Post-orogenic Sediments Research Articles

Million-year lag times in a post-orogenic sediment conveyor.

Understanding how sediment transport and storage will delay, attenuate, and even erase the erosional signal of tectonic and climatic forcings has bearing on our ability to read and interpret the geologic record effectively. Here, we estimate sediment transit times in Australia's largest river system, the Murray-Darling basin, by measuring downstream changes in cosmogenic 26Al/10Be/14C ratios in modern river sediment. Results show that the sediments have experienced multiple episodes of burial and reexposure, with cumulative lag times exceeding 1 Ma in the downstream reaches of the Murray and Darling rivers. Combined with low sediment supply rates and old sediment blanketing the landscape, we posit that sediment recycling in the Murray-Darling is an important and ongoing process that will substantially delay and alter signals of external environmental forcing transmitted from the sediment's hinterland.

The multistage tectonic evolution of the northeastern Carajás Province, Amazonian Craton, Brazil: Revealing complex structural patterns

Structural data collected in the Carajás Province region led to a new interpretation of the southeastern Amazonian Craton geotectonic evolution. The purpose of this article is to present a new evolutionary proposal for the region. A detailed analysis of the several extensional-compressional cycles that overprinted each other from the Archean to the Neoproterozoic-Cambrian is presented. At about 2.87–2.83 Ga, collisional processes led to the formation of a stable crustal substrate that supported the installation of an extensional basin at 2.76–2.70 Ga and the deposition of the Itacaiúnas Supergroup shallow marine volcanosedimentary sequences, together with contemporary bimodal plutonism. Paleoproterozoic arc magmatism in the Bacajá Domain was followed by collision with the Carajás Province between 2.09 and 2.06 Ga, resulting in expressive tectonic thickening and low to high grade regional metamorphism, and in the deposition of the Águas Claras Formation. A second Paleoproterozoic orogenic event affected the Carajás Province, which resulted in oblique tectonism and regional counterclockwise rotation of previous associations, followed by late to post-orogenic sedimentation and 1.88 Ga anorogenic alkaline A-type magmatism. The eastern Carajás Province margin was extensionally reactivated during the Neoproterozoic, in a rifting event, followed by tectonic inversion during the Ediacaran/Cambrian.

Coal-bearing submarine slump sediments from Oligocene–Miocene transition of the Eastern Carpathians (Bieszczady Mountains, SE Poland)

A new finding of lustrous coal particles from the youngest flysch sediments of the Silesian Nappe, Polish Eastern Carpathians, outcropped in the Bieszczady Mountains is here presented. The coal material occurs in a 1-m thick submarine slump layer in the Kiczera Dydiowska Sandstones, which belong to the youngest part of the Krosno Beds. Coal particles are numerous (up to 16%) in a massive sandstone of the slump layer. The siliciclastic particles from these sediments are classified as material from weathered rocks of continental block or they have been recycled from post-orogenic sediments. Lustrous coal represents coaly plant fragments, which are mostly homogeneous, belonging to macerals of vitrinite group. Some coal pebbles display tree structure, typical of gelified xylites, due to impregnation of cell walls by resinite, which occurrence in this material indicates terrestrial plants producing waxes and resins. Some of gelified plant debris shows evidence of pyritization, what in the absence of inertinite macerals in coal may indicate dysoxic conditions during first decomposition processes of organic matter under water environment. Coaly-bearing slump moved down most probably from SW during Oligocene–Miocene transition time. This shows that an intrabasinal massif, as the uplifted fragment of ?Precambrian craton, which supplied large amount of siliciclastic material to the Silesian–Subsilesian basin during the lower–middle Oligocene, still existed at the end of the Oligocene.

