The document discusses sedimentary basins and their relation to petroleum geology, emphasizing how climate, tectonic setting, and environmental factors control large-scale sedimentation processes. It defines sedimentary basins as low areas that act as receptacles for sediment, noting their evolution can be influenced by tectonic activity, sedimentation, and other geological events. Various types of sedimentary basins are categorized based on their structural settings, origins, and associated environments, with examples provided for each category.

1. Sedimentary Basins &
Sedimentary Basins &
Petroleum Geology
Petroleum Geology

2. Controls on large-scale
Controls on large-scale
sedimentation
sedimentation
 Sedimentary processes are controlled, on large scales,
Sedimentary processes are controlled, on large scales,
by:
by:
 Climate
Climate
 determines:
determines:
 weathering rates,
weathering rates,
 precipitation & run-off (sed. transportation),
precipitation & run-off (sed. transportation),
 environments
environments
 Tectonic setting
Tectonic setting
 determines:
determines:
 relief
relief
 time for sed. transport
time for sed. transport
 types of environments
types of environments
 types of sedimentary basins
types of sedimentary basins
 source rock type
source rock type

3. What is a sedimentary basin?
What is a sedimentary basin?
 A low area on the Earth’s surface relative to surroundings
A low area on the Earth’s surface relative to surroundings
 e.g. deep ocean basin (5-10 km deep), intramontane basin (2-3 km
e.g. deep ocean basin (5-10 km deep), intramontane basin (2-3 km
a.s.l.)
a.s.l.)
 May be of
May be of tectonic
tectonic (or
(or erosional
erosional origin)
origin)
 A receptacle for sedimentation; erosion may also be important
A receptacle for sedimentation; erosion may also be important
 Sedimentation may be interrupted - unconformities
Sedimentation may be interrupted - unconformities
 Basins may be small (kms2) or large (106+ km2)
Basins may be small (kms2) or large (106+ km2)
 Basins may be simple or composite (sub-basins)
Basins may be simple or composite (sub-basins)
 Basins may change in size & shape due to:
Basins may change in size & shape due to:
 erosion
erosion
 sedimentation
sedimentation
 tectonic activity
tectonic activity
 eustatic sea-level changes
eustatic sea-level changes
 Basins may overlap each other in time
Basins may overlap each other in time

4. The Evolution of Sedimentary
The Evolution of Sedimentary
Basins
Basins
 The evolution of sedimentary basins may
The evolution of sedimentary basins may
include:
include:
tectonic activity (initiation, termination)
tectonic activity (initiation, termination)
magmatic activity
magmatic activity
metamorphism
metamorphism
 as well as sedimentation
as well as sedimentation
 all may be contemporaneous
all may be contemporaneous
 Basins may develop on oceanic crust,
Basins may develop on oceanic crust,
island arc crust, or continental crust
island arc crust, or continental crust

5.  Basins may be sedimentary basins
Basins may be sedimentary basins
sedimentary fill is relatively undeformed,
sedimentary fill is relatively undeformed,
basin margin facies are preserved
basin margin facies are preserved
 OR,
OR, structural
structural (remnants of)
(remnants of) basins
basins
sedimentary fill is deformed
sedimentary fill is deformed
dips > original depositional slopes
dips > original depositional slopes
basin margin facies are eroded
basin margin facies are eroded

6. Components of a basin
Components of a basin
 Axial elements of sedimentary basins:
Axial elements of sedimentary basins:
Basin axis
Basin axis is the lowest point on the
is the lowest point on the
basement surface
basement surface
Topographic axis
Topographic axis is the lowest point on the
is the lowest point on the
depositional surface
depositional surface
Depocentre
Depocentre is the point of thickest sediment
is the point of thickest sediment
accumulation
accumulation

7. What type of basin do we have?
What type of basin do we have?
 Depends on the structural setting of the
Depends on the structural setting of the
basin
basin
 Many types, corresponding to different
Many types, corresponding to different
locations
locations
Divergent plate margin basins
Divergent plate margin basins
Convergent plate margin basins
Convergent plate margin basins

