The Congo basin is one of the largest intracratonic basins in the World, locating within a cold lithospheric plate. The structure of the thick sedimentary layer is investigated by seismic studies only in limited places. Here, we present a map of sedimentary thickness for the whole Congo basin, based on the inversion of the decompensative gravity anomalies. Contrary to the conventional Bouguer or isostatic gravity anomalies, the effect of the isostatic compensation of sediments is reduced in the decompensative anomalies, which provides a possibility to recover the full effect of low-density sediments. The calculated decompensative correction reaches ±70 mGal and exceeds the amplitude of the isostatic anomalies, especially in the long wavelengths. The final decompensative anomalies are negative over the whole basin and their patterns well correspond to its tectonic fragmentation. By inverting these anomalies with the predefined density-depth relationship we have obtained the sedimentary thickness map for the whole Congo basin. The maximum basement depth exceeding 10 km is found in the Lokoro basin and basins in the South. In the Lomami basin, thickness of sediments reaches about 6.5 km. It is important to note, that these deep depressions, are not covered by seismic studies. Furthermore, we found a new deep basin adjacent to the Lokonia High (on the SW side) that we propose to name as the Salonga basin.

刚果盆地是世界上最大的克拉通盆地之一，位于一个寒冷的岩石圈板块内。仅在有限的地方通过地震研究对厚沉积层的结构进行了研究。在这里，我们根据失代偿重力异常的反演，展示了整个刚果盆地的沉积厚度图。与常规的布格或等静重力异常相反，在失代偿异常中沉积物等静压补偿的作用减小了，这为恢复低密度沉积物的全部作用提供了可能性。所计算出的失补偿校正达到±70 mGal，并且超过了等静距异常的幅度，尤其是在长波长中。最终的代偿异常在整个盆地上都是负值，并且其模式与构造断裂很吻合。通过用预定义的密度-深度关系反演这些异常，我们获得了整个刚果盆地的沉积厚度图。Lokoro盆地和南部盆地的最大地下深度超过10 km。在Lomami盆地，沉积物厚度达到6.5 km。重要的是要注意，这些深陷不属于地震研究范围之内。此外，我们在Lokonia高地（西南侧）附近发现了一个新的深盆，我们提议将其命名为Salonga盆。Lokoro盆地和南部盆地的最大地下深度超过10 km。在Lomami盆地，沉积物厚度达到6.5 km。重要的是要注意，这些深陷不属于地震研究范围之内。此外，我们在Lokonia高地（西南侧）附近发现了一个新的深盆，我们提议将其命名为Salonga盆。Lokoro盆地和南部盆地的最大地下深度超过10 km。在Lomami盆地，沉积物厚度达到6.5 km。重要的是要注意，这些深陷不属于地震研究范围之内。此外，我们在Lokonia高地（西南侧）附近发现了一个新的深盆，我们提议将其命名为Salonga盆。