Positive gravity anomaly over the Sydney basin

Abstract

A prominent positive gravity anomaly overlies the Macdonald trough in the Sydney basin. Allowing for isostatic compensation and the effect of sedimentary rocks, the anomaly is determined to have an amplitude of 440 GU (mms-2) and a width of 60 km. The anomaly is smoothed using cubic splines, FFT and IFFT. It is interpreted by a large mafic body of density 2.9 g cm-3 underlying the basin to a depth of 13.5 km. A 12 km wide zone with a small positive density contrast underlies the body within the lower crust.The steep western boundary of the body represents a major basement fault underlying the Lapstone monocline and Kurrajong Fault System.The anomaly is a member of the Meandarra Gravity Ridge which marks a zone of crustal extension within which dominant nature of intrusion is mafic in character.