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High‐resolution aeromagnetic data over central Australia assist Grenville‐era (1300–1100 Ma) Rodinia reconstructions
Author(s) -
Aitken Alan R. A.,
Betts Peter G.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2007gl031563
Subject(s) - geology , laurentia , craton , orogeny , rodinia , basement , precambrian , paleontology , foreland basin , archean , seismology , geophysics , tectonics , civil engineering , engineering
High resolution aeromagnetic data covering the polydeformed and poorly exposed Musgrave Province of Australia reveals the Grenville‐aged crustal architecture. A combination of upward continuation and the potential field tilt filter out magnetic anomalies relating to a late Neoproterozoic orogenic event, and emphasize the more subtle magnetic structural grain formed during the ca. 1320–1150 Ma Musgravian Orogeny. The resulting images indicate that crustal architecture is defined by the distribution of ca. 1150 Ma magnetic granitoids within less magnetic basement and is dominantly northeast trending, continuous beneath the Amadeus and Officer basins, and defines an orogenic belt that connects Mesoproterozoic provinces. The orogenic belt is truncated within Australia and precludes a direct east trending connection between the Musgrave Province and contemporaneous orogens in Laurentia. Clockwise rotation of the South Australian Craton and subsequent collision with the North and West Australian cratons is our preferred model to explain the Grenville‐aged architecture observed in Australia.