Hjem

Companion website details x Preface to the third edition xi
Part 1 The foundations of sedimentary basins 1 1 Basins in their geodynamic environment 3 Summary 3
1.1 Introduction and rationale 3
1.2 Compositional zonation of the Earth 6
1.2.1 Oceanic crust 6
1.2.2 Continental crust 7
1.2.3 Mantle 8
1.3 Rheological zonation of the Earth 8
1.3.1 Lithosphere 8
1.3.2 Sub-lithospheric mantle 10
1.4 Geodynamic background 10
1.4.1 Plate tectonics, seismicity and deformation 10
1.4.2 The geoid 12
1.4.3 Topography and isostasy 14
1.4.4 Heat flow 14
1.4.5 Cycles of plate reorganisation 15
1.5 Classification schemes of sedimentary basins 15
1.5.1 Basin-forming mechanisms 16 2 The physical state of the lithosphere 20 Summary 20
2.1 Stress and strain 21
2.1.1 Stresses in the lithosphere 21
2.1.2 Strain in the lithosphere 23
2.1.3 Linear elasticity 25
2.1.4 Flexure in two dimensions 27
2.1.5 Flexural isostasy 28
2.1.6 Effects of temperature and pressure on rock density 29
2.2 Heat flow 31
2.2.1 Fundamentals 31
2.2.2 The geotherm 31
2.2.3 Radiogenic heat production 33
2.2.4 Effect of erosion and sediment blanketing on the geotherm 36
2.2.5 Transient effects of erosion and deposition on the continental geotherm 37
2.2.6 Effect of variable thermal conductivity 38
2.2.7 Time-dependent heat conduction: the case of cooling oceanic lithosphere 39
2.2.8 Convection, the adiabat and mantle viscosity 41
2.3 Rock rheology and lithospheric strength profiles 43
2.3.1 Fundamentals on constitutive laws 43
2.3.2 Rheology of the mantle 44
2.3.3 Rheology of the continental crust 46
2.3.4 Strength profiles of the lithosphere 47
Part 2 The mechanics of sedimentary basin formation 51 3 Basins due to lithospheric stretching 53 Summary 53
3.1 Introduction 54
3.1.1 Basins of the rift-drift suite 54
3.1.2 Models of continental extension 54
3.2 Geological and geophysical observations in regions of continental extension 56
3.2.1 Cratonic basins 56
3.2.2 Rifts 60
3.2.3 Failed rifts 67
3.2.4 Continental rim basins 67
3.2.5 Proto-oceanic troughs 68
3.2.6 Passive continental margins 70
3.3 Uniform stretching of the continental lithosphere 72
3.3.1 The ''reference'' uniform stretching model 72
3.3.2 Uniform stretching at passive continental margins 76
3.4 Modifications to the uniform stretching model 78
3.4.1 Protracted periods of rifting 78
3.4.2 Non-uniform (depth-dependent) stretching 80
3.4.3 Pure versus simple shear 83
3.4.4 Elevated asthenospheric temperatures 84
3.4.5 Magmatic activity 84
3.4.6 Induced mantle convection 85
3.4.7 Radiogenic heat production 86
3.4.8 Flexural compensation 86
3.4.9 The depth of necking 86
3.4.10 Phase changes 87
3.5 A dynamical approach to lithospheric extension 88
3.5.1 Generalities 88
3.5.2 Forces on the continental lithosphere 90
3.5.3 Rheology of the continental lithosphere 92
3.5.4 Numerical and analogue experiments on strain rate during continental extension 93
3.6 Estimation of the stretch factor and strain rate history 95
3.6.1 Estimation of the stretch factor from thermal subsidence history 95
3.6.2 Estimation of the stretch factor from crustal thickness changes 95
3.6.3 Estimation of the stretch factor from forward tectonostratigraphic modelling 96
3.6.4 Inversion of strain rate history from subsidence data 97
3.6.5 Multiple phases of rifting 97 4 Basins due to flexure 98 Summary 98
4.1 Basic observations in regions of lithospheric flexure 99
4.1.1 Ice cap growth and melting 99
4.1.2 Oceanic seamount chains 100
4.1.3 Flexure beneath sediment loads 101
4.1.4 Ocean trenches 103
4.1.5 Mountain ranges, fold-thrust belts and foreland basins 104
4.2 Flexure of the lithosphere: geometry of the defl ection 104
4.2.1 Deflection of a continuous plate under a point load (2D) or line load (3D) 104
4.2.2 Deflection of a broken plate under a line load 106
4.2.3 Deflection of a continuous plate under a distributed load 107
4.2.4 Bending stresses 108
4.3 Flexural rigidity of oceanic and continental lithosphere 109
4.3.1 Controls on the fl exural rigidity of oceanic lithosphere 109
4.3.2 Flexure of the continental lithosphere 111
4.4 Lithospheric buckling and in-plane stress 116
4.4.1 Theory: linear elasticity 116
4.4.2 Lithospheric buckling in nature and in numerical experiments 117
4.4.3 Origin of intraplate stresses 118
