Gravity interpretation of nonoutcropping sedimentary basins in which the density contrast decreases parabolically with depth

Abstract

The decrease in density contrast of sedimentary rocks with depth in many sedimentary basins can be approximated by a parabolic density function. Analytical gravity expression of an outcropping two-dimensional vertical step along which the density contrast decreases parabolically with depth is derived in the space domain. A modification of Bott's (1960) method of gravity interpretation is proposed by considering two outcropping vertical steps on either side of the first and last observation points in addition to N outcropping vertical prisms in order to interpret the gravity anomalies of nonoutcropping basins. The thicknesses of the two outcropping vertical steps are made equal to the thicknesses of the two outcropping vertical prisms placed below the first and last observation points. The initial depth estimates of the sedimentary basin are calculated by the infinite slab formula of Visweswara Raoet al. (1993). The gravity effects of the N outcropping prisms and the two outcropping vertical steps are calculated at each anomaly point and the depth to the floor of the basin are adjusted based on the differences between the observed and calculated anomalies. A gravity anomaly profile of Los Angeles basin, California is interpreted. © 1995 Birkhäuser Verlag.