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1.
Late Cenozoic transtensional fault belt discovered on the boundary of the Awati Sag in the northwestern Tarim Basin 总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1
Late Cenozoic transtensional fault belt was discovered on Shajingzi fault belt, NW boundary of the Awati Sag in the northwestern Tarim Basin. And numerous Quaternary normal faults were discovered on Aqia and Tumuxiuke fault belts, SW boundary of Awati. This discovery reveals Quaternary normal fault activity in the Tarim Basin for the first time. It is also a new discovery in the southern flank of Tianshan Mountains. Shajingzi transtensional fault belt is made up of numerous, small normal faults. Horizontally, the normal faults are arranged in right-step, en echelon patterns along the preexisting Shajingzi basement fault, forming a sinistral transtensional normal fault belt. In profile, they cut through the Paleozoic to the mid-Quaternary and combine to form negative flower structures. The Late Cenozoic normal faults on the SW boundary of Awati Sag were distributed mainly in the uplift side of the preexisting Aqia and Tumuxiuke basement-involved faults, and combined to form small horst and graben structures in profile. Based on the intensive seismic interpretation, careful fault mapping, and growth index analysis, we conclude that the normal fault activity of Shajingzi transtensional fault belt began from Late Pliocene and ceased in Late Pleistocene (mid-Quaternary). And the normal faulting on the SW boundary of Awati Sag began from the very beginning of Quaternary and ceased in Pleistocene. The normal faulting on Awati’s SW boundary began a little later than those on the NW boundary. The origin of Shajingzi transtensional normal fault belt was due to the left-lateral strike-slip occurred in the southern flank of Tianshan, and then, due to the eastward escape of the Awati block, a tensional stress developed the normal faults on its SW boundary. 相似文献
2.
Kamil Ustaszewski Markus E. Schumacher Stefan M. Schmid 《International Journal of Earth Sciences》2005,94(4):680-696
The southern end of the Upper Rhine Graben (URG) is formed by a major continental transfer zone, which was localised by the reactivation of ENE-oriented basement faults of Late Palaeozoic origin. A combination of subcrop data (derived from exploration wells and reflection seismic lines) and palaeostress analysis provided new constraints on the timing and kinematics of interacting basement faults. Rifting in the southern URG began in the Upper Priabonian under regional WNW–ESE-directed extension, oriented roughly perpendicular to the graben axis. In the study area, this led to the formation of NNE-trending half-grabens. Simultaneously, ENE-trending basement faults, situated in the area of the future Rhine-Bresse Transfer Zone (RBTZ), were reactivated in a sinistrally transtensive mode. In the sedimentary cover the strike-slip component was accommodated by the development of en-échelon aligned extensional flexures. Flexuring and interference between the differently oriented basement faults imposed additional, but locally confined extension in the sedimentary cover, which deviated by as much as 90° from the regional WNW–ESE extension. The interference of regional and local stresses led to a regime approaching radial extension at the intersection between the URG and RBTZ. 相似文献
3.
Abstract The Kyokpori Formation (Cretaceous), south‐west Korea, represents a small‐scale lacustrine strike‐slip basin and consists of an ≈ 290 m thick siliciclastic succession with abundant volcaniclasts. The succession can be organized into eight facies associations representing distinctive depositional environments: (I) subaqueous talus; (II) delta plain; (III) steep‐gradient large‐scale delta slope; (IV) base of delta slope to prodelta; (V) small‐scale nested Gilbert‐type delta; (VI) small‐scale delta‐lobe system; (VII) subaqueous fan; and (VIII) basin plain. Facies associations I, III and IV together constitute a large‐scale steep‐sloped delta system. Correlation of the sedimentary succession indicates that the formation comprises two depositional sequences: the lower coarsening‐ to fining‐upward succession (up to 215 m thick) and the upper fining‐upward succession (up to 75 m thick). Based on facies distribution, architecture and correlation of depositional sequences, three stages of basin evolution are reconstructed. Stage 1 is represented by thick coarse‐grained deposits in the lower succession that form subaqueous breccia talus and steep‐sloped gravelly delta systems along the northern and southern basin margins, respectively, and a sandy subaqueous fan system inside the basin, abutting against a basement high. This asymmetric facies distribution suggests a half‐graben structure for the basin, and the thick accumulation of coarse‐grained deposits most likely reflects rapid subsidence of the basin floor during the transtensional opening of the basin. Stage 2 is marked by sandy black shale deposits in the upper part of the lower succession. The black shale is readily correlated across the basin margins, indicating a basinwide transgression probably resulting from large‐scale dip slip suppressing the lateral slip component on basin‐bounding faults. Stage 3 is characterized by gravelly delta‐lobe deposits in the upper succession that are smaller in dimension and located more basinward than the deposits of marginal systems of the lower succession. This lakeward shift of depocentre suggests a loss of accommodation in the basin margins and quiescence of fault movements. This basin evolution model suggests that the rate of dip‐slip displacement on basin‐margin faults can be regarded as the prime control for determining stacking patterns of such basin fills. The resultant basinwide fining‐upward sequences deviate from the coarsening‐upward cycles of other transtensional basins and reveal the variety of stratigraphic architecture in strike‐slip basins controlled by the changes in relative sense and magnitude of fault movements at the basin margins. 相似文献
4.
