The Vulcan structure has intrigued
geologists because it is a region of
low gravity and contains an east-trending
magnetic anomaly which cuts across the magnetic field of southern
Alberta at a high angle.[1][2][3] The Vulcan structure was the target of one of the first deep-crustal seismic profiles in the late 1960s.[1][3][4] Geologists have offered several explanations for what the structure is: failed
Proterozoicrift, intraplate
collision zone, Proterozoic
suture, or continental collision zone.[1]
References
^
abcdeEaton, David W.; Ross, Gerald M.; and Clowes, Ronald M. "Seismic-Reflection and Potential-Field Studies of the Vulcan Structure, Western Canada: A Paleoproterozoic Pyrenees?" Journal of Geophysical Research. 104:B10 (1999).
^
abHope, Jacqueline and Eaton, David. "Crustal Structure Beneath the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin: Constraints From Gravity and Magnetic Modelling." Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences. 39:3 (2002).
^
abcEaton, David; Ross, Gerald; Clowes, Ronald M.; and Cook, F.A. "Lithospheric Structure of the Southern Hearne Province, Canadian Shield: A Palaeoproterozoic Pyrenees?" LSPF Newsletter. 11:1 (December 1998).
^For information generally on Deep Probe, see: Gorman, Andrew R.; Clowes, Ron M.; Ellis, Robert M.; Henstock, Timothy J.; Spence, George D.; Keller, G. Randy; Levander, Alan; Snelson, Catherine M.; Burianyk, Michael J.A.; Kansewich, Ernest R.; Asudeh, Isa; Hajnal, Zoltan; and Miller, Kate C. "Deep Probe: Imaging the Roots of Western North America." Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences. 39:3 (2002).