Abstract
Classical concepts of continental margins have been improved in the geological community. The updated continental passive margin models have a complex configuration, presenting a multiphase rifting process, in which hyper-extended continental blocks and mantle exhumation may occur (ocean-continent transition zone - OCT). Therefore, the enhanced model of passive margin basement inspires a renewal on its regional geophysical interpretation. Gravity and magnetics in Western Iberia allow us to interpret some possible regional basement changes, combining filtered regional geophysical data and new concepts of passive margins. In W-Iberia it is proposed four regional domains using regional potential field data: continental margin, two transitional zones, and classical oceanic crust. Furthermore, magnetic anomaly patterns in the western transitional zone seem to be controlled by Variscan trends, which is an evidence of sub-continental mantle composition in the Ocean-Continent Transition zone, and suggests the Variscan Front location. In summarizing, magnetic interpretation in W-Iberia presents deep basement features out of continental crust, overprinted by passive margin zonation. This interpretation brings some new insights about passive margins formation and its classical components. Also, it represents a review of gravity and magnetic regional interpretation and its applicability in continental margins studies.
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