Magnetic Anomalies of the Grove Mountains Region and Their Geological Significance

The geology of the Grove Mountains is poorly known. The magnetic anomalies of the Grove Mountains and surrounding areas are characterized by a prominent NE-SW to E-W fabric. Well defined magnetic anomalies along its periphery with the absence of intensive magnetic anomalies in the north are a distinctive feature of this region. The obliqueness of magnetic anomalies along the study area’s boundary with respect to its central part suggests that the northern Grove Mountains basement may be much older crust than the neighboring terranes of Meso- to early Neoproterozoic high-grade metamorphic rocks. The existence of two ancient cratonic blocks in the southern Prince Charles Mountains and Vestfold Hills suggests that this region may contain Archaean or Paleoproterozoic crust. The Grove Mountains crustal block is clearly discernible in the aeromagnetic data and can be considered as a region that underwent Grenvillian and/or Pan-African or both tectonism and reworking. The absence of any visible magnetic trends running towards the Prydz Bay coast or central part of the Mawson Escarpment precludes any direct tectonic correlation with these regions.