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 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 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>

[[: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. Striped areas are cratonic basement; shading is transitional to oceanic basement; and arc-related 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. Striped areas are cratonic basement; shading is transitional to oceanic basement; and arc-related volcanics are noted by a “A” pattern east of the Farallon/Caribbean trench.