Passive margin basin evolution in the Rockall Region, North Atlantic

Seismic stratigraphy of the southern Rockall Basin: a comparison between wide-angle seismic and normal incidence reflection data

“…Reflections are generally of relatively high-amplitude and with moderate to high continuity. This sequence correlates with seismic sequence RT1 of Shannon et al (1993), which they interpreted as being Paleocene marine shales and limestones. Sequence RB6 is bounded at its top by a late Eocene regional unconformity (C30 of Stoker et al, 2001).…”

“…It forms the lower boundary of a sequence (RB5) with variable seismic character, having discontinuous flat-lying, locally dipping, reflections. Sequence RB5 correlates with seismic sequence RT2 of Shannon et al (1993) and megasequence RTc of Stoker et al (2001). Stoker et al (2001) interpreted this sequence as being of late Eocene to early Miocene age.…”

“…Several stratigraphic interpretations, based on the seismic reflection characteristics of the Tertiary succession in the Rockall Basin, have been published (Masson & Kidd, 1986;McDonnell & Shannon, 2001;Roberts, 1975;Shannon et al, 1993;Stoker et al, 2001). We have integrated our stratigraphic interpretation and data comparison with recent regional studies (McDonnell & Shannon, 2001;Stoker et al, 2001) that combined previous knowledge with extensive seismic and shallow borehole data.…”

“…1). We present a seismic stratigraphy for the RAPIDS profile 33 velocity model based on correlation between the wide-angle data and normal incidence data, shallow seismic site surveys, shallow borehole cores and tectonostratigraphic studies (Shannon et al, 1993Stoker et al, 2001). The objectives of the paper are to compare both types of data and the interpretations that can be drawn from them, and to demonstrate the benefits of comparing and integrating complementary data sets in basin analysis.…”

“…Several normal incidence reflection surveys in the southern Rockall Basin (e.g. England & Hobbs, 1997;Shannon, Moore, Jacob, & Makris, 1993; provide good quality data above a complex of extensive Palaeogene sills that intrude at approximately the top of the Cretaceous succession. Wide-angle reflection/refraction techniques are more successful in imaging beneath the sills, thereby providing greater information on the deeper sediments and crustal structure (e.g.…”