THE STRUCTURE OF THE CONCEALED PRE-CARBONIFEROUS BASEMENT OF THE DERBYSHIRE DOME FROM GRAVITY DATA

Abstract

SUMMARY Bouguer anomalies over the Derbyshire Dome indicate a positive structural relief for the pre-Carboniferous basement, and their qualitative and quantitative interpretations show that the basement reaches its maximum elevation towards the southern edge of the dome. The Bouguer map contours in the central area suggest that the surface of the basement there may be at a greater depth than in both the northern and southern parts. It is also inferred from the gravity models that the basement is at a shallower depth to the west of the limestone outcrop than to the east and that its eastern margin has a comparatively steeper slope. Lateral extensions of the basement beyond the area of the dome are postulated, based on the existence of features with positive Bouguer anomalies.