A tectono-stratigraphic review of continental breakup on intraplate continental margins and its impact on resultant hydrocarbon systems

Alves, Tiago Marcos; Fetter, Marcos; Busby, Cathy J.; Gontijo, Rogério Cardoso; Cunha, T.; Mattos, Nathália H.

doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2020.104341

Cited by 44 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 149 publications

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“…As a reminder, the syn-rift, breakup, post-rift and drifting sedimentary sequences record respectively crustal thinning, mantle denudation, post-rift thermal cooling and oceanic spreading (e.g. Alves et al, 2009Alves et al, , 2020Alves & Cunha, 2009;Soares et al, 2012). These sequences are delimited by major unconformities corresponding (from bottom to top) to the base syn-rift unconformity (BSU; base of syn-rift sequence), the lithospheric breakup surface (LBS; base of the breakup sequence) and the base post-rift unconformity (BPU; base of the post-rift sequence) as defined by Soares et al (2012) and Alves and Cunha (2009).…”

Section: Mesozoic Events and Unconformitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…DSDP and ODP drilling expeditions along the West-Iberia margin have also contributed to a more complete understanding of how continental breakup is recorded in syn-rift to post-rift sedimentary sequences (Alves & Cunha, 2009), and how it evolves through time along the strike of continental margins (Alves et al, 2009). Indeed, such data allowed the identification of syn-rift, breakup and post-rift sequences as correlating with major phases of crustal thinning, mantle denudation and oceanic spreading (Alves et al, 2009(Alves et al, , 2020Alves & Cunha, 2009;Soares et al, 2012;Soares, 2014). Continental breakup is thus defined as the deposits that are correlated with the phases of hyperextension and mantle denudation on magma-poor continental margins (Soares et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Continental breakup is thus defined as the deposits that are correlated with the phases of hyperextension and mantle denudation on magma-poor continental margins (Soares et al, 2012). Alves et al (2020) have demonstrated that continental breakup is only possible along magmapoor Type I margins (sensu Huismans & Beaumont, 2003, 2008, 2014. Indeed, the upper lithosphere in Type I margins is much more coupled to the continental crust than in Type II margins (Alves et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Alves et al (2020) have demonstrated that continental breakup is only possible along magmapoor Type I margins (sensu Huismans & Beaumont, 2003, 2008, 2014. Indeed, the upper lithosphere in Type I margins is much more coupled to the continental crust than in Type II margins (Alves et al, 2020). Thus, along Type II margins, the upper lithosphere is laterally subtracted and mantle denudation cannot occur.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They include the Tartas, Arzacq, Columbrets, Cameros and Parentis syn-rift basins, which developed during Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous rifting (more details in the review section). The development of these basins is time-equivalent to the Late Jurassic-Aptian rifting and Albian-Cenomanian breakup sequence of the V-shaped Bay of Biscay margin (Barbier et al, 1986;Montadert et al, 1979;Thinon, 1999;Thinon et al, 2003;Tugend et al, 2014;Vergés & García-Senz, 2001) and the NW-Iberia margin (Alves & Cunha, 2009;Alves et al, 2020;Soares et al, 2012). All of these basins share similarities that include (a) a small amount of brittle deformation affecting the upper crust, (b) a prerift cover that is efficiently decoupled from its substratum, thanks to the thick layer of Late Triassic to earliest Jurassic evaporites, (c) hyperthinned continental crust resulting from a polyphase rifting history, (d) a thick prerift to syn-rift sedimentarypile and (e) HT/LP syn-rift metamorphism.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Review of Iberia–Eurasia plate‐boundary basins: Role of sedimentary burial and salt tectonics during rifting and continental breakup

