Mesozoic-Cenozoic paleographic evolution of Northern South America

Conference · Sun Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1993 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:6105663

Pindell, J ^[1]

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1. Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH (United States)

A model for northern South American tectonic and stratigraphic evolution is presented in 14 detailed, palinspastic, paleogeographic plates showing paleosedimentation and paletectonic data. Main deformational, depositional, and basin forming events along with HC maturation/migration are outlined in relation to progressive tectonic evolution. A cause-and-effect relationship between Caribbean plate motions/associated basin development and hydrocarbon maturation and migration is clear. Triassic-Jurassic rifting from Yucatan/North America produced a northern segmented passive margin, and the Cocuy backarc basin in Colombia. To the west, at end Jurassic, a marginal seaway developed west of Central Cordillera which led to passive margin conditions along the Cocuy Basin/Central Cordillera, southward to Ecuador. The margin remained passive until Campanian, when Amaime-chaucha Terrane (leading edge of Caribbean crust) collided with east vergence (southwest-dipping subduction) with Central Cordillera, closing the marginal seaway. The Colon foredeep was thus established each of Central Cordillera; continued convergence occurred by east-dipping flat-slab subduction of Caribbean crust beneath Colombia. The northerly Caribbean crust continued eastward migration along north South America. Maastrichtian -Paleogene opening of Grenada Basin accomodated a southwest-direction of interplate thrusting of Lara Nappes, producing the north Maracaibo foredeep. Paleocene-Miocene sedimentation patterns record the eastward migration of (1) peripheral bulge uplift, (2) foredeep basin and oil kitchen, (3) allochthon emplacement, (4) erosion due to isostatic rebound caused by extension. Since Middle-Late Miocene, Maracaibo Block escaped northward from Eastern Cordillera convergence by >100 km, and the southeastern Caribbean region has become transtensional rather than transpressional.

• OSTI ID: 6105663
• Report Number(s): CONF-930306--
• Journal Information: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States), Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States) Vol. 77:2; ISSN 0149-1423; ISSN AABUD2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000 -- Geosciences
CENOZOIC ERA
COLOMBIA
CONVERGENCE
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ECUADOR
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
HYDROCARBONS
LATIN AMERICA
MATURATION
MESOZOIC ERA
MIGRATION
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORIGIN
PALEONTOLOGY
PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
PLATE TECTONICS
RIFT ZONES
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SEDIMENTATION
SOURCE ROCKS
SOUTH AMERICA
STRATIGRAPHY
TECTONICS