In August 2021, IGP researchers led by Prof. Suzanne McEnroe and Dr. Madeline Lee successfully conducted a high-resolution drone magnetic survey over parts of the Bjerkreim-Sokndal (BKS) layered intrusion, Rogaland, Norway. This field campaign was in collaboration with the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology – HZDR drone team led by Dr. Richard Gloaguen.
This field work was also a success thanks to the ongoing support from the Heskestad community. The BKS has been studied for decades due to the presence of strong magnetic remanence, mineral potential, and as an Earth analogue for Martian magnetic anomalies. This drone magnetic data aids in understanding the magnetic properties of the rocks and minerals, and acts as an important bridge for multiscale anomaly mapping between thin-section, ground, and traditional airborne surveys with a helicopter or aircraft. Nearly 100 flight-line kilometers were flown identifying key geological contacts and remanent magnetic anomalies (24 000nT amplitude below background). The goal is to carry out a follow-up drone survey in 2022 along with additional ground geophysical measurements.
*Contains data under the Norwegian license for public data (NLOD) made available by the Geological Survey of Norway survey (NGU). 1:50 000 bedrock data. URL – http://geo.ngu.no/kart/berggrunn_mobil/