A Litho-Constrain Approach for Gravity Data Analysis at Gerolekas Bauxite Mining Area

Delphi-Distomon S.A., one of the largest bauxite producers in Greece and in Europe, is interested to explore for new bauxite deposits in a promising unexploited area. Although, getting a direct geophysical response from bauxite deposits in great depths is almost impossible, indirect ore indications may occur through geophysical observations associated to the bauxite host rocks or particular geological structures. In this study, a litho-constrained approach is proposed for the analysis of gravity data in the Gerolekas mining area. The specific strategy is starting from building a coarse 3D lithology model by exploiting all available geo-information and its conversion to an equivalent density one. The emerged density model can assist in the design phase of a gravity survey as well as in the processing and interpretation stages. Finally, a 3D litho-costrained inversion can be applied to real gravity measurements, in order to build a geologically realistic density model that contributes significant to the better understanding of the survey area’s geotectonical regime. The litho-constrained density model can also assist in the reprocessing of existing 2D legacy reflection seismic data and in the integration with other methods such as magnetotellurics and passive seismic that are in progress in the survey area.