Iron oxide mineralization style is usually controlled by both crustal and local scale structures such as major shear, fault zones and lithological contacts. Air-FTG (Airborne Full Tensor Gravity Gradiometry) is nowadays the only existing airborne full tensor gradiometer technology can be used for both detailed and regional surveys. The system takes real time measurements of gravity gradient field in three orthogonal directions and at same time compensates for bias in the orientation and accelerations of the aircraft. Each one of these measurements is related to either the density contrast or the geometry of discrete bodies. The aim of this work was to implement a numerical algorithm to compute the five gxx, gxy, gxz, gyy and gyz independent tensor components and use the knowledge acquired with them to help in real data interpretation and Air-FTG validation. To go over this subject, Air-FTG survey was flown over the Quadrilátero Ferrífero region, in Minas Gerais state, Brazil, to delineate and to map structures associated with iron oxide mineralizations. A complete procedure for data processing, together with joint interpretation of the geological models, ground gravity and air gravity gradiometry tensor components, indicates the high precision capability of the Air-FTG system in mapping and detecting iron oxide bodies with high accuracy. Results show that gradiometer depict a more observable advantage for identification of those near surface targets, revealing structures such as lineament, edges, corners and as a consequence, body shapes and their thickness. We have concluded that the best images of the subsurface rocks acquired by the Air-FTG platform can provide more realistic targets information than the conventional ground gravity field instruments.
full tensor gravity gradiometry; iron ore