隐性断裂带是由区域或局部应力场或基底断裂活动影响下, 在凹陷沉积盖层中产生的断裂趋势带。重磁、三维地震资料处理解释成果证实苏北盆地金湖凹陷存在北东、北西两组基底断裂。部分北东向的基底断裂活动强烈, 控制了凹陷形成和演化; 北西向和部分北东向的基底断裂活动性较弱, 沉积盖层中形成了隐性断裂带。它们表现为成带分布的雁列式小断层、断断续续沿固定方向分布的小断层、一系列沉积扇体或油气圈闭成带成串分布等线状构造。随机测线的剖面上表现为地震同相轴没有明显错断或呈现杂乱反射。除上述两组隐性断裂带, 区域右行应力场在凹陷内部产生的东西方向的挤压应力分量也形成了断续状、串状的南北向隐性断裂带。研究表明, 隐性断裂带由"隐性"逐渐向"显性"过渡。经历了早期弱雁列式隐性期、早中期强雁列式隐性期、中期断续状隐-显期、中后期串状显-隐期4个隐性阶段, 最终演化为"显性"张扭性走滑断裂。沉积盖层中形成的这些隐性断裂带控制了储集砂体分布、改善了储层物性、使隐性圈闭成带成串分布, 是油气聚集成藏的有利区带。 相似文献
5.
渤海南部新生代构造发育与演化特征 总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2
利用三维地震资料及钻井资料,在对断裂体系精细刻画的基础上,结合区域地球动力学背景,就渤海湾盆地渤海海域南部地区(包括渤南低凸起、黄河口凹陷、莱北低凸起、莱州湾凹陷)新生代的构造发育演化特征及沉积–沉降中心迁移规律进行了详细分析。研究结果表明:断裂体系存在三组优势发育方向,NNE向断裂属郯庐断裂带渤南段,可分为西、中、东三个分支带,走滑特征明显;近EW向及NE向为伸展性质的控凹、控带断裂;三组断裂相互切割,形成了渤海南部地区"东西分带、南北分块"的构造格局;古近纪具有两个沉积–沉降中心,黄河口凹陷中心受控于近EW向断裂,莱州湾凹陷的沉积中心受近EW向和NNE向断裂共同控制,至新近纪,沉积中心呈由南向北迁移的规律;渤海南部地区构造演化体现了断–拗与走滑的叠加效应,可以划分为孔店组–沙四段沉积期的初始裂陷、沙三段沉积期的伸展裂陷、沙二段–东营组沉积期的走滑–伸展和馆陶组沉积期以来的走滑–裂后拗陷四个阶段。 相似文献
6.
塔里木盆地北部隆起负反转构造及其地质意义 总被引：24，自引：2，他引：22
塔里木盆地北部隆起负反转构造带长达２００ｋｍ以上,宽１０～３０ｋｍ,位于南天山山前库车前陆拗陷的前缘隆起部位。主要负反转构造类型包括大型负反转断裂、反转掀斜断块和“垒堑叠加型”反转构造。塔北隆起大型负反转断裂经历了早期冲断和后期反转过程（如轮台和牙哈断裂带）,往往有基底层序卷入。平衡剖面分析结果揭示,反转构造的主反转期为白垩纪—第三纪,塔北隆起北部圈闭形成期和油气成藏期与主反转期相对应。塔北隆起负反转构造带形成机制受先存基底构造形迹或软弱带及前陆拗陷前缘隆起部位局部引张应力场控制。塔北隆起负反转构造的存在不仅决定了油气藏的形成与分布特征,而且对于揭示中国西北地区构造变形类型和变形方式具有重要的地质意义。 相似文献
7.
