A method and a GUI based JAVA code for interactive gravity modeling of strike limited listric fault sources with arbitrary density-depth variations

Abstract

A method coupled with a GUI based computer program, FRGMLSTRK, coded in JAVA, has been developed to interactively model the gravity anomalies of strike-limited listric fault sources where the detached hanging wall of the structure consists of several geologic formations that have different densities and thicknesses. The program is simple and user friendly in the sense that it allows interactive model construction and modification, the display of fault geometry, depth and the densities of various sub-surface formations, and real-time computation of the gravity anomalies arising from the model. The non-planar fault planes are analytically constructed by fitting a polynomial function of arbitrary but specific degree to a set of points selected on the fault plane by means of a few mouse clicks in the structure panel of the graphical layout. Further, input parameters pertaining to depths and densities of formations can be specified by means of mouse clicks in respective panels. Subsequent changes in these parameters can be realized by simple drag and drop mouse operations. The modeled gravity anomalies are automatically updated and displayed whenever changes are made to: (i) the geometry of the fault plane; (ii) depths of density interfaces; and (iii) densities of formations. These changes can be made either independently or in combination. In addition to displaying the results in graphical form, the code also generates the output in ASCII format. The applicability of the code is demonstrated with both a simple synthetic model and real-world gravity anomalies from the margin of the Chintalpudi sub-basin in India. © 2014 Geological Society of India.