GEOPHYSICAL CORNER

The Geophysical Corner is a regular column in the EXPLORER, produced cooperatively by the AAPG Geophysical Integration and SEG Interpretation committees, and edited by M. Ray Thomasson.

This month's column, the third in a four-part series dealing with plate kinematics ("Arm Waving, or Underutilized Exploration Tool?"), is titled "Building Quantitative Plate Kinematic Frameworks for Regional Exploration Assessments."

A Removal-Restoration Project

By JAMES PINDELL
LORCAN KENNAN
and STEPHEN BARRETT

Current Article

Click on graphic for details.

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 1a

Cartoon section showing how passive margin sediments (deltas, turbidites, carbonate banks) can prograde far beyond the original position of the continental edge. 1b and 1c show a simple method of estimating and restoring crustal extension during rifting and passive margin formation. The cross-sectional area of the stretched crust (hatch-pattern) must equal that of the unstretched crust after sediment, water and mantle have been removed from the cross section.

Graphics courtesy of Pindell, Kennan and Barrett