A potential field geophysical study to image a Potash resource through Depth from Extreme Points (DEXP) automatic transformation technique, a case study of Ghareh-Aghaj deposit in NW of Iran.

Utilizing magnetic susceptibility and density contrast models, the primary aim of analyzing potential field data is to determine essential source parameters, including depth, structural index, horizontal expansion, and physical characteristics. In geophysical explorations, the accurate determination of subsurface depth is of utmost importance. This study employs the Depth from Extreme Points (DEXP) automatic transformation technique to interpret potential field data. DEXP relies on the precise analysis of local wavenumbers at different scales and the extreme points of the DEXP field to extract source depth, horizontal position, and structural index. This method is highly stable and less sensitive to noisy data due to the inclusion of an upward continuation filter and a potential field derivative operator. Additionally, the results are more reliable compared to alternative techniques. Moreover, the DEXP method is fully automated and does not require prior knowledge of the data collection area, making it a rapid imaging approach. As multiscale methods are less reliant on magnetic induction fields, they have become increasingly popular in magnetic field computations. To validate the proposed approach, synthetic scenarios are initially simulated. Subsequently, the DEXP technique is applied to demonstrate the depth extension of assumed models using synthetic gravity and magnetic data. This method is then implemented on data from the Ghareh-Aghaj potash exploratory area in Zanjan Province, Iran. The outcomes indicate that the potash deposit has minimal lateral expansion and is more pronouncedly extended in depth. Notably, these findings exhibit a satisfactory level of agreement with results obtained from exploratory borehole investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]