《Geodinamica Acta》2013,26(1-3):127-143
The western part of the Polish Outer Carpathians is built up from the thrust, imbricated Upper Jurassic-Neogene flysch deposits. The following Outer Carpathian nappes have been distinguished: Magura Nappe, Fore-Magura group of nappes, Silesian, Subsilesian and Skole nappes. Interpretation of seismic and magnetotelluric survey from the region South of Wadowice, allows observation of relationship between basement and flysch nappes in the Outer Carpathians. It also allows identification of dislocation cutting both flysch nappes and their basement. All the Outer Carpathian nappes are thrust over the southern part of the North European Platform. The platform basement is composed of older Precambrian metamorphic rocks belonging to the Bruno-Vistulicum terrane. Sedimentary cover consists of Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Neogene sequences. The characteristic features of this boundary are horsts and troughs of general direction NW-SE, turning W-E. Faults cutting only the consolidated basement and the Paleozoic cover were formed during the Hercynian Orogeny in the Carboniferous and the Early Permian. Most of the older normal faults were covered by allochtonous flysch nappes forming thus the blind faults. During the last stage of the geodynamic development the Carpathians thrust sheets moved towards their present position. Displacement of the Carpathians northwards is related to development of dextral strike-slip faults of N—S direction. The orientation of this strike-slip fault zones zone more or less coincides with the surface position of the major faults perpendicular to the strike of the Outer Carpathian thrustsheets. The huge fault cuts formations from the Paleozoic basement through the flysch allochton between the boreholes in Sucha Beskidzka area. The displacement of nappes of the Carpathian overthrust and diapiric extrusion of plastic formations of the lower flysch units occurred along this fault. 相似文献
8.
断陷盆地基底及周缘性质对盆缘构造和沉积的影响与制约——以伊通地堑为例 总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1
伊通地堑基底主要由抗风化能力强、刚性的块状花岗岩系和抗风化能力弱、相对柔弱的层状沉积岩系组成.东南边界断层受基底岩性影响明显,花岗岩系构成的区段内表现为断面平直的高角度张性断裂活动样式,层状岩系区段内为典型的铲状正断层.西北缘边界断裂构造活动样式基本不受基底岩性影响.基底岩性的差异很大程度上影响和制约边缘沉积相带组合类型、发育规模、展布规律.花岗岩系区段内,西北缘沉积体系由深湖相夹水下扇的特殊类型——跌水扇相构成,东南缘沉积体系由小型扇三角洲和滨浅湖相构成.层状岩系区段内,沉积体系主要由辫状三角洲相和滨浅湖相构成. 相似文献
9.
The paper is concerned with the results of the detailed study of dislocations in the Pliocene-Quaternary loose sediments exposed as cliffs extending for ～30 km along the rectilinear shore of Kolguev Island. According to seismic data, this lineament is related to the Coastal Fault in the lower part of the sedimentary cover. A system of faults longitudinal, diagonal, and transverse relative to the shoreline is established from observations at the cliffs. Their arrangement in plan view corresponds to the geometry of the right-lateral shear zone, the axis of which almost coincides with the shoreline. This has allowed us to identify the faults as secondary disturbances in the region of dynamic effect of the Coastal Fault in the basement. The kinematics of the secondary faults and their dip azimuth are consistent with echeloned geometry in plan view. The low-angle dip of the reverse-strike-slip faults observed at the outcrops is caused by their near-surface flattening toward the subsided block. The shallow-seated dislocations are related to ductile lateral shear in the vertical plane. The lower layers of the sedimentary cover mimic the horizontal movements in the basement more closely than the upper layers. The data obtained indicate high neotectonic activity of the Barents Sea shelf and specify the geodynamic setting of the region in the Pliocene and Quaternary. 相似文献
10.
