Application of regional aeromagnetic data in targeting detailed fracture zones

In geological terrains of restricted outcrops the airborne geophysical data sets are important both in regional-scale geological mapping and in assessing local geology. This paper presents a method for predictive mapping of the prevalent fracture directions in bedrock using trend analysis of aeromagnetic high-resolution data. The method was tested using aeromagnetic data from the Fennoscandian Shield in southern Finland. The results of aeromagnetic trend analysis were correlated with geological field tests, and an association between the orientation magnetic trend lines and the orientation of joint sets was detected. Incorporated with structural geological analysis, this method has proved to be effective in the study of bedrock fracturing.