Interpretation of Gravity, Magnetic Data and Contribution to the Structural Study of the Congo Basin: A Case Study of the Southern Part of the Province of Sankuru in D.R. Congo

Abstract

This study is focused on the recognition of the geological structure of the southern part of the province of Sankuru in the D.R. Congo which covers the oil blocks 18 and 18b. Gravity and magnetic data were processed using the horizontal derivative and upward continuation methods. Note also that the Reduction yo Pole (RTP) was previously applied to the magnetic data in order to eliminate the distortions of the anomalies. Thus, we found that the region was affected by several tectonic phenomena, the most important of which was the rifting phenomenon that shaped this region by establishing a large collapsed central zone forming an NW-SE direction graben and raised peripheral reliefs forming horsts to the northeast and southwest. This study also revealed several faults, some of which, which are of the normal type, are parallel to the central graben and others are perpendicular to it. It should also be noted that the large negative gravity anomalies result from the salt domes located for the most part in the central graben. The integration of all the geological information from the interpretation of gravity and magnetic maps has enabled us to develop a structural map that improves our knowledge of the geological structures of major oil interests in this region.