Magnetic studies of the Canobolas mountains, central western New South Wales

Field and laboratory magnetic investigations have been carried out on rocks of the Mt.Canobolas volcanic complex, near Orange, Central Western New South Wales.The complex consists of acid to basic lavas and pyroclastics, with some intrusives, built up on Palaeozoic rocks.The field magnetic results correlate in style and trend with the anomalies shown in existing aeromagnetic maps of the surrounding region of Palaeozoic rocks, suggesting that they largely delineate the structure of these rocks beneath the volcanic pile.Detailed laboratory investigations of the petrology, mineralogy and magnetic properties of the basalts from near Orange indicated a definite correlation between these properties.The basalts could be divided into two rock-types, titanaugite olivine basalt and olivine basalt, the first type having a stable magnetization, the second type unstable magnetization.This study has shown the need for complementary penological studies in rock magnetic investigations.