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 1

Figure 3

Figure 2

Pre-Aptian Equatorial Atlantic reconstruction in which the restored pre-rift limits of continental crust (ie, methodology of figure 1) are juxtaposed. Note resulting simple geometry for Aptian rifting.

Inset: Bullard (1965) reconstruction of the two continents, which realigned the 2,000 m isobaths of today's passive margins (not shown), showing the pre-rift limits of continental crust for each, as well as the large region of continental underfit in the absence of the sedimentary sections.

Graphics courtesy of Pindell, Kennan and Barrett