Aeromagnetism

Abstract

The airborne magnetic method was established a few decades ago, as a strong tool in mining and petroleum exploration. Several economically relevant discoveries are often credited to aeromagnetism. Geological reconnaissance and mapping, deep crustal and upper mantle studies, environmental characterization, and national and international security issues can greatly benefit from the aeromagnetic method, as compared with other geophysical prospecting schemes. The rapid rate of coverage and the low cost per unit area explored represent just a few among the many advantages of the technique. Consequently, large-scale airborne magnetic surveys have been carried out in various parts of the globe. The amount of direct discoveries of ore bodies by means of aeromagnetism is impressive. Large magnetic iron deposits found in the early 1960s are in Southern California, Missouri, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Quebec, Ontario, and elsewhere. In the field of petroleum exploration, the method has also been used, although with less direct application. Depth to magnetic basement estimation in sedimentary basins narrows down areas of interest where to conduct exploration surveys in detail by means of more costly methods. The most relevant use of airborne magnetic results is crustal imaging and characterization. Nowadays, geology is interpreted in three dimensions using a digital aeromagnetic map.