Miocene sea-level changes in northernmost Anatolia: Sedimentary record of eustasy and tectonism at the peri-Pontide fringe of Eastern Paratethys

This study from the Central Pontide Miocene foredeep basin compares the local record of relative sea-level changes at the Turkish southern periphery of the Eastern Paratethys with the general Paratethyan eustatic history. Detailed sedimentary facies analysis is used to decipher high-resolution sequence stratigraphy of the basin-fill succession. The Tarkhanian–Chokrakian Sinop Formation overlies directly the pre-Cenozoic bedrock and consists of neritic to littoral, foreshore and barrier–lagoon deposits, which form transgressive–regressive parasequences with estimated time spans of ca. 60 to 700ka. The overlying Konkian–Bessarabian Gelincik Formation occurs as the infill of fluvial valleys, up to >120m deep, which were incised during the Karaganian and filled with deltaic to non-deltaic bayhead shoreline deposits passing up-valley into alluvium. The valley-fill deposits form parasequences with an estimated mean time span of ca. 300ka, organized into a lower regressive and an upper transgressive set. These 1st-order parasequences consist of smaller, 2nd-order parasequences with an estimated mean time span of ca. 5ka.All the main mid-Miocene Paratethyan eustatic events are recognizable in the basin-fill succession, although their record appears to have been modulated by the local tectonism and high rate of post-orogenic sediment supply. The signal of 3rd-order eustatic cycles is recorded on a stratigraphic scale of parasequence sets. The 1st-order parasequences are attributed to pulses of the basin subsidence, which was initially driven by the thrust loading of the collapsing Pontide orogen and later by the neotectonic inception of the strike-slip North Anatolian Fault System. The 2nd-order parasequences represent minor subsidence pulses and/or the Milankovitch eustatic cycles. The study shows how a comparative analysis of local sequence stratigraphy and eustatic sea-level record can serve to recognize the relative role of eustasy, tectonics and sediment supply in a sedimentary basin.

Constraints on the movement history of the Carboneras Fault Zone (SE Spain) from stratigraphy and 40 Ar– 39 Ar dating of Neogene volcanic rocks

Abstract The Carboneras Fault Zone (CFZ) of SE Spain separates the volcanic Cabo de Gata terrain to the SE (accumulated over 18 to 6 Ma BP) from the tract of uplifted Alpine metamorphic basement blocks and post-orogenic basins that comprise the Betic Cordilleras to the NW. The CFZ cuts metamorphic basement and folded post-orogenic sediments and volcanic rocks, and acted as a conduit for upper Miocene calc-alkaline volcanic rocks to the surface. NW of the CFZ, unconformities and deformation episodes affect successive sedimentary formations of upper Miocene age (upper Serravallian through Messinian). CFZ movements are constrained stratigraphically by an unconformity within the volcanic sequence. Older, pre-faulting volcanic rocks are uptilted against the CFZ whilst the youngest volcanic rocks step across it. 40 Ar– 39 Ar age determinations on amphibole crysts from the volcanic rocks show the main CFZ movements began 11–12 Ma BP and ended about 6 Ma. Lesser movement rates continue today. The CFZ is interpreted as part of a transform fault system separating NE–SW stretched and NW–SE shortened crust deformed above a southwestward-retreating subducted slab, from a less deformed terrain lying to the SE. Locally, total offset on the CFZ may be up to 40 km but is at least 15 km.

Structure and geological history of the Carboneras Fault Zone, SE Spain: Part of a stretching transform fault system

The Carboneras Fault Zone (CFZ), is a major NE–SW trending tectonic lineament in SE Spain. Active from upper-Miocene to Recent times, it separates the volcanic Cabo de Gata terrain to the SE (accumulated over 18–6 Ma BP) from the tract of uplifted Alpine metamorphic basement blocks and post-orogenic basins that comprise the Betic Cordilleras lying to the NW. New geological mapping and age determinations have been used to constrain the geometry and geological history of the fault zone.The CFZ consists of left-lateral strike-slip faults bearing fault gouge formed in the uppermost 5 km of the crust. The faults cut metamorphic basement and folded post-orogenic sediments and volcanic rocks, and acted as a conduit for calc-alkaline volcanic rocks rising to the surface. NW of the CFZ, a series of unconformities and deformation episodes affect successive sedimentary formations of upper Miocene age. The CFZ is interpreted as part of a transform fault system separating NE–SW stretched and NW–SE shortened crust deformed above a south-westward retreating subducted slab, from a less deformed terrain lying to the south-east. Total offset on the CFZ may be up to 40 km but is at least 15 km.

