Gravity anomaly modeling of sedimentary basins by means of multiple structures and exponential density contrast-depth variations: A space domain approach

An automatic modeling scheme is developed in the space domain to interpret the gravity anomalies of sedimentary basins, among which the density contrast decreases exponentially with depth. Forward modeling is realized in the space domain using a combination of both analytical and numerical approaches. A collage of vertical prisms having equal widths, whose depths are to be estimated, describes the geometry of a sedimentary basin. Initial depths of a sedimentary basin are predicted using the Bouguer slab formula and subsequently updated, iteratively, based on the differences between the observed and theoretical gravity anomalies until the modeled gravity anomalies mimic the observed ones. The validity and applicability of the method is demonstrated with a synthetic and two real field gravity anomalies, one each over the Chintalpudi sub-basin in India and the other over the San Jacinto graben, California. In case of synthetic example, the assumed structure resembles a typical intracratonic rift basin formed by normal block faulting and filled with thick section of sediments. The proposed modeling technique yielded information that is consistent with the assumed parameters in the case of synthetic structure and with the available/drilling depths in case of field examples. © 2013 Geological Society of India.