Approximating edges of source bodies from magnetic or gravity anomalies

Cordell and Grauch (1982, 1985) discussed a technique to estimate the location of abrupt lateral changes in magnetization or mass density of upper crustal rocks. The final step of their procedure is to identify maxima on a contoured map of horizontal gradient magnitudes. We attempt to automate their final step. Our method begins with gridded magnetic or gravity anomaly data and produces a plan view of inferred boundaries of magnetic or gravity sources. The method applies to both local surveys and to continent-wide compilations of magnetic and gravity data (e.g., Zietz, 1982; Simpson et al., 1983a; Kane et al., 1982).