Rift to drift transition in the South Atlantic salt basins: A new flavor of oceanic crust

Norton, Ian O.; Carruthers, Daniel; Hudec, Michael R.

doi:10.1130/g37265.1

Cited by 60 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…This mechanism is described by Norton et al. () and we direct readers to that publication for more details.…”

Section: Application Of Extensional Models To the Northern Gulf Of Mementioning

confidence: 86%

“…Figure S2). Some researchers interpret them to be volcanic seaward dipping reflectors (SDRs): subaerial lava flows erupted at a seaward‐migrating volcanic centre (Eddy et al., ; Imbert, ; Imbert & Philippe, ; Norton et al., ). These lava flows are derived from asthenospheric mantle and represent voluminous volcanic activity prior to seafloor spreading (Geoffroy, ; Mutter, Talwani, & Stoffa, ; Quirk, Shakerley, & Howe, ).…”

Section: Geologic Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The presented models are conceptual, yet grounded in data and based on physical, thermo-mechanical, and other conceptual models presented widely in the literature (e.g. Huismans & Beaumont, 2011;McKenzie, 1978;Norton et al, 2016;P eron-Pinvidic & Manatschal, 2009;Rowan, 2014). We use Midland Valley 2D Move TM software to construct the kinematic models and ensure structural and isostatic balance of all lithospheric layers at each time step while also incorporating thermal isostasy at each stage; this balancing is an improvement from purely schematic models because it demands adherence to physical laws.…”

Section: Geologic Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In regions where this feature is observed, in a volcanic margin it may represent a region where oceanic crust was emplaced beneath salt, which would make the relief on the landward dipping ramp a relic volcano, formed when the salt thinned sufficiently and normal oceanic spreading commenced. This mechanism is described by Norton et al (2016) and we direct readers to that publication for more details.…”

Section: Basement Morphology: Mechanisms For Creation Of An Outer Mmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, the Gulf of Mexico passive‐margin salt basin has been interpreted as both a magma‐rich margin (Eddy et al., ; Imbert, ; Norton, Carruthers, & Hudec, ) and magma‐poor margin (Pindell et al., ; Rowan, ). With presalt sequences becoming targets of exploration efforts in the offshore Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, and other passive‐margin salt basins, there is considerable speculation concerning the lateral extent of the presalt play.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Extensional models for the development of passive‐margin salt basins, with application to the Gulf of Mexico

et al. 2018

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Recent subsalt petroleum discoveries associated with rifted‐margin salt basins have piqued interest in the presalt geology of the Gulf of Mexico margin. Available subsurface data does not uniquely constrain the subsalt geometry, so creating an interpretation of the crustal architecture requires the application of geological models for crustal extension and breakup. However, published interpretations of the nature of the transition from continental rifting to seafloor spreading range from magma‐rich to magma‐poor. To address this uncertainty, we present 2D forward kinematic models for crustal configurations generated by diverse models (symmetric extension, depth‐dependent extension, and volcanic extension). Through a series of conceptual balanced cross‐sections grounded in a ~600 km 2D seismic line from the NE Gulf of Mexico, we demonstrate the implications of each model for the limit of oceanic crust, basement morphology, crustal architecture, and hydrocarbon prospectivity. We discuss evidence for the dominant crustal processes, including geodynamic factors and structural and stratigraphic observations. Based on our observations and the geologic history, we favour an asymmetric, magma‐poor to ‐intermediate margin interpretation for the NE Gulf of Mexico, but suggest that the degree of volcanic input and width of the ocean‐continent transition zone may vary along strike. The along‐strike variability highlights the importance of understanding all potential presalt crustal configurations, their key features, and their implications. With increased data availability on the presalt geology in the Gulf of Mexico the relevance of these scenarios can be assessed, allowing development of comprehensive geodynamic and tectonic models of the margin and consideration of petroleum system elements in the presalt sequence.

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“…This mechanism is described by Norton et al. () and we direct readers to that publication for more details.…”

Section: Application Of Extensional Models To the Northern Gulf Of Mementioning

confidence: 86%

Section: Geologic Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Geologic Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Basement Morphology: Mechanisms For Creation Of An Outer Mmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Extensional models for the development of passive‐margin salt basins, with application to the Gulf of Mexico

et al. 2018

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Salt Formation, Accumulation, and Expulsion Processes During Ocean Rifting—New Insight Gained from the Red Sea

Hovland¹,

Rueslåtten²,

Johnsen³

2018

Geological Setting, Palaeoenvironment and Archaeology of the Red Sea

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Rifting and Salt Deposition on Continental Margins: Differences and Similarities Between the Red Sea and the South Atlantic Sedimentary Basins

Mohriak

2018

Geological Setting, Palaeoenvironment and Archaeology of the Red Sea

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Rift to drift transition in the South Atlantic salt basins: A new flavor of oceanic crust

Cited by 60 publications

References 29 publications

Extensional models for the development of passive‐margin salt basins, with application to the Gulf of Mexico

Extensional models for the development of passive‐margin salt basins, with application to the Gulf of Mexico

Salt Formation, Accumulation, and Expulsion Processes During Ocean Rifting—New Insight Gained from the Red Sea

Rifting and Salt Deposition on Continental Margins: Differences and Similarities Between the Red Sea and the South Atlantic Sedimentary Basins

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