Gravity gradiometry in resource exploration

A gravity gradiometry represents a technical improvement over conventional vertical component gravimeter surveys. A gravity gradiometer can measure up to five of the nine terms in the gravity field's gradient tensor which completely describes the anomalous gravity field gradient. The increased information inherent to gradiometer measurements can enhance geologic interpretations made with gravity data. A great advantage of the gradiometer is its greater immunity to the large translational accelerations. Such accelerations, which are difficult to distinguish from geological-based gravitational accelerations are a major source of error.