3D Geological Map of the southern New England Orogen western Tamworth Belt

A regional scale structural and stratigraphic 3D model has been developed for the western Tamworth Belt within the New England Orogen in northeastern New South Wales. The western Tamworth Belt is bound by the crustal scale Hunter-Mooki and Peel-Manning Fault systems, which together form a wedge of deformed Devonian to Permian rocks. The model consists of broad lithological volumes representing Devonian, Devonian-Carboniferous, Carboniferous and Permian rocks that are folded and offset by numerous second and third order fault systems with minor intrusion by Permian granitoids. The model is based on a series of 2 dimensional cross sections developed based on the integration of surface mapping, 16 reflection seismic profiles as well as magnetic and gravity data. Interpretation confidence volumes are provided with the model to visually represent constraint location and constraint quality. The results of the modelling provide a basis for understanding the regional structural architecture and controls on mineral systems. The model illustrates the contrast in deformation style from the northern Tamworth Belt, relative to the southeast of the belt that is more structurally complex in terms of folding and faulting. The distribution of known hydrothermal mineral systems in the Tamworth Belt appear closely linked to the fault-architecture, with most occurring around steep west-dipping fault zones that intersect or splay from the Hunter-Mooki Fault at depth. Faults of this style are more common in the southeastern Tamworth Belt than they are to the north.