Date of Award

Spring 1985

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Ocean & Earth Sciences

Program/Concentration

Geology

Committee Director

Ali Nowroozi

Committee Member

Ramesh Venkatakrishnan

Committee Member

Stanley S. Johnson

Call Number for Print

Special Collections LD4331.G4D38

Abstract

The coastal plain province of Virginia is characterized by a coincidental gravity and magnetic high separating Appalachian-trend geophysical signatures to the west from non-Appalachian signatures to the east. Two cross-trend gravity and magnetic profiles, one on the Northern Neck of Virginia and one along Interstate Highway 64, were used to interpret the anomalous high. The profile models suggests that the anomaly is characterized by high-density, variably magnetic, east-dipping (60°) crustal blocks. Further information from well-logs indicate that the anomaly is due to meta-mafic rocks of oceanic origin, flanked by low-density, lower susceptibility, granitic units. This suggests that the anomalous gravity-magnetic high represents a boundary between contrasting crustal terranes. A conceptual model by Lefort and van der Voo (1981) suggests that the anomaly may represent an Alleghenian - suture zone between the North American plate and a remnant Avalonian(?) microplate (proto-African?), referred n this report as ·the "Chesapeake microplate."

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DOI

10.25777/htvt-zw29

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