Magnetic anomalies in East Antarctica: a window on major tectonic provinces and their boundaries

An analysis of aeromagnetic data compiled within the Antarctic Digital Magnetic Anomaly Project
(ADMAP) yields significant new insight into major tectonic provinces of East Antarctica. Several previously unknown
crustal blocks are imaged in the deep interior of the continent, which are interpreted as cratonic nuclei. These cratons
are fringed by a large and continuous orogenic belt between Coats Land and Princess Elizabeth Land, with possible
branches in the deeper interior of East Antarctica. Most of the crustal provinces and boundaries identified in this study
are only in part exposed. More detailed analyses of these crustal provinces and their tectonic boundaries would require
systematic acquisition of additional high-resolution magnetic data, because at present the ADMAP database is largely
inadequate to address many remaining questions regarding Antarctica’s tectonic evolution.