Tectonic controls on Late Cretaceous sediment provenance and stratigraphic architecture in the Book Cliffs, Utah

2018 ◽  
Vol 130 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 1763-1781 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas C. Bartschi ◽  
Joel E. Saylor ◽  
Thomas J. Lapen ◽  
Michael D. Blum ◽  
Bridget S. Pettit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Late Cretaceous ◽  
Sediment Provenance ◽  
Book Cliffs ◽  
Stratigraphic Architecture ◽  
Cretaceous Sediment

Use of spectral gamma-ray data to refine subsurface fluvial stratigraphy: late Cretaceous strata in the Book Cliffs, Utah, USA

2005 ◽  
Vol 162 (4) ◽  
pp. 603-621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary J. Hampson ◽  
William Davies ◽  
Sarah J. Davies ◽  
John A. Howell ◽  
Keith R. Adamson
Keyword(s):  
Late Cretaceous ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Book Cliffs

Tectonostratigraphic framework of the Lower Keraudren Formation, Bedout Sub-basin: interplay of tectonics and sedimentary systems

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 839 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon Minken ◽  
Melissa Thompson ◽  
Jack Woodward ◽  
Fred Fernandes ◽  
Rylan Fabrici
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Data ◽  
Middle Triassic ◽  
Sediment Supply ◽  
Sediment Provenance ◽  
Reservoir Quality ◽  
Dispersal Patterns ◽  
North West ◽  
Sediment Dispersal ◽  
Stratigraphic Architecture ◽  
Basin Geometry

Recent drilling activity and new seismic data have contributed to the understanding of the Lower Keraudren Formation in the Bedout Sub-Basin. The Lower Keraudren Formation is a thick (>5 km) succession of strata that was deposited rapidly during the Anisian of the Middle Triassic. Distinctive characteristics related to sediment provenance, sediment supply and accommodation have facilitated subdivision of the Formation into eight informal units: the Milne, Crespin, Baxter, Caley, Hove, Barret, Palma, and Huxley members. Tectonic elements of the East Gondwana Interior Rift and the Bedout High influenced the Sub-basin geometry during deposition of the Lower Keraudren. Extensional tectonics of the East Gondwana Interior Rift generated a series of Palaeozoic tilted fault blocks and grabens, which influenced the stratigraphic architecture, sediment dispersal patterns and distribution of reservoir and source rock facies. The structurally proud Bedout High, a roughly circular (~60 km wide) igneous feature, created a northern boundary to deposition. Seismic stratigraphic interpretation has characterised the interval as a series of north west prograding wedges. Well based data indicates the section is dominated by fluvio-deltaic deposits. Separating the Caley and Hove Members is a significant unconformity that is associated with renewed uplift of the Bedout High and a change in sediment provenance. Chemostratigraphy and petrology indicates the Caley and older strata were derived from a more mature sediment source, whereas the Hove and younger a more immature metamorphic source. Distinct changes in reservoir quality are observed above and below the Caley–Hove unconformity. Below the unconformity, the older, more mature sandstones exhibit superior reservoir quality compared with the younger, more immature sandstones.

Application of chemostratigraphy to the Mungaroo Formation, the Gorgon field, offshore northwest Australia

2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ken Ratcliffe ◽  
Milly Wright ◽  
Paul Montgomery ◽  
Andy Palfrey ◽  
Adam Vonk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gas Production ◽  
Sediment Provenance ◽  
Geochemical Data ◽  
Hydrocarbon Reservoir ◽  
Reservoir Models ◽  
Stratigraphic Architecture ◽  
Sustained Change ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The One ◽  
Major Hydrocarbon

The Mungaroo Formation in the Gorgon Field is a stratigraphically complex fluvial system of Triassic age. It is also a major hydrocarbon reservoir, therefore understanding its internal stratigraphic architecture is of paramount importance to exploitation of its reserves. Here, the technique of chemostratigraphy is used to construct a correlation framework for the Mungaroo Formation of the Gorgon Field. Chemostratigraphy is a tool that employs variations in inorganic whole rock geochemistry to enable the characterisation and subsequent correlation of sediments. For this study, a total of 1,514 cuttings and core samples from eight wells in the Gorgon Field have been analysed. Using data derived from both claystone and sandstone lithologies, the Mungaroo Formation is divided into nine chemostratigraphic packages, 22 geochemical units and 19 sand units. Additionally, three surfaces identified as time lines (T1–T3) are geochemically defined. Changes in values of Ga/Rb and Al2O3/(CaO+ MgO+K2O+Na2O) indicate that during deposition of the Mungaroo Formation, the paleoclimate became warmer and wetter, resulting in increasingly intense hydrolytic weathering. Steps in the values of these ratios allow three surfaces to be identified (T1–T3), at which there is a marked and sustained change in the paleoclimate. These three surfaces represent time lines that provide a quasi-chronostratigraphic framework for the formation. Values of Cr/Al2O3, Cr/Na2O and Nb/Al2O3 are related to changes in sediment provenance and indicate that during deposition of the Mungaroo Formation the provenance became more mafic and less intermediate. It is variations in paleoclimate and provenance modelled from the geochemical data that allows the packages, units and sand units to be characterised and correlated. The chemostratigraphic correlation is more detailed than is available from other stratigraphic techniques. Although in most instances the lithostratigraphic correlation of sand units based on wireline log correlation matches the one defined using chemostratigraphy, there are some significant differences between the two that influence reservoir models and gas production.