Structure and geological history of the Carboneras Fault Zone, SE Spain: Part of a stretching transform fault system

The Carboneras Fault Zone (CFZ), is a major NE–SW trending tectonic lineament in SE Spain. Active from upper-Miocene to Recent times, it separates the volcanic Cabo de Gata terrain to the SE (accumulated over 18–6 Ma BP) from the tract of uplifted Alpine metamorphic basement blocks and post-orogenic basins that comprise the Betic Cordilleras lying to the NW. New geological mapping and age determinations have been used to constrain the geometry and geological history of the fault zone.The CFZ consists of left-lateral strike-slip faults bearing fault gouge formed in the uppermost 5 km of the crust. The faults cut metamorphic basement and folded post-orogenic sediments and volcanic rocks, and acted as a conduit for calc-alkaline volcanic rocks rising to the surface. NW of the CFZ, a series of unconformities and deformation episodes affect successive sedimentary formations of upper Miocene age. The CFZ is interpreted as part of a transform fault system separating NE–SW stretched and NW–SE shortened crust deformed above a south-westward retreating subducted slab, from a less deformed terrain lying to the south-east. Total offset on the CFZ may be up to 40 km but is at least 15 km.

Lithological and seasonal control on rainfall thresholds for the possible initiation of landslides in central Italy

We compiled a catalogue of 442 rainfall events with landslides in the Abruzzo, Marche, and Umbria regions, central Italy, between February 2002 and August 2010. For each event, we determined the duration D (in hours) and the cumulated (total) event rainfall E (in mm), using rainfall measurements obtained from a dense network of 150 rain gauges. Landslides were mapped as single points using Google Earth®, and were attributed a level of mapping accuracy P, in four classes ( P 1 < 1 km 2, P 10 < 10 km 2, P 100 < 100 km 2, P 300 < 300 km 2). Using this information, we determined cumulated event rainfall–rainfall duration ( ED) thresholds, which are entirely equivalent to rainfall intensity–duration ( ID) thresholds, and avoid unnecessary conversions. To determine the ED thresholds, we modified a statistical method first proposed to determine ID thresholds. Adopting a bootstrapping statistical technique, we expanded the method to determine the uncertainty associated with the parameters that define the power law threshold model, and the sensitivity of the thresholds to the number of ( D, E) data points in the empirical data set. We determined ED thresholds for 1% and 5% exceedance probability levels: (i) for the entire study area, and for the three individual regions in the study area (Abruzzo, Marche, and Umbria); (ii) for three main lithological domains in the study area (post-orogenic sediments, flysch deposits, carbonate rocks); and (iii) for two seasonal periods (May–September, October–April). Comparison of the ED thresholds indicates that the cumulated amount of rainfall necessary to trigger landslides in flysch deposits is larger than in post-orogenic sediments and carbonate rocks. However, the ED thresholds for post-orogenic sediments and carbonate rocks were statistically indistinguishable in the study area. Also, the seasonal thresholds were statistically different for rainfall durations shorter than 12 h and longer than 100 h, but were indistinguishable in the range 12 < D < 100 h. The results obtained are directly applicable to landslide forecasting based on empirical rainfall thresholds, and have implications for landslide hazard and risk assessment, as well as for landslide erosion and landscape evolution studies, both in the study area and in the neighboring regions.

Bivalves and brachiopods in the Carboniferous - Early Permian of Argentine Precordillera: Diversification and faunal turnover in Southwestern Gondwana

Diversification patterns and faunistic turnovers of bivalves and brachiopods through the Carboniferous - Early Permian interval in the central western Argentinian basins are analyzed and compared with the global events proposed in former studies. This study reveals a generalized increase of bivalves, at familiar and generic levels, through three time intervals, i.e., Early Carboniferous (Tournaisian-Visean), Late Carboniferous (Bashkirian-Kasimovian) and Early Permian (Asselian-Sakmarian), while the brachiopod diversity seems to remain stable from the Late Carboniferous to the Early Permian. The trends recognized in the faunistic diversity appear to be closely related to the palaeoclimatic, palaeogeographic and palaeotectonic evolution at the Southwestern Gondwana margin. Highly stressing environmental changes in the Early Carboniferous, resulting fundamentally from the development of glacial conditions, may account for the lowest faunistic diversity recorded. Particular stress conditions, such as the nutrient availability, temperature and oxygen level, would have mainly affected the brachiopod faunas that evidence the lowest diversity recognized in the interval studied. At the Visean-Serpukovian boundary, the Late Palaeozoic marine record of the Precordillera shows a major break linked to a globally recognized glacial maximum, whereas an important faunistic turnover is mainly identified in the brachiopod faunas at the beginning of the Late Carboniferous. The more stable, less stressing environmental situation developed during the Late Carboniferous-Early Permian postorogenic sedimentation is also reflected by the different faunal assemblages studied. The Late Carboniferous was characterized by postglacial transgressions. During this time local rebound, a continuous increase of the diversity and an important faunal turnover, which mainly affected the brachiopod faunas, were recorded. These faunal trends may be related to the Early Permian climatic amelioration that affected the central western Argentinian basins. The subsequent Permian transgressive events, which produced new areas of potential spreading for the benthic fauna, allowed its increase and diversification, much better reflected by the bivalve assemblages.