8. Divergent plate margin
Divergent plate margin
basins
basins
 Continental Rift Zones (Narrow)
Continental Rift Zones (Narrow)
 Aulacogene Basins
Aulacogene Basins
 Continental Rift Zones
Continental Rift Zones
 Oceanic Rift Basins
Oceanic Rift Basins
 Open Ocean Passive-Margin Basins
Open Ocean Passive-Margin Basins

9. Continental Rift Zones (Narrow)
Continental Rift Zones (Narrow)
 Origin
Origin
 large scale mantle convection
large scale mantle convection
 regional updoming ± regional basaltic (flood)
regional updoming ± regional basaltic (flood)
volcanism
volcanism
 extensional failure of crust
extensional failure of crust
 listric normal fault system
listric normal fault system
 subsided/rotated half grabens
subsided/rotated half grabens
 widening to form central rift graben
widening to form central rift graben
 may:
may:
 rupturing of crust
rupturing of crust
 spreading ridge, oceanic basin
spreading ridge, oceanic basin

10. Continental Rift Zones (Narrow)
Continental Rift Zones (Narrow)
 two associated basin types
two associated basin types
 central rift graben basin
central rift graben basin
 rim basins
rim basins
 environments & facies
environments & facies
 alluvial fan, fluvial, lake
alluvial fan, fluvial, lake
 volcanism
volcanism
 initial (flood) basaltic (arch phase)
initial (flood) basaltic (arch phase)
 lavas
lavas
 intra-rift bimodal volcanism
intra-rift bimodal volcanism
 basalt-rhyolite lavas & pyroclastics
basalt-rhyolite lavas & pyroclastics
 often peralkaline
often peralkaline
 calderas, stratovolcano, shields
calderas, stratovolcano, shields
 mantle magmas melt crust
mantle magmas melt crust

11. Continental Rift Zones (Narrow)
Continental Rift Zones (Narrow)
 Sediment compositions
Sediment compositions
 mixed provenance
mixed provenance
 exposed crustal rocks at rift margin
exposed crustal rocks at rift margin
 contemporaneous volcanic sources
contemporaneous volcanic sources
 Examples
Examples
 East Africa rift zone
East Africa rift zone
 Rio Grande rift; Rhine graben
Rio Grande rift; Rhine graben
 May be subsequently deformed by
May be subsequently deformed by
compressional deformation
compressional deformation
 e.g. Proterozoic Mt. Isa rift
e.g. Proterozoic Mt. Isa rift
 Devono-Carb. Mt. Howitt province, Victoria
Devono-Carb. Mt. Howitt province, Victoria

12. Aulacogene Basins
Aulacogene Basins
 Narrow continental rifts which do not evolve into spreading ridge
Narrow continental rifts which do not evolve into spreading ridge
oceanic basins.
oceanic basins.
 e.g North Sea basins, Europe; Gippsland Basin, Bass Basin.
e.g North Sea basins, Europe; Gippsland Basin, Bass Basin.
 Dominated by initial alluvial fan, fluvial, lake facies; up to 4 km thick.
Dominated by initial alluvial fan, fluvial, lake facies; up to 4 km thick.
 May extend through
May extend through
 crustal subsidence & extension
crustal subsidence & extension
 marine transgression; no oceanic crust
marine transgression; no oceanic crust
 coastal plain rivers, coal swamp shoreline, shelf & slope environment
coastal plain rivers, coal swamp shoreline, shelf & slope environment
(e.g. Gippsland, Bass basins
(e.g. Gippsland, Bass basins
 Provenance
Provenance
 continental, mixed
continental, mixed
 plutonic, metasedimentary, metavolcanic, contemporaneous volcanic
plutonic, metasedimentary, metavolcanic, contemporaneous volcanic
 ± marine carbonates
± marine carbonates