We use three-dimensional (3D) seismic reflection data to analyse the structural style and growth of a normal fault array located at the present-day shelf-edge break and into the deepwater province of the Otway Basin, southern Australia. The Otway Basin is a Late Jurassic to Cenozoic, rift-to-passive margin basin. The seismic reflection data images a NW-SE (128–308) striking, normal fault array, located within Upper Cretaceous clastic sediments and which consists of ten fault segments. The fault array contains two hard-linked fault assemblages, separated by only 2 km in the dip direction. The gravity-driven, down-dip fault assemblage is entirely contained within the 3D seismic survey, is located over a basement plateau and displays growth commencing and terminating during the Campanian-Maastrichtian, with up to 1.45 km of accumulated throw (vertical displacement). The up-dip normal fault assemblage penetrates deeper than the base of the seismic survey, but is interpreted to be partially linked along strike at depth to major basement-involved normal faults that can be observed on regional 2D seismic lines. This fault assemblage displays growth initiating in the Turonian-Santonian and has accumulated up to 1.74 km of throw.Our detailed analysis of the 3D seismic data constraints post-Cenomanian fault growth of both fault assemblages into four evolutionary stages: [1] Turonian-Santonian basement reactivation during crustal extension between Australia and Antarctica. This either caused the upward propagation of basement-involved normal faults or the nucleation of a vertically isolated normal fault array in shallow cover sediments directly above the reactivated basement-involved faults; [2] continued Campanian-Maastrichtian crustal extension and sediment loading eventually created gravitational instability on the basement plateau, nucleating a second, vertically isolated normal fault array in the cover sediments; [3] eventual hard-linkage of fault segments in both fault arrays to form two along-strike, NW-SE striking fault assemblages, and; [4] termination of fault growth in the latest Maastrichtian. We document high variability of throw along-strike and down-dip for both fault assemblages, thereby providing evidence for lateral and vertical segment linkage. Our results highlight the complexities involved in the growth of both gravity-driven normal fault arrays (such as those present in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Mexico) and basement-linked normal fault arrays (such as those present in the North Sea and Suez Rift) with the interaction of an underlying and reactivating basement framework. This study provides an excellent example of spatial variability in growth of two normal fault assemblages over relatively short spatial scales (∼2 km separation down-dip). 相似文献
11.
Mohammed Warrak 《Arabian Journal of Geosciences》2010,3(4):369-393
At the western end of the Hatta Zone (the Jebel Rawdha area), Northern Oman Mountains, the neoautochthonous Late Cretaceous–Early Tertiary sequence (“cover”) lies with an angular unconformity on the obducted Semail ophiolite, Haybi Complex and Sumeini Group (“basement”). Structural analysis of the faults in both the basement and cover sequences has shown that they are similar in type and configuration to those that develop in a transpressional left-lateral strike-slip deformational regime (a restraining bend) that is characterised by the dominance of the dip-slip component over the strike-slip component. The WNW–ESE (Po) faults together with the linking NW–SE (P) faults have divided the basement into elongated blocks. These blocks, in turn, are subdivided by transverse normal faults into horst and graben sub-blocks. The cover sequence is gently folded into a generally WNW–ESE-trending ‘Main’ folds and NE–SW-trending ‘Cross’ folds superimposed on them. These folds appear to be dominantly forced folds that developed as a result of repeated uplift and depression of basement blocks. Their trends correspond to the trends of the subjacent basement blocks. Hence, the Jebel Rawdha folds trend differently from other post-obduction major folds in the foreland region of the Northern Oman Mountains, such as the Hafit and Jebel Faiyah folds. Differences in stratigraphic thicknesses and lateral facies changes of the cover sequence within the blocks and sub-blocks indicate that the earliest differential movement of the blocks must have occurred during the early Maastrichtian, and the latest movement in post-mid-Eocene. Thus, pushing back the initiation of the post-obduction deformation in the Northern Oman Mountains to the early Maastrichtian. 相似文献
12.
Yolande Razafindrazaka Thogne Randriamananjara Alain Piqu Catherine Thouin Edgard Laville Jacques Malod Jean-Pierre Rhault 《Journal of African Earth Sciences》1999,28(4):949-959
The Majunga Basin is located in the northwestern part of Madagascar with a N45–60°E trending axis. It was filled by almost exclusively continental Karoo Supergroup sediments, which are Permian to Early Jurassic in age, and by younger sequences, mainly marine, that were deposited from the Middle Jurassic to the present.The Karoo Basin geometry is deduced from the analysis of seismic sections. A central northeast trending horst is flanked by two sub-basins. Deposition of the Karoo sequences was controlled by these northeast trending faults. On the contrary, the Middle Jurassic to present sequences witness only a slight tilting of the basement towards the northwest.The development of the Majunga Basin includes, therefore, two successive stages. In the synrift episode, from Permian to Early Jurassic times, the sedimentation was syntectonic, controlled by synsedimentary faulting and the creation of a horst and graben extensive pattern. The postrift episode started during the Middle Jurassic.These two stages of the Majunga Basin development correspond to the geodynamic evolution recorded elsewhere in this part of the Gondwana. 相似文献
13.
