Authors / CoAuthors
Stephenson, S.N. | Hoggard, M.J. | Haynes, M. | Czarnota, K. | Hejrani, B. | Czarnota, K.
Abstract
<div><strong>Output Type: </strong>Exploring for the Future Extended Abstract</div><div><br></div><div><strong>Short Abstract: </strong>The continental crust directly hosts or underlies almost all mineral resources on which society depends. Despite its obvious importance its structure is poorly characterised. In particular, its density is surprisingly poorly constrained because it is difficult to directly image from the surface. Here we collate a global database of crustal thickness and velocity constraints. In combination with a compilation of published laboratory experimental constraints on seismic velocity at a range of pressures, we develop a scheme with which to convert seismic velocities into density as a function of pressure and temperature. We apply this approach to the Australian crystalline basement. We find that the Australian crust is highly heterogeneous, ranging in bulk density from 2.7—3.0 g cm-3. Finally, we explore the utility of our database for testing hypotheses about the location and endowment of mineral resources using porphyry copper deposits as an example. Our results provide an improved framework with which to explore the subsidence and thermal evolution of sedimentary basins, as well as probing relationships between deposit types and crustal architecture.</div><div><br></div><div><strong>Citation: </strong>Stephenson, S.N., Hoggard, M.J., Haynes, M.W., Czarnota, K. & Hejrani, B., 2024. Constraints on continental crustal thickness and density structure. In: Czarnota, K. (ed.) Exploring for the Future: Extended Abstracts, Geoscience Australia, Canberra, https://doi.org/10.26186/149336</div>
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document
eCat Id
149336
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Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
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Keywords
- ( Project )
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- EFTF – Exploring for the Future
- ( Project )
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- Australia’s Resources Framework
- ( Project )
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- Lithospheric Geophysics
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- Crustal Structure
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- crustal architecture
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- crustal thickness
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- seismic velocity
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- Receiver functions
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- seismic refraction
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- H-k stacking
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- Copper porphyry
- theme.ANZRC Fields of Research.rdf
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- GeologyGeophysicsResource geoscience
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- Published_External
Publication Date
2024-08-12T05:57:40
Creation Date
2024-03-18T16:00:00
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completed
Purpose
An extended abstract highlighting the key activities and outcomes of the Crustal Architecture and Metallogenesis collaborative project between Geoscience Australia and the University of Oxford, under the Exploring for the Future Program.
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geoscientificInformation
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<div>A global database of crustal thickness and seismic velocity estimates has been compiled from previously published H-kappa stacking, receiver function, seismic refraction, and seismic wide angle studies. New constraints on crustal architecture have been incorporated based on data from the AusArray passive seismic deployment across Australia. Analysis of the data has lead to the development of new empirical relationships between bulk crustal velocity and density structure. These relationships are applied to the global database and to new ambient noise tomographic models produced using AusArray data, to estimate Australian crustal density.</div>
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