Arcabouço crustal profundo da parte Centro-Norte da margem de Angola: modelo de afinamento e contato de crostas

Abstract

The main objectives of this study are to identify features on seismic data that allow (1) the building of a deep crustal framework and of the upper portion of the mantle, in part of the Angolan margin; (2) to compare this framework with the adjacent outcropping basement of the African continent and; (3) to try to fit these results to the published continental breakup models. In order to achieve these objectives, five deep reflection seismic lines (25 km of depth) situated in the in Kwanza and Lower Congo Basins on the passive margin of Angola were interpreted. The features identified on seismic were useful to recognize the tripartite division that caracterize the oceanic crust and in defining the Mohorovicic Discontinuity (that represents the limit between crust and mantle). The seismic interpretation associated with the data obtained from the scientific literature (that provided density values for the packages identified on seismic interpretation) allowed the establishment of a gravity modeling that was compared to the gravity data acquired during the seismic acquisition. The gravity model was useful to validate the seismic interpretation, acting as a quality control of the latter. In case of the gravity anomaly generated by the modeling not being in accordance with the measured anomaly, the seismic interpretation was revised in order to obtain a better adjustment between the modeled and the measured result. This adjustment, however, was always done honoring the reflectors that were clearly positioned on seismic. In addition, the magnetic data acquired on the field was used to help on interpretation. The crustal framework obtained by the methodology described above was compared with the passive margin evolution models found on scientific literature, showing some points in common with the models that postulate the occurrence of exhumed mantle in magma-poor passive margins. The final interpretation of these data showed the existence of a proximal domain characterized by a thick continental crust slightly thinned in contact with a distal domain marked by a hyper-extended continental crust. Oceanwards there is a region where the exhumation of the mantle took place. The passage of the proximal to the distal domain is abrupt, here termed as a Necking Zone. Oceanic crust is identified to the west of exhumed mantle. The comparison of the results obtained in this study with data from the outcropping basement on the African continent suggests a basement control on the vales of continental crust thinning attained under the basins and on the regions of exhumed mantle. Recent works done on the Angolan and Brazilian margins show features similar to the ones identified on this dissertation.