Mechanisms and architecture of siliciclastic deposits from shelf to deepwater basin: analogous of the Ordovician Argentine Precordillera and Cambrian Sergipano Belt

• Grant number: 06/00525-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2008
• End date: May 31, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geology
• Principal Investigator: Giorgio Basilici
• Grantee: Giorgio Basilici
• Host Institution: Instituto de Geociências (IG). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

To characterize the factors controlling transport and deposition from shelf to deepwater basins, is extremely interesting for the human society. In fact, these factors determine the geometry and depositional architecture of the beds that currently constitute one of the main goal of the world petroleum industry. Two aspects of this scientific argument are not too clear: i) the relevance of the geostrophic flow against the density flows in transport sediment from shelf to basin floor; ii) the difference (facies, geometry and architecture) between combined flows beds (storm-generated) and density flows beds (only gravitational flow generated). The objectives of this project are: 1) to discriminate criteria to distinguish with the facies analysis deposits of combined flows (storm-generated) and density current flows; 2) to describe the horizontal and vertical distribution of beds generated by storms and/or density currents; 3) to define the interrelations between processes and depositional systems linked to storms and to gravitational flows. To reach these results we will use analogous outcrops of ancient sedimentary succession of shelf and deep water basins. We will study the Lagarto Formation (Sergipana Belt, States of SE and BA) and the Sierra de La Invernada and Yerba Loca formations (Argentine Precordillera, Province of San Juan, Argentine). These lithostratigraphic units make up sedimentary successions deposited in marine environments of coast/shelf, deep shelf and slope/deepwater basin. We think that attainment of the objectives of this project could be of strategic importance in the national petroleum industry exploration, because the 80% of the current reservoirs are located in deepwater depositional systems (turbidite sensu lato) and is not too clear how and how much the reservoirs are originated for gravitational and/or oscillatory/combined flows. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

BASILICI, GIORGIO; VIEIRA DE LUCA, PEDRO HENRIQUE; POIRE, DANIEL G.. Hummocky cross-stratification-like structures and combined-flow ripples in the Punta Negra Formation (Lower-Middle Devonian, Argentine Precordillera): A turbiditic deep-water or storm-dominated prodelta inner-shelf system?. SEDIMENTARY GEOLOGY, v. 267, p. 73-92, AUG 1 2012. (06/00525-2)

VIEIRA DE LUCA, PEDRO HENRIQUE; BASILICI, GIORGIO. A prodeltaic system controlled by hyperpycnal flows and storm waves: reinterpretation of the Punta Negra Formation (Lower-Middle Devonian, Argentine Precordillera). BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF GEOLOGY, v. 43, n. 4, p. 673-693, DEC 2013. (06/00525-2)