GEOP 4210 Geophysics Field Camp Instructor: Prof.

Xiaobing Zhou  2010

GEOP 4210 Lab # 1: Gravity Interpretation Using GRAVMAG

1. Introduction
GRAVMAG is a 2D computer program that calculates gravity and magnetic field due to solids
(or voids of negative contrast density) of infinite strike length and polygon cross-section. In this
experiment, we focus on the calculation and interpretation of gravity anomaly.

The gravity routine in GRAVMAG calculates the gravity due to a solid (or voids of negative
contrast density) of infinite length and a cross section of polygon that can have up to n = 20
vertices. Such a model can be building blocks of a more complicated model that can be
comprised of several polygons. In reality, any geologic forms that have roughly constant cross-
sectional shape along their length and have lengths several times their cross-sectional width are
simulated as infinite polygons. Gravity routine is used to 1) investigate gravity anomaly
produced by buried mass bodies of various geometries and physical density but the length must
be several times the width of their cross-sections; 2) explore the possible subsurface
configurations responsible for observed gravity anomalies.

Thus, gravity routine can do two tasks: 1) forward modeling: given the coordinates (x, z) of each
vertex and density contrast, the gravity routine calculates the gravity due to a solid of infinite
length and a cross section of polygon that can have up to 20 vertices; 2) gravity interpretation:
GRAVMAG imports field data and derive a subsurface model that fits the field data (however,
you have to always try to predict the rough form of the anomaly curve before computation
begins).

2. Theory
The following figure shows the geometry of a solid of infinite length in the y-direction with cross
section of polygon of n vertices.

Figure L1.1
If the coordinates of each vertex (xi, zi) are known, the vertical component of the gravity due to
that n-vertexed polygon is given by
n
β i   ri +1  
g z = 2γ × 10 5 ρ c ∑ ln 
2  
 − α i (θ i +1 − θ i )
i 1 + α i   ri  
where
x −x
α i = i +1 i
z i +1 − z i

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GEOP 4210 Geophysics Field Camp Instructor: Prof. Xiaobing Zhou  2010

x i z i +1 − xi +1 z i
β i = xi − α i zi =
z i +1 − z i
ri = x i2 + z i2
ri +1 = xi2+1 + z i2+1
 zi 
θ i = arctan 
 xi 
 z i +1 
θ i +1 = arctan 
 x i +1 
and γ = 6.67 x 10-8 dyne cm2/g2, distances (r, x, z) are in m, density in g/cm3 so that the
calculated gravity is in mGal.

From the above formula we can see that if the density contrast and the coordinates of each
vertex are known, the gravity is uniquely determined.

To interpret a gravity survey results (gravity anomaly) use GRAVMAG, 1) always try to predict
the rough form of the anomaly curve before computation begins; 2) attempt a number of
polygons in various configurations.

3. Objectives
After this lab, you need to be able to simulate gravity anomaly (mGal) for a predefined model
and interpret field gravity data.

4. Demonstrations
4.1 Forward Modeling: Generating gravity anomaly data for a subsurface model.
A subsurface model is shown below. The length is much longer than the width of the cross-
section. The density contrast (= mass density of anomalous body – mean mass density of
surrounding materials) is assumed to be 1.3 g/cm3. A geophysical survey using gravity method is
planned. 30 measurements are to be used at a fixed interval in 100 m (the default traverse length).
Our task is to simulate the gravity anomaly value for each measurement. A table of gravity
anomaly and distance and a plot of gravity anomaly against horizontal position should be
generated.

Figure L1.2

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GEOP 4210 Geophysics Field Camp Instructor: Prof. Xiaobing Zhou  2010

Step 1 – Launch GRAVMAG.

Download GravMag.exe from
http://www.mtech.edu/mines/geophysical/xzhou/GEOP4210_FieldGeology&Geophysics.html to
the desktop of your computer. Double-click it to launch the computer program GRAVMAG. The
“Model Table” window appears.

Click “Add Body”, the “Model Table” window will become

Figure L1.3

What is shown in the “Model Table” window above is the default 4-verticex polygon of density
contrast of 0.100 g/cm3.

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GEOP 4210 Geophysics Field Camp Instructor: Prof. Xiaobing Zhou  2010

Since our model has five vertices, we need to add one vertex to the default model that is a four-
vertex polygon before we change the defaulted model to the given model. Click in the lower half
of the “Model Table” window and then click “Add Point” button (you can use “Delete Point”
button to delete a vertex). A point is added. (Added point is placed halfway between the selected
point and the following point).

