Geodynamic processes inferred from Moho and Curie depths in Central and Southern African Archean Cratons

Abstract Central and Southern Africa is home to major Archean Cratons, flanked by Proterozoic mobile belts. The region is characterized by anomalously high topography and shallow Curie depth (Zb). Factors controlling topography and Zb anomalies in old continental crusts remain poorly understood. In this study, we present high-resolution Moho undulation (Zm) derived with gravity spectral technique. Archean Cratons and Proterozoic belts are mostly characterized by deep Moho (>36 km), whereas the Moho depths in Mozambique belts is mostly shallow (~26 to 41 km). Extremely shallow Zb (