Published September 15, 2021 | Version v1
Conference paper Open

3-D Gravity Geometry Inversion of the Matheson Area, Abitibi greenstone belt: maintaining the contacts of one of the geological unit fixed for obtaining superior results.

  • 1. Mineral Exploration Research Centre, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario P3E 2C6, Canada, fjustina@laurentian.ca
  • 2. Mineral Exploration Research Centre, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario P3E 2C6, Canada, RSSmith@laurentian.ca

Description

Using measured density values and surface geology as constraints, and a compilation of two data sets of ground gravity as observed data, 3-D inversions using the VPmg algorithm were used to estimate the subsurface model in the Matheson area, which is located in the southern part of the Abitibi greenstone belt, Canada. Besides the aforementioned constraints, the contacts of the Porcupine metasedimentary assemblage (one of the 9 geological units presented in the study area) were fixed during the inversion. This was because priori 2-D forward modelling had derived a model also consistent with reflection seismic data. When the Porcupine assemblage contacts were free to move, the thickness was judged to be geologically unrealistic. However, when the Porcupine assemblage contacts were fixed, the model was realistic and there was a smaller misfit between predicted and observed data. The criteria to judge whether a model was realistic or unrealistic was the geological likelihood of the geometries and depths of the geological units that are obtained from an inversion.

Notes

Open-Access Online Publication: March 20, 2023

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