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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database
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* D. A. Walker Mobil Exploration and Producing U.S. Midland, Texas, U.S.A. J. Golonka Mobil Exploration and Producing Technical Center Dallas, Texas, U.S.A. A. Reid S. Reid Consulting Geologists Midland, Texas, U.S.A. * ABSTRACT Facies distribution in the late Paleozoic of west Texas indicates that paleolatitude and paleogeography strongly influenced carbonate sedimentation. Placing regional facies maps into their late Paleozoic latitudes and plate orientations can assist in explaining and predicting basin sedimentation patterns. Paleogeographic reconstructions indicate that west Texas was very near the equator throughout the late Paleozoic. This produced a tropical climate that was ideal for widespread carbonate deposition. The response of Paleozoic sedimentation to prevailing winds would have been similar to that presently observed in the low latitudes. Carbonate sedimentation during the Pennsylvanian and Permian responded to these trade winds in a similar fashion as observed in the modern tropics near the equator. The PALEOMAP and TERRAMOBILIS softwares were used to construct plate reconstructions and paleogeographic maps. These maps indicate that during the late Paleozoic North America was rotated approximately 43° northeast from its present setting. Shelf edges in the Delaware and Midland basins presently oriented 0 to 15° were in fact oriented 40 to 60° northeast during the late Paleozoic. Thin coals on the Eastern shelf indicate west Texas was located in a humid tropical climate during the Pennsylvanian. Later, during the Permian, extensive evaporites indicate this area had moved into a more arid tropical climate. This change occurred as the North American plate migrated northward at the end of the Paleozoic.
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