Assembling and Disassembling California: A Zircon and Monazite Geochronologic Framework for Proterozoic Crustal Evolution in Southern California

Abstract The Mojave province in southern California preserves a comparatively complete record of assembly, postorogenic sedimentation, and rifting along the southwestern North American continental margin. The oldest exposed rocks are metasedimentary gneisses and amphibolite, enclosing intrusive suites that range from tonalite and quartz monzodiorite to granite with minor trondhjemite. Discrete magmatic episodes occurred at approximately 1790–1730 and 1690–1640 Ma. Evidence from detrital and premagmatic zircons indicates that recycling of 1900–1790 Ma Paleoproterozoic crust formed the unique isotopic character of the Mojave province. Peak metamorphic conditions in the Mojave province reached middle amphibolite to granulite facies; metamorphism occurred locally from 1795 to 1640 Ma, with widespread evidence for metamorphism at 1711–1689 and 1670–1650 Ma. Structures record early, tight to isoclinal folding and penetrative west‐vergent shear during the final metamorphic event in the west Mojave province. Prot...

Timing of dextral strike-slip processes and basement exhumation in the Elbe Zone (Saxo-Thuringian Zone): the final pulse of the Variscan Orogeny in the Bohemian Massif constrained by LA-SF-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon data

Abstract The final pulse of the Variscan Orogeny in the northern Bohemian Massif (Saxo-Thuringian Zone) is related to the closure of the Rheic Ocean, which resulted in subduction-related D 1 -deformation followed by dextral strike-slip activity (D 2 -deformation, the Elbe Zone). Taken together, these deformation events reflect the amalgamation of Pangaea in central Europe. Lateral extrusion of high-grade metamorphosed rocks from an allochthonous domain (Saxonian Granulitgebirge) and the top–NW-directed transport of these domains (Erzgebirge nappe complex, Saxonian Granulitgebirge) are responsible for these dextral strike-slip movements. Geochronological data presented herein, together with published data, allow the timing of the final pulse of the Variscan Orogeny and related plutonic, volcano-sedimentary and tectonic processes. Marine sedimentation lasted at least until the Tournaisian (357 Ma). Onset of Variscan strike-slip along the Elbe Zone is assumed to be coeval with the beginning of the top–NW-directed lateral extrusion of the Saxonian Granulitgebirge at 342 Ma (D 2 -deformation). The sigmoidal shape of the Meissen Massif indicates that strike-slip activity was coexistent with intrusion of the pluton at c . 334 Ma into the schist belt of the Elbe Zone. In contrast, the intrusion of the Markersbach Granite provides a minimum age of c . 327 Ma for the termination of D 2 strike-slip activity, because this undeformed pluton cross-cuts all strike-slip related tectonic structures. Geochronological data of an ash bed from the Permo-Carboniferous Döhlen Basin show clearly that post-orogenic sedimentation of Variscan molasse in that area was already active at 305 Ma. This pull-apart basin is a local example of regional Permo-Carboniferous extension within Pangaea. The uplift and denudation of the Variscan basement in the Saxo-Thuringian Zone occurred between c . 327–305 Ma.

