Deciphering the Late Paleozoic–Cenozoic Tectonic History of the Inner Central Andes Forearc: An Update From the Salar de Punta Negra Basin of Northern Chile

We integrated new and existing geological, geochronological, thermochronological, and two-dimensional (2D) seismic data from the Salar de Punta Negra Basin to define the Late Paleozoic–Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the inner Andean forearc of northern Chile more precisely. Our results indicate that this region experienced early Late Paleozoic–Mesozoic crustal extension, creating several basement half-graben structures bounded by east- and west-dipping master faults. These extensional basins were filled by Upper Permian to Jurassic volcanic and sedimentary (continental and marine) syn-rift deposits. The genesis of these structures is related to the early breakup of the western Gondwana continent and the development of the large Tarapacá Basin in northern Chile and southern Perú. Subsequently, Late Cretaceous to Paleocene contraction occurred, which led to the tectonic inversion of the pre-existing rift system and the uplift of the Paleozoic–Mesozoic syn-rift deposits. Seismic data show that Upper Cretaceous and Paleocene synorogenic deposits accumulated along and over inversion anticlines, recording the initial contraction and marking the change from an extensional to a contractional tectonic setting. During the final episodes of basin inversion, crustal shortening was accommodated by the Eocene to recent basement reverse faulting accompanied by the rapid exhumation of basement pre-rift blocks, which served as the principal sources for the sediments that filled the pre-Andean basins during the Late Cenozoic. Finally, the exhumed basement pre-rift blocks and the reverse faults compartmentalized the contractional intermontane basins, which constitute the main low topographic relief of the inner forearc of northern Chile.

STUDI IDENTIFIKASI PERANGKAP HIDROKARBON PALEOGEN - NEOGEN DI PERAIRAN WOKAM ARU UTARA, PAPUA BARAT: DATA UTAMA HASIL SURVEI GEOMARIN III

ABSTRAKPerairan Wokam Aru Utara, Papua Barat merupakan bagian tepi utara passive margin Mesozoik Arafura – Australia. Hasil survei dengan KR. Geomarin III di perairan Wokam 2014 diperoleh lintasan seismik Multi Kanal 1.182 km, dan pemeruman batimetri/sub bottom profiles (SBP) 1.510 km. Metode dilakukan interpretasi penampang seismik hasil survei, pengikatan sumur pemboran dan seismik, analisis petrofisika dan pemetaaan geologi bawah permukaan. Pada penampang seismik telah dilakukan interpretasi aspek struktur geologi dan perlapisan sedimen yang sebelumnya telah diikat dengan data sumur ASA-1X, ASM-1X dan ASB-1X untuk tiga horizon yaitu Top Neogen, Top Paleogen dan Base PaleogenPeta bawah permukaan Paleogen – Neogen menunjukan beberapa klosur yang berpotensi di bagian batas paparan dengan palung Aru serta bagian barat. Pada bagian Tenggara terdapat kenampakan onlapping sedimentasi Tipe struktural yang berkembang sebagai perangkap secara dominan berupa graben – half graben dan tilted faul. Onlaping sedimentasi yang mebaji juga dapat berpotensi.Struktur geologi pada area penelitian secara umum dikontrol oleh sesar utama Zona Sesar Palung Aru Utara di tepian paparan sampai lereng, mengarah utara - timur laut ke selatan - barat daya. Struktur ikutan yaitu sesar-sesar normal mengarah utara - timur laut ke selatan - barat daya di paparan sebelah timur zonar sesar utama.Studi awal potensi migas ini teridentifikasi empat lokasi potensi perangkap hidrokarbon dari umur Paleogen - Neogen, yaitu satu lokasi dari Peta Base Paleogen, dua lokasi Top Paleogen dan satu lokasi Top Neogen. kata kunci: Wokam, Aru, migas, seismik, struktur, interpretasi, jebakan, Geomarin III ABSTRACTThe waters of Wokam North Aru, West Papua are part of the northern edge of the Mesozoic passive margin of Arafura - Australia. Survey results with KR. Geomarin III in the waters of Wokam 2014 obtained a multi-channel seismic trajectory of 1,182 km, and bathymarism/sub bottom profiles (SBP) 1,510 km. The method is to interpret the seismic cross-section of the survey results, tie drilling and seismic wells, petrophysical analysis and mapping the subsurface geology. In the seismic section, an interpretation of the structural aspects of the geology and sediment layers has been carried out previously tied to data from the ASA-1X, ASM-1X and ASB-1X wells for three horizons, namely Top Neogen, Top Paleogene and Base Paleogene.The subsurface map of the Paleogene - Neogeneous surface shows several potential closures in the exposure boundary with the Aru Trench as well as the western part. In the Southeast, there is the appearance of sedimentation onlapping. Structural types that develop as traps are predominantly graben - half graben and tilted fault. The onlaping sedimentation also has potential. The geological structure in the study area is generally controlled by the main fault of the North Aru Trench Zone on the edge of the exposure to the slope, heading north - northeast to south - southwest. Follow-up structures are normal faults pointing north - northeast to south - southwest on the eastern exposure of the main fault zone.This preliminary study of oil and gas potential identified four potential locations for hydrocarbon traps from the Paleogene - Neogene age, namely one location from the Paleogene Base Map, two Top Paleogene locations and one Top Neogen location.Keyword: Wokam, Aru, oil and gas, seismic, structure, interpretation, traps, Geomarin III