et al. 2021

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We document the role of sedimentary burial and salt tectonics in controlling the deformation style of continental crust during hyperextension. The Iberian-European boundary records a complex history of Cretaceous continental extension, which has led to the development of so-called smooth-slope type basins. Based on the review of the available geological constraints (crustal-balanced cross-sections, sedimentary profile evolution, RSCM thermometer, low-temperature thermochronology) and geophysical data (Bouguer anomaly, Moho depth, seismic reflection profiles and Vp/Vs velocity models) on the Tartas, Arzacq, Cameros, Parentis, Columbrets, Mauléon, Basque-Cantabrian and Internal Metamorphic Zone basins, we shed light on the main characteristics of this type of basin. This synthesis indicates that crustal thinning was influenced by two decoupling horizons: the middle crust and Triassic prerift salt, initially located between the basement and prerift sedimentary cover. These two horizons remained active throughout basin formation and were responsible for depth-dependent thinning of the crust and syn-rift salt tectonics. We therefore identify several successive deformation phases involving (a) pure shear dominated thinning, (b) simple shear dominated thinning and (c) continental breakup. In the first phase, distributed deformation resulted in the development of a symmetric basin. Field observations indicate that the middle and lower crust were under dominantly ductile conditions at this stage. In the second phase, deformation was localised along a crustal detachment rooted between the crust and the mantle and connecting upwards with Triassic prerift salt. During continental breakup, basin shoulders recorded the occurrence of brittle deformation, whereas the hyperextended domain remained under predominantly ductile thinning. The formation of smooth-slope-type extensional basins was intrinsically linked to the combined deposition of thick syn-rift and breakup sequences, and regional salt tectonics. They induced significant burial and allowed the continental crust and the prerift sequence to deform under high temperature conditions from the rifting to continental breakup stages.

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Section: Mesozoic Events and Unconformitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Review of Iberia–Eurasia plate‐boundary basins: Role of sedimentary burial and salt tectonics during rifting and continental breakup

et al. 2021

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Relating differential crustal architecture to passive margin evolution: A case study from the Colatina Fracture Zone (SE Brazil) using apatite fission‐track thermochronology

Costa,

Fonseca,

de Grave

et al. 2024

Geological Journal

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The Colatina Fracture Zone (CFZ) defines a distinct NNW–SSE‐oriented linear zone of fractures and brittle faults that represents an inherited weak zone in the current crustal structure of the (Pre)Cambrian Araçuaí Orogen. In the Early Cretaceous, the CFZ was reactivated during rifting of West Gondwana and subsequent opening of the South Atlantic Ocean, as evidenced by the emplacement of dykes along its structural network and the development of major depocentres of the Campos Basin in the offshore segments of the CFZ. Previous thermochronological studies have demonstrated that the CFZ was also rejuvenated during the drift phase of the South Atlantic. However, a number of questions regarding differential surface uplift and basement exhumation between the CFZ and its surrounding areas, such as the Doce River Valley (DRV), are still unresolved. In this study, we aim to investigate the CFZ as a distinctive structure in the tectonic rejuvenation of the passive margin of south‐east Brazil. Samples from the CFZ and the DRV were collected for apatite fission‐track (AFT) analyses. In the DRV, samples yield AFT central ages from 87 to 97 Ma with mean track lengths (MTL) from 12.6 to 13.3 μm. In contrast, in the CFZ, AFT central ages from 70 to 83 Ma with MTL values from 13.2 and 13.4 μm are obtained. The correlation between AFT age and elevation suggests that the tectonic development of these regions was markedly different and uncoupled. The thermal history models from the AFT data further constrain this differential evolution. On the one hand, thermal history modelling for the DRV indicates a slower and protracted cooling since the incipient Atlantic rifting in the Early Cretaceous. On the other hand, the models for CFZ reveal a rapid cooling phase between the Late Cretaceous to the Palaeocene. In the DRV, the observed basement cooling was most probably triggered by erosion of the uplifted rift shoulder generated by Gondwana break‐up. The more recent, Late Cretaceous–Palaeocene rock cooling, localized in the CFZ, was synchronous with a major phase of the Andean orogeny. This suggests that reactivations and erosional exhumation of the CFZ basement could be a consequence of far‐field propagation of intraplate compressional stress. The higher susceptibility of the CFZ to reactivating over its surroundings shows that structural inheritance is a key factor in the differential tectonic evolution of passive margins. Further research on the Late Cretaceous–Palaeocene reactivation in the CFZ's offshore extension may be crucial for the exploitation of hydrocarbons in the Campos and Espírito Santos basins.

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Rifts and rifting

Macheyeki,

Kafumu

2024

The East African Rift System

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A tectono-stratigraphic review of continental breakup on intraplate continental margins and its impact on resultant hydrocarbon systems

Cited by 44 publications

References 149 publications

Review of Iberia–Eurasia plate‐boundary basins: Role of sedimentary burial and salt tectonics during rifting and continental breakup

Review of Iberia–Eurasia plate‐boundary basins: Role of sedimentary burial and salt tectonics during rifting and continental breakup

Relating differential crustal architecture to passive margin evolution: A case study from the Colatina Fracture Zone (SE Brazil) using apatite fission‐track thermochronology

Rifts and rifting

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