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Analogue modelling of the interplay between gravity gliding and spreading across complex rift topography in the Santos Basin

Analogue modelling of the interplay between gravity gliding and spreading across complex rift topography in the Santos Basin

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Authors

Leonardo Muniz Pichel, Oriol Ferrer, Christopher Aiden-Lee Jackson , Eduard Roca

Abstract

The Santos Basin presents a complex and controversial evolution and distribution of salt tectonics domains. The controversies revolve mainly around the kinematically- linked Albian Gap and São Paulo Plateau. The Albian Gap is a ~450 km long and 60 km wide feature characterized by a post-Albian counter-regional rollover overlying depleted Aptian salt and in which the Albian is absent. The São Paulo Plateau is defined by a pre-salt structural high with significant base-salt topography and overlain by ~2.5 km thick salt. Another prominent feature is the Merluza Graben, a rift depocentre that underlies the southern portion of the Albian Gap and displays significant (3-4 km) of base-salt relief. Two competing hypotheses have been proposed to explain the origin and kinematics of these provinces. One invokes post- Albian extension within the Albian Gap and contraction in the Sao Paulo Plateau. The other invokes post-Albian salt expulsion in the Albian Gap and salt inflation in the São Paulo Plateau without significant lateral deformation. A recent study shows these processes contribute equally to the evolution of these domains, also demonstrating the importance of the previously neglected base-salt relief. We apply 3D physical modelling to test these new concepts and understand the interplay between laterally- variable base-salt relief, gliding and spreading on salt tectonics. Our results show a remarkably-similar salt and post-salt evolution and architecture to the Santos Basin as proposed in recent studies. They improve the understanding on the distribution and interaction of salt-related structural styles and gravity-driven processes, being also applicable to other salt-bearing margins.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31223/X5732C

Subjects

Geology, Tectonics and Structure

Keywords

Breakup, Rifted Margins

Dates

Published: 2021-09-17 12:21

Last Updated: 2021-09-17 19:21

License

CC BY Attribution 4.0 International