Foreland Basin Systems

Kyle Brennan, Gavin Ferguson, Paul Thomas, Allie Jackson, Brenton M. Chentnik

Foreland Basin Systems

The Persian Gulf - the foreland basin produced by the Zagros orogenic belt
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/Images/PersianGulf_AMO_2007332_lrg.jpg

Why are Foreland Basin systems important?

Hydrocarbons Coal Water Agriculture Home

http://www.aaccessmaps.com/show/satellite/3/32

Content
Parts of a foreland basin Formation of foreland basins Dynamic response | evolution of forelands | filling of foreland basins Late stage orogenic modification of foreland basins

Structural Components of the Foreland Basin

Orogenic Wedge
Upthrown portion of thrust belt creating overlying wedge Flexural subsidence result of sediment filling and dynamic loading from thrust activity Flexural Bulge uplift due to loading and compressional stresses

DeCelles & Giles (1996)

Depozones of a Foreland Basin

Wedge Top
Sits on top of the orogenic wedge, characterized by coarse sediment, angular, and structural unconformities Thickest depozone, usually contains fluvial, deltaic and marine depositional systems The thinnest depozone containing shallow-marine and aeolian deposits, may not be present

Foredeep

Forebulge and Back-Bulge

DeCelles & Giles 1996

Flexure due to Topographic Loads

Catuneanu, 2004

All foreland basins are affected by topographic loading Primary response to a topographic load is a deep trough (Foredeep), raised area in the middle of the profile (Forebulge) and zone of minor flexural subsidence (Back-bulge) Foredeep subsidence and forebulge up life result from loading during thrusting in the orogenic belt. The reverse happens during erosional periods of the orogenic belt and the foredeep raises due to isostatic rebound

(Egan, 2003)

Accommodation Space

Becker et al, 2005

Catuneanu, 2004

Primarily controlled by tectonic forces Subsidence is differential and increases the closer to the Orogen Subsidence is not uniform along strike of fold and thrust belt Has an overall wedge-shape Accommodation space filled through erosion along the Orogenic Belt Sea level is also a determining factor for the amount of accommodation space

Far field subsidence in response to viscous coupling between subducted slabs and mantle wedge

Catuneanu, 2004

The subducted slabs causes a long-wavelength subsidence and uplift along the overlying continental plate.

flexural wavelength

Catuneanu, 2004

Amount of foredeep subsidence and forebulge uplift are proportional to the mass of the applied orogenic load, and inversely proportional to the flexural rigidity of the lithosphere Flexural downwarp of foredeep is usually in the range of kms while forebuldge uplift is less than 200m

Foreland Basin Deposits: Wedgetop Depozone

Synorogenic sediments. Coarsest deposits in the basin fill. 10s of km in length. Deposits taper towards the orogenic wedge and thicken towards the wedgetopforedeep boundary. Growth structures Progressive unconformities

Rafinia and Mercier, 2002

Foreland Basin Deposits: Foredeep Depozone

Typically 100-300 km wide and 2-8 km thick Sediments mostly derived from the orogenic belt The forebulge and craton may make minor contributions Sediment deposition mechanisms Fluvial and alluvial (subaerial) Shallow lacustrine, shallow shelf, or turbidites (subaqueous) Early to later state evolution Deep marine to shallow and non-marine Unconformities are rare in the foredeep axis

Foreland Basin Deposits: Forebulge Depozone

Forebulge geometry constrained by plate rigidity and shapes. Difficult to identify Migratory features Erodable Cratonward sediment deposition - flexural response Unconformities common Forebulge crest not overtopped Subaerial case Subaqueous case

DeCelles and Giles, 1996

Foreland Basin Deposits: Backbulge Depozone

Bulk of sediments are from the orogenic belt Sediments are very fine Carbonate platform development. Depositional environment is generally shallow marine to terrestrial. Thinnest stratigraphic units.

DeCelles and Giles, 1996

Basin Evolution
Synorogenic Phase: Basin response to tectonic loading Rapid basin subsidence Coarse deposits proximal, fine away from source. Thick, but not aerially widespread gravel deposits. Postorogenic Phase: Basin response to thrust belt erosion. Erosion dominates. Proximal unconformity development. Leads to a more asymmetric basin. Produces sheetlike gravel deposits which correlate to the proximal unconformities.

Images from Heller et al., 1988

Evolution through time

Three distinct phases of foreland evolution 1. Underfilled - Deep marine deposition 2. Filled - Shallow marine deposition 3. Overfilled - fluvial deposition
Catuneanu, 2004

Accommodation > Sediment supply

Sediment supply > Accommodation

Provenance Studies
Tells us where sediment comes from

When sources become exhumed

Paleogeography and river drainages

DeCelles, 1988 Note how alluvial fan A is receiving detritus from several sources

Late orogenic modification

Subduction driven thin-skinned thrusting ends Geometric adjustment of plates Strike-Slip, Normal, basement involved thrusting Distribution, style, and orientation of structures Controlled by preexisting structures Heterogeneity in underlying crust Variation along length of orogenic belt. Effects on petroleum? Sometimes good Sometimes bad Examples? Vienna Basin Laramide deformation of Western U.S.

Image from Google Maps

PIcha, 2011

Tectonic History of Vienna Basin Jurassic Rift Basins NW-SE trending graben 1000 m of syndrift clastics 1500 m of orogenic shales and marls Overlain by shallow marine carbonates Early Miocene Neogene foredeep High subsidence from underlying rift Sedimentation & Subsidence accompanied by piggyback transport Early/Mid Miocene Late orogenic Sinistral strike-slip faulting Pull apart extension >5000m of clastics Mid/Late Miocene Post tect sedimentaiton Mixed shallow marine and lacustrine facies Post orogenic seal!

PIcha, 2011

PIcha, 2011

Petroleum in the Vienna Basin

Source Rock Upper Jurassic organic rich shales and marls Maturation Burial below thrust belt and Vienna Basin Slightly increased heat flow along deep strike slip faults Migration Divergence along orogen parallel strike slip faults Accumulation Miocene sandstones associated with tectonically active Matzen Ridge

PIcha, 2011

Western U.S. Broken Foreland Basin

Predominantly compressional structures Late Jurassic to early Paleogene Sevier foreland basin Cordilleran hingeline Stable craton to east Precambrian - Early Paleozoic rifts to west Buttressing effect on progressing F&T belt Commonly dominated by lacustrine and fluvial sedimentation Other examples?
Picha, 2011

Summary of post orogenic tectonism

Late orogenic faulting Important in orogenic belt and basin evolution Structures Greatly influenced by preexisting geometries of crustal blocks and faults Effects on petroleum potential in the system Petroleum is often generated and migrates during late stages of orogenic covergance Global examples of positive and negative effects Post orogenic tectonism is a critical component in many fold and thrust belts and their associated foreland basins

What you should know

Foreland Basins (FBs) are elongate zones of sediment accumulation which parallel fold and thrust belts Appalachain, Andes, Western U.S., Molasse Foreland basin systems consist of 4 distinct depozones 1) Wedge-top 2) Foredeep 3) Forebulge 4) Backbulge Subsidence is driven by topographic and far-field dynamic loading Sedimentary fill tends to be asymmetric, thickening towards the fold and thrust belt Foreland basins exist in 3 states: underfilled, filled, overfilled Post orogenic tectonism has potential to modify both fold and thrust belts and their FBs. Style of modification is controlled by preexisting crustal geometries and faults