This document provides an overview of sedimentary basin analysis and classification. It discusses the mechanisms of basin formation, including isostatic and dynamic processes, as well as loading mechanisms. Basins are classified based on their tectonic setting, such as rift, passive margin, or arc-related basins. Rift basins form during crustal thinning and extension, and may lead to the opening of ocean basins along passive margins. Arc-related basins include forearc and backarc basins dominated by sediment from volcanic arcs. The classification considers the causes of subsidence and the plate tectonic environment in categorizing different types of sedimentary basins.
This document provides an overview of sedimentary basin analysis and classification. It discusses the mechanisms of basin formation, including isostatic and dynamic processes, as well as loading mechanisms. Basins are classified based on their tectonic setting, such as rift, passive margin, or arc-related basins. Rift basins form during crustal thinning and extension, and may lead to the opening of ocean basins along passive margins. Arc-related basins include forearc and backarc basins dominated by sediment from volcanic arcs. The classification considers the causes of subsidence and the plate tectonic environment in categorizing different types of sedimentary basins.
This document provides an overview of sedimentary basin analysis and classification. It discusses the mechanisms of basin formation, including isostatic and dynamic processes, as well as loading mechanisms. Basins are classified based on their tectonic setting, such as rift, passive margin, or arc-related basins. Rift basins form during crustal thinning and extension, and may lead to the opening of ocean basins along passive margins. Arc-related basins include forearc and backarc basins dominated by sediment from volcanic arcs. The classification considers the causes of subsidence and the plate tectonic environment in categorizing different types of sedimentary basins.
This document provides an overview of sedimentary basin analysis and classification. It discusses the mechanisms of basin formation, including isostatic and dynamic processes, as well as loading mechanisms. Basins are classified based on their tectonic setting, such as rift, passive margin, or arc-related basins. Rift basins form during crustal thinning and extension, and may lead to the opening of ocean basins along passive margins. Arc-related basins include forearc and backarc basins dominated by sediment from volcanic arcs. The classification considers the causes of subsidence and the plate tectonic environment in categorizing different types of sedimentary basins.
What is a basin? Repository for sediment Formed by crustal subsidence relative to surrounding areas Surrounding areas sometimes uplifted Many different shapes, sizes and mechanisms of formation Introduction Zonation of the Earth – Composition • Crust • Mantle • Core Introduction Zonation of the Upper Earth –Rheology Lithosphere Rigid outer shell Crust and upper mantle
Asthenosphere Weaker than lithosphere Flows (plastic deformation) Introduction Zonation of the Upper Earth –Rheology • Vertical motions (subsidence, uplift) in sedimentary basins are primarily in response to deformation of lithosphere and asthenosphere • Plate motions • Plate-plate interactions can generate vertical crustal movements • We will examine basins according to their positions with respect to plate boundaries and plate-plate interactions • “Wilson Cycle” – opening and closing of ocean basins Introduction
Three types of plate boundaries:
Divergent – plates moving apart Mid-ocean ridges, rifts Convergent – plates moving towards each other Subduction zones,collision Conservative -transform– plates move parallel to each other Strike-slip systems KOMPRESI
Hall (1996) Extension Proto-oceanic troughs form the transitional stage to the development of large ocean basins, and are underlain by incipient oceanic crust Passive margins develop on continental margins along the edges of ocean basins; subsidence is caused by lithospheric cooling and sediment loading, and depending on the environmental setting clastic or carbonate facies may dominate Ocean basins are dominated by pelagic deposition (biogenic material and clays) in the central parts and turbidites along the margins
20 21 Collision/compression Subduction is a common process at active margins where plates collide and at least one oceanic plate is involved; several types of sedimentary basins can be formed due to subduction, including trench basins, forearc basins, backarc basins, and retroarc foreland basins Trench basins can be very deep, and the sedimentary fill depends primarily on whether they are intra-oceanic or proximal to a continent Accretionary prisms are ocean sediments that are scraped off the subducting plate; they sometimes form island chains
22 23 24 Collision Forearc basins form between the accretionary prism and the volcanic arc and subside entirely due to sediment loading; like trench basins, their fill depends strongly on whether they are intra-oceanic or proximal to a continent Backarc basins are extensional basins that may form on the overriding plate, behind the volcanic arc Retroarc foreland basins form as a result of lithospheric loading behind a mountainous arc under a compressional regime; they are commonly filled with continental deposits
25 Collision Continental collision leads to the creation of orogenic (mountain) belts; lithospheric loading causes the development of peripheral foreland basins, which typically exhibit a fill from deep marine through shallow marine to continental deposits Foreland basins can accumulate exceptionally thick (~10 km) stratigraphic successions
