Geophysically imaging Paleoproterozoic terrane boundaries in the unexposed northern Gawler Craton, Marla region

Abstract

The northern Gawler Craton, South Australia holds the key to understanding the Palaeo- to Mesoproterozoic evolution of Australia and the geodynamic setting and significance of major mineralizing systems active at that time, particularly the iron-oxide copper gold (IOCG) mineralization of the Olympic Domain (~1580 Ma). Unfortunately, these basement rocks are buried beneath significant thicknesses of Neoproterozoic and younger sediments, such that that our understanding of their architecture, composition and evolution has to be derived from analysis of limited basement penetrating drill-holes and regional geophysical data. Here, we present an interpretation of the basement geology of the Marla Region as constrained by available drill-hole, seismic and potential field data.