1887
Volume 11 Number 2
  • E-ISSN: 1365-2117

Abstract

The Vulcan Sub‐basin, located in the Timor Sea, north‐west Australia, developed during the Late Jurassic extension which ultimately led to Gondwanan plate breakup and the development of the present‐day passive continental margin. This paper describes the evolution of upper crustal extension and the development of Late Jurassic depocentres in this subbasin, via the use of forward modelling techniques. The results suggest that a lateral variation in structural style exists. The south of the basin is characterized by relatively large, discrete normal faults which have generated deep sub‐basins, whereas more distributed, small‐scale faulting further north reflects a collapse of the early basin margin, with the development of a broader, ‘sagged’ basin geometry. By combining forward and reverse modelling techniques, the degree of associated lithosphere stretching can be quantified. Upper crustal faulting, which represents up to 10% extension, is not balanced by extension in the deeper, ductile lithosphere; the magnitude of this deeper extension is evidenced by the amount of post‐Valanginian thermal subsidence. Reverse modelling shows that the lithosphere stretching

factor has a magnitude of up to β=1.55 in the southern Vulcan Sub‐basin, decreasing to β=1.2 in the northern Vulcan Sub‐basin. It is proposed that during plate breakup, deformation in the Vulcan Sub‐basin consisted of depth‐dependent lithosphere extension. This additional component of lower crustal and lithosphere stretching is considered to reflect long‐wavelength partitioning of strain associated with continental breakup, which may have extended 300–500 km landward of the continent–ocean boundary.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1046/j.1365-2117.1999.00088.x
2001-12-24
2024-04-24
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. AGSO VTT Basin Study
    AGSO VTT Basin Study(1996) Structural mapping and sequence stratigraphy of the Vulcan Sub‐basin, Timor Sea, Australia. AGSO Record 1996/61.
  2. BaxterK.(1997)The role of small‐scale extensional faulting in the evolution of basin geometries. An example from the Late Palaeozoic Petrel Sub‐basin, northwest Australia.,Tectonophysics,2872141.
    [Google Scholar]
  3. BaxterK., CooperG.T., O’BrienG.W., HillK.C., SturrockS.(1997)Flexural isostatic modelling as a constraint on basin evolution, the development of sediment systems, and palaeo‐heat flow: application to the Vulcan Sub‐basin, Timor Sea.,The APPEA J,37137153.
    [Google Scholar]
  4. BradshawM.T., YeatesA.N., BeynonR.M., BrakelA.T., LangfordR.P., TotterdellJ.M., YeungM.(1988) Palaeogeographic evolution of the North West Shelf region. In: The North West Shelf, Australia, Proceedings of Petroleum Exploration Society Symposium, Perth (Ed. by P.G. Purcell & R.R. Purcell), pp. 2954.
  5. CharltonT.R., BarberA.J., BarkhamS.T.(1991)The structural evolution of the Timor collision complex, eastern Indonesia.,J. Struct. Geol,13489500.
    [Google Scholar]
  6. DavisM.J. & KusznirN.J.(1996)Depth‐dependent stretching at passive continental margins.,Eos, Transactions Am. Geophys Union,77 (46), 667.
    [Google Scholar]
  7. DriscollN.W. & KarnerG.D.(1995)Lower crustal extension across the northwest Australian margin: Tectonic and stratigraphic evidence for an eastward dipping detachment.,EOS Transactions. Fall Meeting,7F547
    [Google Scholar]
  8. EtheridgeM.A. & O’BrienG.W.(1994)Structural and tectonic evolution of the Western Australian margin basin system.,PESA J,224564.
    [Google Scholar]
  9. HorvathF. & CloetinghS.(1996)Stress induced late‐stage subsidence anomalies in the Pannonian basin.,Tectonophysics,266287300.
    [Google Scholar]
  10. HugginsP., WattersonJ., WalshJ.J., ChildsC.(1995)Relay zone geometry and displacement transfer between normal faults recorded in coal‐mine plans.,J. Struct. Geol,1713811388.
    [Google Scholar]
  11. KarnerG.D., DriscollN.W., WeisselG.K.(1993)Response of the lithosphere to in‐plane force variations.,Earth Planet. Sci. Lett,114397416.
    [Google Scholar]
  12. KusznirN.J. & EganS.(1989)Simple‐shear and pure‐shear models of extensional sedimentary basin formation: application to the Jeanne d’Arc basin, Grand Banks of Newfoundland.,AAPG Mem,46305322.
    [Google Scholar]
  13. KusznirN.J., KarnerG.D., EganS.S.(1987) Geometric, thermal and isostatic consequences of detachments in continental lithosphere extension and basin formation. In: Sedimentary Basins and Basin Forming Mechanisms (Ed. by C. Beaumont & A.J. Tankard), Mem. Can. Soc. Petrol. Geol, 12, 185203.
  14. KusznirN.J., MarsdenG., EganS.(1991) A flexural cantilever simple‐shear‐pure‐shear model of continental extension. In: The Geometry of Normal Faults (Ed. by A.M. Roberts, G. Yielding & B. Freeman), Spec Publ. Geol. Soc. London, 56, 4161.
  15. KusznirN.J. & ParkR.G.(1987) The extensional strength of the continental lithosphere: its dependence on geoethermal gradient, crustal composition and thickness. In: Continental Extensional Tectonics (Ed. by M.P. Coward, J.F. Dewey & P.L. Hancock), Spec. Publ. Geol. Soc., London, 28, 3552.