26 Transtension Strike-slip basins form in transtensional regimes and are usually relatively small but also deep; they are commonly filled with coarse facies (e.g., alluvial fans) adjacent to lacustrine or marine deposits
27 Mechanisms of Basin Formation Major mechanisms for regional subsidence/uplift: Isostatic – changes in crustal or lithospheric thickness Loading – by thrust sheets, volcanic piles, sediment Dynamic effects – asthenospheric flow, mantle convection, plumes
Isostatic Processes: Crustal thinning Extensional stretching, erosion during uplift, magmatic withdrawal Mantle-Lithosphere Thickening Cooling of lithosphere, following cessation of stretching or cessation of heating Isostatic Concept Mechanisms of Basin Formation Isostatic Processes: • Crustal densification • Density increase due to changing pressure/temperature conditions and/or emplacement of higher density melts into lower density crust Loading: • Local isostatic compensation of crust and regional lithospheric flexure • Dependent on flexural rigidity of lithosphere Mechanisms of Basin Formation
Loading: • Sedimentary or Volcanic Loading • Tectonic loading • During overthrusting and/or underpulling • Subcrustal loading • Lithospheric flexure during underthrusting of dense lithosphere Mechanisms of Basin Formation
Dynamic effects: Asthenospheric flow Descent or delamination of subducted lithosphere Mantle convection Plumes Basin Classification
This course – hybrid
approach: • What causes subsidence? • What is tectonic setting? • We do not have time to cover all types of basins • Focus on selected basin types Basin Classification
• Basins can be related to tectonic setting
• Position with respect to plate boundary • Nature of plate boundary • “Wilson Cycle” Basin Classification Rift Basins • Seismic studies indicate rifts overlie thinned crust • Evidence for thermal anomalies at depth: Negative Bouguer gravity anomalies High heat flow Bimodal volcanic activity Basin Classification
Rift Basins Active rifting: Mantle upwelling causes crustal thinning (heating) Thinning leads to uplift Uplift leads to tension and rifting
Passive rifting: Regional extension causes failure Hot mantle rocks rise and penetrate lithosphere Basin Classification Rift Basins • Rift fill commonly consists of “continental” deposits • Fluvial, lacustrine, alluvial fans • Evaporites may form if rift valley/basin is located in a hot, dry area Invasion of the sea • Closed drainage basins • Volcanic rocks, and associated intrusions, may be present Basin Classification
Continued rifting can lead
to formation of oceanic crust – opening of ocean basin E.g., Red Sea “Rift-Drift” transition Rift-drift transition may be marked by a “breakup unconformity” If rift associated with subaerial relief at onset of drifting Basin Classification Passive Margins Strongly attenuated continental crust Stretched over distances of 50-500 km Overlain by seaward- thickening sediment prisms Typically shallow-marine deposits Sometimes referred to as “Atlantic-type margins” or “continental rises and terraces” (Boggs) Basin Classification Passive Margins Subsidence variable in space and time Subsidence rate increases in offshore direction Subsidence rate decreases with time for all parts of the profile Basin Classification
Passive Margins Morphology characterized by shelf, slope and continental rise Shelf margin builds out with time Shelf sediments can be clastic or carbonate Water depth stays relatively constant on shelf Abundant sediment supply Basin Classification Passive Margins Slope/rise – material shed from continental shelf during lowstands (clastic systems) Aprons/fans deposited along slope/rise Also pelagic sediments, contourites, etc. Gravity-driven deformation common in drift-phase sediments Listric growth faults, salt tectonics mud diapirs, etc. Basin Classification Arc-related basins Forearc and backarc basins dominated by sediment derived from arc Immature clastics Backarc basin may also have component derived from continent Deep-sea trench has sediments derived from arc and sediments scraped off subducting oceanic crust “Melange” Basin Classification Foreland basins Crustal loading of thrust sheets causes subsidence May face towards or away from continental interior Ocean- continent or continent-continent collision Rate of subsidence greatest adjacent to thrust loading Basin Classification
Foreland basins Generally clastic – high sediment input from adjacent uplifts “Clastic wedges” Date thrusting Carbonates in some settings Marine or non-marine fill Turbidites, pelagic, deltaic, shoreface/shelf, fluvial Basin fill adjacent to thrusting typically gets caught up in deformation Basin Classification Intracratonic Basins “Interior Basins” Semi-circular to ovate downwarps Within continental interiors Otherwise stable cratonic areas Away from plate boundaries Basin Classification Intracratonic Basins Causes of subsidence? Underlying rifts, large- scale fault blocks Cooling after intrusion of dense material Mantle “cold” spots (downwelling) Phase changes Subsidence greatest towards center of basin Basin Classification Intracratonic Basins Sedimentary fill terrestrial or marine Carbonates, clastics, evaporites Other basins, e.g. basis associated with wrench faulting, Some basins have had multiple-phase history Sometimes related to reactivation because of changes in plate tectonic setting E.g., Western Canada Sedimentary Basin TERIMA KASIH
