Imaging Mapping And Modelling Continental Lithosphere Extension And Breakup

This volume summarises our present understanding of the formation of passive continental margins and their ocean-continent transitions. It outlines the geological, geophysical and petrological observations that characterize extensional systems, and how such observations can guide and constrain dynamic and kinematic models of continental lithosphere extension, breakup and the inception of organized sea-floor spreading.

Continental margins and their fossilized analogues are important repositories of natural resources. With better processing techniques and increased availability of high-resolution seismic and potential field data, imaging of present-day continental margins and their embedded sedimentary basins has reached unprecedented levels of refinement and definition, as illustrated by examples described in this volume. This, in turn, has led to greatly improved geological, geodynamic and numerical models for the crustal and mantle processes involved in continental margin formation from the initial stages of rifting through continental rupture and break-up to development of a new ocean basin. Further informing these models, and contributing to a better understanding of the features imaged in the seismic and potential field data, are observations made on fossilized fragments of exhumed subcontinental mantle lithosphere and ocean–continent transition zones preserved in ophiolites and orogenic belts of both Palaeozoic and Mesozoic age from several different continents, including Europe, South Asia and Australasia.

This volume discusses the importance of rift systems and the structural evolution of the Earth. It analyses active rifts in East Africa, China and Siberia, and presents overviews of sequence stratigraphy in rifts and structural controls on clastic and carbonate sedimentation.

With original data in various fields from the offshore Levant Basin and adjacent continental slopes and platforms, these papers document the tectonic structures and sedimentological patterns associated with the development of the Levant Basin.

This comprehensive book deals primarily with reflection seismic data in the hydrocarbon industry. It brings together seismic examples from North and South America, Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia and features contributions from eleven international authors who are experts in their field. It provides structural geological examples with full-color illustrations and explanations so that students and industry professionals can get a better understanding of what they are being taught. It also shows seismic images in black and white print and covers compression related structures. Representing a compilation of examples for different types of geological structures, Atlas of Structural Geological Interpretation from Seismic Images is a quick guide to finding analogous structures. It provides extensive coverage of seismic expression of different geological structures, faults, folds, mobile substrates (shale and salt), tectonic and regional structures, and common pitfalls in interpretation. The book also includes an un-interpreted seismic section for every interpreted section so that readers can feel free to draw their own conclusion as per their conceptualization. Provides authoritative source of methodologies for seismic interpretation Indicates sources of uncertainty and give alternative interpretations Directly benefits those working in petroleum industries Includes case studies from a variety of tectonic regimes Atlas of Structural Geological Interpretation from Seismic Images is primarily designed for graduate students in Earth Sciences, researchers, and new entrants in industry who are interested in seismic interpretation.

The West African margin has enjoyed a rich and varied exploration history, remaining an exciting region for hydrocarbon discovery. Fusion of traditional approaches, imaginative ideas, leveraged with modern technologies is still yielding success. This volume examines the margin from regional to pore-scale, from surface-processes to deep crustal levels, drawing on input from academia and industry.

Rocks exposed across the hundreds of islands that belong to the 800 km long Andaman--Nicobar archipelago provide a condensed window into the active subduction zone that separates the India--Australia plate from the over-riding Burma--Sunda plate. Despite a strategic and seismically active location the Andaman-Nicobar ridge has seen comparatively little research. This Memoir provides the first detailed and comprehensive account of geological mapping and research across the island chain and adjacent ocean basins. Chapters examine models of Cenozoic rifting of the Andaman Sea and the regional tectonic and seismogenic framework. A detailed critical review of the Andaman–Nicobar stratigraphy, supported by new data, includes arc volcanism and a description of Barren Island, India’s only active volcano. Seismic history and hazards and the impacts of the 2004 earthquake and tsunami are also described. The volume ends with an examination of the region’s natural resources and hydrocarbon prospects.

The volume reviews current knowledge of transform margins and addresses fundamental questions for future research. Furthermore, the articles look at principal factors that influence the dynamics, kinematics and thermal regimes of continental break-up at transform margins and cover geophysics (bathymetry, seismic, gravity and magnetic studies), structural geology, sedimentology, geochemistry, plate reconstruction and thermo-mechanical numerical modelling.