The geometry and evolution of the Tunisian Atlas thrust and foreland basin system: Theoretical modeling vs. inheritance of structure

Conference · Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:5813616

Baird, A W ^[1]

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1. Kingston Polytechnic, Surrey (United Kingdom)

In a recent re-evaluation of the Atlas Mountains of north and central Tunisia, it has been noted that the Tunisian Atlas thrust system extends up to 200 km further southeastward than previously recognized, and the structures of the north-south axis define the mountain-front. The development of the system spanned a significantly longer period than previously proposed. Deformation began before the Oligocene and propagated southeastward towards the foreland to form the north-south axis mountain front in the middle Miocene. Subsequently, out-of-sequence-thrusts formed farther northwestward along the northeast-southwest-trending Mejerda zone, which was previously and mistakenly recognized as the Atlas mountain front. The geometry of the thrust-foreland basin system, oblique trend of the mountain lateral structures are considered in terms of lithospheric rheology, flexural loading, and thrust propagation through a discordant older Tethyan passive margin. Theoretical considerations are contrasted with the inherited structural trends, including those related to Palaeozoic basement; Triassic facies control, Jurassic Tethyan margin faults, middle Cretaceous strike-slip systems, and Paleogene basin margins. These trends also control the siting of post-Atlasic grabens. Such a structural reevaluation necessitates a revision of potential hydrocarbon plays. Areas previously thought to be reactivated foreland are shown to be allochthonous, with thrust-generated antiformal structures. Structural reactivation has also controlled sedimentation and facies distribution throughout much of the Mesozoic and Tertiary.

• OSTI ID: 5813616
• Report Number(s): CONF-910978-; CODEN: AABUD
• Journal Information: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States), Vol. 75:8; Conference: International conference and exhibition of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG): the way ahead-hydrocarbons for the 1990s, London (United Kingdom), 29 Sep - 3 Oct 1991; ISSN 0149-1423
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
TECTONICS
TUNISIA
EXPLORATION
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC MODELS
OROGENESIS
RHEOLOGY
TERTIARY PERIOD
AFRICA
CENOZOIC ERA
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
580000* - Geosciences
020200 - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
030200 - Natural Gas- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration