Salt Tectonics in Southeast Brazil

David G. Quirk, Donald Buchanan, Dan Hsu, Tim Kiley, Malene Nielsen, and Madeleine Raven
Exploration & New Business, Maersk Oil, Copenhagen, Denmark

The structural evolution and petroleum geology of the Santos, Campos and Espirito Santo basins in Brazil are strongly influenced by Aptian salt. In an overall sense, the salt has moved down-dip under the influence of gravity and differential loading. In response to this movement, a variety of extensional structures has developed in the up-dip and central parts of these basins which has had a marked effect on carbonate and turbidite deposition.

Although large volumes of salt have flowed basinwards, in comparison to other salt basins on the Atlantic margins, there is relatively limited down-dip translation of the overburden meaning that some of the halokinetic structures are unique to SE Brazil. The development of these structures during late Cretaceous to early Tertiary times will be illustrated from the regional to local scale.

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