Step 2 – Model Setup.

From the given model, we list the coordinates of the five vertices in a table for convenience. The
table is shown below.
x Depth (z)
10 10
20 10
40 15
45 25
25 30
10 10
Input the above coordinates and density contrast (1.3g/cm3) into the “Model Table” as shown
below. Use the mouse and/or “Tab” key to change the coordinates of the default model to the
given model. (Note you only need to input the coordinates, the “Segment dip (°) which is the
defined θ in Figure L1.3” is automatically calculated.

Now to view the section plot and the calculated gravity data, click “Window” and select
“Section” from “Model Table” window.

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GEOP 4210 Geophysics Field Camp Instructor: Prof. Xiaobing Zhou  2010

Click “Window” and select “Gravity Data” from “Model Table” window. The “Gravity Data”
window shows up. The default number of measurement is 11. The range is 100m.

The number of measurements is controlled at upper right. If you change 11 to 30 and then press
“Enter” key, 19 new measurement positions will be added to the end of the list but overall the 30
measurements are not evenly spaced. The get all the 30 measurements evenly spaced, change
“11” to 1, press the “Enter” key or click in the data entry area. Then change the “1” to
“31” and press the Enter key or click in the data entry area again. Now the calculated
gravity is evenly spaced and the “Section” window is automatically updated.

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GEOP 4210 Geophysics Field Camp Instructor: Prof. Xiaobing Zhou  2010

Step 3. Display and save gravity - spacing plot results

The gravity versus horizontal position is shown in “Section” plot. You can see the gravity
anomaly profile generated by the polygon mass body.

Step 4. Copy modeled gravity data to Excel

Open Excel. From “Gravity Data” window, click “Edit” and then “Copy Data”, then go to Excel
and paste the data into Excel. Now you can make plot and manipulate the calculated data in
Excel.

Step 5. Save Model and Exit GRAVMAG

In “Model Table” window, Click “File” and select “Save Model…”, navigate to your directory
and save the model as “GRAVMAG_forward”. Next time you can open the model file and revise
it without start everything from scratch. Notice that the title for the “Model Table” window has
changed to “GRAVMAG_forward.txt”. You can also copy the model to a Word file or Excel file.
Now open a Word file, in “GRAVMAG_forward.txt” window, click “Edit” and select “Copy
Model”, and paste the model into the open word file. You will see clearly the model. Now click
“File” and select “Exit” from “Model Table” window to exit the GRAVMAG program.

5.2 Gravity Interpretation: determining subsurface structure from gravity

anomaly field data
Gravity interpretation in the gravity survey context is to get subsurface structure and density
contrast of a mass body buried in Earth. This is a time-consuming process. What is shown below
is a table of gravity anomaly from a gravity survey after a series of correction (free-air correction,
Bouguer correction, topographic correction, etc.). Assume the density contrast is 1.5g/cm3. The
interval between two gravity measurements is 100m. Interpret these survey data.

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GEOP 4210 Geophysics Field Camp Instructor: Prof. Xiaobing Zhou  2010

Station ID X (km) Observed gravity anomaly (mGal)

S1 0.0 26.7
S2 0.1 29.2
S3 0.2 31.9
S4 0.3 34.3
S5 0.4 36.6
S6 0.5 38.6
S7 0.6 40.3
S8 0.7 41.6
S9 0.8 42.7
S10 0.9 43.6
S11 1.0 44.2
S12 1.1 44.5
S13 1.2 44.7
S14 1.3 44.9
S15 1.4 45.0
S16 1.5 45.4
S17 1.6 45.8
S18 1.7 46.3
S19 1.8 46.7
S20 1.9 47.0
S21 2.0 47.0
S22 2.1 46.7
S23 2.2 46.2
S24 2.3 45.3
S25 2.4 44.1
S26 2.5 42.6
S27 2.6 40.7
S28 2.7 38.5
S29 2.8 36.0
S30 2.9 33.4
S31 3.0 30.8

Step 6. Preparation
Before launching GRAVMAG, we need to get some preliminary model parameters, such as how
many bodies to simulate the observed gravity. From the above table, we know that there are 31
data points and the density contrast is 1.5g/cm3. Use Excel to plot the anomalous gravity –
traverse distance ∆g − x first.
60.0
Gravity anomaly (mGal) .