13. Continental Rift Zones
Continental Rift Zones
 Origin
Origin
 regionally extensive mantle convection
regionally extensive mantle convection
 = ? driven by subduction oceanic spreading ridge under continent
= ? driven by subduction oceanic spreading ridge under continent
 e.g. ?Western U.S.A.
e.g. ?Western U.S.A.
 Extensional failure of crust
Extensional failure of crust
 complex lystric fault system
complex lystric fault system
 down to 15 km, Western U.S.A.
down to 15 km, Western U.S.A.
 uprise of mantle + metamorphic core complexes - regional uplift, up to 2-3 km
uprise of mantle + metamorphic core complexes - regional uplift, up to 2-3 km
 widespread volcanism in complex multiple graben rift basins
widespread volcanism in complex multiple graben rift basins
 Environments and facies
Environments and facies
 alluvial fan, fluvial, lacustrine
alluvial fan, fluvial, lacustrine
 Volcanism
Volcanism
 flood basalts, bimodal basalt-rhyolite-andesite: lavas & pyroclastics
flood basalts, bimodal basalt-rhyolite-andesite: lavas & pyroclastics
 tholeiitic, alkaline, calc-alkaline: lavas & pyroclastics.
tholeiitic, alkaline, calc-alkaline: lavas & pyroclastics.
 Provenance
Provenance
 mixed crustal sources
mixed crustal sources
 contemporaneous volcanic sources
contemporaneous volcanic sources

14. Oceanic Rift Basins
Oceanic Rift Basins
 Initially narrow (e.g. Red Sea)
Initially narrow (e.g. Red Sea)
 may evolve into open oceanic basins
may evolve into open oceanic basins
 Origin
Origin
 narrow continental rifts evolve
narrow continental rifts evolve
 break-up
break-up
 oceanic spreading ridge
oceanic spreading ridge
 oceanic crust in axial basins
oceanic crust in axial basins
 continental crust at basin margin
continental crust at basin margin
 Environments & facies
Environments & facies
 alluvial fans, fan deltas, shoreline narrow shelf, slope, abyssal plain
alluvial fans, fan deltas, shoreline narrow shelf, slope, abyssal plain
 Volcanism
Volcanism
 MORB tholeiitic oceanic crust
MORB tholeiitic oceanic crust
 Lavas, hyaloclastite
Lavas, hyaloclastite
 Provenance
Provenance
 mixed continental
mixed continental
 contemporaneous volcanics
contemporaneous volcanics
 shelf carbonate, evaporites
shelf carbonate, evaporites
 oceanic carbonate, evaporites
oceanic carbonate, evaporites
 oceanic pelagic, hemi-pelagic
oceanic pelagic, hemi-pelagic

15. Open Ocean Passive-Margin
Open Ocean Passive-Margin
Basins
Basins
 Evolve from oceanic rift basins
Evolve from oceanic rift basins
 Become passive margin basins when MOR’s - large, wide ocean
Become passive margin basins when MOR’s - large, wide ocean
basins.
basins.
 Half graben system evolves into coastal plain-continental shelf &
Half graben system evolves into coastal plain-continental shelf &
slope
slope
 oceanic abyssal plain system
oceanic abyssal plain system
 Volcanism
Volcanism
 none expected after break-up
none expected after break-up
 perhaps intraplate hot spot volcanism
perhaps intraplate hot spot volcanism
 Sedimentation & provenance
Sedimentation & provenance
 as for oceanic rift basin
as for oceanic rift basin
 + well developed shelf-slope seds (± carbonate seds.)
+ well developed shelf-slope seds (± carbonate seds.)
 Tectonics
Tectonics
 post-break-up thermal & later isostatic subsidence of continental margin
post-break-up thermal & later isostatic subsidence of continental margin
 transgression
transgression

16. Convergent Plate Margin
Convergent Plate Margin
Basins
Basins

17. Continental Margin Arc-Subduction
Continental Margin Arc-Subduction
Associated Basins
Associated Basins
 Origin
Origin
 oceanic plate being subducted under continental
oceanic plate being subducted under continental
margin
margin
 trench, accretionary prism, continental margin
trench, accretionary prism, continental margin
volcanic arc
volcanic arc
 E.g. Andes, Cascades arc
E.g. Andes, Cascades arc
 Volcanism
Volcanism
 calc-alkaline arc volcanism
calc-alkaline arc volcanism
 andesites, dacites, rhyolites, rhyodacites, minor basalts
andesites, dacites, rhyolites, rhyodacites, minor basalts
 hydrous fluids from subducting lab melt mantle above, & both
hydrous fluids from subducting lab melt mantle above, & both
then melt the base of the crust
then melt the base of the crust
 lavas + pyroclastics
lavas + pyroclastics

18. Continental Margin Arc-Subduction
Continental Margin Arc-Subduction
Associated Basins
Associated Basins
 Basin types: environments & facies
Basin types: environments & facies
 Trench basin
Trench basin
 deep marine
deep marine
 turbidites, pelagic seds.
turbidites, pelagic seds.
 Forearc basin
Forearc basin
 perched on "scraped off", imbricate thrust faulted, accretionary prism
perched on "scraped off", imbricate thrust faulted, accretionary prism
 alluvial fan, fluvial, shoreline shelf, deep turbidite fans
alluvial fan, fluvial, shoreline shelf, deep turbidite fans
 Back arc-foreland basin
Back arc-foreland basin
 lies behind arc
lies behind arc
 at foot of craton directed fold & thrust belt if present
at foot of craton directed fold & thrust belt if present
 alluvial fan, fluvial, lakes
alluvial fan, fluvial, lakes
 Intra-arc
Intra-arc
 arc volcanoes often lie in major graben
arc volcanoes often lie in major graben
 alluvial fan, fluvial, lake
alluvial fan, fluvial, lake

19. Continental Margin Arc-Subduction
Continental Margin Arc-Subduction
Associated Basins
Associated Basins
 Sediment compositions
Sediment compositions
 Trench
Trench
 metasedimentary debris eroded off accretionary prism
metasedimentary debris eroded off accretionary prism
 v. minor volcanic debris
v. minor volcanic debris
 pelagic sed.
pelagic sed.
 Forearc basin
Forearc basin
 voluminous volcanic debris
voluminous volcanic debris
 Back-arc basin
Back-arc basin
 arc & thrust belt derived
arc & thrust belt derived
 mixed volc., meta-sed., metamorphic, plutonic
mixed volc., meta-sed., metamorphic, plutonic
 Intra-arc basins
Intra-arc basins: lavas, volcanic seds, pyroclastics
: lavas, volcanic seds, pyroclastics

20. Island Arc-Subduction Associated
Island Arc-Subduction Associated
Basins
Basins
 E.g. Marianas, Tonga-Kermadec arcs
E.g. Marianas, Tonga-Kermadec arcs
 Origin
Origin
 oceanic plate is subducted under another oceanic plate
oceanic plate is subducted under another oceanic plate
 trench, accretionary prism, volcanic island arc
trench, accretionary prism, volcanic island arc
 volcanic arc on oceanic lithosphere
volcanic arc on oceanic lithosphere
 back arc basin(s) originate by rifting of arc block, development of
back arc basin(s) originate by rifting of arc block, development of
small spreading ridge
small spreading ridge
 widening basin; oceanic crust
widening basin; oceanic crust
 arc block migrates trenchward as subducting plate "rolls back".
arc block migrates trenchward as subducting plate "rolls back".
 Volcanism
Volcanism
 island arc tholeiitic volcanics
island arc tholeiitic volcanics
 basalts, basaltic andesites
basalts, basaltic andesites
 back arc basin tholeiitic crust
back arc basin tholeiitic crust

