Aeromagnetic lineaments, basement structure and kimberlite emplacement in Andhra Pradesh, India

Magnetic lineaments reveal a wealth of structural detail. The aeromagnetic lineaments of the Wajrakarur Kimberlite Field (WKF) of South India are classified into shear, dyke and contact lineaments through 2-D modelling. The shear lineaments and the dyke lineaments in the Anantapur region, exhibit a conjugate relationship suggesting a near E-W compression. Modelling studies suggest a possible dextral displacement of the dykes by the shearing movements in the Anantapur region. The aeromagnetic map of the WKF shows, in addition to the conspicuous lineaments, certain confined magnetic anomalous zones, in the vicinity of kimberlites, which may manifest high magmatic permeability zones. The ENE-WSW lineaments passing through these magnetic anomalous zones may control the emplacement of kimberlies in the WKF.