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Central Nevada overthrust belt: new and exciting frontier play

Conference · · AAPG (Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.) Bull.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6126512

Large, untested, thrust-related features along a newly described thrust belt in central Nevada could contain significant quantities of hydrocarbons. All producing fields in Nevada are found in upper plate fault blocks along this Early Cretaceous thrust belt. Hydrocarbons in these fields probably migrated from large thrust-related features that are yet to be tested. Exposures of thrust-belt indicators are found along this broad belt from the Keystone thrust of the Spring Mountains in southern Nevada to the Independent Mountains in northern Nevada. Thrust-related features in upper Paleozoic rocks are commonly associated with the Lower Cretaceous Newark Canyon Formation, which suggests an Early Cretaceous compressional event. In some areas, these features were draped by Oligocene volcanics and subsequently modified by Tertiary extension. Recognition of thrust-belt indicators, relationships of Mississippian source rocks and Devonian reservoir rocks, and preextention paleotopography is one of the keys in developing a profitable exploration model along this thrust belt.

Research Organization:
Cedar Strat, Reno, NV (USA)
OSTI ID:
6126512
Report Number(s):
CONF-8808223-
Journal Information:
AAPG (Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.) Bull.; (United States), Journal Name: AAPG (Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.) Bull.; (United States) Vol. 72:7; ISSN AABUD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English