Conjugate zone between the northern termination of the Baikal-Patom Foldbelt and the Siberian Craton: Structure of the crystalline basement

Abstract

New data on the deep structure of the crystalline basement in the conjugate zone between the northern termination of the Baikal-Patom Foldbelt and the Siberian Craton are discussed. Digital processing of the data of a high-precision airborne geophysical (magnetic, gravity, radiometric) surveys on a scale of 1: 50000 allows us to construct 3D models of the petrophysical properties of the rocks and to ascertain the main features of the deep structure of the pre-Riphean crystalline basement overlapped by a thick sedimentary cover. The Archean and Paleoproterozoic metamorphic and plutonic petrophysical complexes are identified, and their vertical and horizontal relationships are outlined. Horizontal tectonic movements and overthrusting for many tens of kilometers are interpreted in the internal structure of the crystalline basement. The tectonic overriding of the marginal part of the Siberian Craton by nappes of the Baikal-Patom Foldbelt is proved. In particular, the completely detached, allochthonous position of the Kotuikan Zone along which the Magan and Daldyn terranes cojugate with the Aldan Province in the south of the craton is established. This compels us to consider a re-evaluation of the currently accepted concept concerning the structure and formation history of the basement of the ancient Siberian Craton.