Authors / CoAuthors
Korsch, R.J. | Blewett, R.S. | Huston, D.L. | Fraser, G.L. | Henson, P.A.
Abstract
Deep seismic reflection profiles have been acquired and interpreted to better understand the crustal architecture and geodynamic evolution of Australia's geological provinces. Here, we examine some of these profiles to better understand how the Australian continent formed in the Archean and Proterozoic. The 2007 deep seismic reflection survey in North Queensland imaged a major, west-dipping, Paleoproterozoic (or older) crustal boundary, which we interpret as a suture, separating relatively nonreflective, thick crust of the Mount Isa Province in the west from thinner, two layered crust to the east. This boundary is also imaged by magnetotelluric data and 3D inversions of aeromagnetic and gravity data. Farther to the northeast, a second major boundary dips west or southwest, offsetting the Moho and extending below it. It is interpreted as a fossil subduction zone, and is overlain by supracrustal rocks of the Etheridge Province, with ages of ~1720 Ma, which is interpreted as the minimum age of the suture. Seismic profiles in southeast Australia, collected between 1996 and 2009, were combined to provide a cross section of the crust across the Archean-Mesoproterozoic Gawler Craton, Neoproterozoic-Paleozoic Adelaide Rift System, Mesoproterozoic Curnamona Province, Neoproterozoic-Paleozoic Koonenberry Belt and Silurian-Devonian Darling Basin. The transect imaged at least four discrete seismic provinces in the middle to lower crust, all bounded by east-dipping, crustal-penetrating fault zones which extend to the Moho. As the seismic provinces have not been traced to the surface, age control is poor, but they are inferred to be older that the upper crustal rocks above them, most of which are Archean to Mesoproterozoic in age.
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nonGeographicDataset
eCat Id
71410
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Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
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Keywords
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- External Publication
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- seismic sections
- ( Theme )
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- structural geology
- ( Theme )
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- geodynamics
- Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)
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- Earth Sciences
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- Published_Internal
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2011-01-10T00:00:00
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