The initiation of the Mesoproterozoic Bylot basins (Nunavut, Arctic Canada) as recorded in the Nyeboe Formation, Fury and Hecla Group

ABSTRACT Reconstructing Precambrian sedimentary environments over broad cratonic regions often relies on a combination of facies, structural, and provenance analyses. The Mesoproterozoic (ca. 1270–1090 Ma) Fury and Hecla Group, exposed on the Melville Peninsula and northern Baffin Island (Nunavut, Canada), is considered broadly correlative with strata of the Borden, Hunting–Aston, and Thule basins (together referred to as the Bylot basins). We present the results of updated mapping and the first high-resolution sedimentologic and stratigraphic analysis of the lowermost unit in the Fury and Hecla Group, the Nyeboe Formation. The Nyeboe Formation comprises five distinct facies associations: alluvial to fluvial, eolian-backshore, marine-intertidal, marine foreshore to shoreface, and marine-offshore. Thin mafic units are interbedded within the marine shoreface facies and are interpreted to represent volcanic flows. Lateral relationships between facies associations are complex, but generally, facies associations transition from a terrestrial environment at the base to a nearshore marine environment at the top, indicating a transgression. Considering both the along-strike and -dip thickness trends, the presence of mafic volcanic rock units, and possible syndepositional fault orientations crosscutting the deposits, we infer that the Fury and Hecla Group was deposited in a regime of crustal thinning in a half-graben setting. Our results from the Nyeboe Formation suggest a lithostratigraphic correlation to the Nauyat and Adams Sound formations of the Borden Basin. Therefore, this study establishes a geodynamic link between the opening of the Fury and Hecla Basin to the other Bylot basins and contributes to the understanding of a large late Mesoproterozoic intracontinental-basin system.

Relevant aspects to the recognition of extensional environments in the field

The understanding of each geological-structural aspect in the field is fundamental to be able to reconstruct the geological history of a region and to give a geological meaning to the data acquired in the outcrop. The description of a brittle extensional environment, which is dominated by normal fault systems, is based on: (I) image interpretation, which aims to find evidence suggestive of an extensional geological environment, such as the presence of scarp lines and fault scarps, horst, graben and/or half-graben, among others, that allow the identification of the footwall and hanging wall blocks; ii) definition of the sites of interest for testing; and iii) analysis of the outcrops, following a systematic procedure that consists of the observation and identification of the deformation markers, their three-dimensional schematic representation, and their subsequent interpretation, including the stereographic representation in the outcrop. This procedure implies the unification of the parameters of structural data acquisition in the field, mentioning the minimum fields necessary for the registration of the data in tables. Additionally, the integration of geological and structural observations of the outcrop allows to understand the nature of the geological units, the deformation related to the extensional environment and the regional tectonic context of the study area.

