Geophysical characterisation of a blind I-type pluton emplaced within the Bundarra Suite S-type granites of the New England Batholith

Abstract

Geophysical data are presented that characterise a blind pluton, the Mountain Home Pluton (MHP), which intrudes the southern portion of the Bundarra Suite (BS), 30 km northeast of Bendemeer, New South Wales. A positive magnetic anomaly within the non-magnetic granites of the BS (Banalasta and Pringles Monzogranites) was previously identified as a sub-surface intrusion. Interpretation of new gravity data and analysis of aeromagnetic data are used to infer the depth, size, density, magnetic susceptibility and likely petrology of the pluton. The best-fit model indicates that the MHP is very similar to the Looanga Monzogranite, a felsic member of the Moonbi Suite of the New England Batholith (NEB) that intrudes the BS 5–7 km southeast of the MHP. The top of the MHP is inferred to lie about 1 km beneath the surface and the pluton extends to a depth of at least 6 km. Our model furthermore suggests that the southwestern margin of the MHP is subvertical, whereas a shallower dip (<45°) towards the north is proposed for the northeastern surface of the pluton. A north-trending dyke swarm, identified on the basis of linear positive magnetic anomalies, may be related to the MHP. This swarm of more than 20 relatively magnetic dykes extends out to about 10 km north from the pluton. Magnetic modelling of the dykes indicates that susceptibility values of the dykes are probably very similar to the range of the MHP, and also suggests the width of individual dykes (also not known to be exposed at the surface) to be at most a few tens of metres. A petrographic examination of the intruded BS granites at the surface suggests that metamorphic zoning as seen in mineralogical characteristics may be related to the underlying pluton.