638
Chapter 12 Basin Evolution and Sediments
acted as sediment source or were sediment-free. In a
final stage, a wide, very thick embankment may
prograde seaward beyond the oceanic/continental
crost boundary and deeply bury older sediments under its load.
Table 12.1. Stages ofthe Wilson cycle and basin evolution. (After Wilson 1968)
Stage
Embryonic
Young
Mature
Declining
Terminal
Relic scar
Basin type
(modem
examples)
Continental
rift (East
African Rift)
N arrow ocean
(Red Sea,
Gulf of Aden,
Gulfof
Califomia
Wide ocean
(Atlantic
Ocean)
N arrowin~ of
ocean baslll
(Pacific Ocean)
Ocean basin
strongly reduced in size
(Mediterranean Sea)
Suture zone
(IndusTsangpo
suture,
Himalayas)
Motions, volcanism,
formation of terrig.
sediment sources
Frequently updoming
and block uplift,
extension and strikeslip; alkaline, mostly
basic, but also more
silicic volcanism
Incipient ocean
spreading, rapid
subsidence ofbasin,
continued uplift of
nearby continental
zones, tholeiitic
basalts
Spreading, mid-oceanic
ridges, continued subsidence of basin flanks,
tholeiitic ocean floor,
alkali basalt islands,
distant terrigenous
sediment sources
Convergence and
marginal uplift,
island arcs or Andentype active margin,
basaltic and andesitic
volcanics
Convergence and uplift,
young orogenic belts,
andesitic volcanics
and rising granodiorite-gneis complexes
Collision and continued
uplift of orogenic belt
exposed granitic and
metamorphic rocks
Characteristic depositional
environments and sediments
(depending on climate)
Continental and lacustrine,
partially also marine,
clastics, volcaniclastics,
(red beds and evaporites)
Marine, narrow shelves,
one central trough or
several small spreading
troughs, variable sediments depending on connection to world ocean,
entering rivers, etc.
Wide shelves with thick
clastic and carbonate
sediments, deep-sea fans
and basin plains, large
areas with pelagic clay
and biogenic oozes
Deep-sea trenches, forearc
and backarc basins,
flysch-type and pelagic
sediments, volcaniclastics
Remnant basins (flysch)
and fore land basins
(marine and continental)
accumulate clastic wedges,
volcaniclastics, (red beds
and evaporites)
Final stage of foreland
basins with continental
clastic wedge, intramontane molasse (red
beds)
Chapter 12 Basin Evolution and Sediments
acted as sediment source or were sediment-free. In a
final stage, a wide, very thick embankment may
prograde seaward beyond the oceanic/continental
crost boundary and deeply bury older sediments under its load.
Table 12.1. Stages ofthe Wilson cycle and basin evolution. (After Wilson 1968)
Stage
Embryonic
Young
Mature
Declining
Terminal
Relic scar
Basin type
(modem
examples)
Continental
rift (East
African Rift)
N arrow ocean
(Red Sea,
Gulf of Aden,
Gulfof
Califomia
Wide ocean
(Atlantic
Ocean)
N arrowin~ of
ocean baslll
(Pacific Ocean)
Ocean basin
strongly reduced in size
(Mediterranean Sea)
Suture zone
(IndusTsangpo
suture,
Himalayas)
Motions, volcanism,
formation of terrig.
sediment sources
Frequently updoming
and block uplift,
extension and strikeslip; alkaline, mostly
basic, but also more
silicic volcanism
Incipient ocean
spreading, rapid
subsidence ofbasin,
continued uplift of
nearby continental
zones, tholeiitic
basalts
Spreading, mid-oceanic
ridges, continued subsidence of basin flanks,
tholeiitic ocean floor,
alkali basalt islands,
distant terrigenous
sediment sources
Convergence and
marginal uplift,
island arcs or Andentype active margin,
basaltic and andesitic
volcanics
Convergence and uplift,
young orogenic belts,
andesitic volcanics
and rising granodiorite-gneis complexes
Collision and continued
uplift of orogenic belt
exposed granitic and
metamorphic rocks
Characteristic depositional
environments and sediments
(depending on climate)
Continental and lacustrine,
partially also marine,
clastics, volcaniclastics,
(red beds and evaporites)
Marine, narrow shelves,
one central trough or
several small spreading
troughs, variable sediments depending on connection to world ocean,
entering rivers, etc.
Wide shelves with thick
clastic and carbonate
sediments, deep-sea fans
and basin plains, large
areas with pelagic clay
and biogenic oozes
Deep-sea trenches, forearc
and backarc basins,
flysch-type and pelagic
sediments, volcaniclastics
Remnant basins (flysch)
and fore land basins
(marine and continental)
accumulate clastic wedges,
volcaniclastics, (red beds
and evaporites)
Final stage of foreland
basins with continental
clastic wedge, intramontane molasse (red
beds)