The Historical Seismicity of the Puebla-Tlaxcala Region (Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt) during Early Novohispanic Times (A.D. 1542–1740) and the Structure of the Tlaxcala-Huamantla Half-Graben

This article documents earthquake intensity observations during early novohispanic times (A.D. 1542–1740) in the Puebla-Tlaxcala region (central Mexico), mostly based on Nahuatl-language historical annals and chronicles, and includes (as a supplement) a descriptive earthquake catalog for this period. Although it is difficult to assign intensities from fragmentary accounts, the largest shocks (A.D. 1582 and 1711) caused damage through the entire region. Earthquake ground shaking in the study area, located within the active volcanic arc crossing central Mexico, can result from intraslab normal faulting in the subducted Cocos plate, subduction interface thrust earthquakes, motion on the faults of the intra-arc Tlaxcala-Huamantla half-graben, as well as extension accommodated through magmatic injection. Most of the historical sources describe earthquakes felt only locally and sometimes report prolonged sequences of shocks, which is indicative of magmatic dike-induced earthquakes or else resulted from motion on the faults of the Tlaxcala-Huamantla half-graben. This structure, ∼70 km long and 15–20 km wide, is the only major tectonic depression in the eastern part of the trans-Mexican volcanic belt. It is filled by a volcano-sedimentary sequence, up to 400 m thick, of unknown but likely Pliocene age. The half-graben is bound in the north by an east–west-striking and south-dipping normal fault system, which is morphologically most pronounced near the town of Tlaxcala where the footwall uplift reaches a maximum of 350 m. The fault array is likely to be active; it vertically displaces Quaternary Totolqueme volcano.

Recent Activity and Kinematics of the Bounding Faults of the Catanzaro Trough (Central Calabria, Italy): New Morphotectonic, Geodetic and Seismological Data

A multidisciplinary work integrating structural, geodetic and seismological data was performed in the Catanzaro Trough (central Calabria, Italy) to define the seismotectonic setting of this area. The Catanzaro Trough is a structural depression transversal to the Calabrian Arc, lying in-between two longitudinal grabens: the Crati Basin to the north and the Mesima Basin to the south. The investigated area experienced some of the strongest historical earthquakes of Italy, whose seismogenic sources are still not well defined. We investigated and mapped the major WSW–ENE to WNW–ESE trending normal-oblique Lamezia-Catanzaro Fault System, bounding to the north the Catanzaro Trough. Morphotectonic data reveal that some fault segments have recently been reactivated since they have displaced upper Pleistocene deposits showing typical geomorphic features associated with active normal fault scarps such as triangular and trapezoidal facets, and displaced alluvial fans. The analysis of instrumental seismicity indicates that some clusters of earthquakes have nucleated on the Lamezia-Catanzaro Fault System. In addition, focal mechanisms indicate the prevalence of left-lateral kinematics on E–W roughly oriented fault plains. GPS data confirm that slow left-lateral motion occurs along this fault system. Minor north-dipping normal faults were also mapped in the southern side of the Catanzaro Trough. They show eroded fault scarps along which weak seismic activity and negligible geodetic motion occur. Our study highlights that the Catanzaro Trough is a poliphased Plio-Quaternary extensional basin developed early as a half-graben in the frame of the tear-faulting occurring at the northern edge of the subducting Ionian slab. In this context, the strike-slip motion contributes to the longitudinal segmentation of the Calabrian Arc. In addition, the high number of seismic events evidenced by the instrumental seismicity, the macroseismic intensity distribution of the historical earthquakes and the scaling laws relating to earthquakes and seismogenic faults support the hypothesis that the Lamezia-Catanzaro Fault System may have been responsible for the historical earthquakes since it is capable of triggering earthquakes with magnitude up to 6.9.

