A Novel Approach to Edge Detection for a Gravity Anomaly Based on Fractal Surface Variance Statistics of Fractal Geometry

Abstract

Fractal geometry has developed rapidly, and is widely used in various disciplines. However, only a few fractal dimension methods and techniques have been applied to the processing of gravity data, especially in the detection of geological edges and interfaces. In this paper, the definition, properties and characteristics of fractal dimensions are used to improve the edge detection of gravity anomalies, and a theoretical gravity model is established. At the same time, a new method of fractal surface variance statistics is applied and compared with traditional methods. The fractal gravity anomaly processing methods in different directions are analyzed, and the results show that the maximum value of the fractal surface variance statistical method on a fixed window can be used to delineate the geological edge of the ore body. When the method in this paper is applied to the Luobusha chromite deposit in Tibet, China, the fractal dimension corresponds well with the structural development zones of various faults, and it is also helpful to delineate the boundary of the chromite deposit and identify the interface with an obvious difference in gravity anomaly density.

Keywords

• edge detection
• gravity anomaly
• surface variance statistics
• fractal dimension