The Campbell Plateau and its relationship with the Ross Sea, Antarctica

Abstract

Reconstructions of Gondwanaland place the Campbell Plateau adjacent to the eastern Ross Sea continental shelf and western Marie Byrd Land prior to approximately Late Cretaceous times. Seismic reflection data show that many basement structures on the Campbell Plateau trend in an approximately northeast—southwest direction, parallel to the axis of rifting of New Zealand from Antarctica. The only structures which may have been continuous in pre-rifting times are the Campbell Basin, underlying the southwest part of the Campbell Plateau, and a deep sedimentary trough underlying the eastern Ross Sea. A linear belt of large-amplitude magnetic anomalies trends east—west across the northern Campbell Plateau, apparently crossing the eastern shelf edge obliquely. They are probably caused by magnetic rocks of pre-Late Cretaceous age.