Paleozoic basin reactivation and inversion of the underexplored northern North Sea platforms: a cross-border approach

Well penetrations on the UK East Shetland Platform (ESP) prove 1-8 km thick Devonian post-orogenic extensional collapse-related successions. Conversely, extremely thick (1-6 km) Permo-Triassic basin fills without Devono-Carboniferous units were in the past interpreted west of the Utsira High, on the Norwegian Horda Platform and Stord Basin, albeit Pre-Triassic well penetrations are here very rare. In this work, the nature and age of Paleozoic-Triassic strata and structures in these underexplored platform regions are tentatively constrained by performing cross-border regional seismic interpretation east and west of the Viking Graben.We highlight cross-border analogies in structural style and seismic facies, with a similar evolution dominated by polyphase inversion tectonics and structural grain preservation. In the Norwegian study areas, much of the half-graben sedimentary fills may be interpreted as Devonian-?Carboniferous in age as in the ESP, rather than overly thick Permo-Triassic successions. Major graben-bounding extensional faults are low-angle (∼25-33°), approximately northerly-striking and likely rooting downwards into reactivated Caledonian shear zones. Rifting development occurred in multiple episodes, possibly creating different traps. Prior to Permian-Jurassic rifting, many low-angle Caledonian thrusts were subject to extensional inversion in the Devonian and then to Variscan compressional reactivation, causing vertical extrusion and deformation of Devonian syn-rift wedges.

Deep Dive Into The Mesozoic Play Potential Beneath The Batui Thrust: A Case Study in The Offshore Matindok, The Eastern Arm of Sulawesi

This article summarized the exploration ideas and methods for a closer look at the Mesozoic hydrocarbon potential in the Banggai Basin, offshore Matindok, Eastern Arm of Sulawesi. The area is one of the Pertamina EP’s working area which located in the frontier basin that has an acreage exceeding 10,000 sqkm. A major portion of the Mesozoic play in the basin is still under explored, whilst/whereas the existence of an active Cenozoic petroleum system in the offshore Matindok has been confirmed by Tiaka Producing Field. The main challenge in exploring the Mesozoic section in the Matindok Block is imaging it below the ophiolite complex / ultra-mafic layer of the Batui thrust, as well as the thick Neogene carbonate. These barriers inhibit the penetration of seismic energy that resulted in low-quality seismic data beneath the thrust. In order to generate its play concept, massive exploration efforts have been conducted in the Matindok Block since 2017. It consists of onshore geological fieldwork, high-resolution satellite data processing, and the new acquisition of shallow-marine transition 2D seismic data. Potential mature source rocks of the Triassic Tokala marine shale was found in the outcrops nearby the Batui thrust. In the seismic interpretation, the equivalent Jurassic to Cretaceous outcrops that dominated by the fluvio-deltaic sandstones, have been interpreted as pinched-out features along the margin of half graben structures. This area was compressed during the Late Miocene to Plio-Pleistocene shortening events, and intensively imbricated the Cenozoic to present-day sediments on the Batui thrust, but put the Paleozoic - Mesozoic half-grabens beneath the Batui thrust decollement. Finally, the finding of this study is able to demonstrate the petroleum-system risks assessment of the Mesozoic hydrocarbon potential.

