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Award ID contains: 1246921

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  1. Abstract EarthScope's USArray Transportable Array has shortcomings for the purpose of interpreting geologic features of wavelengths less than the Transportable Array station spacing, but these can be overcome by using higher spatial resolution gravity data. In this study, we exploit USArray receiver functions to reduce nonuniqueness in the interpretation of gravity anomalies. We model gravity anomalies from previously derived density variations of sedimentary basins, crustalVp/Vsvariation, Moho variation, and upper mantle density variation derived from body wave imaging informed by surface wave tomography to estimateVp/Vs. Although average densities and density contrasts for these seismic variations can be derived, the gravity anomalies modeled from them do not explain the entire observed gravity anomaly field in the United States. We use the unmodeled gravity anomalies (residuals) to reconstruct local variations in densities of the crust associated with geologic sources. The approach uses velocity‐density relationships and differs from density computations that assume isostatic compensation. These intracrustal densities identify geologic sources not sampled by and, in some cases, aliased by the USArray station spacing. We show an example of this improvement in the vicinity of the Bloomfield Pluton, north of the bootheel of Missouri, in the central United States. 
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  2. A zone of high magnetization along the SE margin of Paleoproterozoic Laurentia in the United States is indicated by magnetic anomaly data. The SE edge corresponds to the geochemical Neodymium mantle derivation model age (TDM) boundary and the entire anomaly overlies the Paleoproterozoic Mazatzal Province. Two-dimensional gravity and magnetic models across the Nd boundary are created with Moho constrained from receiver functions with gravity, sedimentary thickness and the base of the crustal magnetization. Upper crustal magnetization does not show strong variation across this boundary and much of the strong magnetization appears to lie in the middle crust. Using magnetic modeling of several potential geologic scenarios, we estimate magnetization, depth extent, and width of this zone of high magnetization. The anomaly has variable width (~ 300 km) with amplitude of approximately 200 nT. Pre-1.55Ga Paleoproterozoic mid crustal blocks have significantly higher average effective susceptibility (0.06 SI) than those of the post-1.55Ga Mesoproterozoic (0.01 SI). In two of the three profiles, the Paleoproterozoic zone of high magnetization has the highest average susceptibility indicating the Mazatzal province is innately highly magnetic. The zone may have formed either by magmatism associated with westward subduction or from highly magnetic terranes wedging between accreting island arcs. 
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