The tilt derivative applied to AEM conductivity data

Various procedures are used in the processing of potential field data to provide enhanced detection and definition of structural information. The majority of such procedures use the spatial derivatives of the data either individually or in combination. The ability of the tilt angle (or derivative) to provide enhanced mapping of electromagnetic (EM)/conductivity structure is considered here. Although this study considers airborne EM survey data, the concept can equally be applied to ground-based conductivity/resistivity data sets. Following a description of the principles of the tilt derivative (TDR) method, forward modelling studies of concealed EM/conductivity structure are presented. Case studies of the practical application of the procedures to survey data are then performed. The tilt function embodies Automatic Gain Control that normalises the detection and definition of both weak and strong conductivity gradients across an appropriate subsurface depth range. Noise amplification is an inevitable outcome of the procedure. Filtering methods to attenuate undesired artefacts are available and are demonstrated.