基于东非裂谷系西支地震地质综合解释对比研究,发现该生长型裂谷盆地受基底属性影响,主要发育陡断面地堑型盆地结构,沿边界主控断裂走向发育背离型和接近型两类主要调节构造,沿边界主控断裂倾向主要发育地垒式和地堑式两类调节构造。构造样式控制了主要成藏条件：陡断面地堑式裂谷能够形成沉积范围广、厚度大的湖相优质烃源岩;裂谷间走向调节构造属于一级调节带,控制长轴辫状河三角洲的展布;裂谷内错断的边界断裂带属于次级走向调节构造,控制中小型扇三角州的发育。倾向调节构造形成的断鼻、断块圈闭,为该类盆地的主要油气藏类型。 相似文献
14.
15.
M.H.P. Bott 《Tectonophysics》1976,36(1-3)
A mechanism for causing graben-like subsidence by crustal stretching in response to tension is suggested, based partly on previous hypotheses of Vening Meinesz, Artemjev and Artyushkov, Bott and Fuchs. The mechanism requires rheological subdivision of the crust into a brittle upper layer about 10–20 km thick overlying a ductile lower crust. The brittle layer responds to tension by normal faulting and wedge subsidence; the ductile layer responds by local or regional thinning and by lateral flow of material from beneath the subsiding wedge causing complementary uplift by horst formation or elastic upbending. A graben width of between 30 and 60 km is predicted in absence of basement inhomogeneity. Computations of the energy budget indicate that sedimentary basins of more than 5 km thickness can form by the mechanism provided that water pressure reduces the friction on the faults. The mechanism can explain relatively rapid beginning and end of subsidence, and spasmodic sinking may occur. A wide variety of observed graben-like basins can be explained by the hypothesis, including classical rift valleys and the Mesozoic basins of UK and the North Sea, but it is inapplicable to broad unfaulted cratonic or shelf subsidence. 相似文献
16.
N. V. Koronovsky G. N. Gogonenkov M. A. Goncharov A. I. Timurziev N. S. Frolova 《Geotectonics》2009,43(5):379-391
An unusual structural paragenesis, complicated by brachyanticlines, is revealed for the first time in the sedimentary cover
of the West Siberian Plate by 3D seismic surveying. These are linear (in plan view) systems of en-echelon arranged low-amplitude
normal faults related to wrench faults in the basement. On different sides off a wrench fault, the planes of normal faults
dip in opposite directions, forming a helicoidal structure that resembles the blades of a propeller. In the section parallel
to the wrench fault, the boundaries of the beds and normal fault planes dip in opposite directions as well. In the section
across the strike of the normal faults converging toward the basement, the beds take the shape of an antiform with a crest
sagged along the normal faults (flower structure). This structural assembly was formed as a result of interference of stress
fields of horizontal shear in the vertical plane (induced by faulting in the basement) and in the horizontal plane (caused
by gravity resistance of the cover). In this case, the displacements along the normal faults develop in both the vertical
and, to a greater extent, horizontal directions, so that the faults in cover are actually characterized by normal-strike-slip
kinematics. The regional N-S-trending compression of the West Siberian Plate is the main cause of shearing along the NW- and
NE-trending faults in the basement, which make up a rhomb-shaped system in plan view. Petroliferous brachyanticlines, whose
axes, notwithstanding tectonophysical laws, are oriented in the direction close to the maximum compression axis, are known
in the large wrench fault zones of Western Siberia. Our experiments with equivalent materials showed that a local stress field
arising at the ends of echeloned Riedel shears within a wrench fault zone may be a cause of the formation of such brachyanticlines.
The progressive elongation of Riedel shears leads to the corresponding elongation of the brachyanticlines located between
their ends. The performed study has shown that the known types of interference of elementary geodynamic settings such as horizontal
shear along the vertical plane + horizontal compression (transpression) and horizontal shear along the vertical plane + horizontal
extension (transtension) may be supplemented by combination of horizontal shears along the vertical and horizontal planes,
resulting in tectonic lamination. By analogy, we propose to name this type of interference of elementary shear settings translamination. Petroliferous helicoidal structures arise in the given geodynamic setting of translamination. 相似文献
17.
