kuiseb Formation equates to either the eastern Damaran equivalent of the Nosib Group subjected to high grade metamorphism or, alternatively, the upper part of the pre-Damaran sequence, immediately underlying the Damara. The Kuiseb Formation within the study area is uncharacteristically varied as compared to the same formation further west along the Damaran Orogen and can be subdivided into 5 separate units based on geophysical signature. Structural features evident within the study area include the prominent Kudu and Okahandja Lineaments and straddle an area of inferred uplifted stratigraphy of possibly pre-Damara age. The Ekuja Dome (Kibaran age and host to the Omitiomire copper deposit) is also clearly discernible on the airborne magnetic data and is cross-cut by an east-northeast structural zone. Direct targets for follow-up exploration include the Rodenbeck intrusion, anomalous magnetic bodies and numerous radiometric anomalies present within the study area. Identified dome-like features are considered prospective for Omitiomire-style deposits and the Okatjuru Layered Complex is considered a possible source of copper, chromite, magnetite, ilmenite, nickel and the platinum group elements.

Offprint in pocket / Bibliography: leaves 82-90 / xii, 95 leaves, [6] leaves of plates : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. + [11] plastic envelopes containing 22 folded ill., all in case, 35 mm / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Geology and Geophysics, 1987

Thesis (M.S. - Geosciences)--University of Arizona. / Includes bibliographical references.

A Província Alcalina Rio Verde - Iporá, na borda norte da Bacia do Paraná é caracterizada pela presença de intrusões alcalinas com forte assinatura aeromagnética e gravimétrica, apresentando-se como anomalias quase circulares. O trabalho refinou o levantamento gravimétrico na região sudoeste de Goiás, incluindo um levantamento de detalhe sobre as intrusões de Morro do Engenho (ME) e uma intrusão a poucos quilômetros a NE de Morro de Engenho (A2), com informações gravimétricas e aeromagnéticas, e sobre a anomalia gravimétrica próxima à cidade de Britânia, sem informação de anomalia aeromagnética. As anomalias gravimétricas variam de 15 a 30 mGal com relação ao campo gravimétrico regional, enquanto que as anomalias aeromagnéticas são da ordem de ±3000nT. Foram feitas também medidas das propriedades petrofísicas de amostras da área. Os resultados da inversão 2D e 3D dos dados gravimétricos e 3D dos dados magnéticos indicam que os corpos alongam-se dentro da crosta superior até a profundidade máxima de 10 km e diâmetro da ordem de 8 km, com geometria aproximadamente cilíndrica. Os dados gravimétricos e aeromagnéticos de ME foram tratados de forma conjunta por modelamento direto (2,5D) onde foi incluída a magnetização remanescente, os resultados obtidos indicam que o volume do corpo anômalo é da ordem de 980 km3. / The Alkaline Province Rio Verde - Iporá, in the north border of the Paraná Basin is characterized by the presence of alkaline intrusions with strong gravity and magnetic signature. This project implemented a gravity survey in the Southwest of Goiás, including a detail one on Morro do Engenho Complex (ME), and one a few kilometers towards NE from ME over an aeromagnetic anomaly known as A2, and over a gravity anomaly close to Britânia city. ME and A2 have magnetic anomaly. The gravity anomalies vary from 15 to 30 mGal in relation to the regional gravity field, while the magnetic anomalies are of the order ±3000nT. Measurements of petrophysical properties of samples from the area were also done. The results present the inversion of the gravity and magnetic data, suggesting that the bodies are inside of the superior crust until the maximum depth of 10 km, in a cylindrical form with 8 to 10 km in diameter. 2.5D direct modeling was also done for ME including remanent magnetization and was performed at the two data sets together, the obtained results indicate that the close volume of the anomalous body it is 980 km3.

