Tectonic evolution of the equatorial South Atlantic

Matos, Renato M. Darros de

doi:10.1029/gm115p0331

Cited by 76 publications

(21 citation statements)

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“…The Recôncavo-Tucano-Jatobá rift basins of northeastern Brazil formed during the Neocomian during the opening of the South Atlantic Ocean (Milani and Davison, 1988;Heine et al, 2013). Previous studies (e.g., Milani and Davison, 1988;Darros de Matos, 1992, 2000 have shown that complex structural framework of these rift basins was strongly controlled by pre-existing crustal heterogeneities associated with E-W to NE-SW-trending Pan-African shear zones (Milani, 1987;Magnavita, 1992; Fig. 13A).…”

Section: Recôncavo-tucano-jatobá Basinsmentioning

confidence: 92%

Interactions between propagating rifts and linear weaknesses in the lower crust

2019

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■ ABSTRACT Pre-existing structures in the crust such as shear zones, faults, and mobile belts are known to exert a significant control on the structural evolution of continental rifts. However, the influence of such features when the extension direction progressively changes over time remains uncertain. Here we present new results from three-dimensional lithospheric-scale laboratory experiments of rotational extension that provide key insights into the temporal evolution of propagating rifts. We specifically test and characterize how rifts propagate and interact with linear crustal rheological heterogeneities oriented at variable angles with respect to the extension direction. Results show that approximately rift-parallel pre-existing heterogeneities favor the formation of long, linear faults that reach near-final lengths at early stages. Low angles between the heterogeneities and the propagating rift axis may result in strong strikeslip reactivation of the pre-existing structures if they are suitably oriented with respect to the stretching direction. When the linear heterogeneities are oriented at intermediate to high angles rift branches become laterally offset as they propagate, resulting in complex rhombic fault patterns. Rift-perpendicular crustal heterogeneities do not affect fault trends during rift propagation, but cause stalling and deepening of laterally growing rift basins. Similarities between the analogue experimental results and selected natural examples provide insights on how nature finds the preferential pathway to breakup in heterogeneous continental lithosphere.

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Section: Recôncavo-tucano-jatobá Basinsmentioning

confidence: 92%

Interactions between propagating rifts and linear weaknesses in the lower crust

2019

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“…Submarine magmatic structures such as volcanoes, vents and intrusions often occur in rifted margins, ocean spreading centre, intraplate hot spots and arcs along subduction zones (De Ronde et al, ; Harding et al, ; Hekinian et al, ; Ingebritsen, Geiger, Hurwitz, & Driesner, ; Langmuir et al, ; Magee, Jackson, & Schofield, ; Medialdea et al, ; Planke, Symonds, Alvestad, & Skogseid, , Planke, Rasmussen, Rey, & Myklebust, 2005; Sun et al, ; Wheeler et al, ). They have been extensively studied over the past decades due to their importance for influences on basin tectonic evolution, petroleum exploration and submarine mineral deposits (Darros De Matos, ; Fjeldskaar, Helset, Johansen, Grunnaleite, & Horstad, ; Medialdea et al, ; Petersen et al, ; Pirajno & Van Kranendonk, ; Sun, Wu, Cartwright, Lüdmann, & Yao, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Post‐seafloor spreading magmatism and associated magmatic hydrothermal systems in the Xisha uplift region, northwestern South China Sea

Gao

Bangs

et al. 2019

Basin Research

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Submarine magmatism and associated hydrothermal fluid flows has significant feedback influence on the petroleum geology of sedimentary basins. This study uses new seismic profiles and multibeam bathymetric data to examine the morphology and internal architecture of post-seafloor spreading magmatic structures, especially volcanoes of the Xisha uplift, in extensive detail. We discover for the first time hydrothermal systems derived from magmatism in the northwestern South China Sea. Numerous solitary volcanoes and volcanic groups occur in the Xisha uplift and produce distinct seismic reflections together with plutons. Sills and other localized amplitude anomalies were fed by extrusions/intrusions and associated fluid flow through fractures and sedimentary layers that may act as conduits for magma and fluid flows transport. Hydrothermal structures such as pipes and pockmarks mainly occur in the proximity of volcanoes or accompany volcanic groups. Pipes, pockmarks and localized amplitude anomalies mainly constitute the magmatic hydrothermal systems, which are probably driven by post-seafloor spreading volcanoes/plutons. The hydrothermal fluid flows released by magma degassing or/and related boiling of pore fluids/metamorphic dehydration reactions in sediments produced local overpressures, which drove upward flow of fluid or horizontal flow into the sediments or even seafloor. Results show that post-seafloor spreading magmatic activity is more intense during a 5.5 Ma event than one in 2.6 Ma, whereas the hydrothermal activities are more active during 2.6 Ma than in 5.5 Ma. Our analysis indicates that post-seafloor spreading magmatism may have a significant effect on hydrocarbon maturation and gas hydrate formation in the Xisha uplift and adjacent petroliferous basins. Consequently the study presented here improves our understanding of hydrocarbon exploration in the northwestern South China Sea. K E Y W O R D S hydrothermal fluid flows, NW South China Sea, post-seafloor spreading magmatism, Xisha uplift | 689 EAGE GAO et Al. 692 | EAGE GAO et Al. the top of the Huangliu formation, is the boundary of late Miocene and Pliocene (about 5.5 Ma).

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“…The BEM is therefore a transform margin, however, the post-breakup tectono-sedimentary evolution has been interpreted as behaving like a normal rifted margin such as the East Brazilian cost, with the main subsidence mechanisms driven by thermal and isostatic subsidence. Nevertheless, it has not ruled out the role of the fracture zones in the tectonic reworking of the drift sedimentary section over the Upper Cretaceous and Cenozoic until the present Marinho and Mascle, 1987;Szatmari et al, 1987;Zanotto and Szatmari, 1987;Matos, 1999Matos, , 2000Milani and Thomaz Filho, 2000;Mohriak, 2003;Moulin et al, 2010).…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Those located to the south of the Romanche fracture zone (Ceará and Potiguar) breaked up at the end of the Aptian and those located to the north of the referred zone breaked up at the end of the Albian. The Romanche fracture zone acted for some million years as an accommodation zone for the strike slip tectonic stress at the Equatorial Margin breakup (Matos, 1999(Matos, , 2000Condé et al, 2007;Figueiredo et al, 2007;Pessoa Neto et al, 2007;Soares et al, 2007;Trosdtorf et al, 2007;Moulin et al, 2010).…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%