Cenozoic transpressional model for the tectonic and basinal development of Venezuela and Trinidad

Conference · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:7271635

Pindell, J L ^[1]; Dewey, J F ^[2]

---

1. Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH (United States)
2. Oxford Univ. (United Kingdom)

Geological features and plate tectonic constraints are integrated to outline a revised model for the Jurassic to Recent development of northern South America east of Guajira Peninsula. Development appears controlled by NoAm/SoAm and Carib/SoAm relative motions. Main phases were: (1) Jurassic rifting; (2) Late Jurassic - Maestrichtian passive margin sedimentation; (3) Eocene-Recent north-vergent understanding of Proto-Caribbean (Atlantic) crust beneath Venezuela; (4) eastwardly progressive Cenozoic south-vergent dextral transpression between northern South America and the Pacific-derived Caribbean Plate, and obduction of Caribbean terranes onto SoAm; (5) Neogene-Recent north-vergent underthrusting of Caribbean crust beneath the Guajira, Paraguana, and ABC (Aruba-Bonaire-Curacao-Orchila) terranes. Compressional and transcurrent sedimentary basins were developed in Cenozoic time in response to Carib-SoAm relative motion and terrane obduction, above rocks of the pre-existing Jurassic-Cretaceous passive shelf. Although Jurassic rift-related petroleum source rocks may have been deposited locally, primary source rocks are Upper Cretaceous and were deposited well after Jurassic rifting such that they were not affected by rift-related heat. In the absence of Cretaceous volcanism, geothermal gradients may be assumed to have been fairly normal. Maturation was thus a function of depth of burial, which was insufficient in each basin until Cenozoic basin development. A second phase of rapid deposition and hence maturation of Neogene age has occurred in inter-Andean basins of the west (e.g., Maracaibo) due to Miocene uplift and erosion of Andean ranges. These predicted maturation times are corroborated by more direct studies.

• OSTI ID: 7271635
• Report Number(s): CONF-910403--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States) Journal Volume: 75:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000 -- Geosciences
DEPOSITION
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC MODELS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
ISLANDS
LATIN AMERICA
LESSER ANTILLES
MATURATION
MINERAL RESOURCES
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
PLATE TECTONICS
RESOURCES
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SOURCE ROCKS
SOUTH AMERICA
TECTONICS
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
VENEZUELA
WEST INDIES