50.0

40.0

30.0

20.0

10.0

0.0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0
x (km)

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GEOP 4210 Geophysics Field Camp Instructor: Prof. Xiaobing Zhou  2010

From the ∆g − x curve, we can estimate that there might be two bodies associated with the
anomalous gravity. We use a four-vertex body to approach each body. We adjust the position
and the size of these two bodies to fit the observed data. But before we do that we need to make a
very rough estimate of the model parameters such as how much is the cross-section and depth.
To accomplish this, we assume the two bodies are infinite long cylinders. The vertical gravity
due to a long cylinder that is buried at a depth of h (m) is given by
2π a 2γρh
gz = 2
x + h2
where x = 0 is the point just above the center of the cylinder, γ = 6.67 × 10 −11 m 3 kg −1 s −2 is the
gravitational constant in SI unit, a is the radius in m, ρ is the density contras in kg/m3 (1g/cm3 =
1000kg/m3). The measured gravity usually is in mGal, 1 mGal = 10-5m/s2. Based on the gravity
curve, we choose the center of mass of the two bodies as x1c = 700 m, x2c = 2200 m. We choose
the leftist two points to estimate a1 and h1, and the rightist two points to estimate a2 and h2.

For cylinder one: the two points chosen correspond to (x1 = 0 - x1c = -700m, gz1 = 26.7mGal), (x1
= 100 m – x1c = -600m, gz1 = 29.2mGal), that is
−5 2
26.7 × 10 m / s =
( )
2π a1 m 2 × 6.67 × 10 −11 m 3 kg −1 s −2 × 1500kg / m 3 × h1 (m )
2

(1)
(− 700)2 + h1 2
−5 2
29.2 × 10 m / s =
( )
2π a1 m 2 × 6.67 × 10 −11 m 3 kg −1 s −2 × 1500kg / m 3 × h1 (m )
2

(2)
(− 600)2 + h1 2
Taking the ratio of (1) and (2), we find
26.7 600 2 + h12
= 0.91438 = , h1 = 1014.1m
29.2 700 2 + h12
Insert h1 = 1014.1m into (1) and solve for a1, we have
26.7 × 10 −5 × (700 2 + 1014.12 )
a1 = = 0.797 × 10 3 m = 797m
2π × 6.67 × 10 −11 × 1500 × 1014.1

For cylinder two: the two points chosen correspond to (x2 = 2900m – x2c = 700m, gz1 =
33.4mGal), (x2 = 3000m – x2c = 800m, gz1 = 30.8mGal), that is
−5 2
33.4 × 10 m / s =
( )
2π a 2 m 2 × 6.67 × 10 −11 m 3 kg −1 s −2 × 1500kg / m 3 × h2 (m )
2

(3)
(700)2 + h2 2
−5 2
30.8 × 10 m / s =
( )
2π a 2 m 2 × 6.67 × 10 −11 m 3 kg −1 s −2 × 1500kg / m 3 × h2 (m )
2

(4)
(800)2 + h2 2
Taking the ratio of (3) and (4), we find
33.4 800 2 + h22
= 1.08442 = , h2 = 1134.4m
30.8 700 2 + h22
Insert h2 = 1134.4m into (3) and solve for a2, we have
33.4 × 10 −5 × (700 2 + 1134.4 2 )
a2 = −11
= 0.912 × 10 3 m = 912m
2π × 6.67 × 10 × 1500 × 1134.4

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GEOP 4210 Geophysics Field Camp Instructor: Prof. Xiaobing Zhou  2010

Thus, the estimated body parameters are:

The coordinates of the corners of body one: ( x1 = x1c − a1 = −97 m, z1 = h1 − a1 = 217 m ) ,
(x1 = x1c + a1 = 1497m, z1 = h1 − a1 = 217m) , (x1 = x1c + a1 = 1497m, z1 = h1 + a1 = 1811m ) , and
(x1 = x1c − a1 = −97m, z1 = h1 + a1 = 1811m) . Similarly, the coordinates of the corners of body
two are: (x2 = x2c − a2 = 1288m, z 2 = h2 − a2 = 222m) ,
(x2 = x2c + a2 = 3112m, z 2 = h2 − a2 = 222m) , (x2 = x2c + a2 = 3112m, z 2 = h2 + a2 = 2046m) ,
and ( x 2 = x 2c − a 2 = 1288m, z 2 = h2 + a 2 = 2046m ) . These initial estimates are very useful for the
model initialization. Therefore, the initial model is summarized as follows:

Body Density (g/cm3) vertex X (m) Z (m)

1 1.5 1 -97 217
2 1497 217
3 1497 1811
4 -97 1811
2 1.5 1 1288 222
2 3112 222
3 3112 2046
4 1288 2046

Step 7. Launch GRAVMAG

This is a repeat of Step 1 in case you already exited the GRAVMAG program. If GRAVMAG is
still on, omit this step.

