Effects of inherited of pre-jurassic tectonics on the U. S. Gulf Coast
- Mitchell Energy Corp., Woodlands, TX (United States)
Extensional and compressional tectonic features from the Canadian shield to the United States Gulf Coast reflect repeated and continued movement of crustal elements along northwest-southeast paths. Resultant rift and thrust features formed perpendicular to that orientation. Cycles of ocean formation (rifting), quiescence, and ocean closure (thrusting) control the structural style and stratigraphic sequences that record the accretion of much of the North American continent onto the Canadian shield. The Triassic separation of North America from South America resulted in an irregular fragmented arc that now extends from Central America to South Florida. Stranded blocks of continental crust, left behind by the jumping of spreading centers during rifting, control the location of major basins over the attenuated crust between the stranded blocks. The former location of the Yucatan Peninsula is now marked by the salt-dome basins of central Mississippi, southern Louisiana, and southeastern Texas. The attenuated continental crust in this area permitted early, thick evaporite precipitation and thicker than normal sediment deposition. Translation of Mexico westward to its pre-Laramide position allows for a closer prerifting fit between North America and South America. Postrifting tectonic patterns retain an inherited fabric reflecting the Triassic rifting. Triassic horsts, grabens, and half-grabens localized and delineated later microbasins. Mapping these microbasins is essential to understanding exploration play concepts within a geologic province. Irregular thicknesses of Louann Salt resulted from salt precipitation on a block-faulted basement. The uneven thickness of salt within individual basement fault blocks (grabens and half-grabens) controlled the spatial distribution and size of the resultant salt domes, pillows, and withdrawal areas. This salt movement is one link between the original basement block faults and the resultant growth-fault basins.
- OSTI ID:
- 7134752
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9310237-; CODEN: AABUD2
- Journal Information:
- AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States), Vol. 77:9; Conference: American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) mid-continent section meeting, Amarillo, TX (United States), 10-12 Oct 1993; ISSN 0149-1423
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Tectonic structure and evolution of the Atlantic continental margin
Structure and evolution of Baltimore Canyon Trough and Georges Bank Basin
Related Subjects
03 NATURAL GAS
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
DEPOSITION
TECTONICS
SEISMIC EFFECTS
CONTINENTAL CRUST
EXPLORATION
JURASSIC PERIOD
MAPPING
PETROGENESIS
STRATIGRAPHY
US GULF COAST
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DISTRIBUTION
EARTH CRUST
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
MESOZOIC ERA
NORTH AMERICA
PETROLOGY
USA
020200* - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
030200 - Natural Gas- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration