1 ) A method for enhancing the depth and spatial resolution of one and two dimensional residual surfaces derived from scalar potential data which has been or will be assembled, collected and prepared by any appropriate methods and apparatus for a plurality of discrete geographic locations within a previously defined primary region of geological interest for the purpose of preparing gridded and interpolated surface representations of said data from which said residual surfaces may be derived, comprising a) the definition of a reference region wherein data collection has occurred or will occur at a plurality of discrete geographic locations wherein said reference region completely contains the primary region of geological interest as a subregion and such that: i) the spatial dimension or dimensions of said reference region shall extend in all cardinal directions from the central point of said primary region of interest to plural multiples of the maximum depth of geological interest within the primary region of interest and ii) the spatial dimension or dimensions of said reference region shall extend in all cardinal directions from the central point of said primary region of interest to plural multiples of corresponding dimensions of the primary region of interest whereby the inclusion of the information from the additional scalar potential data measurements within the extended dimension or dimensions of said reference region provide means for enhancing the depth and spatial resolution derived from the residual surfaces through increasing the quality and quantity of the information available concerning subsurface geologic structures within the primary region of interest and whereby said increase in the quality and quantity of information within the primary region of interest depends upon the number of multiples of the extent or extents of the primary region of interest contained in the corresponding extent or extents of the reference region and whereby said increase in the quality and quantity of information within the primary region of interest depends upon the the number of multiples of the maximum depth of geological interest within the primary region of interest contained in the extent or extents of the reference region.