Joint Three-Dimensional Inversion of Gravity and Magnetic Data Collected in the Area of Victoria Mine, Nevada, Using the Gramian Constraints

Abstract

Gravity and magnetic surveys have been extensively employed in various fields like regional geology studies, environmental engineering, and mineral exploration. However, interpreting the data from these surveys remains a challenge because the potential field inversion lacks uniqueness. To address this issue, combining gravity and magnetic data in a joint inversion helps to narrow down the possible solutions. This study introduces a method for jointly inverting gravity and magnetic data, specifically focusing on the sediment–basement interface. Within this framework, a 3D voxel-type inversion using joint Gramian-based techniques incorporates a depth-to-basement model as a guiding constraint. This approach was applied to gravity and magnetic data collected around the Victoria Mine area in Nevada, USA. The joint inversion successfully produced 3D models representing the density and susceptibility of both unconsolidated sediments and the basement underlying the surveyed region.

Keywords

• 3D joint inversion
• gravity inversion
• magnetic inversion
• Gramian constraints