The gravity method is a geophysical technique that involves measuring the Earth’s gravitational field to infer subsurface density variations. In combination with geological knowledge, the interpreter can infer structure and lithology from gravity data. Though considered one of the easiest geophysical techniques, gravity for mineral exploration can be quite complex. Gravity complements other geophysical methods as it does not suffer the limitations of the magnetic method in low magnitude latitudes or has limited depth penetration such as radiometric and electromagnetic methods. Gravity can be acquired on the ground or airborne platforms. The method can be used for direct exploration targeting of dense orebodies or to infer targets from a geological model. The method can be used in sedimentary basins and basement terranes in both offshore and onshore environments. It has applications in mineral exploration, basin analysis and environmental studies.

Learn how to apply the gravity method and to integrate it with other geophysical datasets to enhance geological interpretation and targeting. The course provides basic theory and discusses different acquisition strategies, including ground and airborne platforms. Demystify the differences between airborne gravity versus airborne gradiometry and design optimal surveys. Data processing and quantitative modelling techniques will be discussed. The course presents a methodology for interpreting gravity data and integrating it with other geoscientific datasets.
Top takeaways:
-Foundational knowledge of the basic physics of the gravity method, including the difference between standard gravity and gradient methods.
-Application of the gravity method for mineral exploration
-Different types of acquisition methods for gravity data including ground and airborne methods
-Survey planning, acquisition, processing and enhancement, including data corrections and filtering
-Introduction to quantitative modelling of gravity data
-Gravity responses for different rock types and geological environments
-A methodology for interpreting gravity data
-A methodology for integrating gravity data interpretation with other geoscientific datasets
-Analysis of case histories to understand how to use gravity for mineral exploration targeting in different geological terranes.