Abstract
During the Paleozoic Era, the western portion of the Gondwana continent between the equator and latitude 27°S of present-day South America bordered the proto-Pacific Ocean as a predominantly convergent margin. Following the Middle Cambrian accretion of the Arequipa-Belen-Antofalla Terrane, an epicontinental sea with communication to the proto-Pacific Ocean established itself along the length of the western margin of Gondwana during Late Cambrian and Early Ordovician time. The emergence of a proto-Cordillera led to significant separation of the epicontinental sea from the proto-Pacific Ocean during Silurian and Devonian times. Gradual erosion of that proto-Cordillera during Carboniferous and Early Permian time once again facilitated widespread transgression of the proto-Pacific Ocean into the epicontinental domain. At the end of the Early Permian, the sea retreated from Gondwana and a proto-Cordillera was re-established. The proto-Cordillera and the craton of Gondwana controlled sediment type and distribution in the epicontinental sea. Deposition occurred in five tectono-sedimentary cycles, which were separated by orogenic pulses that resulted in regional erosion of the previously deposited section. Oil and gas have been produced from the Paleozoic epicontinental sediments of Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, and Brazil, in an area in which exploration efforts are ongoing. Sandstone reservoirs and argillaceous source rocks of commercial importance formed during the episodes of sedimentation, but carbonates do not contribute to commercial hydrocarbon generation and accumulation. Cap rocks are provided by shales or evaporites.
Published Version
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