  16. KusznirN.J., RobertsA.M., MorleyC.K.(1995) Forward and reverse modelling of rift basin formation. In: Hydrocarbon Habitat in Rift Basins (Ed. by J.J. Lambiase), Spec. Publ. Geol. Soc. London, 80, 3356.
  17. LuddenJ.N. & DionneB.(1992) The geochemistry of oceanic crust at the onset of rifting in the Indian Ocean. In: Proceedings of the ODP, Scientific Results, 123 (Ed. by F.M. Gradstein, J.N. Ludden, et al.), pp. 791–799. Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, Texas.
  18. MaungT.U., CadmanS., WestB.(1994) A review of the petroleum potential of the Browse Basin. In: The Sedimentary Basins of Western Australia, Proceedings of Petroleum Exploration Society Symposium, Perth (Ed. by P.G. Purcell & R.R. Purcell), pp. 333–346.
  19. McbrideJ.H. & KarigD.E.(1987)Crustal structure of the outer Banda arc: new free‐air gravity evidence.,Tectonophysics,140265273.
    [Google Scholar]
  20. MckenzieD.(1978)Some remarks on the development of sedimentary basins.,Earth Planet. Sci. Lett,402532.
    [Google Scholar]
  21. O’BrienG.W.(1993)Some ideas on the rifting history of the Timor Sea from the integration of deep crustal seismic and other data.,PESA J,2195113.
    [Google Scholar]
  22. O’BrienG.W., EtheridgeM.A., WillcoxJ.B., MorseM., SymondsP., NormanC., NeedhamD.J.(1993)The structural architecture of the Timor Sea, north‐western Australia: implications for basin development and hydrocarbon exploration.,APEA J,33258278.
    [Google Scholar]
  23. O’BrienG.W., HigginsR., SymondsP., QuaifeP., ColwellJ., BlevinJ.(1996a)Basement control on the development of extensional systems in Australia’s Timor Sea: an example of hybrid hard linked/soft linked faulting?,The APPEA J,36161201.
    [Google Scholar]
  24. O’BrienG.W., LiskM., DuddyI.R.(1997) Fault reactivation as a primary control on trap breach and fluid migration histories: Timor Sea, north‐western Australia. In: Extended Abstract. Geofluids II ’97 (Ed. by J. Hendry, et al.), pp. 166–169.
  25. O’BrienG.W., LiskM., DuddyI., EadingtonP.J., CadmanS., FellowsM.(1996b)Late Tertiary fluid migration in the Timor Sea: a key control on thermal and diagenetic histories?,The APPEA J,36399427.
    [Google Scholar]
  26. PattilloJ. & NichollsP.J.(1990)A tectonostratigraphic framework for the Vulcan Graben, Timor Sea Region.,The APEA J,302751.
    [Google Scholar]
  27. RobertsA.M., LundinE., KusznirN.J.(1997)Subsidence of the Vøring Basin and the influence of the Atlantic continental margin.,J. Geol. Soc. London,154551557.
    [Google Scholar]
  28. RobertsA.M., YieldingG., KusznirN.J., WalkerI., LopezD.(1993) Mesozoic extension in the North Sea: constraints from flexural backstripping, forward modelling and fault populations. In: Petroleum Geology of Northwest Europe: Proceedings of the 4th Conference (Ed. by J.R. Parker), pp. 1123–1136.
  29. RoydenL. & KeenC.E.(1980)Rifting processes and thermal evolution of the continental margin of eastern Canada determined from subsidence curves.,Earth Planet. Sci. Lett,51343361.
    [Google Scholar]
  30. StruckmeyerH.I.M., BaxterK., BlevinJ.E., CathroD.L.(1997) Palaeozoic rift basin evolution in the Browse Basin, Northwest Shelf. PESA News, April 1997.
  31. VeeversJ.J., PowellC.M, RootsS.R.(1991)Review of seafloor spreading around Australia. I. Synthesis of the patterns of spreading.,Aust. J. Earth Sci,38391408.
    [Google Scholar]
  32. WattsA.B., BodineJ.H., StecklerM.S.(1980)Observations of flexure and the state of stress in the oceanic lithosphere.,J. Geophys Res,8563696366 376.
    [Google Scholar]
  33. WattsA.B., KarnerG.D., StecklerM.S.(1982)Lithosphere flexure and the evolution of sedimentary basins.,Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. London A,305249281.
    [Google Scholar]
  34. WhittamD.B., NorvickM.S., McintyreC.L.(1996)Mesozoic and Cainozoic tectonostratigraphy of western ZOCA and adjacent areas.,The APPEA J,36209232.
    [Google Scholar]
  35. WoodsE.P.(1988) Extensional structures of the Jabiru Terrace, Vulcan Sub‐basin. In: The North West Shelf, Australia, Proceedings of Petroleum Exploration Society Symposium, Perth (Ed. by P.G. Purcell & R.R. Purcell), pp. 311–330.
  36. WoodsE.P.(1992)Vulcan Sub‐Basin fault styles – implications for hydrocarbon migration and entrapment.,APEA J,32138158.
    [Google Scholar]
  37. WoodsE.P.(1994) A salt related detachment model for the development of the Vulcan Sub‐basin. In: The North West Shelf, Australia, Proceedings of Petroleum Exploration Society Symposium, Perth (Ed. by P.G. Purcell & R.R. Purcell), pp. 259–274.
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journals/10.1046/j.1365-2117.1999.00088.x
Loading
/content/journals/10.1046/j.1365-2117.1999.00088.x
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Research Article

Most Cited This Month Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error