A gravity study of the thermopolis anticline, southern Bighorn Basin, Wyoming
- California State Univ., Long Beach (United States)
Approximately three hundred gravity stations were measured in the area of the Thermopolis anticline along the southern margin of the Bighorn Basin, Wyoming. Three broad anomaly patterns dominate the isostatic residual gravity map: a 10 mgal negative anomaly associated with sedimentary fill in the Bighorn Basin, a 20 mgal positive anomaly associated with the uplift of Precambrian basement in the Owl Creek Mountains, and a 2-3 mgal positive anomaly associated with the Thermopolis anticline. The anticline anomaly dominates a complex anomaly pattern located between the Owl Creek uplift and Bighorn Basin. Three poorly controlled patterns characterize the Owl Creek Mountains positive anomaly: a positive anomaly (eastern part) centered 6 miles (10km) from Precambrian basement exposures suggests thin basement overlying thick Wind River Basin sediments in thrust contact, a positive anomaly (western part) associated with Precambrian exposures suggests the presence of thick basement, and a smaller positive anomaly (central part of the range) is uninterpretable due to lack of gravity control. Gravity models suggest basement involvement in parts of the Thermopolis anticline besides Rose Dome and Warm Springs where wells have penetrated basement; the basement surface parallels the orientation of overlying units. Several other anticlines or domes show positive gravity anomalies on the isostatic residual map (Red Spring, Corley, Grass Creek-Golden Eagle, Little Sand Draw, Lucerne, and Gebo); the authors modeled the latter two with basement uplifts. Positive gravity signatures at Thermopolis Hot Springs suggest chemical precipitation in addition to basement involvement and negative signatures suggest geothermally-induced leaching.
- OSTI ID:
- 5676361
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8905393-; CODEN: MOGEA
- Journal Information:
- Mountain Geologist; (United States), Vol. 28:2-3; Conference: 2. workshop on geological applications of remote sensing to the study of sedimentary basins, Rector, PA (United States), May 1989; ISSN 0027-254X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GRAVITY SURVEYS
WYOMING
ANTICLINES
BASEMENT ROCK
DATA ANALYSIS
GEOLOGIC MODELS
GROUND UPLIFT
HOT SPRINGS
MOUNTAINS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
FEDERAL REGION VIII
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
NORTH AMERICA
SURVEYS
THERMAL SPRINGS
USA
WATER SPRINGS
580000* - Geosciences