Footwall degradation styles and associated sedimentary facies distribution in SE Crete: Insights into tilt-block extensional basins on continental margins

Alves, Tiago Marcos; Cupkovic, Tomas

doi:10.1016/j.sedgeo.2018.02.001

Cited by 23 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…The few studies that attempt an integrated assessment of footwall degradation and hangingwall architecture are mainly from recently active systems (e.g. Alves & Cupkovic, 2018; Collier & Gawthorpe, 1995; Pechlivanidou et al., 2018), and lack 3D constraints.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative analysis of a footwall‐scarp degradation complex and syn‐rift stratigraphic architecture, Exmouth Plateau, NW Shelf, offshore Australia

et al. 2020

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Interactions between footwall-, hangingwall-and axial-derived depositional systems make syn-rift stratigraphic architecture difficult to predict, and preservation of neterosional source landscapes is limited. Distinguishing between deposits derived from fault-scarp degradation (consequent systems) and those derived from long-lived catchments beyond the fault block crest (antecedent systems) is also challenging, but important for hydrocarbon reservoir prospecting. We undertake geometric and volumetric analysis of a fault-scarp degradation complex and adjacent hangingwall-fill associated with the Thebe-2 fault block on the Exmouth Plateau, NW Shelf, offshore Australia, using high resolution 3D seismic data. Vertical and headward erosion of the complex and fault throw are measured. Seismic-stratigraphic and seismic facies mapping allow us to constrain the spatial and architectural variability of depositional systems in the hangingwall. Footwall-derived systems interacted with hangingwalland axial-derived systems, through diversion around topography, interfingering or successive onlap. We calculate the volume of footwall-sourced hangingwall fans (V HW) for nine quadrants along the fault block, and compare this to the volume of material eroded from the immediately up-dip fault-scarp (V FW). This analysis highlights areas of sediment bypass (V FW > V HW) and areas fed by sediment sources beyond the degraded fault scarp (V HW > V FW). Exposure of the border fault footwall and adjacent fault terraces produced small catchments located beyond the fault block crest that fed the hangingwall basin. One source persisted throughout the main synrift episode, and its location coincided with: (a) an intra-basin topographic high; (b) a local fault throw minimum; (c) increased vertical and headward erosion within the fault-scarp degradation complex; and (d) sustained clinoform development in the immediate hangingwall. Our novel quantitative volumetric approach to identify through-going sediment input points could be applied to other rift basin-fills. We highlight implications for hydrocarbon exploration and emphasize the need to incorporate interaction of multiple sediment sources and their resultant architecture in tectono-stratigraphic models for rift basins.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative analysis of a footwall‐scarp degradation complex and syn‐rift stratigraphic architecture, Exmouth Plateau, NW Shelf, offshore Australia

et al. 2020

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show abstract

“…The few studies that attempt an integrated assessment of footwall degradation and hangingwall architecture are mainly from recently active systems (e.g. Alves & Cupkovic, 2018;Collier & Gawthorpe, 1995;Pechlivanidou et al, 2018), and lack 3D constraints.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative analysis of a footwall-scarp degradation complex and syn-rift stratigraphic architecture, Exmouth Plateau, NW Shelf, offshore Australia

