Evaluating the feasibility of modeling the subsurface structure of two volcanic units in drill holes UE-18r and ER-EC-2a using existing magnetic data, Nevada Test Site

The magnetic properties of two volcanic units encountered in two drill holes, ER-EC-2a and UE18r, located in the vicinity of the Nevada Test Site, were investigated to determine if the units were significantly more magnetic than overlying units and, thus, detectable by using aeromagnetic data. Magnetic-susceptibility measurements were made on cuttings from the drill holes and were combined with published data on remanent magnetism to generate two-dimensional magnetic models, based on an interpreted geologic cross-section. The resulting magnetic anomaly calculated from the models was compared with the observed aeromagnetic anomaly and was found to differ significantly from it. Furthermore, the calculated magnetic anomalies were found to be relatively insensitive to changes in the two units of interest.