Seismic stratigraphy of Veracruz Tongue, deep southwestern Gulf of Mexico

Conference · Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1984 · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5851418

Bertagne, A J

The Veracruz Tongue is a region of continental slope and rise sediments bounded bathymetrically by the Mexican Ridges fold belt to the west and the Campeche Knolls salt province to the east. Study of two multichannel seismic lines and single-fold sparker data enables five post-early Miocene seismic stratigraphic sequences to be distinguished in the tongue. Sedimentary processes responsible for deposition of each sequence are inferred on the basis of external geometry, internal reflection configuration, and, where possible, core data. The five sequences are each interpreted to consist of turbidites grading laterally into hemipelagites. These primary deposits may be modified later by downslope creep or sliding and slumping. Because bathymetry is a major control on location of turbidity-current flows, slides, and slumps, the depositional history of the Veracruz Tongue provides indirect evidence of tectonic evolution of the Mexican Ridges fold belt and the Campeche Knolls salt province. Salt domes first formed a barrier to turbidity-current flow from the east at the close of the middle Miocene. The Mexican Ridges fold belt evolved gradually until it formed a complete barrier to turbidity-current flow from the west at the close of the Pliocene. As a result of shift in direction of turbidity-current flow through time, potentially sand-prone Miocene turbidities are overlain by hemipelagic clays and clayey oozes, a situation favorable to hydrocarbon entrapment.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Texas, Austin
• OSTI ID: 5851418
• Report Number(s): CONF-8410269-
• Journal Information: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States), Vol. 68:12; Conference: AAPG Eastern Section meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 10 Oct 1984
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
CONTINENTAL SLOPE
SEA BED
SEDIMENTS
STRATIGRAPHY
GULF OF MEXICO
CLAYS
DRILL CORES
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC TRAPS
MAPS
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
SAND
SEISMIC SURVEYS
TECTONICS
TERTIARY PERIOD
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CARIBBEAN SEA
CENOZOIC ERA
CONTINENTAL MARGIN
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
MINERAL RESOURCES
RESOURCES
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
SURVEYS
020200* - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
030200 - Natural Gas- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration