New insights into the structure of the Sudbury Igneous Complex from downhole seismic studies

Abstract

New vertical seismic profiles from the northwest margin of the Sudbury impact structure provide details of structural geometries within the lower impact melt sheet (usually called the Sudbury Igneous Complex) and the sublayer norite layer. Vertical seismic profile sections and common depth point transformation images display several continuous reflections that correlate with faults and stratigraphic boundaries logged from drill cores. Of four possible mechanisms that explain repeated rock units, late-stage flow or normal faulting that occurred within the last layers to cool and crystallize might best explain the observations, especially the most prominent reflectors observed in the seismic data. These results reaffirm previously proposed two-stage cooling and deformation models for the impact melt sheet.