The Analysis of the Gravity Anomalies of Arizona

Abstract

The Bouguer correction using a mean sea level reduction datum compensates the gravitational effect of the mass of the terrain above sea level. This correction generally results in long -wavelength Bouguer gravity anomalies if the mass of the terrain is isostatically compensated. These anomalies correlate with regional elevations, especially in areas with significant regional variations in elevation, such as western North America. The adverse effect of this correlation is that other anomalies of potential interest in a tectonic or geologic analysis may be overshadowed. To circumvent this problem in an analysis of gravity in Arizona, a residual Bouguer gravity anomaly map has been constructed for the state in which a trend surface of the elevation is used as the reduction datum in the Bouguer correction. Elevation values from topographic maps and not gravity station elevations have been used to prepare the regional elevation datum because station elevations do not adequately sample the range in elevations. Small- and large-wavelength residual Bouguer gravity anomalies and trends of anomalies are brought out more clearly by the residual Bouguer gravity anomaly map than by previous gravity maps. The most prominent features in the residual anomalies are a strong gravity gradient 50 km wide striking west -northwest across southern Arizona and a large wavelength residual Bouguer gravity anomaly low in the Coconino Plateau of northwest Arizona . The long-wavelength residual Bouguer gravity anomalies reflect lateral density variations in the crust and mantle that may be related to lateral temperature variations.