Structural style and hydrocarbon prospectivity in fold and thrust belts: a global review

Abstract A statistical analysis of reserves in fold and thrust belts, grouped by their geological attributes, indicates which of the world's fold and thrust belts are the most prolific hydrocarbon provinces. The Zagros Fold Belt contains 490f reserves in fold and thrust belts and has been isolated during the analysis to avoid bias. Excluding the Zagros Fold Belt, most of the reserves are in thin-skinned fold and thrust belts that have no salt detachment or salt seal, are partially buried by syn- or post-orogenic sediments, are sourced by Cretaceous source rocks and underwent their last phase of deformation during the Tertiary. A significant observation is that the six most richly endowed fold and thrust belts have no common set of geological attributes, implying that these fold belts all have different structural characteristics. The implication is that deformation style is a not critical factor for the hydrocarbon endowment of fold and thrust belts; other elements of the petroleum system must be more significant. Other fold and thrust belts may share the structural attributes but the resource-rich fold belts overwhelmingly dominate the total reserves in that group of fold belts. There is nothing intrinsic in fold and thrust belts that differentiates them from other oil- and gas-rich provinces other than the prolific development of potential hydrocarbon traps. Many of the prolific, proven fold and thrust belts still have significant remaining exploration potential as a result of politically challenging access and remote locations.

Depositional environments and fluvial system changes in the dinosaur-bearing Sânpetru Formation (Late Cretaceous, Romania): Post-orogenic sedimentation in an active extensional basin

The Sânpetru Formation (Haţeg Basin, Romania) was deposited in an active extensional basin in response to the post-orogenic collapse of the Southern Carpathians. Despite being one of the best exposed latest Cretaceous continental successions of Eastern Europe and having great potential to improve knowledge about the Mesozoic evolution of the Carpathian orogen and the latest Cretaceous terrestrial paleoenvironments of Europe, this formation has been the subject of limited sedimentologic research. Fourteen stratigraphic sections were measured in the Sânpetru Formation throughout an 860-m-thick interval exposed along the Sibişel Valley in order to conduct the most detailed stratigraphic and sedimentologic study of this formation to date. The Sânpetru Formation is a repetitive succession of fining-upward units composed of stratified and structureless sandstones, conglomerates, and mudstones. Facies analysis reveals that the Sânpetru Formation was deposited by braided streams that flowed through a symmetrical, extensional basin. The low variability of paleocurrent direction, the sheet-like architecture of the deposits, and the paucity of channel-shaped scours indicate poorly channelized flow across a shallow, broad braidplain. Small-scale fluctuations in sandstone/mudstone ratio and maximum grain size of channel deposits in the lower Sânpetru Formation reflect autocyclic shifts in paleochannel position. In the upper Sânpetru Formation, sandstone/mudstone ratios and maximum grain size of channel deposits increase, paleocurrent direction changes significantly, and hydromorphic paleosols become the sole type of paleosols present. These changes reflect an episode of rapid uplift of the source area and the basinward creation of accommodation space below the local water table, which resulted in the creation of extensive wetlands. The wetlands of the upper Sânpetru Formation were not an environment favorable for the formation of dinosaur bonebeds, which are found in the lower part of the formation. The apparent absence of fossils in the upper part of the formation led previous researchers to incorrectly interpret the Cretaceous–Tertiary boundary at the transition between the lower and upper Sânpetru Formation.

Widespread effects of middle Mississippian deformation in the Great Basin of western North America

Stratigraphic analyses in central and eastern Nevada reveal the importance of a deformation event in middle Mississippian time that caused widespread deformation, uplift, and erosion. It occurred between middle Osagean and late Meramecian time and resulted in deposition of both synorogenic and postorogenic sediments. The deformation resulted in east-west shortening, expressed as east-vergent folding and east-directed thrusting; it involved sedimentary rocks of the Antler foredeep as well as strata associated with the Roberts Mountains allochthon. A latest Meramecian to early Chesterian unconformity, with correlative conformable lithofacies changes, postdates this deformation and occurs throughout Nevada. A tectonic highland—created in the middle Mississippian and lasting into the Pennsylvanian and centered in the area west and southwest of Carlin, Nevada—shed sediments eastward across the Antler foreland, burying the unconformity. Post oro genic strata are late Meramecian to early Chesterian at the base and are widespread throughout the Great Basin. The tectonism therefore occurred 20 to 30 m.y. after inception of the Late Devonian Antler orogeny, significantly extending the time span of this orogeny or representing a generally unrecognized orogenic event in the Paleozoic evolution of western North America. We propose a revised stratigraphic nomenclature for Mississippian strata in Nevada, based on detailed age control and the recognition of unconformities. This approach resolves the ambiguity of some stratigraphic names and emphasizes genetic relationships within the upper Paleozoic section. We take advantage of better stratigraphic understanding to propose two new stratigraphic units for southern and eastern Nevada: the middle Mississippian Gap Wash and Late Mississippian Captain Jack Formations.

