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In the northern GOM basin, depocenters [[Well_log_sequence_analysis#Parasequence_stacking_patterns|prograde]] ([[:file:sedimentary-basin-analysis_fig4-4.png|Figure 1]]) over the [[transitional crust]] ([[:file:sedimentary-basin-analysis_fig4-6.png|Figure 2]]) and [[Deformation|deform]] the underlying salt into a complex network of salt-cored anticlines and salt-withdrawal synclines ([[:file:sedimentary-basin-analysis_fig4-8.png|Figures 3]] and [[:file:sedimentary-basin-analysis_fig4-9.png|4]]). Late Neogene depocenters of the Mississippi River, the largest source of sediment to the northern Gulf of Mexico, developed during five time periods from the latest Miocene through Holocene (from Piggott;<ref name=ch04r75>Piggott, N., Pulham, A., 1993, Sedimentation rate as the control on hydrocarbon sourcing, generation, and [[migration]] in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico: Proceedings, Gulf Coast Section SEPM 14th Annual Research conference, p. 179–191.</ref> see also Goldthwaite.<ref name=ch04r38>Goldthwaite, D., 1991, Central Gulf Coast stratigraphy, in Goldthwaite, D., ed., An Introduction to Central Gulf Coast Geology: New Orleans Geological Society, p. 17–30.</ref>) Following are the five depocenter intervals and their time periods.

In the northern GOM basin, [[depocenter]]s [[Well_log_sequence_analysis#Parasequence_stacking_patterns|prograde]] ([[:file:sedimentary-basin-analysis_fig4-4.png|Figure 1]]) over the [[transitional crust]] ([[:file:sedimentary-basin-analysis_fig4-6.png|Figure 2]]) and [[Deformation|deform]] the underlying salt into a complex network of salt-cored anticlines and salt-withdrawal synclines ([[:file:sedimentary-basin-analysis_fig4-8.png|Figures 3]] and [[:file:sedimentary-basin-analysis_fig4-9.png|4]]). Late Neogene depocenters of the Mississippi River, the largest source of sediment to the northern Gulf of Mexico, developed during five time periods from the latest Miocene through Holocene (from Piggott;<ref name=ch04r75>Piggott, N., Pulham, A., 1993, Sedimentation rate as the control on hydrocarbon sourcing, generation, and [[migration]] in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico: Proceedings, Gulf Coast Section SEPM 14th Annual Research conference, p. 179–191.</ref> see also Goldthwaite.<ref name=ch04r38>Goldthwaite, D., 1991, Central Gulf Coast stratigraphy, in Goldthwaite, D., ed., An Introduction to Central Gulf Coast Geology: New Orleans Geological Society, p. 17–30.</ref>) Following are the five depocenter intervals and their time periods.

{| class = "wikitable"

{| class = "wikitable"

==Formation of high island-east breaks depocenter==

==Formation of high island-east breaks depocenter==

Between 2.5 and 2.0 Ma, the major northern GOM basin depocenter was focused offshore of western Louisiana and eastern Texas. The westernmost part of this depocenter appears to have been the input area for the ancestral Mississippi River system. The resulting depocenter, the High Island–East Breaks depocenter, has more than [[depth::16,000 ft]] (4875 m) of late Pliocene and early Pleistocene sediments deposited during a succession of highamplitude sea level cycles.

Between 2.5 and 2.0 Ma, the major northern GOM basin [[depocenter]] was focused offshore of western Louisiana and eastern Texas. The westernmost part of this depocenter appears to have been the input area for the ancestral Mississippi River system. The resulting depocenter, the High Island–East Breaks depocenter, has more than [[depth::16,000 ft]] (4875 m) of late Pliocene and early Pleistocene sediments deposited during a succession of highamplitude sea level cycles.

==Timing of petroleum generation==

==Timing of petroleum generation==

[[file:sedimentary-basin-analysis_fig4-3.png|thumb|300px|{{figure number|11}}Jurassic to recent sediment thickness and hydrocarbon occurrences in the GOM basin. From Winkler & Buffler;<ref name=WinkerandBuffler>Winker, C. D., and R. T. Buffler, 1988, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/bulletns/1988-89/data/pg/0072/0003/0300/0318.htm Paleogeographic evolution of the early deep-water Gulf of Mexico and its margins, Jurassic to middle Cretaceous (Comanchean)]: AAPG Bulletin, vol. 72, p. 318-346</ref> courtesy AAPG.]]

[[file:sedimentary-basin-analysis_fig4-3.png|thumb|300px|{{figure number|11}}Jurassic to recent sediment thickness and hydrocarbon occurrences in the GOM basin. From Winkler & Buffler;<ref name=WinkerandBuffler>Winker, C. D., and R. T. Buffler, 1988, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/bulletns/1988-89/data/pg/0072/0003/0300/0318.htm Paleogeographic evolution of the early deep-water Gulf of Mexico and its margins, Jurassic to middle Cretaceous (Comanchean)]: AAPG Bulletin, vol. 72, p. 318-346</ref> courtesy AAPG.]]

Mapping age-specific isopach thicks defines laterally shifting sites of maximum deposition along the margin of the basin. Each of these depocenters has a unique history of [[accumulation]] with consequent variations in [[maturation]], [[migration]], and entrapment histories. Evaluation of depocenter maps should include comparison of the results with the largerscale isopach maps ([[:file:sedimentary-basin-analysis_fig4-4.png|Figures 1]], [[:file:sedimentary-basin-analysis_fig4-3.png|11]]).

Mapping age-specific isopach thicks defines laterally shifting sites of maximum deposition along the margin of the basin. Each of these [[depocenter]]s has a unique history of [[accumulation]] with consequent variations in [[maturation]], [[migration]], and entrapment histories. Evaluation of depocenter maps should include comparison of the results with the largerscale isopach maps ([[:file:sedimentary-basin-analysis_fig4-4.png|Figures 1]], [[:file:sedimentary-basin-analysis_fig4-3.png|11]]).

===GOM depocenter summary===

===GOM depocenter summary===