ON A SUCCESSIVE APPROXIMATION METHOD FOR INTERPRETING GRAVITY ANOMALIES

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Abstract
A new method for quantitative interpretation of gravity anomalies is presented. The disturbing body is represented by a finite number of vertical prisms arranged on a pre‐determined, regular grid. The horizontal dimensions of the individual prisms are small enough that they can be approximated by vertical‐line mass elements at the axis of the prisms. Formulas for gravity due to one prism are derived and, for the case of Gulf Coast salt densities, plotted on Figure 1. Gravity due to the whole body is an algebraic sum of the contributions of all prisms at the appropriate depths and distances. This method makes possible the direct interpretation by successive approximations by introducing proper geologic limitations. All the numerical work can be conveniently done on a high‐speed digital computer. The method is especially suitable for features with predominant vertical dimension such as salt domes and igneous plugs. It gives at least the same, and possibly higher, degree of accuracy as the graphical dot chart methods and, carried out on a digital computer, should be about two thousand times faster.

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