The Role of the Geomagnetism Laboratory in Community Service
The Geomagnetism Laboratory is considered one of the key scientific and applied pillars supporting community service and sustainable development. The laboratory specializes in monitoring and studying the Earth’s magnetic field and its various applications, serving vital sectors such as infrastructure, energy, environment, and cultural heritage.
Through national geomagnetic observatories and magnetic survey activities, the laboratory contributes to monitoring geomagnetic variations and assessing their impact on navigation systems, telecommunications, and remote sensing technologies, thereby supporting decision-makers and national development projects
1. Terrestrial Magnetic Survey Equipment (for monitoring magnetic anomalies):
Used to create accurate magnetic maps for strategic areas such as airports and vital facilities.
Utilizes data to detect unusual subsurface activities.
Measures the total Earth’s magnetic field and absolute values of its components (X, Y, Z) for purposes including:
Mineral exploration.
Environmental and engineering fields.
Geomagnetic observatories and earthquake prediction.
Detecting subsurface geological structures of importance in environmental engineering, construction, and urban development in new cities.
Locating oil and gas reservoirs.
Can be used as a reference station during field measurements.
2. Marine Magnetic Survey Equipment:
Conducts marine magnetic surveys to define geological structures and mineral resources.
Contributes to oil, gas, and mineral exploration using advanced magnetic techniques.
Locates sunken objects in the sea of various sizes (anchors, chains, cables, pipelines, shipwrecks, ammunition, mines, aircraft debris, engines, etc.).
Detects deep subsurface geological structures relevant to oil, gas, and marine engineering.
Detects small objects provided the device is close to the seabed and within the detection range.
3. Magnetic Gradiometer Equipment (Archaeological and Geological Applications):
Uses magnetic survey techniques to detect buried antiquities without excavation.
Detects buried pipelines at shallow depths.
Detects mines and buried objects.
4. Eddy Current Magnetic Field Measuring Equipment:
Used to study tectonic and seismic activity, locate groundwater reservoirs at various depths, and explore for oil and minerals.
Studies the relationship between eddy current measurements and tectonic/seismic activity.
Studies the presence of Earth’s groundwater reservoirs at different depths.
Studies the non-inductive part of eddy currents and compares it with tectonic activity.
5. Rock Magnetism Laboratory Equipment:
Used to determine rock ages, study environmental pollution, and determine the intensity and direction of the paleo-magnetic field through different geological eras.
Susceptibility Meters: Measure surface and depth magnetic susceptibility.
Variable Field Translation Balance (VFTB): Identifies magnetic mineral types and their coercivity, as well as grain size, to determine the source of minerals (natural or anthropogenic).
Spinner Magnetometers: Measure remanent magnetization in rock/sediment samples for environmental and paleoclimatic purposes.
Multi-function Kappabridge: Measures susceptibility of soil, lake sediments, or airborne particles at different frequencies and temperatures to identify mineral types and pollution sources.
Pulse Magnetizer: Used to impart total or partial magnetic saturation to samples.
Public Services
Providing absolute values and magnetic maps to oil and mining companies for detailed field surveys of anomalies, indicating potential oil-bearing structures or magnetic ores like iron oxides.
Supplying the Survey Authority and oil agencies with magnetic declination distribution maps.
Science communication through scientific articles for radio, television, and press.
Identifying groundwater availability, levels, and reservoirs for economic benefit.
Locating economic minerals and rocks.
Laboratory Achievements
Participation with international observatories in completing the International Geomagnetic Reference Field.
Providing magnetic data to mining and oil companies.
Supervising and qualifying research assistants for Master’s and Doctoral degrees.
Training university students and researchers.
Research staff teaching at Egyptian universities.
Conducting periodic national magnetic field surveys (every ten years).
Studying geological and basement structures in economically important areas.
Studying the magnetic properties of rocks and their correlation with field changes across geological and historical eras.
Determining the extent of buried antiquities through precision magnetic surveys.
Conducting geoelectric and magnetic studies around hot spring areas.