In general, the term “residual” refers to a quantity left over at the end of a process or in scientific terms the difference between an observed field and a calculated field. To geologists and geophysicists “residualization” known as “Regional-Residual Separation” is the process of generating a residual anomaly field from an observed field by removing a regional field. This residual map usually reveals previously hidden subtle features in the data. The map is considered to be a key element for an interpreter whose endeavor is to find and decipher local features which could be anomalies of exploration significance.
Learning Objectives:
After completing this Module, you will be able to:
- Describe what residual maps are.
- Learn how to generate a residual map.
- Explain how residual maps are used:
- Isolate anomaly zones of interest
- Delineate shallow geological features.
- Isolate geological targets and anomalies of interest.