Interpretation of new regional aeromagnetic data over Dronning Maud Land (East Antarctica)


Contact
Wilfried.Jokat [ at ] awi.de

Abstract

The geology of Dronning Maud Land (East Antarctica) is so far deduced from isolated outcrops along the coast and from a major coast parallel escarpment surmounting the thick ice sheet. Large parts of Dronning Maud Land are, however, hidden underneath thick ice. In this study we attempt to connect geological information with aeromagnetic data in order to unveil the sub-glacial geology of this part of East Antarctica. During four austral summer campaigns (2001–2005) in Dronning Maud Land, new aeromagnetic data were gathered across an area of 1.2 million square kilometers of which a portion of 65% was previously unexplored. In total 100,000 line kilometers were flown over Dronning Maud Land between 14°W/20° E and 70°S/78.5°S. A striking result was the discovery of a pronounced magnetic anomaly, named here Forster Magnetic Anomaly, east of the Jutulstraumen. It starts at approximately 72°S/007°E and strikes in southwesterly direction as far south as 75°S/1°W. The Forster Magnetic Anomaly likely forms a major tectonic block boundary and/or a suture zone within the East African–Antarctic Orogen (EAAO). The shape and distribution of other magnetic anomalies are discussed in the context of the Proterozoic to Mesozoic geological history of this part of Antarctica.



Item Type
Article
Authors
Divisions
Programs
Peer revision
ISI/Scopus peer-reviewed
Publication Status
Published
Eprint ID
31284
DOI 10.1016/j.tecto.2012.10.011

Cite as
Riedel, S. , Jacobs, J. and Jokat, W. (2013): Interpretation of new regional aeromagnetic data over Dronning Maud Land (East Antarctica) , Tectonophysics, 585 , pp. 161-171 . doi: 10.1016/j.tecto.2012.10.011


Share


Citation

Research Platforms

Campaigns
N/A


Actions
Edit Item Edit Item