Step 8. Enter Data into GRAVMAG

From “Model Table” window, enter two bodies using the estimated parameters in Step 6. The
“Model Table” window looks like below:

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GEOP 4210 Geophysics Field Camp Instructor: Prof. Xiaobing Zhou  2010

From the “Model Table” window, click “Window” and select “Section” to bring out the “Cross
section” window. Change the default 100m for Bottom (m) and Right to 3000 m and then click
in the plotting area, the “Cross section” window will look like below.

Click “Window” and select “Gravity Data”

from “Cross section” window to bring the
“Gravity Data” window out. Change the
default 11 for “Number of measurements” to
1 and click somewhere in the data entry area.
Type in 31 for “Number of measurements”
and click again in the data entry area. This
results in the desired 31 data points for the
entry of the observed gravity data. Now use
the “Tab” key or arrow key to move from row
to row and enter the observed gravity data.
After your entry, the model table looks like
below. Also, you can see that the RMS Misfit
= 26.11987 mGal which is pretty high. This
means that the observed and calculated does
not yet match well.

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GEOP 4210 Geophysics Field Camp Instructor: Prof. Xiaobing Zhou  2010

Step 9. Determining Subsurface Model Parameters

Click on the “Cross section” window, you can see both the observed and simulated data from the
initial estimated model. Calculated gravity is higher than the observed data. Besides, the two
bodies overlapped, making the resulted gravity curve look like from one body. The observed
curve seems to be a result from two separate bodies. Now, we adjust the two bodies’ positions
and shape to fit the observed data. This takes some time. Finally we come up to a good fitting
which can be seen in both “Cross section” window and “Gravity Data” window. The RMS Misfit
has been reduced to 0.2673098 mGal. (You may get a different fitting, RMS Misfit is an
indicator how well the fitting is.)

From the “Model Table” window, we can see the model parameters. Click “Edit” and select
“Copy Model” and paste to a word file. Here are the model parameters:
3
Body Density (g/cm ) vertex X (m) Z (m)
1 1.5 1 257.9186 407.6087
2 1255.656 521.7391
3 1309.955 2086.957
4 352.9412 1940.217
2 1.5 1 1520.362 619.5652
2 2701.357 277.1739
3 2769.231 2494.565
4 1547.511 2315.217

5. Assignments
1. Use GRAVMAG to simulate the gravity at a fault. A slab of 1.1km thick is faulted at x
between 3km and 3.5km as shown below.

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GEOP 4210 Geophysics Field Camp Instructor: Prof. Xiaobing Zhou  2010

The density contrast is 1670kg/m3. The model parameters are shown in the following table.
Slab Vertex X (m) Z (m)
left 1 110 1780
2 3250 1780
3 3050 2880
4 110 2880
right 1 3630 300
2 6830 300
3 6830 1400
4 3430 1400

A gravity survey is to be carried out from 2000m inclusive to 4000m inclusive at an internal of
100 m. Calculate the gravity anomaly due to the faulted slab.

2. What is shown below is a table of gravity anomaly from a gravity survey after a series of
correction (free-air correction, Bouguer correction, terrain correction, etc.). Assume the density
contrast is 1.67g/cm3. The interval between two gravity measurements is 200m. Interpret these
survey data (the model parameters, cross-section, a plot of observed and calculated gravity
versus traverse distance showing how well the fitting is).
ID X (m) Observed
S1 0 11.7
S2 200 13.2
S3 400 15.0
S4 600 17.2
S5 800 20.0
S6 1000 23.4
S7 1200 27.6
S8 1400 33.1
S9 1600 39.9
S10 1800 47.6
S11 2000 54.7
S12 2200 60.2
S13 2400 64.5
S14 2600 67.8

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GEOP 4210 Geophysics Field Camp Instructor: Prof. Xiaobing Zhou  2010

S15 2800 70.2

S16 3000 72.0
S17 3200 73.3
S18 3400 74.2
S19 3600 74.6
S20 3800 74.6
S21 4000 74.3
π  x 
Hint: For an semi-infinite horizontal slab, g z = 2γρ t  + tan −1   , where t is the thickness of
2  h 
the slab in m, x = 0m is the point just above the end tip of the slab. This formula might be useful
for model initialization. For infinite or semi-infinite problems, you should assign a long enough
length for the model, you can not input infinite in GRAVMAG.

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