The prevailing model of the crustal-scale architecture of the Musgrave Province (Lambeck and Burgess, 1992) proposes a Moho depth offset of 20-25 km beneath the Musgrave Province to explain early teleseismic arrivals and a regional gravity high....
The prevailing model of the crustal-scale architecture of the Musgrave Province (Lambeck and Burgess, 1992) proposes a Moho depth offset of 20-25 km beneath the Musgrave Province to explain early teleseismic arrivals and a regional gravity high. This model does not explain the gravity field in full, with significant (~20 mGal) short wavelength (<50 km) residual anomalies. The assumption in the model that the upper crust is homogenous may explain the discrepancy between the observed and modelled gravity field. To test this model, high resolution (1 km spacing) gravity data was collected in August-September 2006 by Primary Industries and Resources South Australia, Minerals and Energy Resources Div. for Alan Aitken, a PhD candidate from the School of Geosciences at Monash University.(Gray, D.I., 2006). This survey took place in the central Musgrave Ranges region, along a profile crossing the regional gravity high, parallel to the teleseismic transect. Gravity and magnetic data modelling which was carried out along this profile (constrained by outcrop and petrophysics data) has shown that the heterogeneity of the upper crust - accurately reflecting changes in metamorphic grade and the effect of intrusions and shear zones - in fact accounts for approximately half of the gravity field. Accordingly, the Moho depth offset is much reduced, to 10-15 km. The plausibility of this model prompted a need to collect additional gravity data along another parallel profile over the same regional gravity anomaly in the east of the Musgrave Province, the intent being to use this data to assess the lateral extent of the Moho depth offset. During the period 18th to 28th February 2007, a second detailed gravity survey was conducted along the Stuart Highway north of Marla in South Australia, extending as far as Erldunda in the Northern Territory. 274 gravity stations were observed at intervals of 1 km and 5 km, with the first station reading being taken ~5 km north of Marla. Relative gravity measurements were made using a Scintrex CG-5 Autograv Gravity Meter, while position and level information was obtained using a Sokkia GSR 2600 differential GPS operating in Real Time Kinematic mode. Readings were averaged for a duration of 120 seconds at each station. Transport between the stations was by four-wheel drive vehicles. For the purpose of datum and drift control, as well as because of the location of the survey, one new primary base station was established near Marla. Station 10001 was located on the Stuart Highway ~13.5 km north of Marla at an existing benchmark (BM 5643/5070). Base station 10001 was tied to the Australian Fundamental Gravity Network by an A-B-A loop with Geoscience Australia's base station 6491.1081 at De Rose Hill Station in the homestead garage. To achieve a higher level of accuracy for the survey, the gravity meter was calibrated by making observations on the Adelaide calibration range prior and after the survey. Gravity readings were observed between stations 2001.9108 (Kensington Park) and 6091.0208 (Norton Summit Hotel).
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