Reconstruction of Antarctica and Australia at breakup (95 ± 5 Ma) and before rifting (160 Ma)

Previous reconstructions of Antarctica and Australia were made by fitting the bathymetric outlines of the conjugate margins and aligning pre-existing structures; the precise position of the continent-ocean boundary (COB) and the amount and azimuth of pre-breakup extension were unknown. Seismic and m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Australian Journal of Earth Sciences
Main Authors: Veevers, J. J., Eittreim, S. L.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 1988
Subjects:
Antarctica
Australia
Continental extension
Continental reconstruction
Seafloor spreading
Antarc*
Wilkes Land
Online Access:https://researchers.mq.edu.au/en/publications/7f497427-403c-4028-9b39-36a1e9904138
https://doi.org/10.1080/08120098808729453
http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0024196527&partnerID=8YFLogxK
Description
Summary:Previous reconstructions of Antarctica and Australia were made by fitting the bathymetric outlines of the conjugate margins and aligning pre-existing structures; the precise position of the continent-ocean boundary (COB) and the amount and azimuth of pre-breakup extension were unknown. Seismic and magnetic data collected off Wilkes Land by the S.P. Lee provide: (1) the basis for a unique fit of the COBs by confirming the fit of the oldest magnetic anomalies; and (2) together with information about the deep crustal structure of the Australian margin, an estimate of the azimuth and amount of pre-breakup continental extension. By these means, Antarctica and Australia are reconstructed at the mid-Cretaceous breakup and onset of drift (95 ± 5 Ma) by fitting the conjugate COBs, as determined from seismic and magnetic profiles; and before the mid-Jurassic (160 Ma) onset of rifting by removing the 360 km of continental extension estimated from the crustal structure of the 700 km wide junction zone.

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