INFOPET.GIS Project: Representation And Geosite Data For Petroleum Exploration

Abstract The Cuban Archipelago is situated in the Caribbean Sea between Yucatan (Mexico), Florida (USA), Haiti and Jamaica, with a total area of 110,860 km2 and more than 1,600 keys or small islands. The offshore shelf area of the Cuban archipelago covers an area of 67,831 km2. Cuba can be divided into two hydrocarbon provinces: the North Province (continental margin carbonates deposited up to the pre-Campanian with synorogenic sediments), which contains most of the fields and discoveries today; and the South Cuban Province (part of the Caribbean Plate volcanic-arc islands, overlain by synorogenic and postorogenic sediments). The latter has been less explored up to the present, and is partially thrusted by the Placetas, Camajuani, and Remedios Tectostratigraphic Units (TSU). Hydrocarbons are trapped most commonly in thrusted, fractured carbonates of Jurassic to Cretaceous age, and also in fractured serpentinites and volcanic rocks. The most proven rock potential is found in the Placetas and Camajuani TSUs, where organically rich, low maturity carbonates show high hydrogen indices and good source potential. At present, more than 20 oil fields have been discovered, including the small old Motembo field (1881), and the largest Varadero (1971). The last discovery, named Puerto Escondido (1997) is still being developed by horizontal drilling. The conservation of this natural and important heritage, has established different approaches, called "geotopi" in Italian, "geologic points of interest" in the Spanish language, and "geosite" in English language. These are defined as singular elements of the environment that contain an extraordinary scientific knowledge(1). In our particular case, we denominate these elements as oil-geosites. The term is designed to include all locations and objectives that include any information or scientific knowledge about petroleum exploration and production. The idea for the compilation of the oil-geosites of Cuba first began to develop in 1985, and the project Oil&amp;Geosite was started in 1998, when the concept of an oil-geosite guide or atlas was developed by leading geologists and cartographers. The Geographical Information Systems (GIS) project "SISTEMA INFORMATICO PARA PETR?LEO (INFOPET.GIS)" was designed and created to solve complex problems in oil computer science. The main purpose of the INFOPET.GIS system is the collection, storage and analysis of oil and gas objectives, and other very important geologic events. The INFOPET.GIS's application is a computer-based tool and a procedure, built around a decision support system involving the integration of spatially referenced data. Project Objectives Management of the topographical information contained in the digital cartographic base. Management of the geologic information contained in the digital cartographic base. Management of the alphanumeric information of the different oil-geosite locations. Creation of the geographical databases with a relational platform for standard desktop mapping. The project is represented by the main screen, a data show, where we explain the history of the work evolution tables, cartographic materials, and slides, pictures, and other parameters concerning both volumes, including an explanatory text about the resources potential of Cuba.

