Gravity profile evaluation of geological cross-sections through the Southern Appalachians in Frederick County, Virginia

The geology of Frederick County, Virginia is known mostly from surface mapping. Based on this work are interpretations of the subsurface geology including cross sections which have been constrained by the surface geology and by the method of area balancing based upon palinspastic reconstruction. With the intent to further constrain these cross sections. gravity measurements were made at 422 sites in Frederick County. Then, gravity anomalies were compared with theoretical gravity profiles calculated from two dimensional models of density distribution based upon the cross sections. Using the cross section geometry and densities published for the known and inferred rock units, the theoretical gravity profiles did not compare favorably with corresponding Bouguer gravity profiles. However, by modifying the geometry of the model units and adjusting the model unit densities, a reasonable fit between theoretical and Bouguer gravity profiles was obtained. Although the geometrical modifications adhered to the structural style, no attempt was made to area balance these modifications within the model.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Geophysics

Department dc:contributor.department

Geophysics

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1989

Author dc:creator

• Mason, Michael Randolph

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Robinson, Edwin S.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Costain, John K.
• Coruh, Cahit

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

etd-02062013-040155

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/40952