<p> Approximately eighty new neodymium model ages were determined on grey orthogneisses in the Mattawa region of Ontario and were used to develop a Grenvillian tectonic model in the region. A residual-magnetic field map developed from aeromagnetic data provides an additional constraint on the terranes mapped based on Nd-model ages. The field area was divided into three sections: the northern section, the Mattawa klippe, and the southern section. </p> <p> The objectives of mapping in the northern section were two-fold: 1) to map the location of erosional remnants of the allochthon boundary thrust (ABT) and 2) to test the hypothesis that northwestward thrusting of the ABT over the parautochthonous belt caused decollement of a magmatically reworked Archean terrane, creating a duplex thrust sheet and consequent northwestward thrusting of the magmatically reworked Archean parautochthon. </p> <p> Two allochthonous units previously mapped in this region are the Lac Watson nappe and the Lac Booth klippe. These allochthonous units, characterized by Nd-model ages <1.8 Ga are bound by a magmatically reworked Archean terrane (referred to as the reworked Archean parautochthon) with a Nd-model age range of 1.9-2.6 Ga. Likewise, the perimeter of the reworked Archean parautochthon is truncated by a pristine Archean terrane which exclusively hosts Nd-model ages> 2.6 Ga, indicating that there are three crustal stacking levels in the northern section. </p> <p> Nd-model age mapping was employed in the Mattawa klippe region with the same objectives as in the northern section and additionally to provide constraints on the methodology that is to be used when mapping first-order tectonic boundaries such as the ABT. Ketchum and Davidson (2000) suggested that the ABT trended northward in this region based on the presence of 1.16 Ga coronitic metagabbros which Ketchum (1994) concluded were exclusively confined to the allochthonous polycyclic belt (APB). It was detennined here that although the metagabbros are confined to allochthonous crust, based on Nd-model ages, they are contained within an allochthonous klippe (Mattawa klippe) overlying the reworked Archean parautochthon, that transported the coronitic metagabbros northwestward. Therefore, this klippe represents an erosional remnant ofthe APB but the main ABT is located further south. </p> Nd-model age mapping in the southern region identified three distinct crustal terranes. The Mattawa fault was detennined to be a brittle fault following approximately along a pre-Grenvillian suture. This separates the reworked Archean parautochthon from the Paleoproterozoic parautochthon, which had a Nd-model age range from 1.8-1.9 Ga The Paleoproterozoic parautochthon was found to be truncated by the main body of the APB, containing Nd-model ages < 1.8 Ga. The boundary between the Paleoproterozoic parautochthon and the APB was interpreted as the location of the main ABT. </p> <p> Based on the distnbution of Nd-model ages in the region, four distinct crustal terranes were identified representing two thrusting events. Initially the ABT was overthrust on the parautochthonous belt causing decollement of the reworked Archean parautochthon. The entrainment of the reworked Archean parautochthon under the APB generated a duplex thrust sheet, which resulted in the consequent northwestward thrusting of the reworked Archean parautochthon over the pristine Archean terrane. Finally, the ABT was offset by post-Grenvillian normal faulting associated with Ottawa-Bonnechere graben. </p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Johannesburg, 2015 / Three new methods for determining the structural index and source distance for magnetic field data are presented. These methods require only the calculation of the first and second order analytic signal amplitudes of the total field and are applicable to both profile and gridded data. The three methods are first tested on synthetic data and then on two real datasets to test for applicability and repeatability. It was found that each method had different strengths and weaknesses and thus one method cannot be favoured over the others. Cooper (2014) describes how to calculate the distance to source over both profile and gridded data given a user defined structural index. Often however, particularly in the case of real data, the structural index is not known or varies over the surveyed area. These three new methods however do not require any user input since the structural index is calculated thus making them more applicable to regions of unknown geology. It was found that the first of the three new methods, the multi-distance inversion method, was best used as an edge-detection filter, since the use of higher order derivatives resulted in increased noise levels in the distance to source calculation. The third of these new methods, the unconstrained inversion method, discussed in Chapter 7, not only solves for the structural index but also determines the depth of the source. In that particular case, the structural index is used as a rejection filter, whereby, depth solutions associated with structural index values outside of the expected range are deemed to be invalid. Unlike the third new method, the first two methods require the distance to source to be calculated via the approach described by Cooper (2014) (which requires the user to define the structural index), the results of which are later rescaled by the calculated structural index to yield what is termed a rescaled distance to source. All three of the new methods are fully automatic and require no user control. The techniques were first tested on both profile and gridded theoretical data over sources with known structural index values. All of the methods were able to estimate the structural index of each of the particular sources and give depth estimates that varied from the true depth by less than 20 percent (with deeper sources being more inaccurate). Noise was also added to the theoretical data in an attempt to assess how the methods can be expected to perform with real data. It was found that when applied to noisy data, these methods performed equally well to slightly worse, than when the method developed by Cooper (2014) was used. As a real world case study these three new methods were tested on aeromagnetic data collected over the Kuruman Military Area, Northern Cape, South Africa. Regional deformations as well as later intrusive dykes and cross cutting faults were imaged by the chosen depth determination procedures. The dolerite dykes in the area were found to occur between 20 to 60 m deep. While the sand cover was estimated to be between 30 to 40 m thick. Overall, the techniques yield distance to source estimates that differ by less than 15 m, over sources, to the results obtained by using the source distance method (Cooper, 2014). To test for repeatability a second aeromagnetic dataset, collected over a dyke swarm within the Bushveld Complex, South Africa was considered. Again comparable (less than 15 m over sources) depth estimates were made between the unconstrained and constrained inversions. Since the distance to source estimates produced by these new unconstrained inversion methods are comparable to those produced by constrained inversion (Cooper, 2014) the project can be deemed successful.