4.5 Orogenic wedges 118
4.5.1 Introduction to basins at convergent boundaries 118
4.5.2 The velocity fi eld at sites of plate convergence 120
4.5.3 Critical taper theory 120
4.5.4 Double vergence 125
4.5.5 Analogue models 127
4.5.6 Numerical approaches to orogenic wedge development 128
4.5.7 Low Péclet number intracontinental orogens 130
4.5.8 Horizontal in-plane forces during convergent orogenesis 130
4.6 Foreland basin systems 131
4.6.1 Introduction 131
4.6.2 Depositional zones 132
4.6.3 Diffusive models of mountain belt erosion and basin deposition 135
4.6.4 Coupled tectonic-erosion dynamical models of orogenic wedges 138
4.6.5 Modelling aspects of foreland basin stratigraphy 144 5 Effects of mantle dynamics 153 Summary 153
5.1 Fundamentals and observations 154
5.1.1 Introduction: mantle dynamics and plate tectonics 154
5.1.2 Buoyancy and scaling relationships: introductory theory 155
5.1.3 Flow patterns in the mantle 156
5.1.4 Seismic tomography 159
5.1.5 Plate mode versus plume mode 159
5.1.6 The geoid 162
5.2 Surface topography and bathymetry produced by mantle flow 164
5.2.1 Introduction: dynamic topography and buoyancy 164
5.2.2 Dynamic topography associated with subducting slabs 167
5.2.3 Dynamic topography associated with supercontinental assembly and dispersal 170
5.2.4 Dynamic topography associated with small-scale convection 173
5.2.5 Pulsing plumes 175
5.2.6 Hotspots, coldspots and wetspots 176
5.3 Mantle dynamics and magmatic activity 178
5.3.1 Melt generation during continental extension 179
5.3.2 Large igneous provinces 180
5.3.3 The northern North Atlantic and the Iceland plume 180
5.3.4 The Afar region, Ethiopia 180
5.4 Mantle dynamics and basin development 181
5.4.1 Topography, denudation and river drainage 181
5.4.2 Cratonic basins 183
5.4.3 The history of sea-level change and the fl ooding of continental interiors 183 6 Basins associated with strike-slip deformation 188 Summary 188
6.1 Overview 189
6.1.1 Geological, geomorphological and geophysical observations 189
6.1.2 Diversity of basins in strike-slip zones 193
6.2 The structural pattern of strike-slip fault systems 194
6.2.1 Structural features of the principal displacement zone (PDZ) 194
6.2.2 Role of oversteps 200
6.3 Basins in strike-slip zones 201
6.3.1 Geometric properties of pull-apart basins 201
6.3.2 Kinematic models for pull-apart basins 203
6.3.3 Continuum development from a releasing bend: evolutionary sequence of a pull-apart basin 206
6.3.4 Strike-slip deformation and pull-apart basins in obliquely convergent orogens 207
6.4 Modelling of pull-apart basins 209
6.4.1 Numerical models 209
6.4.2 Sandbox experiments: pure strike-slip versus transtension 215
6.4.3 Application of model of uniform extension to pull-apart basins 215
6.4.4 Pull-apart basin formation and thin-skinned tectonics: the Vienna Basin 216
6.5 Characteristic depositional systems 217
Part 3 The sedimentary basin-fill 223 7 The sediment routing system 225 Summary 225
7.1 The sediment routing system in basin analysis 226
7.2 The erosional engine 227
7.2.1 Weathering and the regolith 227
7.2.2 Terrestrial sediment and solute yields 233
7.2.3 BQART equations 243
7.2.4 Chemical weathering and global biogeochemical cycles 246
7.3 Measurements of erosion rates 246
7.3.1 Rock uplift, exhumation and surface uplift 246
7.3.2 Point-wise erosion rates from thermochronometers 247
7.3.3 Catchment-scale erosion rates from cosmogenic radionuclides 248
7.3.4 Catchment erosion rates using low-temperature thermochronometers 251
7.3.5 Erosion rates at different temporal and spatial scales 254
7.4 Channel-hillslope processes 256
7.4.1 Modelling hillslopes 256
7.4.2 Bedrock river incision 259
7.5 Long-range sediment transport and deposition 260
7.5.1 Principles of long-range sediment transport 260
7.5.2 Sediment transport in marine segments of the sediment routing system 263
7.5.3 Depositional sinks: sediment storage 265
7.5.4 Downstream fining 271
7.6 Joined-up thinking: teleconnections in source-to-sink systems 273
7.6.1 Provenance and tracers; detrital thermochronology 273
7.6.2 Mapping of the sediment routing system fairway 275
7.6.3 Landscape evolution models and response times 275
7.6.4 Interaction of axial and longitudinal drainage 282 8 Basin stratigraphy 284 Summary 284
8.1 A pr