Comparison of fractal method and conventional techniques for gravity anomalies separation in Rodan, Bandar Abas area Mona Pishdadian Pishdadian@mi.iut.ac.ir 2009 Department of Mining Engineering Isfahan University of Technology , Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran Degree:M.Sc Language: Farsi Supervisors: Dr N. Fathianpour and Dr F. Doulati Geophysical methods are highly regarded as effective means of detecting properties of subsurface bodies such as geometrical, physical and geomechanical parameters. Among many geophysical methods, the gravity and magnetics methods also known as potential field techniques have found more attraction due to their more cost effetiveness, survey speed and ease of interpretation when it comes to the detection of hydrocarbon reservoir exploration. Interpretation of gravity data is considered as the most important step in any exploration program and therfore requires sufficient experience in locating subsurface bodies and in partcular separating them from background host formations. In general, determination of geological structures such as anticlines, salt domes and faults which are considered as the most important controlling factors in hydrocarbon exploration program is highly demanded. In this thesis, gravity data surveyed over a potential hydrocarbon trap in Rudan district in Bandar Abbas province (south of Iran), are interpreted using two different fractal methods which are regarded as effective methods for separating and detecting geophysical anomalies. The two different fractal methods used are called Bugger-Area and power spectrum methods. Using Bugger-Area method the anomalous zones were determined through finding anomalous threshold whereas in employing the power spectrum method the fractal dimension determined and used to define the optimum density needed for Bouger anomaly correction scheme. Key words : gravity method, fractal methods, Bugger-Area, power spectrum, filtering techniques, first vertical derivative, upward and downward continuations, trend surface.