Knowing About The Methods Involved In Ground Magnetic Surveys

By Frank Fox


Magnetic surveys are types of methods which are conducted for the purpose of using it in archeological geophysics. These surveys will record spatial variations of the magnetic field in Earth. In the archeology field, these surveys are used for the mapping and detection of both archeological artifacts and also the features. Both terrestrial archeology and marine archeology are utilizing these as well.

One of the main instruments being used for survey is a magnetometer. The tool may contain one or two sensors. For one sensor tool, it will measure the strength totally of the field of Earth. And for the two sensors tool, the sensors are separated spatially and this will be used to measure the fields gradient. Ground magnetic surveys have the aim of investigating a subsurface geology and this will be based on the anomalies in magnetic fields.

These anomalies are the results of magnetic properties from underlying rocks. Generally, the rocks magnetic contents are extremely variable but these are dependent upon the rock type and as well as the environment. The three most common causes of these anomalies are the faults, lava flows, and dykes. In geothermal environments, the susceptibility will decrease because of high temperatures.

The survey method would also involve the measurement of the intensity and also for the vertical, horizontal, and total components and gradients. A magnetism is considered to have the same features as gravity and one is potential field. Usually, the anomalies can be caused by some residues of a magnetism which is induced. The anomaly that is induced will be the result of the secondary magnetization that is induced in a ferrous body.

The induction of these anomalies result to having dimensions, shape, and amplitude and these three will then be considered as functions in orientation, geometry, susceptibility, depth, and size. These three will also become functions in the intensity and the inclination of a field when surveys are done in a certain area. There are 4 important purposes of the method and these are stated below.

First, locating the buried tanks, metallic debris, abandoned casings of steel well, and pipes. Second, mapping the landfill boundaries and sites of old waste. Third, mapping the basic igneous intrusives and basement faults. And lastly, investigating the archeological sites.

When exploring a geothermal energy, the ground data and the aero magnets data are both used in investigating the presence of a geothermal resource and this is done with combining gravity. In the aero magnets data, the anomalies usually are in correlation with volcanism expression surfaces. These include craters, localized basaltic lavas and plugs, or cones and domes.

The measurements of ground magnetism are made usually using the portable instruments with regular intervals and also along with parallel and straight lines that cover the area of survey. Usually, the intervals between locations are lesser than the spaces in between lines. However, the most common problems of these surveys are the intense fields coming from electromagnetic sources.

In order for the accuracy when mapping anomalies to be maintained, in a survey period, make sure to consider temporal changes. Normal changes can be called also as a diurnal drift. Diurnal drift corrections are done by repeating instruments of a base station that have frequent intervals. The station measurements will then be made with some corrections for temporal variations. When conducting surveys, avoid it when there is a severe storm.




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