雪峰山西部中生代厚皮逆冲推覆构造样式与变形特征研究 总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2
雪峰山厚皮逆冲推覆构造带位于扬子地块东南缘,由南向北,主构造线走向由北北东向渐变为北东东向,形成向北西突出的弧形。构造带内基底新元古界板溪群大面积出露,这些基底出露的原因和构造方式是华南中生代大地构造分析的核心问题之一。以野外构造解析为基础,结合相关地球物理资料解释,对雪峰山西部逆冲推覆构造的构造样式与变形序列进行了系统的解析。结果表明,雪峰山构造带从印支期开始发育由南东向北西的大规模的逆冲推覆构造,逆冲断层在近地表向南东陡倾,向下逐渐收敛于基底内的滑脱断层之上。基底新元古界板溪群及早古生界均卷入了推覆构造,同时逆冲覆盖于中生代地层之上,形成厚皮构造,并造成了基底板溪群的大面积出露。 相似文献
18.
在渤海湾盆地南堡凹陷西斜坡中深层扇三角洲上发现一类特殊的"混合型河口坝"沉积体。通过对研究区中深层岩心的观察与分析,结合测井相、地震相对该种"混合型河口坝"的沉积特征、坝体形态、空间展布规律进行研究,并对其成因机制进行分析。结果表明:该类"混合型河口坝"岩性组合在垂向上表现为由多个小级别反、正复合旋回组成的整体向上变粗的反旋回沉积序列,其沉积物重力流成因特征较明显;在平面上该类坝体主要发育于扇三角洲水下分流河道的前端,呈舌状或朵叶状;在沿物源方向的剖面上主要呈"条带状""琵琶状""反琵琶状"及"纺锤状"4种形态;在横切物源的方向上主要呈相互独立的透镜状。该类特殊的"混合型河口坝"与常规意义上的河口坝有重要差别,根据其特征,把这种特殊型"混合型河口坝"称之为重力流混合坝。 相似文献
19.
《地学前缘(英文版)》2020,11(4):1431-1440
The Mahanadi delta, deposited on a series of horst and graben basement structures, is considered an extension of the East Lambert Rift of Antarctica. Current study is based on the hydrogeochemical assessment of this deltaic aquifer system and geospatial analysis thereof, to appreciate the basement structure influence on groundwater chemistry. Major ion chemistry of subsurface waters portrays a distinct saline contamination across the terrain and varied regimes of water types, specifically with respect to southern and northern parts of this aquifer system. Findings of the study indicate a general near surface saline horizon and significant fragmentation of the hydrostatic units. This, in turn, implies noteworthy influence of formational water to salinity regimes and basin structural changes for the escape of these waters to surroundings. A plot of recent low intensity earthquakes displays proximity of epicenters to the faults as well as striking similarity to the trend of terrestrial faults indicating multiple reactivations of the faults. To further corroborate the above findings, spatial pattern analysis of individual hydrochemical variables is carried out which reveals specific clusters of sources (groundwater mixing) and sinks (groundwater dispersion) in proximity to basement fault dispositions. While the faults can be disregarded as conduits or barriers owing to their great depth, the overlying sedimentary mass, particularly, the horizons with significant clayey content have been distorted due to post rift subsidence and fault reactivations. A proximity analysis of ionic clusters points towards a greater influence of longitudinal faults to that of the transverse ones on groundwater mixing or dispersion. 相似文献
20.
《Journal of Asian Earth Sciences》2011,40(6):608-619
The study area encompasses the Eastern Continental Margin of India (ECMI) and the adjoining deep water areas of Bay of Bengal. The region has evolved through multiple phases of tectonic activity and fed by abundant supply of sediments brought by prominent river systems of the Indian shield. Detailed analysis of total field magnetic and satellite-derived gravity data along with multi channel seismic reflection sections is carried out to decipher major tectonic features, basement structure, and the results have been interpreted in terms of basin configuration and play types for different deep water basins along the ECMI. Interpretation of various image enhanced gravity and magnetic anomaly maps suggest that in general, the ENE–WSW trending faults dominate the structural configuration at the margin. These maps also exhibit a clear density transition from the region of attenuated continental crust/proto oceanic crust to oceanic crust based on which the Continent Ocean Boundary (COB) has been demarcated along the margin. Basement depths estimated from magnetic data indicate that the values range from 1 to 12 km below sea level and deepen towards the Bengal Fan in the north and reveal horst–graben features related to rifting. A comparison of basement depths derived from seismic data indicates that in general, the basement trends and depths are comparable in Cauvery and Krishna–Godavari basins, whereas, in the Mahanadi basin, basement structure over the 85°E ridge is clearly revealed in seismic data. Further, eight multichannel seismic sections across different basins of the margin presented here reveal fault pattern, rift geometries and depositional trends related to canyon fills and channel–levee systems and provide a basic framework for future petroleum in this under explored frontier. 相似文献