Changes

[[file:sedimentary-basin-analysis_fig4-10.png|300px|thumb|{{figure number|1}} Gulf of Mexico region as it looked approximately 130 Ma. Modified from Pindell.<ref name=ch04r76 /> Courtesy Gult Coast SEPM.]]

[[file:sedimentary-basin-analysis_fig4-10.png|300px|thumb|{{figure number|1}} Gulf of Mexico region as it looked approximately 130 Ma. Modified from Pindell.<ref name=ch04r76 /> Courtesy Gult Coast SEPM.]]

Technically, the Gulf of Mexico (GOM; see [http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/about/facts.html General Facts about the Gulf of Mexico] for general information) is a Mesozoic-Cenozoic (see [http://www.stratigraphy.org/index.php/ics-chart-timescale International Chronostratigraphic Chart]) [[rift]] basin formed along a southwest-northeast-spreading center on the southern margin of the North American craton.<ref name=ch04r25>Buffler, R., T., 1991, Early evolution of the Gulf of Mexico basin, in Goldthwaite, D., ed., An Introduction to Central Gulf Coast Geology: New Orleans Geological Society, p. 1–16.</ref> The basic tectonic architecture developed as a consequence of the Jurassic breakup of Pangea (see [http://geology.com/pangea.htm Plate Tectonics] for more information) as Africa and South America separated from North America.<ref name=ch04r76>Pindell, J., L., 1993, Regional synopsis of Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean evolution: Proceedings, Gulf Coast Section SEPM 13th Annual Research conference, p. 251–274.</ref> The GOM basin is underlain by [[Oceanic crust|oceanic]] and [[transitional crust]]<ref name=ch04r25 /> deformed along a set of north-northwest-trending faults.<ref name=ch04r64>Marton, G., Buffler, R., T., 1993, The southeastern Gulf of Mexico in the framework of the opening of the Gulf of Mexico basin: Selected Papers, Gulf Coast Section SEPM 13th Annual Research conference, p. 127–139.</ref>

Technically, the Gulf of Mexico (GOM; see [http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/about/facts.html General Facts about the Gulf of Mexico] for general information) is a Mesozoic-Cenozoic (see [http://www.stratigraphy.org/index.php/ics-chart-timescale International Chronostratigraphic Chart]) [[rift]] basin formed along a southwest-northeast-spreading center on the southern margin of the North American craton.<ref name=ch04r25>Buffler, R. T., 1991, Early evolution of the Gulf of Mexico basin, in D. Goldthwaite, ed., An Introduction to Central Gulf Coast Geology: New Orleans Geological Society, p. 1–16.</ref> The basic tectonic architecture developed as a consequence of the Jurassic breakup of Pangea (see [http://geology.com/pangea.htm Plate Tectonics] for more information) as Africa and South America separated from North America.<ref name=ch04r76>Pindell, J. L., 1993, Regional synopsis of Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean evolution: Proceedings, Gulf Coast Section SEPM 13th Annual Research conference, p. 251–274.</ref> The GOM basin is underlain by [[Oceanic crust|oceanic]] and [[transitional crust]]<ref name=ch04r25 /> deformed along a set of north-northwest-trending faults.<ref name=ch04r64>Marton, G., and R. T. Buffler, 1993, The southeastern Gulf of Mexico in the framework of the opening of the Gulf of Mexico basin: Selected Papers, Gulf Coast Section SEPM 13th Annual Research conference, p. 127–139.</ref>

[[:file:sedimentary-basin-analysis_fig4-10.png|Figure 1]] shows the Gulf of Mexico region as it looked approximately 130 Ma. Note the spreading and [[transform fault]] systems separating the North American, Atlantic, Farallon, and Caribbean plates. (See [[Plates]].) Striped areas are [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/craton cratonic] basement; shading is transitional to oceanic basement; and arc-related [[Wikipedia:Volcanic_rock|volcanics]] are noted by a “A” pattern east of the Farallon/Caribbean trench.

[[:file:sedimentary-basin-analysis_fig4-10.png|Figure 1]] shows the Gulf of Mexico region as it looked approximately 130 Ma. Note the spreading and [[transform fault]] systems separating the North American, Atlantic, Farallon, and Caribbean plates. (See [[Plates]].) Striped areas are [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/craton cratonic] basement; shading is transitional to oceanic basement; and arc-related [[Wikipedia:Volcanic_rock|volcanics]] are noted by a “A” pattern east of the Farallon/Caribbean trench.