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Geology topics

David A. Hastings

Publications and source records attributed to David A. Hastings.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS2012

Preliminary correlations of MAGSAT anomalies with tectonic features of Africa

An overview of the MAGSAT scalar anomaly map for Africa has suggested a correlation of MAGSAT anomalies with major crustal blocks of uplift or depression and different degrees of regional metamorphism. The strongest MAGSAT anomalies in Africa are closely correlated spatially with major tectonic features. Although a magnetic anomaly caused by a rectangular crustal block would be offset from the block's center by the effects of magnetic inclination, an anomaly caused by real crustal blocks of varying uplift, depression, and degree of regional metamorphism would be located nearer to the locus of greatest vertical movement and highest grade of metamorphism. Thus, the Bangui anomaly may be caused by a central old Precambrian shield, flanked to the north and south by two relatively young sedimentary basins.

Geophysical Research Letters↗
USGS1985

On the interpretation of satellite-derived gravity and magnetic data for studies of crustal geology and metallogenesis

Satellite-derived global gravity and magnetic maps have been shown to be useful in large-scale studies of the Earth's crust, despite the relative infancy of such studies. Numerous authors have made spatial associations of gravity or magnetic anomalies with geological provinces. Gravimetric interpretations are often made in terms of isostasy, regional variations of density, or of geodesy in general. Interpretations of satellite magnetic anomalies often base assumptions of overall crustal magnetism on concepts of the vertical and horizontal distribution of magnetic susceptibility, then make models of these assumed distributions. The opportunity of improving our satellite gravity and magnetic data through the proposed Geopotential Research Mission should considerably improve the scientific community's ability to analyze and interpret global magnetic and gravity data. As data processing techniques improve, we may expect to see even more useful results of the data.

Conference Paper↗
USGS1982

On the availability of geoscientific data and scientific collaborators of an in Africa

In addition to the technical papers, the major topic of discussion at the symposium which formed the stepping-off point for this issue of Geoexplorution was the difficult communications between specialists on Africa and the lack of available geological and geophysical data. However, much of this difficulty stems from a lack of advice on where to turn for data and for eollaboration with other interested scientists. This short note attempts to address these problems with some possible solutions.

Geoexploration↗
USGS1982

On the tectonics and metallogenesis of West Africa: a model incorporating new geophysical data

The gold, diamond and manganese deposits of Ghana have attracted commercial interest, but appropriate geophysical data to delineate the tectonic setting of these and other deposits have been lacking until recently. Recent gravity surveys, however, now cover about 75% of the country. When used in a synthesis of the sometimes contradictory existing theories about the geology and metallogenesis of West Africa, the available gravity, magnetic, and seismic data lead to a preliminary tectonic model that postulates rifting at the time of the (1800-2000 m.y. old) Eburnean orogeny and is consistent with the occurrences of mineral deposits in the region. In this model, diamond-bearing kimberlites formed during the commencement of rifting during the Eburnean orogenesis. Later emplacement of kimberlites was associated with the initiation of Mesozoic rifting of Gondwanaland. Primary gold vein deposits were probably formed by the migration of hydrothermal fluids (associated with the formation of granitoids) into dilatant zones, such as rift-related faults and anticlinal axial areas, toward the end of the Eburnean orogeny. At this time, the major concordant granitoids were formed, with smaller plutonic granitoids forming on the fringes of the concordant masses as partial melting fractions of the latter. Sedimentary manganese deposits were formed along the margins of rift lakes toward the end of the orogeny.

Geoexploration↗
USGS1981

The Lake Bosumtwi impact crater, Ghana

The 1-m.y.-old Bosumtwi Crater, Ghana, has a nearly circular shape with a rim diameter of 11 km north-south and 10 km east-west. It is surrounded by a circular depression and an outer ridge of diameter 20 km. Polymict breccias averaging at least 20 m thick with clasts as much as 5 m long occur on the outer ridge, and the crater rim shows in situ shattered rock. Patches of suevite have been found in the circular depression north and south of the crater. Analogy with better-known craters suggests that Bosumtwi has a central uplift rising to 200 m beneath the lake floor. An aeromagnetic anomaly of amplitude 50 nanotesla (nT) over the northern half of the lake is interpreted as due to a layer of magnetized fallback breccia beneath the lake sediments. The normal polarity of the breccia shows that the crater was formed during the normal Jaramillo event of 0.97 to 0.85 m.y. ago, which agrees with the magnetic stratigraphy of the related Ivory Coast microtektites. A regional gravity survey indicates a negative Bouguer anomaly over the crater. There is some geochemical evidence that the meteorite was an iron, and its mass and energy are suggested as about 10 8 tons and 3 × 10 19 joules or 7.3 × 10 3 megatons.

Lake Bosumtwi↗
USGS1980

Geoscientists for international development

Professional societies are usually concerned with the advancement of scientific knowledge, but a relative newcomer to the international scene has a different focus - geoscience development in the Third World. David Hastings, a member of AGID, explains.

The British Geologist↗