Geobody estimation by Bhattacharyya method utilizing nonlinear inverse modeling of magnetic data in Baba-Ali iron deposit, NW Iran

One of the essential geophysical concerns is the estimation of the physical and geometrical parameters of the reserve (geobody), which is done by exploiting the nonlinear inverse modeling of magnetic data. The present study includes preparing and modeling magnetic data to suggest the Baba Ali Iron ore deposit's drilling locations in NW Iran. The area is covered with 1000 points of geomagnetic reading with an almost 5 × 10 m² regularly spaces grid trending WE. The areal and depth extent of the iron ore geobody was unknown. The Bhattacharyya method by MATLAB software coding was employed to underestimate the misfit function and re-construct potential field data, providing the most suitable fitting with measured magnetic data. In this order, the residual calculated anomaly exhibited an excellent two-dimensional conformation with forward modeling. Furthermore, 3D modeling correctly reconstructs the anomalies' productive resources' properties. After preparing full magnetic maps, the magnetic lenses distinguished in four anomalies of surface depths, 20, 50, and deeper than 50 m for this zone. This magnetite lens for the first zone was estimated based on analytical signal filters applied on the entire magnetic map so that the lens's depth is trivial and almost zero. Due to specific gravity calculated as 4.77 t/m³, initial storage capacity is suggested to be about 95,400 tons of magnetite, pyrite, and hematite minerals at most in an area about 6 Km². Finally, to complete the preliminary explorations of the specified area, exploratory drilling is suggested for three points by inverse modeling. Regarding this study as the first try in magnetic reconnaissance step of Iron mineral exploration in the study area, there is no geological constraints available based on drilling evidences. However, the model is well satisfies the surface anomalies considering residual magnetic property.