Aeromagnetic and gravity features of Gondwana and theirrelation to continental break-up: More pieces, less puzzle

Abstract

Regional geophysical mapping techniques were initiated for economic exploration about 50 years ago and have now developed a completeness of coverage that can be exploited for geological research over large areas. The main strength of gravity and magnetic anomaly surveys lies in their ability to map ‘basement’ geology below cover. Suitably assembled and imaged at the continental-scale, the data give new insight into the mosaic of terranes that makes up the Precambrian continental crust, and into the margins of Precambrian continental fragments that have often been complicated by prolonged rifting before the onset of the drifting apart of continental fragments. Intrusions such as dykes, dyke swarms and plugs of small areal extent, that are often associated with continental disruption, can also be mapped with new totality. Examples using mainly aeromagnetic mapping are given to support a tight reassembly of the Precambrian crustal fragments of central Gondwana. In this, the outer margins of Precambrian blocks, known or interpreted from geophysical anomaly maps of the presently dispersed continents, are reassembled parallel and at a separation of only 50-80 km, typical of the width of present-day rift valleys. In the future, the wider availability of geophysical mapping data from both continents and oceans, with computer systems to process and interpret them, should contribute to a more fruitful co-operation of geologists and geophysicists in Gondwana research using more complete data coverage.