21. Island Arc-Subduction Associated
Island Arc-Subduction Associated
Basins
Basins
 Basin types, environments, facies, provenance
Basin types, environments, facies, provenance
 Trench basin
Trench basin
 turbidites, pelagic sediments
turbidites, pelagic sediments
 metasedimentary sed. from accretionary prism
metasedimentary sed. from accretionary prism
 arc derived volcanic sediment
arc derived volcanic sediment
 Fore-arc basin
Fore-arc basin
 on accretionary prism
on accretionary prism
 volcanic seds., carbonates
volcanic seds., carbonates
 turbidites
turbidites
 Back arc basin
Back arc basin
 arc derived volcaniclastic turbidite apron
arc derived volcaniclastic turbidite apron
 pelagic sediments, especially where basin is large
pelagic sediments, especially where basin is large
 no continental derived sediment
no continental derived sediment
 only rare silicic volcanism
only rare silicic volcanism

22. Continental Collision Belts & Basins
Continental Collision Belts & Basins
 E.g. Himalayan mountain chain, European Alps
E.g. Himalayan mountain chain, European Alps
 Origin
Origin
 long term subduction of oceanic plate under continental margin, will bring
long term subduction of oceanic plate under continental margin, will bring
"passenger" continent into collision with arc host continent.
"passenger" continent into collision with arc host continent.
 oceanic basin closes during collision
oceanic basin closes during collision
 subducting continent under thrust over-riding continent
subducting continent under thrust over-riding continent
 uplift, mountain range, double continental crust thickness
uplift, mountain range, double continental crust thickness
 Volcanism
Volcanism
 subduction related volcanism stop at collision, when subduction stop
subduction related volcanism stop at collision, when subduction stop
 granitoid plutonism may occur due to extremely thickened crust
granitoid plutonism may occur due to extremely thickened crust
 magmas won't rise because of compressional stress field
magmas won't rise because of compressional stress field
 Basin types, environments, facies provenance
Basin types, environments, facies provenance
 foreland basin at foot of fold & thrust belt
foreland basin at foot of fold & thrust belt
 subject to isostatic subsidence
subject to isostatic subsidence
 huge sediment flux off mountain belt
huge sediment flux off mountain belt
 alluvial fan, braided river, meandering river, lake environments & facies
alluvial fan, braided river, meandering river, lake environments & facies
 metasedimentary, met. (include high grade plutonic, reflecting deep crustal
metasedimentary, met. (include high grade plutonic, reflecting deep crustal
erosion)
erosion)

23. Continental Strike-Slip Basins
Continental Strike-Slip Basins
 E.g. California borderland basins associated with San
E.g. California borderland basins associated with San
Andreas strike-slip fault system
Andreas strike-slip fault system
 Origin
Origin
 strike-slip along non-linear faults
strike-slip along non-linear faults
 opening "holes" or basins at fault jogs or bends
opening "holes" or basins at fault jogs or bends
 Volcanism
Volcanism
 usually none, unless "accidental" intraplate
usually none, unless "accidental" intraplate
 Basin types, environments, facies, provenance
Basin types, environments, facies, provenance
 "pull-apart" or strike-slip basins
"pull-apart" or strike-slip basins
 alluvial fans, rivers, lakes
alluvial fans, rivers, lakes
 alluvial, lacustrine, coal, ?evaporite seds.
alluvial, lacustrine, coal, ?evaporite seds.
 provenance: whatever is being eroded from exposed crust
provenance: whatever is being eroded from exposed crust

24. Stable Continental Interior Basins
Stable Continental Interior Basins
 E.g. Lake Eyre Basin
E.g. Lake Eyre Basin
 Intracratonic (= within stable continental
Intracratonic (= within stable continental
crustal mass)
crustal mass)
 Long term stability
Long term stability
 Flat topography
Flat topography
 River, desert, lake environments & facies
River, desert, lake environments & facies
 Mature basement derived sed. ±
Mature basement derived sed. ±
evaporites
evaporites