Insights from petrography, mineralogy and U–Pb zircon geochronology into the provenance and reservoir potential of Cenozoic siliciclastic depositional systems supplying the northern margin of the Eastern Black Sea

Vincent, Stephen J.; Morton, Andrew; Hyden, Fiona; Fanning, Christopher

doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2013.04.002

Cited by 39 publications

(69 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Clastic zircon data from the turbiditic sandstones show that the East European Craton‐Scythian Platform was likely to be a major source. This implies that there was no thoroughgoing Black Sea rift during the Early Cretaceous between the East European Craton and the Pontides, as shown in all paleogeographic reconstructions of the Black Sea region [e.g., Robinson et al ., ; Barrier and Vrielynck , ; Nikishin et al ., ]. A major problem encountered in petroleum exploration in the Black Sea has been the poor porosity and permeability of the sandstone reservoirs, which are generally sourced from the metamorphic and volcanic rocks of the Pontides [ Vincent et al ., ]. In contrast, clastic zircons from the Çağlayan Formation indicate that the major source for the Lower Cretaceous sandstones was in the north in the granitoids and gneisses of the East European Craton rather than in the Pontides.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Black Sea basin with its >10 km thick sedimentary infill is an active area for hydrocarbon exploration, with several dry deep‐sea wells opened recently by BP, Petrobras, ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Turkish Petroleum Corporation along the southern Black Sea margin (http://www.tpao.gov.tr/tp2/sub_en/sub_content.aspx?id=79). A major problem encountered in these wells has been the poor quality of potential sandstone reservoirs [e.g., Vincent et al ., ]. In this context, the source of the sandstones in the Black Sea basin, whether from the granitoids and gneisses of the East European Craton in the north or from the metamorphic and volcanic rocks from the Pontides, is a key issue.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Early Cretaceous sedimentation and orogeny on the active margin of Eurasia: Southern Central Pontides, Turkey

et al. 2013

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The Pontides in northern Turkey constituted part of the southern active margin of Eurasia during the Mesozoic. In the Early Cretaceous, a large submarine turbidite fan covered most of the Central Pontides. New U‐Pb detrital zircon data imply that the major source of the turbidites was the East European Craton‐Scythian Platform in the north. This implies that there was no thoroughgoing Black Sea basin between the Pontides and the East European Craton during the Early Cretaceous. The Lower Cretaceous turbidites are bounded in the south by a large metamorphic area, the Central Pontide Supercomplex (CPS). New geological mapping, petrology, and U‐Pb zircon and Ar‐Ar muscovite ages indicate that the northern part of the CPS consists of Lower Cretaceous distal turbidites deformed and metamorphosed in a subduction zone in the Albian. The rest of the CPS is made of Middle Jurassic, Lower Cretaceous, and middle Cretaceous (Albian) metamorphic belts, each constituting distinct subduction‐accretion units. They represent episodes of collision of oceanic volcanic arcs and oceanic plateaus with the Eurasian margin and are marked in the stratigraphy of the hinterland by periods of uplift and erosion. The accretionary complexes are overlain by Upper Cretaceous (Turonian‐Santonian) volcano‐sedimentary sequences deposited in a fore‐arc setting. The detrital zircon data, middle Cretaceous (Albian) metamorphism, and widespread Albian uplift of the Black Sea region suggest that Early Cretaceous (Barremian‐Aptian) nonvolcanic rifting and Late Cretaceous (Turonian‐Santonian) opening of the Black Sea by the splitting of the arc are unrelated events.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early Cretaceous sedimentation and orogeny on the active margin of Eurasia: Southern Central Pontides, Turkey

et al. 2013

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“…Petrography, provenance, fission track, and U‐Pb zircon dating analysis indicate that Oligocene and younger sediments derived from the wGC comprise a mixture of first‐cycle material from the crystalline core of the range (formerly the northern margin of the wGCB) and recycled material from the inverting wGCB [ Vincent et al ., ; Vincent et al ., ; Vincent et al ., ]. Western Greater Caucasus‐derived material deposited on what previously had been the southern margin of the basin constrains the minimum age of wGCB closure to the earliest Oligocene.…”

Section: Basin Inversion and The Uplift Of The Western Greater Caucasusmentioning

confidence: 99%

The formation and inversion of the western Greater Caucasus Basin and the uplift of the western Greater Caucasus: Implications for the wider Black Sea region