INFOPET.GIS Project: Representation And Geosite Data For Petroleum Exploration

February 01 2002 INFOPET.GIS Project: Representation And Geosite Data For Petroleum Exploration J.E. Gomez-Herrera; J.E. Gomez-Herrera Centro de Investigaciones del Petroleo Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar E. Linares-Cala; E. Linares-Cala Centro de Investigaciones del Petroleo Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar R. Garcia-Sanchez; R. Garcia-Sanchez Centro de Investigaciones del Petroleo Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar M. Yero-Batista; M. Yero-Batista Centro de Investigaciones del Petroleo Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar P. Valdes-Pino P. Valdes-Pino Centro de Investigaciones del Petroleo Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar J Can Pet Technol 41 (02). Paper Number: PETSOC-02-02-TN2 https://doi.org/10.2118/02-02-TN2 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Get Permissions Search Site Citation Gomez-Herrera, J.E., Linares-Cala, E., Garcia-Sanchez, R., Yero-Batista, M., and P. Valdes-Pino. "INFOPET.GIS Project: Representation And Geosite Data For Petroleum Exploration." J Can Pet Technol 41 (2002): No Pagination Specified. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/02-02-TN2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentAll JournalsJournal of Canadian Petroleum Technology Search Advanced Search AbstractThe Cuban Archipelago is situated in the Caribbean Sea between Yucatan (Mexico), Florida (USA), Haiti and Jamaica, with a total area of 110,860 km2 and more than 1,600 keys or small islands. The offshore shelf area of the Cuban archipelago covers an area of 67,831 km2.Cuba can be divided into two hydrocarbon provinces: the North Province (continental margin carbonates deposited up to the pre-Campanian with synorogenic sediments), which contains most of the fields and discoveries today; and the South Cuban Province (part of the Caribbean Plate volcanic-arc islands, overlain by synorogenic and postorogenic sediments). The latter has been less explored up to the present, and is partially thrusted by the Placetas, Camajuani, and Remedios Tectostratigraphic Units (TSU).Hydrocarbons are trapped most commonly in thrusted, fractured carbonates of Jurassic to Cretaceous age, and also in fractured serpentinites and volcanic rocks. The most proven rock potential is found in the Placetas and Camajuani TSUs, where organically rich, low maturity carbonates show high hydrogen indices and good source potential.At present, more than 20 oil fields have been discovered, including the small old Motembo field (1881), and the largest Varadero (1971). The last discovery, named Puerto Escondido (1997) is still being developed by horizontal drilling.The conservation of this natural and important heritage, has established different approaches, called "geotopi" in Italian, "geologic points of interest" in the Spanish language, and "geosite" in English language. These are defined as singular elements of the environment that contain an extraordinary scientific knowledge(1). In our particular case, we denominate these elements as oil-geosites. The term is designed to include all locations and objectives that include any information or scientific knowledge about petroleum exploration and production.The idea for the compilation of the oil-geosites of Cuba first began to develop in 1985, and the project Oil&Geosite was started in 1998, when the concept of an oil-geosite guide or atlas was developed by leading geologists and cartographers.The Geographical Information Systems (GIS) project "SISTEMA INFORMATICO PARA PETR?LEO (INFOPET.GIS)" was designed and created to solve complex problems in oil computer science. The main purpose of the INFOPET.GIS system is the collection, storage and analysis of oil and gas objectives, and other very important geologic events. The INFOPET.GIS's application is a computer-based tool and a procedure, built around a decision support system involving the integration of spatially referenced data.Project ObjectivesManagement of the topographical information contained in the digital cartographic base.Management of the geologic information contained in the digital cartographic base.Management of the alphanumeric information of the different oil-geosite locations.Creation of the geographical databases with a relational platform for standard desktop mapping.The project is represented by the main screen, a data show, where we explain the history of the work evolution tables, cartographic materials, and slides, pictures, and other parameters concerning both volumes, including an explanatory text about the resources potential of Cuba. Keywords: strategic planning and management, information management, objective, Reservoir Characterization, Upstream Oil & Gas, database, decision support system, Cuba, Petroleum Geologist, representation Subjects: Decision-making processes, Exploration and appraisal strategies, Information Management and Systems, Reservoir Characterization, Risk Management and Decision-Making, Strategic Planning and Management This content is only available via PDF. 2002. Petroleum Society of Canada You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.

Isotopic test of a thermally driven intraplate orogenic model, Australia

A recently proposed model for intraplate orogenesis couples long-term self-heating of basement rocks by radioactive decay with thermal blanketing by overlying sedimentary deposits. This model has been tested in one of the type areas in central Australia, the Proterozoic Musgrave Complex, which was reworked in an Early Cambrian orogeny. We have determined the source of the pre orogenic and postorogenic sediments in the Amadeus basin immediately to the north of the reworked basement, including the fan deposits associated with uplift, comprising Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (Olgas). Detrital-zircon age populations indicate that all basin sediments were derived from the Musgrave Complex, which was therefore emergent rather than covered by sediments as required by the model. In the basement, the preservation of Mesoproterozoic mica ages during transpressive burial to depths of ∼40 km ca. 550 Ma indicates that the associated thermal pulse was short-lived, not long-lived as envisaged in the model. We conclude therefore that the thermal-blanketing model is inconsistent with the isotopic data and that the localization of deformation in intracratonic settings is associated with regions of contrasting strengths; in central Australia, these are along the margins of the Amadeus basin with the Musgrave Complex and Arunta inlier.

