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Title: Tectonic synthesis of the northern Arabian platform

Abstract

The creation and destruction of Tethys oceans from the early Mesozoic to the present has created a complex suture zone along the Zagros/Bitlus trend. The fundamental interactions are between the Arabian and Euasian plates, but several microplates trapped between the major plates further complicate the tectonic fabric of the region. On the west, the Arabian plate slides past the African plate and the Sinai microplate along the Levant fault. The Palmyrides are related to a bend in this plate boundary and are not an offset extension of the Syrian arc. As Arabia penetrates Eurasia the Anatolian block is escaping to the west along the northern (right-lateral) and eastern (left-lateral) faults. Convergence of the Eurasian and Arabian plates resulted in ophiolite abduction (Late Cretaceous), followed by continent-continent collision (Miocene to present). The zone of collision is marked by the Bitlis-Zagrosa suture. Structural features associated with the collision include overthrusting, impactogens, and complexly folded and faulted mountain systems. Intensity and complexity of structuring decreases southward into open long-wavelength folds on the Arabian Platform. The fortuitous combination of rich source rocks, abundant reservoir rocks with primary and fracture porosity, and numerous trapping structures make this an extraordinary prolific hydrocarbon province. A structural andmore » lithologic interpretation of 53 contiguous Landsat Multispectral Scanner scenes covering all of Syria, Iraq, and Kuwait, and portions of Turkey, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia has provided insights into the tectonic history of this area and its hydrocarbon accumulation.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ;  [1]; ;  [2];  [3]
  1. Earth Satellite Corp., Chevy Chase, MD (USA)
  2. Dolan and Associates, Richmond (England)
  3. Petroleum Geological Analysis, Ltd., Reading (England)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
6744915
Report Number(s):
CONF-900605-
Journal ID: ISSN 0149-1423; CODEN: AABUD
Resource Type:
Conference
Journal Name:
AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 74:5; Conference: Annual convention and exposition of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, San Francisco, CA (USA), 3-6 Jun 1990; Journal ID: ISSN 0149-1423
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
02 PETROLEUM; 58 GEOSCIENCES; SAUDI ARABIA; PLATE TECTONICS; CRETACEOUS PERIOD; GEOLOGIC HISTORY; GEOLOGIC TRAPS; IRAN; IRAQ; JORDAN; KUWAIT; LANDSAT SATELLITES; LEBANON; LITHOLOGY; SYRIA; TERTIARY PERIOD; TURKEY; ASIA; CENOZOIC ERA; DEVELOPING COUNTRIES; GEOLOGIC AGES; MESOZOIC ERA; MIDDLE EAST; SATELLITES; TECTONICS; 020200* - Petroleum- Reserves, Geology, & Exploration; 580000 - Geosciences

Citation Formats

Everett, J R, Russell, O R, Stasxkowski, R J, Loyd, S P, Tabbutt, V M, Dolan, P, Stein, A, and Scott, J. Tectonic synthesis of the northern Arabian platform. United States: N. p., 1990. Web.
Everett, J R, Russell, O R, Stasxkowski, R J, Loyd, S P, Tabbutt, V M, Dolan, P, Stein, A, & Scott, J. Tectonic synthesis of the northern Arabian platform. United States.
Everett, J R, Russell, O R, Stasxkowski, R J, Loyd, S P, Tabbutt, V M, Dolan, P, Stein, A, and Scott, J. 1990. "Tectonic synthesis of the northern Arabian platform". United States.
@article{osti_6744915,
title = {Tectonic synthesis of the northern Arabian platform},
author = {Everett, J R and Russell, O R and Stasxkowski, R J and Loyd, S P and Tabbutt, V M and Dolan, P and Stein, A and Scott, J},
abstractNote = {The creation and destruction of Tethys oceans from the early Mesozoic to the present has created a complex suture zone along the Zagros/Bitlus trend. The fundamental interactions are between the Arabian and Euasian plates, but several microplates trapped between the major plates further complicate the tectonic fabric of the region. On the west, the Arabian plate slides past the African plate and the Sinai microplate along the Levant fault. The Palmyrides are related to a bend in this plate boundary and are not an offset extension of the Syrian arc. As Arabia penetrates Eurasia the Anatolian block is escaping to the west along the northern (right-lateral) and eastern (left-lateral) faults. Convergence of the Eurasian and Arabian plates resulted in ophiolite abduction (Late Cretaceous), followed by continent-continent collision (Miocene to present). The zone of collision is marked by the Bitlis-Zagrosa suture. Structural features associated with the collision include overthrusting, impactogens, and complexly folded and faulted mountain systems. Intensity and complexity of structuring decreases southward into open long-wavelength folds on the Arabian Platform. The fortuitous combination of rich source rocks, abundant reservoir rocks with primary and fracture porosity, and numerous trapping structures make this an extraordinary prolific hydrocarbon province. A structural and lithologic interpretation of 53 contiguous Landsat Multispectral Scanner scenes covering all of Syria, Iraq, and Kuwait, and portions of Turkey, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia has provided insights into the tectonic history of this area and its hydrocarbon accumulation.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6744915}, journal = {AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA)},
issn = {0149-1423},
number = ,
volume = 74:5,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990},
month = {Tue May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990}
}

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