Past exam of the year 2 of the earth sciences (geology) course of the University of Oxford / 2023 / Paper 1 / 5 / b

For a laterally extensive Bouguer slab of thickness $h$ and geophysical density contrast $\Delta \rho$,The greenstone belt reaches from roughly $+1.0$ to $-0.5\mathrm{km}$ near its deepest central part, so use $h\simeq 1500\mathrm{m}$. The gravity maximum is approximately $-100\mathrm{mGal}$; the exposed host-rock background in the south is approximately $-115\mathrm{mGal}$. Taking this as a constant regional reference gives a local excess $\Delta g\simeq 15\mathrm{mGal}=1.5\times 10^{-4}\mathrm{m}{\mathrm{s}}^{-2}$. ThusThis is an approximate density under a constant-background, infinite-slab model. The finite width, variable thickness and neighboring pluton require a fuller gravity inversion for a precise value. In particular, the absolute value $-100\mathrm{mGal}$ must not be inserted as the local excess.