Barrett¹,

Hodgson²,

Jackson³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Interactions between footwall-, hangingwall- and axial-derived depositional systems make syn-rift stratigraphic architecture difficult to predict, and preservation of net-erosional source landscapes is limited. Distinguishing between deposits derived from fault-scarp degradation (consequent systems) and those derived from long-lived catchments beyond the fault crest (antecedent systems) is also challenging but important for hydrocarbon reservoir prospecting. We undertake geometric and volumetric analysis of a fault-scarp degradation complex and adjacent hangingwall-fill associated with an individual fault block in the northern Carnarvon Basin, NW Shelf, Australia. Fault throw, and vertical and headward erosion of the complex are measured. Seismic-stratigraphic and seismic facies analyses allow us to constrain the along-strike architectural variability of the footwall-derived fans in the hangingwall. Footwall-derived systems interacted with hangingwall- and axial-derived systems, through diversion around topography, interfingering, or successive onlap. We calculate the volume of footwall-sourced hangingwall fans for nine quadrants along the fault block, and compare this to the volume of material eroded from the immediately up-dip fault-scarp. This analysis highlights areas of sediment bypass (excess erosion) and areas fed by sediment sources beyond the degraded fault scarp (excess hangingwall-fill). Exposure of the border fault footwall and adjacent fault terraces produced small catchments located beyond the fault crest that fed the hangingwall basin. One source persisted nearly throughout the syn-rift episode, and its location coincided with: (i) an intra-basin topographic high; (ii) a local fault throw minimum, possibly representing a breached relay ramp; (iii) increased vertical and headward erosion within the fault-scarp degradation complex; and (iv) sustained clinoform development in the immediate hangingwall. Our novel quantitative volumetric approach to identify through-going sediment input points and areas dominated by sediment bypass could be applied to other rift basin-fills. We also emphasise the need to incorporate interaction of multiple sediment sources and their resultant architecture in tectono-stratigraphic models for rift basins.

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“…However, upper Oligocene sediment on the shoulders of the Xisha Trough appears not to be related to a more central, axial transport (Figure 13). Considering their U-Pb age peaks, we suggest that sediment deposited on the shoulders of the Xisha Trough was derived from proximal sources, such as structural highs and other fault-bounded topography (e.g Alves & Cupkovic, 2018).…”

Section: 1029/2019jb018610mentioning

confidence: 99%

Rift Structure and Sediment Infill of Hyperextended Continental Crust: Insights From 3D Seismic and Well Data (Xisha Trough, South China Sea)

et al. 2020

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Three‐dimensional seismic and well data from the deepwater Xisha Trough are used to investigate the rift structure and sediment infill of a region formed adjacently to the initial oceanic ridge of the South China Sea (SCS). The high‐quality data permitted a detailed analysis of features such as (1) detachment faults soling out at the Moho, (2) rotated and thinned continental blocks covered by thick sediment, and (3) changes in the location of basin depocenters resulting from detachment faulting. During the continental rifting phase (Eocene to earliest Oligocene), faulting was broadly distributed in the Xisha Trough and resulted in the generation of isolated grabens/half grabens filled by proximal sediment sources. During continental breakup in the Northwest Ocean Sector of SCS (Oligocene), extension became restricted to a narrow region where highly tilted continental blocks and thin crust were formed. Sediment was, at that time, fed to distal depocenters, which are presently bounded by listric faults rooted in a basal detachment. Later in a second stage (early Miocene), synchronously with continental breakup in the Southwest Ocean Sector of the SCS, the study area was blanketed by thick sediment. During the two continental breakup events, the hyperextended Xisha Trough was affected by closely spaced, small‐scale faults rather than large basement‐related structures. Our study highlights the effect of continental breakup as a way to broaden sediment influx from multiple sources into deepwater basins. As a corollary, this work recognizes two distinct breakup sequences in the Xisha Trough and concludes on their geodynamic significance to the SCS.

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Footwall degradation styles and associated sedimentary facies distribution in SE Crete: Insights into tilt-block extensional basins on continental margins

Cited by 23 publications

References 54 publications

Quantitative analysis of a footwall‐scarp degradation complex and syn‐rift stratigraphic architecture, Exmouth Plateau, NW Shelf, offshore Australia

Quantitative analysis of a footwall‐scarp degradation complex and syn‐rift stratigraphic architecture, Exmouth Plateau, NW Shelf, offshore Australia

Quantitative analysis of a footwall-scarp degradation complex and syn-rift stratigraphic architecture, Exmouth Plateau, NW Shelf, offshore Australia

Rift Structure and Sediment Infill of Hyperextended Continental Crust: Insights From 3D Seismic and Well Data (Xisha Trough, South China Sea)

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