Abstract: Utah-Arizona Hinge-Line Thrust Belt--Potential New Hydrocarbon Province

Floyd C. Moulton, B. Frank Owings, Alan R. Hansen

The overthrust and hinge-line play has been extended into western, southwestern, and southern Arizona. Recent geologic data and seismic work indicate some deep troughs that locally are covered by multiple thrust plates similar to central Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho.

This segment of Arizona previously has been defined as part of the Basin and Range province. Many Tertiary filled basins are bounded by mountain ranges made up of Mesozoic, Paleozoic, and Precambrian sediments. Most of these mountains now are believed to be exposed parts of allochthonous plates. Many of these mountains were metamorphosed with resulting mineralization before they were transported by the thrust sheets. Some post-thrust mining districts have been defined by age dating young intrusives.

Some of the most favorable areas to explore for oil and gas have been defined within and below the thrust sequences. Deep regional grabens and rifts are projected under and east of thrust plates. These deep rifts probably were filled with mostly marine sediments and some salt deposits. We believe some of these salt sequences will be defined within the Jurassic System.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90963©1978 AAPG/SEG/SEPM Pacific Section Meeting, Sacramento, California