Subsidence and stratigraphic modeling of the US Atlantic margin
The deep offshore basins of the US Atlantic margin show an exponential subsidence consistent with lithospheric extension followed by cooling. In the Baltimore Canyon Trough, extension reaches ..beta.. approx. =4. The resultant deep burial and inaccessibility of the syn-rift sediment preclude a detailed understanding of the rifting history. On the other hand, the general similarity of predicted subsidence for all rifting models during the later post-rift period allows a detailed reconstruction of the paleobathymetry and an evaluation of the nature of the control of the stratigraphic record. Layer by layer backstripping indicates that there has been no major erosional retreat of the Early Cretaceous shelf edge. The change in position of the shelf edge following the termination of the Jurassic-Early Cretaceous reef, was accomplished by a gentle sagging and sediment supply variations. Stratigraphic modeling reveals the primary factors affecting the post-rift development of the shelf. These are the presence of a broad thermal uplift during the Jurassic at the site of the present coastal plain, increasing flexural rigidity of the lithosphere creating the coastal plain wedge, and a moderate (150-200 m) sea level fall since the Late Cretaceous in order to match the observed thicknesses and coastal onlap-offlap patterns during the Cenozoic.
- Research Organization:
- Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory, Palisades, NY (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6274062
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8510489-
- Journal Information:
- Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States), Journal Name: Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States) Vol. 36; ISSN GAAPB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
580100* -- Geology & Hydrology-- (-1989)
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BALTIMORE CANYON
COASTAL REGIONS
CONTINENTAL MARGIN
DEPOSITION
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC MODELS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
GROUND SUBSIDENCE
LEVELS
NORTH AMERICA
RIFT ZONES
SEA LEVEL
SEAS
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SEDIMENTATION
STRATIGRAPHY
SURFACE WATERS
USA
VARIATIONS