Modeled deep structure of the South Orkney Microcontinent (SOM): sedimentary cover thickness, geometry of the intruded batholith causing the Pacific Margin Anomaly (PMA) and depth of the Moho ...

• Main Authors: Morales-Ocaña, Cecilia, Bohoyo, Fernando, Escutia, Carlota, Marín-Lechado, Carlos, Rey-Moral, Carmen, Druet, María, Galindo Zaldívar, Jesús, Maestro, Adolfo
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: DIGITAL.CSIC 2023
• Subjects: 3D modeling; South Orkney Microcontinent; Tectonics; Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; Pacific; The Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.20350/digitalcsic/15174; https://digital.csic.es/handle/10261/304015

The opening of the Scotia Arc resulted in the final breakup of the land bridge between South America and the Antarctic Peninsula. The South Orkney Microcontinent (SOM) constituted part of this former connection and it is now the largest continental block in the Southern Scotia Arc. We present the first 3D model of the SOM that, given its strategic position and characteristics, allows us to advance the knowledge of the tectonic processes involved in the development of the Scotia Arc. Due to the scarcity of reliable geological data, the initial approximation of the deep structure of the SOM was supported by the calculation of three main geological boundaries from geophysical data: the acoustic basement, the boundary of the magnetic anomaly source and the Moho depth. The 3D model was built, refined and validated by forward modeling and joint inversion of gravity and magnetic data. We have accurately defined the geometry of the sedimentary cover, determined the geometry of the intrusive igneous body causing the ...