Atlantic marginal basins of Africa
The over 10,000-km long Atlantic margin of Africa is divisible into thirty basins or segments of the margin that collectively contain over 18.6 x 10/sup 6/ km/sup 3/ of syn-breakup and post-breakup sediments. Twenty of these basins contain a sufficiently thick volume of sediments to be considered prospects. These basins lie, at least partially, within the 200 m isobath. The distribution of source rocks is broad enough to give potential to each of these basins. The sedimentation patterns, tectonics, and timing of events differ from basin to basin and are related directly to the margin's complex history. Two spreading modes exist: rift and transform. Rifting dates from Late Triassic-Early Jurassic in the northwest to Early Cretaceous south of the Niger Delta. A complex transform fault system separated these two margins. Deep-water communication between the two basins became established in the middle Cretaceous. This Mesozoic-Cenozoic cycle of rifting and seafloor spreading has segmented the margin and where observable, basins tend to be bounded by these segments.
- Research Organization:
- Chevron Oil Field Research Co., La Habra, CA (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5794548
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-880301-
- Journal Information:
- AAPG Bull.; (United States), Journal Name: AAPG Bull.; (United States) Vol. 72:2; ISSN AABUD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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