Aeromagnetic anomaly patterns reveal buried faults along the eastern margin of the Wilkes Subglacial Basin (East Antarctica)

The Wilkes Subglacial Basin (WSB) is the major morphological feature recognized in the hinterland of the Transantarctic Mountains. The origin of this basin remains contentious and relatively poorly understood due to the lack of extensive geophysical exploration. We present a new aeromagnetic anomaly...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Armadillo, E., Ferraccioli, Fausto, Zunino, A., Bozzo, E.
Other Authors: Cooper, A.K., Raymond, C.R.
Format: Book Part
Language:unknown
Published: National Academy Press 2007
Subjects:
Earth Sciences
East Antarctica
Ross Sea
Victoria Land
Transantarctic Mountains
Priestley
Wilkes Subglacial Basin
Oates Land
Antarc*
Antarctica
Online Access:http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/15382/
http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1047/srp/srp091/of2007-1047srp091.pdf
Description
Summary:The Wilkes Subglacial Basin (WSB) is the major morphological feature recognized in the hinterland of the Transantarctic Mountains. The origin of this basin remains contentious and relatively poorly understood due to the lack of extensive geophysical exploration. We present a new aeromagnetic anomaly map over the transition between the Transantarctic Mountains and the WSB for an area adjacent to northern Victoria Land. The aeromagnetic map reveals the existence of subglacial faults along the eastern margin of the WSB. These inferred faults connect previously proposed fault zones over Oates Land with those mapped along the Ross Sea Coast. Specifically, we suggest a link between the Matusevich Frature Zone and the Priestley Fault during the Cenozoic. The new evidence for structural control on the eastern margin of the WSB implies that a purely flexural origin for the basin is unlikely.

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