About This Item

Share This Item

The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

AAPG Bulletin

Abstract

Line
Analog Modeling of Pull-Apart Basins1

Tim Dooley and Ken McClay2

Line
ABSTRACT

Scaled sandbox models have successfully simulated the geometries and progressive evolution of pull-apart basins developed in a weak sedimentary cover above right-stepping (releasing) dextral strike-slip Previous HitfaultNext Hit systems in rigid basement. Synkinematic basin infill was added progressively as the models were deformed. Vertical and horizontal sectioning of the completed models has allowed the full three-dimensional architecture of the pull-apart system to be analyzed. We present three representative end-member experiments: 30° underlapping releasing sidestep, 90° sharp nonoverlapping releasing sidestep, and 150° overlapping releasing sidestep. The pull-apart basin geometries are typically sigmoidal to rhombic grabens, the geometries of which are dependent upon the architecture of the underlying basement Previous HitfaultNext Hit systems. Underlapping releasing sidestepping faults (offset angles of 30-75°) typically form elongate rhomboidal grabens; 90° releasing offset sidesteps produce shorter, squat, rhomboid pull-apart basins; and overlapping releasing sidesteps (115-150°) produce box-like grabens with highly kinked basin sidewalls. The pull-apart basins are bounded by terraced oblique-slip extensional sidewall Previous HitfaultNext Hit systems that link the laterally offset principal displacement zones (PDZ) of the main dextral strike-slip faults. The sidewall faults show changes in kinematics from dominantly dip-slip extension in


©Copyright 1997. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All rights reserved.

1Manuscript received June 24, 1996; revised manuscript received November 20, 1996; final acceptance June 10, 1997.

2Previous HitFaultNext Hit Dynamics Project, Geology Department, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 OEX, United Kingdom.

Supported by the Previous HitFaultTop Dynamics Project [sponsored by ARCO British Limited, PETROBRAS U.K. Ltd., BP Exploration, Conoco (U.K.) Limited, Mobil North Sea Limited, and Sun Oil Britain]. We also acknowledge additional funding from Sun Oil Britain. Landsat Thematic Mapper data courtesy of RTZ Mining and Exploration Limited, South American Division. Jurrian Reijs is thanked for field data relating to the Salina del Fraile pull-apart basin. Chris Elders is thanked for reviewing earlier versions of this manuscript, and J. Crowell, C. Morley, and K. Biddle are thanked for constructive reviews of the manuscript. The contents of this paper have been 

Pay-Per-View Purchase Options

The article is available through a document delivery service. Explain these Purchase Options.

Watermarked PDF Document: $14
Open PDF Document: $24

AAPG Member?

Please login with your Member username and password.

Members of AAPG receive access to the full AAPG Bulletin Archives as part of their membership. For more information, contact the AAPG Membership Department at [email protected].