basin analysis virginia t. mclemore new mexico bureau of geology and mineral resources new mexico...

BASIN ANALYSIS

Virginia T. McLemoreNew Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral

ResourcesNew Mexico Institute of Mining and

Technology, Socorro, NM

Class notes

• Choose an article, read it, and report the important points back to the class– 10 min (NO LONGER)– Purpose of paper– Methods used– Conclusion of paper– Your evaluation

• Class schedule (April 3, 8, 17, 24, 29, May 8)• Field trip date

What is basin analysis?

• Geologic method• Defining and

describing a sedimentary basin

• Analyze the sediment– Composition– Primary structures– Internal architecture

• Describe basin components– Backarc– Forearc– passive margin– Epicontinental– Extensional

Controls of basins

• Sediment supply (uplift of source area)

• Subsidence (thrusting, flexing of the lithosphere)—regional tectonic activity

• Sea level (climate)

• The rates of these processes is more important then their magnitude.

Types of Basins

Rift basins

http://web.mala.bc.ca/earle/geol201/basin-types.htm

Passive margin basins

Subduction-related basins

Intracontinental basin

Syn-orogenic and post-orogenic

DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENTS

http://www.eos.ubc.ca/resources/slidesets/clastic/clastic.html

Depositional environments of sandstones

http://www.eos.ubc.ca/resources/slidesets/clastic/c.html

Overbank deposits

Sandstone deposits

Depositional environments of shales

basin analysis virginia t. mclemore new mexico bureau of geology and mineral resources new mexico...

Documents

nm slide

intracontinental basin

postorogenic slide

field trip date slide

rift basins http

sandstone deposits http

subductionrelated basins

overbank deposits http