Middle proterozoic tectonic activity in west Texas and eastern New Mexico and analysis of gravity and magnetic anomalies

Conference · Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1994 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:6899559

Adams, D C; Keller, G R ^[1]

---

1. Univ. of Texas, El Paso (United States)

The Precambrian history of west Texas and eastern New Mexico is complex, consisting of four events: Early Proterozoic orogenic activity (16309-1800 Ma), formation of the western granite-rhyolite province (WGRP) (1340-1410 Ma), Grenville age tectonics (1116-1232 Ma), and middle Proterozoic extension possibly related to mid-continent rifting (1086-1109 Ma). Pre-Grenville tectonics, Grenville tectonics, and mid-continent rifting are represented in this area by the Abilene gravity minimum (AGM) and bimodal igneous rocks, which are probably younger. We have used gravity modeling and the comparison of gravity and magnetic anomalies with rock types reported from wells penetrating Precambrian basement to study the AGM and middle Proterozoic extension in this area. The AGM is an east-northeast-trending, 600 km long, gravity low, which extends from the Texas-Oklahoma border through the central basin platform (CBP) to the Delaware basin. This feature appears to predate formation of the mafic body in the CBP (1163 Ma) and is most likely related to Pre-Grenville tectonics, possibly representing a continental margin arc batholith. Evidence of middle Proterozoic extension is found in the form of igneous bodies in the CBP, the Van Horn uplift, the Franklin Mountains, and the Sacramento Mountains. Analysis of gravity and magnetic anomalies shows that paired gravity and magnetic highs are related to mafic intrusions in the upper crust. Mapping of middle Proterozoic igneous rocks and the paired anomalies outlines a 530 km diameter area of distributed east-west-oriented extension. The Debaca-Swisher terrain of shallow marine and clastic sedimentary rocks is age correlative with middle Proterozoic extension. These rocks may represent the lithology of possible Proterozoic exploration targets. Proterozoic structures were reactivated during the Paleozoic, affecting both the structure and deposition in the Permian basin.

• OSTI ID: 6899559
• Report Number(s): CONF-9404148-; CODEN: AABUD2
• Journal Information: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States), Vol. 78:3; Conference: American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) Southwest Section meeting, Ruidoso, NM (United States), 24-26 Apr 1994; ISSN 0149-1423
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
NEW MEXICO
GRAVITY SURVEYS
TECTONICS
PERMIAN BASIN
EXPLORATION
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
DEPOSITION
TEXAS
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GROUND UPLIFT
IGNEOUS ROCKS
LITHOLOGY
OIL FIELDS
OROGENESIS
PALEOMAGNETISM
PALEOZOIC ERA
PRECAMBRIAN ERA
RIFT ZONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
MAGNETISM
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PETROLOGY
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SURVEYS
USA
020200* - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration