GEOL 4103, Fall 2009

Assignment #4 – Magnetic Method Answer Key

1. Use Peter’s half-slope method to determine the depth to the source of the magnetic anomaly
shown in the figure below.

First , determine thetangent lines on the above g raph . ¿ this you use

d
z= ; d ≈ 400 m so z ≈ 250.
1.6

These values will differ slightly depending on whether you use the¿∨¿ .

2. 7.3 pg. 494, assume the total field strength is 55,000 nT.

Assuming a Horizontal Cylinder:

Δk = 0.001 ZE = FEsini = (55000)sin 50 = 42132.4 nT

i = 50˚ A = πr2
z to top = 1.5m r = 0.5
ZC = 3.0 m

2 KA Z E 2 ( 0.001 ) π ( o .5 )2 ( 42132.4 )
ZA= = =16.5 n T
Z2 22
yes it will be detected by a proton precesionmagnetometer ¿ ±1 n T
 GEOL 4103, Fall 2009

Assuming a Sphere:
2 KV Z E 2 ( 0.001 ) ( 0.52 )( 42132.4 )
ZA= 3
= =5.512 nT
z 23
KV (−H E ) 0.001 ( 0.52 ) (−35353.32 )
H A= = =−2.297 nT
z3 23
f Ai=Z A sin i+ H A cos i=5.512 sin 50+ (−2.297 ) cos 50=4.22−1.47=2.743 nT
yes it will be detecte d

3. 7.6 pg. 494

Determine ZA.

Option 1:

F E =55000 nT
Z E =F E sini
i=90 °
∆ k=k body−k surrounding
Z A =2 ∆ k Z E ( φ i−φ z ) =2 ( 0.0031 ) ( 55000 ) ( 2.181−0.96 ) =416.36 nT

Option 2:

Z A =2 K F E θ=2 ( 0.0031 )( 55000 )( 1.22 radians )=416.02nT

4. 7.9 pg. 495. Determine the total magnetic anomalous field strength that will be measured at a
position directly over the middle of a vertical prism.

IGNORE

5. Calculate the vertical, horizontal, and total field magnetic anomaly of a dipole which strikes in the
direction of the magnetic meridian and dips to the north at 60 degrees. The length of the dipole is
15 m with a cross-sectional area of 1.0 m2, depth to the top of the negative pole is 5 m, susceptibility
is 0.003 cgs emu, Earth’s field strength is 55,000 nT with an inclination of 60 degrees. Calculate
these values for positions 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 m south and north along the traverse. Plot the
resulting profiles. You will have to use excel for this question.

Answers are found in Table 2, pg. 462. They may not be exactly the same, but they should be
reasonable.

6. Each of the following magnetometers measures a different specific quantity that is proportional to
the earth’s magnetic field intensity. What is the specific quantity that is measured by a) proton
precession magnetometer, b) fluxgate magnetometer, and c) potassium vapor magnetometer
(optically pumped)?
 GEOL 4103, Fall 2009

a. Proton Precession Magnetometer – The protons precess at an angular velocity (Larmor

precession frequency) which is proportional to the Earth’s magnetic field.
b. Fluxgate Magnetometer – “gates” the ambient magnetic flux threading a sensing coil,
converting it from a time stationary field into a time varying field. The time varying
field gives rise to induced voltage which is proportional to the strength and direction
of the ambient field.
c. Potassium Vapor Magnetometer (optically pumped) – similar to a Sesium Vapor
Magnetometer (which measures the difference in energy proportional to the ambient
magnetic field strength) it detects the precession of the electron spin in the presence
of a magnetic field.
7. Calculate the magnetic field elements for Stillwater, OK given the total field strength of 51,657.7 nT,
Latitude 36˚6’20”, and Longitude -97˚4’35”.

Go to http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomagmodels/struts/calcIGRFWMM

8. Magnetic measurements have been made on a basalt flow presently at 47˚N, 20˚E. The angle of
inclination of the remnant magnetization of this basalt is 30˚. Calculate the paleomagnetic latitude
of this site at the time the basalt was magnetized.

Use the equation:

tani=2 tanθ
i=30 ° , solve for θ .
tan 30
θ=tan −1 ( 2 ) =16.1 °