Airborne Magnetics

Magnetic surveys from aircraft are common when looking for mineral bodies, especially when looking for diamond host rocks. Such surveys ensure rapid mapping of an area, which can be used to identify locations that will require ground exploration. Until recently, manned aircraft were the principal support for surveys. A combination of fluxgate and scalar magnetometers were used; the scalar performing the measurements, and the fluxgate used for compensation of the aircraft’s signature. The Mag-13MSL is a common choice for this application. Alternatively, sensors tested for airborne applications, such as the Mag629, can also be used. Today, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), are being used to perform airborne magnetic surveys. Due to weight and power limitations, scalar magnetometers tend to be absent from these system, so the fluxgate sensor is used for both measurements, with total field calibration being performed. The main sensors for this work is the Mag-13. Where power is more limited, low-power sensors such as the Mag648 and Mag649, can also be used. The Mag658, with its digital output, can be easier to integrate into some systems.
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