Tectonic implications of the Nan Suture Zone and its relationship to the Sukhothai Fold Belt, Northern Thailand

The Nan Suture and the Sukhothai Fold Belt reflect the processes associated with the collision between the Shan-Thai and Indochina Terranes in southeast Asia. The Shan-Thai Terrane rifted from Gondwana in the Early Permian. As it drifted north a subduction complex developed along its northern margin. The Nan serpentinitic melange is a thrust slice within the Pha Som Metamorphic Complex and in total this unit is a Late Permian accretionary complex containing offscraped blocks from subducted oceanic crust of Carboniferous and Permian age. The deformational style within the Pha Som Metamorphic Complex supports a west-dipping subduction zone. The Late Permian to Late Triassic fore-arc basin sediments are preserved in the Sukhothai Fold Belt and include a near continuous sedimentary record, at least locally. The whole sequence was folded and complexly thrust in the Late Triassic as a result of the collision. Late syn- to post-kinematic granites place an upper limit of 200 Ma on the time of collision. Post-orogenic sediments prograded across the suture in the Jurassic.

The Influence of Structural Setting and Lithology on Landslide Type and Pattern

Research Article| January 01, 1996 The Influence of Structural Setting and Lithology on Landslide Type and Pattern FAUSTO GUZZETTI; FAUSTO GUZZETTI CNR—Institute for Hydrogeological Protection in Central Italy, via Madonna Alta, 126–06128 Perugia, Italy Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar MAURO CARDINALI; MAURO CARDINALI CNR—Institute for Hydrogeological Protection in Central Italy, via Madonna Alta, 126–06128 Perugia, Italy Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar PAOLA REICHENBACH PAOLA REICHENBACH CNR—Institute for Hydrogeological Protection in Central Italy, via Madonna Alta, 126–06128 Perugia, Italy Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Environmental and Engineering Geoscience (1996) II (4): 531–555. https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.II.4.531 Article history first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation FAUSTO GUZZETTI, MAURO CARDINALI, PAOLA REICHENBACH; The Influence of Structural Setting and Lithology on Landslide Type and Pattern. Environmental and Engineering Geoscience 1996;; II (4): 531–555. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.II.4.531 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentBy SocietyEnvironmental and Engineering Geoscience Search Advanced Search Abstract A comprehensive investigation of the regional distribution, pattern and types of landslides was completed in the Umbria-Marche region of Central Italy. Landslide occurrence was ascertained through medium-scale inventories and detailed geomorphological investigations carried out in pilot areas in different lithological environments. Landslide types and pattern were identified within each of the five lithological complexes cropping out in the region, namely: carbonate, flysch, Ligurian allochthonous complex, volcanic rocks, and post-orogenic sediments. Failures were found to be controlled by the relative position of sedimentary and tectonic discontinuities, by the relative abundance of hard versus weak or soft rocks, and by the attitude of permeable and impermeable layers. Despite the considerable geological and geotechnical heterogeneity, similarities between landslide types and patterns were observed across physiographic boundaries. Five landslide-related geomorphological settings were identified, namely: the presence of discontinuities dipping toward the free face of slope (dip slope) or into the slope (reverse slope), the occurrence of a hard cap overlying ductile sediments, the presence of colluvium, the outcrop of homogeneous clay, and the outcrop of hard rocks along steep slopes. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not currently have access to this article.

Late Cenozoic environmental changes and uplift on the northern side of the central Himalaya: a reappraisal from field data

The extreme view that uplift of the Tibetan Plateau and the adjacent Himalayan Range occurred mainly during the Quaternary cannot be further sustained, as discussed in the light of available field data (palaeobiogeography, sedimentary environments and tectonic evidence). Comparison with other independent sources, such as the loess records of central China and data on the post-orogenic sedimentation and geochronology of the Himalayan and South Asian oceanic fans, shows that the Tibetan Plateau certainly reached an elevation close to its present one before the climatic changes of the Quaternary. As such, this elevated Himalaya-Tibet ensemble was probably one of the major causes of the Late Tertiary general cooling of the northern hemisphere, as suggested by global modelling of climate. Palaeoenvironmental changes observed during the Quaternary were certainly governed by orbital parameters: yet, they were also regionally influenced by both the uplift of the Greater Himalaya with respect to Tibet, and by the disruption of the Northern Himalaya and South Tibet into horsts and grabens. Uncertainty still surrounds the periods during which critical elevations were achieved to induce both the monsoon circulation and E-W extension.