Structural mapping of the west central Arabian Shield (Saudi Arabia) using downward continued magnetic data

Abstract

In this study, we have applied a stable downward continuation technique to magnetic anomalies from the global geomagnetic field model MAG2V3 to improve the resolution of magnetic data of the west central Arabian Shield, Saudi Arabia. Then, advanced interpretation methods such as the tilt angle of the horizontal gradient (TAHG), horizontal gradient of a modified tilt angle (HGSTDR), and enhanced horizontal gradient (EHGA) have been applied to downward continued magnetic dataset to highlight the main structural features in the region. The observed geologic structures from the magnetic analysis revealed NW-SE, NE-SW, and ENE-WSW orientations in the west central Arabian Shield. The depths of these structures were computed by the analytic signal (AS) technique and the obtained result shows depths varying from 1.2 to 9.2 km. This study provided a new map of the subsurface geological structures for a better understanding of the tectonic evolution of the west central Arabian Shield.

Keywords

• Magnetic interpretation
• Subsurface structures
• MAG2V3
• west central Arabian Shield