Magmatic underplating associated with Proterozoic basin formation: insights from gravity study over the southern margin of Bundelkhand craton, India

Abstract

Abstract. Extension tectonics responsible for intracratonic rift basin formation are often the consequences of active or passive tectonic regimes. The present work puts forth a plume-related rifting mechanism for the creation and evolution of two Proterozoic sedimentary basins outlining the Bundelkhand craton, namely the Bijawar and Vindhyan basins. Using global gravity data, a regional scale study is performed over the region encompassing the southern boundary of the Bundelkhand craton consisting of Bijawar basin, Vindhyan basin and Deccan basalt outcrops. The gravity highs in the central part of the observed Bouguer gravity anomaly as well as the upward continued regional anomaly, derived from global gravity grid data, suggests that the Vindhyan sedimentary basin overlies a deeper high-density crustal source. The deepest interface as obtained from the radially averaged power spectrum analysis is observed to occur at a depth of ~30.3 km, indicating that the sources responsible for the observed gravity signatures occur at larger depths. 3D inversion of Bouguer gravity anomaly data based on Parker-Oldenburg’s algorithm revealed the Moho depth of ~32 km below the Vindhyan basin, i.e., south of the craton. 2D crustal models along two selected profiles showcase a thick underplated layer with maximum thickness of ~12 km beneath the southern part of the Bundelkhand craton. The inferred large E–W trending underplating and deciphered shallower Moho beneath the regions south of the exposed Bundelkhand craton points to crustal thinning compensated by magmatic emplacement due to a Paleoproterozoic plume activity below the craton margin.