Paleobathymetric maps of tertiary La Honda Basin and implications for offset along San Andreas fault in central California

Conference · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · AAPG (Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.) Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5926062

Stanley, R G

Paleobathymetric maps of the La Honda basin of central California were constructed for ten intervals of geologic time from late Paleocene (Nezian) to middle Miocene (Luisian). The maps are based on analyses of benthic foraminiferal biofacies in more than 800 faunal lists compiled from the literature and from subsurface data provided by oil companies. The sequence of paleobathymetric maps shows the paleogeographic evolution of the La Honda basin. From the late Paleocene (Ynezian) to the early Oligocene (early Zemorrian), deep-sea sands and muds accumulated at water depths of 2000 m and more on a surface that sloped gently to the north and northeast. Striking changes in the configuration of the La Honda basin occurred during the late Oligocene and early Miocene (late Zemorrian). Much of the basin floor remained at water depths of 2000 m and greater, but submarine volcanic rocks locally built up to form seamounts, and movement along the Zayante-Vergeles fault led to shoaling and development of a narrow shelf and very steep slope along the southwestern margin of the basin. During the early and middle Miocene (Relizian and Luisian), the entire basin shoaled to depths of less than 1500 m. Comparison of paleobathymetric maps of the La Honda and San Joaquin basins lends support to the notion that the two basins were once contiguous but have been separated by about 320 to 330 km of right-lateral displacement along the San Andreas fault since the earliest Miocene (late Zemorrian and Saucesian).

• Research Organization: Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA
• OSTI ID: 5926062
• Report Number(s): CONF-870606-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG (Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.) Bull.; (United States) Journal Volume: 71:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200 -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
58 GEOSCIENCES
580201* -- Geophysics-- Seismology & Tectonics-- (1980-1989)
CALIFORNIA
CENOZOIC ERA
FEDERAL REGION IX
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
MAPPING
MIOCENE EPOCH
NORTH AMERICA
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
TERTIARY PERIOD
USA