Preliminary map showing thermal maturity of sedimentary rocks in Alaska
- Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA (United States)
- Geological Survey, Reston, VA (United States)
- Geological Survey, Denver, CO (United States)
Since 1976, the authors have been compiling thermal maturity data for sedimentary rocks in Alaska from the U.S. Geological Survey and other public sources. These data consist primarily of vitrinite reflectance and conodont color alteration index (CAI) determinations, but also include thermal-alteration-index, ROCK-EVAL, coal-rank, and fission-track information. A preliminary map depicting these data portrays the thermal maturity of sedimentary rocks at the Earth's surface in terms of five map units ranging from undermature (R{sub 0} < 0.6) to supermature (R{sub 0} = 3.6-5.0). The map also indicates the configuration of thermal maturity isograds at depth in the Colville and Cook Inlet basins. The preliminary map includes information from roughly 1200 outcrop localities (700 vitrinite reflectance and 500 CAI localities), many of which represent multiple samples, and some 2,500 vitrinite reflectance determinations from 211 wells. The thermal maturity map of Alaska will be a useful tool in the evaluation of the petroleum potential and paleotectonic history of Alaska. For example, the preliminary map has been used to analyze the dynamics of thrusting and the hydrocarbon potential of the northern margin of the Brooks Range thrust belt. The map indicates that the 0.6% R{sub 0} isograd intersects the land surface just north of the Brooks Range front, and that the 2.0%R{sub 0} isograd lies within the northern part of the range, thus indicating post-maturation uplift of approximately 3-5 km. The configuration of the isograds reflects a similar thermal history for both the north margin of the orogen and the adjoining foreland deposits, suggesting that petroleum resources may be found at shallow depths beneath the northern margin of the thrust belt and beneath all of the Colville basin.
- OSTI ID:
- 5804197
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-910403--
- Journal Information:
- AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States), Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States) Vol. 75:3; ISSN AABUD; ISSN 0149-1423
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Neocomian source and reservoir rocks in the western Brooks Range and Arctic Slope, Alaska
Thermal maturity patterns in Alaska: Implications for tectonic evolution and hydrocarbon potential
Related Subjects
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
AGE ESTIMATION
ALASKA
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EXPLORATION
FISSION TRACKS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
MACERALS
MAPPING
MATURATION
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PARTICLE TRACKS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
REFLECTIVITY
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
RESOURCES
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SOURCE ROCKS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
USA