scholarly journals A magnetostratigraphic age constraint for the proximal synorogenic conglomerates of the Late Cretaceous Cordilleran foreland basin, northeast Utah, USA

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziaul Haque ◽  
John W. Geissman ◽  
Peter G. DeCelles ◽  
Barbara Carrapa
Keyword(s):  
Late Cretaceous ◽  
Foreland Basin ◽  
Magnetic Polarity ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Sediment Provenance ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Magnetic Carriers ◽  
Normal Polarity ◽  
Cordilleran Foreland ◽  
Geomagnetic Polarity

Reliable ages of proximal conglomerates in the Cordilleran foreland basin that are associated with emplacement and erosion of major thrust sheets are essential for reconstructing the kinematic history of the Sevier fold-thrust belt. Although these conglomerates have been dated by palynology, their absolute ages have been difficult to determine because of their coarse-grained texture and a lack of marine interbeds and tuffaceous deposits. We collected sets of oriented samples from outcrops in northeastern Utah, USA, to construct an overall magnetic polarity stratigraphy that can be correlated to the geomagnetic polarity time scale (GPTS). We sampled fine-grained, hematitic interbeds in the Upper Cretaceous Echo Canyon Conglomerate and Weber Canyon Conglomerate. Common paleomagnetic and rock magnetic analyses were conducted, and several rock magnetic results indicated that the dominant magnetic carriers in these weakly magnetized rocks are hematite and very subordinate magnetite/titanomagnetite/maghemite and goethite. Demagnetization results show that hematitic, fine-grained sandstone to siltstone intervals carry a geologically stable magnetization with directions and polarity consistent with the Late Cretaceous geomagnetic field. A small percentage of samples carry a low laboratory unblocking temperature secondary overprint residing primarily in goethite. Magnetic polarity results indicate that the Echo Canyon Conglomerate is exclusively of normal polarity and that the younger Weber Canyon Conglomerate is of normal polarity in its lowermost part, reverse polarity in the middle, and normal polarity in the upper part of the sequence. The new data indicate that these coarse-grained strata were most likely deposited over the time span of the magnetic polarity Chron (C) 34n to C33r interval and the younger C33r to C33n interval; the former interval includes the Santonian-Campanian stage boundary (ca. 83.4 Ma/83.1 Ma). Palynological data suggest that these rocks span Coniacian-Santonian time (ca. 89−84 Ma); thus, the most parsimonious correlation of the normal polarity magnetozone of the Echo Canyon Conglomerate is with the youngest part of C34n Superchron, which is of ca. 30 Ma duration (ca. 115 Ma to 83.4 Ma/83.1 Ma). The normal polarity magnetozone of the lower part of the younger Weber Canyon Conglomerate likely correlates to the youngest part of C34n, whereas the reverse and normal magnetozone from the middle and upper parts of the Weber Canyon Conglomerate likely correlate to C33r and C33n, respectively. We infer that the Santonian-Campanian boundary resides in the lower Weber Canyon Conglomerate, which implies that deposition of the unit started prior to the C34n/C33r boundary age (ca. 83.4 Ma/83.1 Ma) and continued through the C33r and C33n chrons. Sediment provenance data and growth structures tie the Echo Canyon and Weber Canyon Conglomerates to emplacement of the Crawford thrust sheet. Based on the magnetic polarity data, as constrained by the biostratigraphic age estimates from these synorogenic deposits, we hypothesize that the principal displacement along the Crawford thrust started during the Coniacian (>C34n/C33r boundary age) and continued into the middle Campanian (<C33r/C33n boundary age), from ca. 90−75 Ma, which is nearly 10 Ma longer than previously thought. The new age constraints demonstrate complete temporal overlap between proximal and distal coarse-grained deposits in this part of the Cordilleran foreland basin, coeval with active thrust displacement and rapid hinterland exhumation.

scholarly journals Stratigraphic architecture of the northern Oman continental margin - Mesozoic Hamrat Duru Group, Hawasina complex, Oman

GeoArabia ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingo Blechschmidt ◽  
Paulian Dumitrica ◽  
Albert Mater ◽  
Leopold Krystyn ◽  
Tjerk Peters
Keyword(s):  
Late Cretaceous ◽  
Middle Jurassic ◽  
Early Jurassic ◽  
Late Triassic ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Oman Mountains ◽  
Stratigraphic Architecture ◽  
Lithostratigraphic Units ◽  
Nappe Complex ◽  
Arabian Platform

