Edge effects: tectonic evolution of the Antarctic margin

Lawver, L.A., Gahagan, L.M., Campbell, D., and Dalziel, I.W.D.
Institute for Geophysics, University of Texas at Austin
4412 Spicewood Springs Road #600
Austin, TX 78759-8500

Antarctica presents a special problem in locating seismic networks. Unlike every other
continent, the available locations to place seismometers on bedrock are few and far
between. Bedrock with reasonable cost logistics limits the selection even more. Once
reasonable locations are chosen it is important to know what the crustal setting is and
its age of last deformation and folding. A tight-fit reconstruction of Gondwana at 200
Ma allows some supposition of determination of conjugate margins for much of East
Antarctica. It also allows determination of unusual margins that underwent pre-
breakup deformation such as Prydz Bay and the eastern Ross Sea. Age of rifting and
probable crustal type will be considered for most of the Antarctic margin.