Thick- and thin-skinned basin inversion in the Danish Central Graben, North Sea – the role of deep evaporites and basement kinematics

Using borehole-constrained 3D reflection seismic data, we analyse the importance of sub-salt, salt, and supra-salt deformation in controlling the geometries and the kinematics of inverted structures in the Danish Central Graben. The Danish Central Graben is part of the failed Late Jurassic North Sea rift. Later tectonic shortening caused mild basin inversion during the Late Cretaceous and Paleogene. Where mobile Zechstein evaporites are present, they have played a significant role in the structural evolution of the Danish Central Graben since the Triassic. Within the study area, Jurassic rifting generated two major W- to SW-dipping basement faults (the Coffee Soil Fault and the Gorm–Tyra Fault) with several kilometres of normal offset and associated block rotation. The Coffee Soil Fault system delineates the eastern boundary of the rift basins, and within its hanging wall a broad zone is characterized by late Mesozoic to early Paleogene shortening and relative uplift. Buttressed growth folds in the immediate hanging wall of the Coffee Soil Fault indicate thick-skinned inversion, i.e. coupled deformation between the basement and cover units. The western boundary of the inverted zone follows the westward pinch-out of the Zechstein salt. Here, thin-skinned folds and faults sole out into Zechstein units dipping into the half-graben. The most pronounced inversion structures occur directly above and in prolongation of salt anticlines and rollers that localized shortening in the cover above. With no physical links to underlying basement faults (if present), we balance thin-skinned shortening to the sub-salt basement via a triangle zone concept. This implies that thin Zechstein units on the dipping half-graben floor formed thrust detachments during inversion while basement shortening was mainly accommodated by reactivation of the major rift faults further east. Disseminated deformation (i.e. “ductile” at seismic scales) accounts for thin-skinned shortening of the cover units where such a detachment did not develop. The observed structural styles are discussed in relation to those found in other inverted basins in the North Sea Basin and to those produced from physical model experiments. Our results indicate that Zechstein units imposed a strong control on structural styles and kinematics not only during rift-related extension but also during basin inversion in large parts of the Danish Central Graben. Reactivated thin-skinned faults soling out into thin Triassic evaporite units within the carapace above Zechstein salt structures illustrate that even thin evaporite units may contribute to defining structures during tectonic extension and shortening. We thus provide an updated and dedicated case study of post-rift basin inversion, which takes into account the mechanical heterogeneity of sub-salt basement, salt, and supra-salt cover, including multiple evaporite units of which the Zechstein is the most important.

Subsurface Geological Characterization of the Late Neogene–Quaternary Argive Basin, Peloponnese, Greece Using Transient Electromagnetic Data and Vintage Stratigraphic Logs

The onshore and offshore clastic deposits of the Argive Basin and the Argolic Gulf, respectively, in Peloponnese, Greece, form a Late Neogene–Quaternary half-graben that connects with the Aegean Sea. The onshore Late Neogene–Quaternary sequence, comprised of chaotically intercalated cohesive and granular clastic deposits, is in angular unconformity with bedrock comprised of Triassic–Upper Cretaceous strongly-weathered, highly-fractured karstic limestones thrusted against Paleogene flysch deposits. While the surface geology of the Argive Basin is well-known, the subsurface geology remains both poorly mapped and understood. We utilized transient electromagnetic (TEM) soundings coupled with 185 vintage stratigraphic logs, current surface geology knowledge, and insights from available geophysical surveys to characterize the subsurface conditions of this sedimentary basin. We estimated the thickness of the young deposits (the depth to bedrock) and detected potential subsurface tectonic structures. The TEM-FAST 48HPC data acquisition system with integrated inversion and visualization software package was used with a single-loop dimension of 50 m × 50 m to collect a total of 329 TEM soundings at 151 stations scattered throughout the basin. The TEM station spacing varied from 200 to 750 m allowing the mapping of 80 km2. The total depth of investigation with the inverted TEM data and the lithology logs was 130 m and 183 m, respectively. The joint interpretation produced several quasi-two-dimensional electrical resistivity profiles that traverse the sedimentary basin in various azimuths and depth slices of average electrical resistivity covering the basin. The depth slices and the vintage stratigraphic logs revealed an uneven bedrock topography overlain by an irregularly thick (over 180 m) Late Neogene–Quaternary heterolithic sediment cover.