Abstract

A preliminary Bouguer gravity map of the entire North American continent with a contour interval of 20 milligals was presented. The northern part of South America is tied to this map, and the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean areas are included. A companion map, in part after deBruyn (1955), has been prepared on the same contour interval for Europe and North Africa and parts of the Middle East. The maps delineate variations in crustal structure and major tectonic trends as well as individual structural features. The complexity of relations is discussed in terms of their cause. The maps are extremely useful in understanding tectonic associations and can be used as a guide in the exploration for natural resources. By using seismic determinations of crustal density and thickness, the authors show that gravity anomaly variations can also be used to explore the earth's crustal thickness and composition. These factors can then be related to surface geology and topography to gain a better understanding of geologic tectonic processes.