Vincent¹,

Braham

Lavrishchev³

et al. 2016

Tectonics

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The western Greater Caucasus formed by the tectonic inversion of the western strand of the Greater Caucasus Basin, a Mesozoic rift that opened at the southern margin of Laurasia. Subsidence analysis indicates that the main phase of rifting occurred during the Aalenian to Bajocian synchronous with that in the eastern Alborz and, possibly, the South Caspian Basin. Secondary episodes of subsidence during the late Tithonian to Berriasian and Hauterivian to early Aptian are tentatively linked to initial rifting within the western, and possibly eastern, Black Sea and during the late Campanian to Danian to the opening of the eastern Black Sea. Initial uplift, subaerial exposure, and sediment derivation from the western Greater Caucasus occurred at the Eocene‐Oligocene transition. Oligocene and younger sediments on the southern margin of the former basin were derived from the inverting basin and uplifted parts of its northern margin, indicating that the western Greater Caucasus Basin had closed by this time. A predominance of pollen representing a montane forest environment (dominated by Pinacean pollen) within these sediments suggests that the uplifting Caucasian hinterland had a paleoaltitude of around 2 km from early Oligocene time. The closure of the western Greater Caucasus Basin and significant uplift of the range at approximately 34 Ma is earlier than stated in many studies and needs to be incorporated into geodynamic models for the Arabia‐Eurasia region.

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“…(a) Simplified tectonic map of Greater and Lesser Caucasus, showing locations of main structures and new U‐Pb detrital zircon samples (diamonds: bedrock sandstone; stars: modern river sediment, with catchments delineated by black lines edged in white). Dots denote locations of previously reported detrital zircon (white fill) [ Allen et al ., ; Vincent et al ., ] and provenance analyses (gray fill) [ Vincent et al ., , , ] discussed in text; see Figure for additional sample numbers. Fault geometries are simplified on northern margin of central Greater Caucasus and shown as north directed thrusts; true geometries are south directed backthrusts above a triangle zone at the leading edge of a generally north directed thrust system [e.g., Sobornov , 1994].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relict basin closure and crustal shortening budgets during continental collision: An example from Caucasus sediment provenance

et al. 2016

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Comparison of plate convergence with the timing and magnitude of upper crustal shortening in collisional orogens indicates both shortening deficits (200–1700 km) and significant (10–40%) plate deceleration during collision, the cause(s) for which remains debated. The Greater Caucasus Mountains, which result from postcollisional Cenozoic closure of a relict Mesozoic back‐arc basin on the northern margin of the Arabia‐Eurasia collision zone, help reconcile these debates. Here we use U‐Pb detrital zircon provenance data and the regional geology of the Caucasus to investigate the width of the now‐consumed Mesozoic back‐arc basin and its closure history. The provenance data record distinct southern and northern provenance domains that persisted until at least the Miocene. Maximum basin width was likely ~350–400 km. We propose that closure of the back‐arc basin initiated at ~35 Ma, coincident with initial (soft) Arabia‐Eurasia collision along the Bitlis‐Zagros suture, eventually leading to ~5 Ma (hard) collision between the Lesser Caucasus arc and the Scythian platform to form the Greater Caucasus Mountains. Final basin closure triggered deceleration of plate convergence and tectonic reorganization throughout the collision. Postcollisional subduction of such small (102–103 km wide) relict ocean basins can account for both shortening deficits and delays in plate deceleration by accommodating convergence via subduction/underthrusting, although such shortening is easily missed if it occurs along structures hidden within flysch/slate belts. Relict basin closure is likely typical in continental collisions in which the colliding margins are either irregularly shaped or rimmed by extensive back‐arc basins and fringing arcs, such as those in the modern South Pacific.

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Insights from petrography, mineralogy and U–Pb zircon geochronology into the provenance and reservoir potential of Cenozoic siliciclastic depositional systems supplying the northern margin of the Eastern Black Sea

Cited by 39 publications

References 46 publications

Early Cretaceous sedimentation and orogeny on the active margin of Eurasia: Southern Central Pontides, Turkey

Early Cretaceous sedimentation and orogeny on the active margin of Eurasia: Southern Central Pontides, Turkey

The formation and inversion of the western Greater Caucasus Basin and the uplift of the western Greater Caucasus: Implications for the wider Black Sea region

Relict basin closure and crustal shortening budgets during continental collision: An example from Caucasus sediment provenance

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