Structure, age, and tectonic evolution of the Gulf of Mexico

Garcia-Reyes, A.; Dyment, J.

doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2021.117259

Earth and Planetary Science Letters

2022

DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2021.117259

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Structure, age, and tectonic evolution of the Gulf of Mexico

A. Garcia-Reyes

J. Dyment

Abstract: The Gulf of Mexico is an isolated oceanic basin whose nature, structure and age are not fully elucidated, mostly because seafloor spreading isochrons have not been identified in this basin so far. We compiled and processed all publicly available marine magnetic data to produce a new magnetic anomaly map of the Gulf of Mexico. This map reveals a fan-like set of intermediate-wavelength (>100 km) magnetic anomalies related to seafloor spreading. Our magnetic anomaly-based plate reconstructions (1) support a count… Show more

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Cited by 3 publications

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“…Part of the puzzle of how the GOM opened was subsequently resolved with the release of satellite-derived gravity data (Sandwell et al, 2014) which provided the needed constraints on plate motion during the period of seafloor spreading. The geometry of the extinct spreading system consisting of ridges, and fracture zones, highlighted from gravity data confirmed the counterclockwise motion of the YB as it drifted away from the North American plate in the late Jurassic time (García-Reyes & Dyment, 2022;Minguez et al, 2020;Nguyen & Mann, 2016). Recent research has focused on the rifted margins surrounding the ocean basin to gain insight into the transitional process between the end of rifting and the initiation of seafloor spreading (Agrawal et al, 2015;Ainsworth et al, 2014;Evanzia et al, 2014).…”

mentioning

confidence: 68%

Insights on Formation of the Gulf of Mexico by Rayleigh Surface Wave Imaging

Nguyen

Levander

Niu

et al. 2022

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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Introduction Geographic SettingPassive margins mark the region where the lithospheric plates break apart and the transition from continental to an oceanic domain takes place. This geologic region preserves a record of the tectonic, magmatic, and sedimentary processes that accompany continental extension and therefore is important to the understanding of plate tectonics. In this study, we investigated the margins surrounding the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), as well as the deep GOM ocean itself, to better understand the Triassic-Jurassic breakup of the North and South American plates during the opening of the Atlantic. The GOM is a relatively small ocean basin situated south of the continental US that is surrounded on the east, north, and west by the North American plate, and on the south by Cuba. The GOM is connected to the Atlantic Ocean through the Florida Straits and to the Caribbean Sea through the Yucatan Channel (Figure 1). A large part of the GOM is occupied by continental margins made up of stretched continental lithosphere with a small ocean basin in the center. The US Gulf Coast margin and the margin offshore Yucatan formed as a conjugate pair during a period of rifting beginning in Late Triassic (∼200 Ma) followed by seafloor spreading starting and ceasing between ∼160 and ∼140 Ma (

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mentioning

confidence: 68%

Insights on Formation of the Gulf of Mexico by Rayleigh Surface Wave Imaging

Nguyen

Levander

Niu

et al. 2022

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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Three-dimensional anisotropic inversion and electrostratigraphic imaging of marine magnetotelluric data to understand the control of crustal deformations by pre-existing lithospheric structures in the Mexican Ridges Fold belt, Southwestern Gulf of Mexico

Meju

Saleh

Karpiah

et al. 2023

Geophysical Journal International

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Summary Three-dimensional (3D) imaging of the lithosphere in the Mexican Ridges fold belt is important for understanding how the crustal deformations in this basin relate to deep tectonic processes and structures inherited from extinct Jurassic seafloor spreading. Here, we use broadband (0.0001–0.4642 Hz) marine magnetotelluric data from the basin to reconstruct the 3D anisotropic resistivities of the lithosphere and their spatial gradients. The resistivity gradients maxima enabled independent definition of important geological boundaries (seen on collocated seismic reflection data) and estimation of crustal thickness. We found anomalous layered zones of low resistivity and high electrical anisotropy at 5-8 km depth (coinciding with the regional detachment zone in Eocene shales in 3D seismic data) and in the upper mantle which we interpret as indicating intense deformation and/or recent magmatic influence. We also found a banded crystalline basement structure across the fossil spreading centre comprising WSW-ENE trending, 6-10 km wide, electrically resistive sub-vertical sheets with conductive and anisotropic borders, which merge into a basal resistive stock-like body at 15-20 km depth. These are cut or bounded by later NNW trending major faults. These WSW and NNW structural trends correlate with the previously interpreted transform and normal faults that formed during the Late Jurassic opening of the Gulf of Mexico only if rotated clockwise by 25–30 degrees. Surprisingly, the rugged thrust-related seabed is offset at the projected positions of the steep resistive-conductive basement sheets (which also have spatially coincident high magnetic intensity and seismicity) enabling us to infer they represent magmatic intrusions facilitated by pre-existing faults. Their conductive borders spatially coincide with possibly fluid-filled vertical fracture-sets in the overlying sediments seen in seismic data which we interpret as hydrothermal fluid pathways. We infer that a magmatic body recently intruded our study area, its ascent controlled by pre-existing basement structures, and influenced the deformation of the Neogene sequences and the seafloor topography.

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Regional source rock thermal stress modeling and map-based charge access modeling of the Port Isabel passive margin foldbelt, northwestern Gulf of Mexico

Bugti

Mann

2023

Interpretation

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The Port Isabel passive margin foldbelt covers 17,000 km2 of the northwestern, deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Seven oil exploration wells were drilled in the area from 1996 to 2007, yielding a single, uncommercial gas discovery. The 5-7 km thick Oligo-Miocene section prevented drilling from penetrating the underlying Paleogene and Mesozoic source rocks. Accommodation space for the Oligo-Miocene section was created by the collapse of a paleo-salt wall, leading to linked fault systems in the upper decollement to the west. We used 13 exploration wells to construct 1D and map-based 2D basin models to investigate the burial and thermal history of three inferred source rock horizons (Paleogene, Turonian, and Tithonian). We interpreted a 2D seismic data grid tied to four wells to constrain stratigraphic depths and thicknesses, younger and shallower Wilcox source rock horizons, and interpreted Jurassic and Cretaceous source rock horizons. Our results show vitrinite reflectance as a proxy for the thermal stress levels reached by the source rocks combined with maps of hydrocarbon charge access. We conclude that all three source rock intervals reached varying degrees of maturity and expelled hydrocarbons in late Paleogene to mid-Neogene and likely continue expelling hydrocarbons to the present-day at a reduced rate. The deposition of the Oligocene and Middle Miocene sedimentary section buried the underlying source intervals and likely brought them into the gas/condensate window at present-day. Our mapping of the seismic grid revealed four-way structural closures, three-way stratigraphic traps, and salt truncation structures associated with amplitude anomalies which may support our predictions for maturity in the underlying source rocks. Thermal stress maps predict source rocks have matured. There arises a need to investigate the hydrocarbon migration model, including assessing charge access for each well. The timing of late trap formation and early hydrocarbon charge remains a risk factor.

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Structure, age, and tectonic evolution of the Gulf of Mexico

Cited by 3 publications

References 42 publications

Insights on Formation of the Gulf of Mexico by Rayleigh Surface Wave Imaging

Insights on Formation of the Gulf of Mexico by Rayleigh Surface Wave Imaging

Three-dimensional anisotropic inversion and electrostratigraphic imaging of marine magnetotelluric data to understand the control of crustal deformations by pre-existing lithospheric structures in the Mexican Ridges Fold belt, Southwestern Gulf of Mexico

Regional source rock thermal stress modeling and map-based charge access modeling of the Port Isabel passive margin foldbelt, northwestern Gulf of Mexico

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