Middle Miocene Palaeogeography and Palaeolandscape of Indochina

Paul J. Markwick, Kerri L. Wilson, and Vasil Lefterov
Marketing, GETECH, Leeds, United Kingdom

Utilising a thorough understanding and interpretation of potential field data (gravity and magnetic data), and combining it with various other data from the public domain, has allowed the authors to constrain the distribution of tectonophysiographic terrains, palaeolithofacies and palaeoenvironments for discrete periods of geological time. If the relationship between these elements (taking into account their age relative to the timeslice being developed), and base level/accommodation space is understood then palaeolandscape models can be developed. The authors have taken this concept one stage further by producing hydrologically consistent Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) for all of the timeslices (seven in all) that they have developed for the region.

The image being presented shows the development of the palaeo-DEM for the Middle Miocene timeslice from the compilation data to palaeoenvironmental and structural mapping through to production of the final palaeo-DEM. Each of these stages utilises and strongly relies on the power of GIS software.

So why do all this? Understanding the effect of tectonics on the landscape and the arrangement of tectonic elements at any particular time, allows us to understand the overriding drainage patterns for a particular time period. This in turn provides us with an enhanced understanding of sediment dispersal patterns, the types of sediments being dispersed, and the effects of this on the distribution and quality of reservoir and source rocks.

AAPG Search and Discover Article #90078©2008 AAPG Annual Convention, San Antonio, Texas