Late Paleozoic paleolatitude and paleogeography of the Midland basin, Texas

Conference · Tue Mar 31 23:00:00 EST 1992 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:7201819

Walker, D A ^[1]; Golonka, J ^[2]; Reid, A M; Reid, S T ^[3]

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1. Mobil Exploration and Producing U.S., Midland, TX (United States)
2. Mobil Exploration and Producing Services Inc., Dallas, TX (United States)
3. Consulting Geologist, Midland, TX (United States)

During the Late Pennsylvanian through Early Permian, the Midland basin was located in the low latitudes. In the Desmoinesian (Strawn), the basin was astride the equator; during the Missourian (Canyon), the center of the basin had migrated northward so it was located at 1-2N latitude. In the Virgilian (Cisco), the basin center was located around 2-4N latitude, and by the Wolfcampian, it was positioned at around 4-6N latitude. From the Desmoinesian (312 Ma) through the Missourian (306 Ma), the relative motion of the basin was 63NE. Later during the Virgilian (298 Ma) to Wolfcampian (280 Ma), the direction of motion was 24NE. This change in motion reflects a major tectonic event, occurring between the Missourian and Virgilian, that greatly modifed the movement of the Laurentian (North American) plate. At that time, Laurentia had collided with Gondwana and become part of the supercontinent Pangea. Throughout the late Paleozoic, Laurentia was rotated so the Midland basin was oriented 43{degree} northeast from its current setting. Late Paleozoic paleogeography and paleolatitude controlled the direction of prevailing winds and ocean currents, thereby influencing the distribution of carbonate facies in the Midland basin. Present prevailing winds and ocean currents have been shown to have a major impact on modern carbonate sedimentation and facies distribution in Belize, the Bahamas and Turks, and Caicos. A clearer understanding of how late Paleozoic latitude and geography affected sedimentation helps explain and predict the distribution of carbonates throughout the Midland basin.

• OSTI ID: 7201819
• Report Number(s): CONF-9204139--
• Journal Information: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States), Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States) Vol. 76:4; ISSN AABUD; ISSN 0149-1423
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
CARBONATE ROCKS
CARBONIFEROUS PERIOD
DEPOSITION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
FEDERAL REGION VI
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
MAGNETISM
NORTH AMERICA
PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
PALEOMAGNETISM
PALEONTOLOGY
PALEOTEMPERATURE
PALEOZOIC ERA
PERMIAN PERIOD
PLATE TECTONICS
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
TECTONICS
TEXAS
USA