Nous avons mené cet exercice au travers d’une étude pluridisciplinaire combinant des couvertures géophysiques (gravimétrie et aéromagnétisme) réactualisées ou nouvelles, des informations géologiques acquises sur le terrain ou sur carottes de forages pétroliers et un catalogage de propriétés pétrophysiques des roches. Sur une large moitié sud du Bassin parisien, du Massif armoricain aux Vosges, nous avons : i) réalisé un schéma structural du substratum du Bassin parisien, ii) proposé une carte géologique détaillée, sous couverture, iii) réactualisé la carte de zonation de la chaîne varisque en France, intégrant de nouvelles datations sur carottes de forages ayant atteint le substratum. D’après ces résultats, la suture éo-varisque se poursuit d’ouest en est, de la partie sud-armoricaine jusqu’au nord des Vosges, le domaine nord-armoricain se prolonge jusqu’à la faille de Bray et la zone saxothuringienne est continue d’est (Vosges) en ouest (Manche). Egalement, à l’aide de modélisations conjointes de gravimétrie et magnétisme, intégrant l’information recueillie dans le forage de Couy, la nature du substratum environnant désormais mieux connu, ainsi que les contraintes pétrophysiques nouvelles, nous proposons que la source de l’AMBP soit un corps plutonique intermédiaire à acide. Pour finir, en compilant la bibliographie et nos résultats, nous proposons que ce corps se soit mis en place entre le Viséen inférieur et le Viséen supérieur, dans une ouverture NNE-SSW selon un raccourcissement maximal NNW-SSE. / Mapping the cadomian/variscan basement buried beneath the Paris basin is a key objective to improve the geological knowledge of the Variscan belt in West Europe. We address this objective using a combination of new and updated potential field data (aeromagnetic and gravity), as well as information provided by field studies and drill cores, and a library of petrophysical characteristics measured on field samples. On a large southern half of the Paris basin, from the Armorican Massif to the Vosges: i) we made a new interpretative structural sketch map under the sedimentary cover, ii) we proposed a detailed geological map of the Paris basin substratum, iii) we updated the tectonic sketch of the Variscan belt in France, supported by new geochronological determinations on deep drill cores. Altogether, these results show that the eo-Variscan suture is extended from the southern part of the Armorican Massif to the northern Vosges. Eastwards, the North-Armorican domain reaches the Bray fault; and the Saxothuringian zone is extended from the Vosges to the English Channel. In addition, based on combined aeromagnetic and gravity 2D modelling constrained by Couy deep borehole data, the PBMA source is interpreted as a deep intermediate-alkaline plutonic body. Finally, compiling bibliographic information together with our new results, we hypothesize that this magmatic body could have been emplaced in the early to late Visean period, during a NNE-SSW opening under a NNW-SSE shortening.

During 2002-2006 geological field work were carried out in Mozambique. The purpose was to check the preliminary geological interpretations and also to resolve the problems that arose during the compilation of preliminary geological maps and collect samples for laboratory studies. In parallel, airborne geophysical data were collected in many parts of the country to support the geological interpretation and compilation of geophysical maps. In the present work the aeromagnetic data collected in 2004 and 2005 in two small areas northwest of Niassa province and another one in eastern part of Tete province is analysed using GeosoftTM. The processing of aeromagnetic data began with the removal of diurnal variations and corrections for IGRF model of the Earth in the data set. The study of the effect of height variations on recorded magnetic field, levelling and interpolation techniques were also studied. La Porte interpolation showed to be a good tool for interpolation of aeromagnetic data using measured horizontal gradient. Depth estimation techniques are also used to obtain semi-quantitative interpretation of geological bodies. It was showed that many features in the study areas are located at shallow depth (less than 500 m) and few geological features are located at depths greater than 1000 m. This interpretation could be used to draw conclusions about the geology or be incorporated into further investigations in these areas.

6 folded (5 of them maps) in pocket / Includes bibliography / xvii, 102, 8, 5, 10 [i.e. ca. 500] leaves (some folded) : ill., maps (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Geology and Geophysics, 1985

[Truncated abstract] Magnetic gradiometers are powerful tools for mineral exploration. The magnetic field contains valuable information about the mineral content of the surveyed terrain. The magnetic gradient specifies the amount of spatial variation in the direction and magnitude of the magnetic field. Surveys that measure the magnetic gradient provide vastly more information about geological targets than the magnetic field alone. This technology could have enormous benefits in terms of new discoveries and lower exploration costs. The magnetic gradient is normally calculated by subtracting the outputs of two total field magnetometers which are separated by a baseline. In 1997, a direct string magnetic gradiometer (DSMG) was developed that directly measures magnetic gradients using only a single string as its sensing element. This thesis describes research conducted to improve the sensitivity and performance of the DSMG. The main advantage of the DSMG is that only gradients can induce second harmonic vibrations in the string. Thus, the DSMG is insensitive to uniform magnetic fields that we are not interested in, such as the global magnetic field of the Earth. By using inductive electronics to measure second harmonic string vibrations, we can select to measure the magnetic gradient of nearby targets. Recent work has shown that a magnetic gradiometer with a noise floor of 0.01 nT/m/ v Hz should be sufficiently sensitive for geophysical exploration. In order to reach this goal, this thesis presents an investigation of all noise sources affecting the DSMG. ... Gas damping is negligible in high vacuum and no vibration isolation is required. This means that longer strings with low resonant frequencies can be used. Using theoretical modelling, I show that a space borne DSMG should be able to match the white noise level of SQuID based magnetic gradiometers and have a lower 1/f noise corner. Deployment in space could be the most viable application of the DSMG because of the ease of operation and enhancement of sensitivity. If the thermal noise level is reduced then other sources of noise will start to become more important. When rotated in the Earth's magnetic field, the DSMG detects a pseudo magnetic gradient despite the field being almost uniform. A possible cause is magnetically susceptible parts which are magnetically aligning with the Earth's field. I have conducted a thorough investigation of magnetic susceptible parts in the DSMG and reported the results in this thesis. In the DSMG, a pair of inductive pickup coils are used to measure the string's displacement with a root mean square accuracy of 1011 m/ v Hz. This is adequate at present but the inductive electronics may not be sensitive enough after other improvements in the DSMG are implemented. Here, I present a new capacitive displacement readout with a high sensitivity of 1013 m/ v Hz. The thesis also presents some magnetic gradient measurements in the lab and the results of a ground survey in the field. These trial measurements are used to characterise the DSMG and demonstrate its effectiveness for airborne surveying.