Bouguer gravity corrections using a variable density

Abstract The principle of density profiling as a means of determining Bouguer densities is studied with a view to extending it to include all of the data in a survey. It is regarded as an endeavor to minimize the correlation between local gravity anomalies and topography, and as such it can be handled mathematically by the method of least squares. In the general case this leads to a variable Bouguer density which can be mapped and contoured. In a worked example, the correspondence between this function and the known geology appears to be good, and indicates that Bouguer density variations due to changing surface conditions can be used routinely in the reduction of gravity data.