ABSTRACT The Triassic to Late Cretaceous deep-marine sediments of the Hamrat Duru Group, Oman Mountains, represent a subunit of the Hawasina nappe-complex which was deposited in a deep marine basin. During the Late Cretaceous SSW-directed obduction of the Semail Ophiolite, the Hawasina complex was emplaced onto the autochthonous cover of the Arabian basement, while the original configuration of the basin was destroyed. New lithostratigraphic results and high-resolution radiolarian and conodont biostratigraphy lead to a revised stratigraphic scheme of the Hamrat Duru Group which conforms with the standard stratigraphical nomenclature. The Hamrat Duru Group is divided into six formations: (1) The Early Triassic (Olenekian) to Late Triassic (Upper Norian) Zulla Formation (Limestone and Shale Member, Sandstone and Shale Member, Radiolarian Chert Member and Halobia Limestone Member); (2) The Late Triassic (late Norian to Rhaetian) Al Ayn Formation; (3) The Early Jurassic (late Pliensbachian) to Middle Jurassic (early Callovian) Guwayza Formation (Tawi Sadh Member and Oolitic Limestone Member); (4) Middle Jurassic (Callovian) to Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian?) Sid’r Formation (Lower Member, Upper Member); (5) Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian? to Santonian?) Nayid Formation; and (6) Late Jurassic (early Callovian) to Early (Late?) Cretaceous Wahrah Formation. Most of the lithostratigraphic units (formations and members) show isochronous boundaries between the different outcrop areas. The stratigraphic architecture of the Hamrat Duru Group megasequence is controlled by alternating siliciclastic and carbonate sedimentation possibly related to the second-order sea-level variations. The sediments accumulated on the continental rise of the Arabian margin mostly by submarine sediment-gravity flows and hemipelagic to pelagic rainout. A close relationship of the evolution of the Arabian Platform and the adjoining slope and basinal environments is evident. Changes in carbonate supply, oceanographic circulation and/or variations in silica productivity resulted in two distinct phases of radiolarian sedimentation. The first phase corresponds to the Triassic late Anisian-early Norian time interval; the second started in the Early Jurassic late Pliensbachian and lasted, with some interruptions, up to the Late Cretaceous Coniacian. The litho- and biostratigraphic similarities between the Mesozoic Hamrat Duru Basin of the northern/central Oman Mountains and the Mesozoic Batain Basin of northeastern Oman are seen as related to Neo-Tethys-wide palaeoceanographic changes and suggest a strong interdependence of the two basins with the evolution of the Arabian Platform.

scholarly journals Zircon (U-Th)/(He-Pb) double-dating constraints on the interplay between thrust deformation and foreland basin architecture, Sevier foreland basin, Utah

Geosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.J. Pujols ◽  
D.F. Stockli
Keyword(s):  
Foreland Basin ◽  
Sediment Supply ◽  
Sediment Provenance ◽  
Thrust Belt ◽  
Lower Paleozoic ◽  
Magmatic Arc ◽  
Book Cliffs ◽  
Time Estimates ◽  
Stratal Architecture ◽  
Cordilleran Foreland

The Cretaceous Cordilleran foreland basin strata exposed in the Book Cliffs of eastern Utah and western Colorado have motivated important concepts linking thrust belt deformation and foreland basin evolution largely on the basis of sequence stratigraphy, stratal architecture, and sediment provenance evolution. However, these methods and approaches generally cannot provide critical insights into the temporal or causal linkages between foreland basin architecture and thrust belt deformation. This is in part due to discrepancies in age resolution and lack of evidence with which to directly couple sediment supply and basin-fill evolution to thrust belt unroofing. New detrital zircon (DZ) geothermochronometric data from Upper Cretaceous proximal to distal foreland basin strata in the Book Cliffs provide new quantitative insights into sediment origin and dispersal in relation to thrust belt deformation and exhu­mation. Detailed DZ U-Pb and (U-Th)/He double dating reveals that the Book Cliffs foredeep detritus was mainly delivered by transverse routing systems from two major sources: (1) Neoproterozoic and Lower Paleozoic strata from the central Utah Sevier thrust belt, and (2) Permian–Jurassic and synorogenic Cretaceous strata recycled from the frontal part of the thrust belt. A dramatic increase in Sierran magmatic arc and Yavapai-Mazatzal DZ U-Pb ages, as well as Paleozoic DZ He ages, in the deeper marine portions of the foreland basin points to axial fluvial and littoral sediment input from the Sierran magmatic arc and Mogollon highland sources. Both transverse and axial transport sys­tems acted contemporaneously during eastward propagation of the Late Cretaceous thrust belt. DZ He depositional lag time estimates reveal three distinct exhumation pulses in the Sevier thrust belt in the Cenomanian and Campanian. The exhumation pulses correlate with shifts in sediment prove­nance, dispersal style, and progradation rates in the foreland basin. These new data support conceptual models that temporally and causally link accelerated exhumation and unroofing in the thrust belt to increases in sediment supply and rapid clastic progradation in the foreland basin.

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