The Gulf of Mexico as the Result of a Hot Spot with Triple Junction

Abstract

The beginning of separation of North America from Eurasia and Gondwanaland may be dated as Late Triassic (about 202 m.y.) as stated by marine paleomagnetic, geochronologic, and paleontological information, but the continental structural data are represented by 30 fault basins named “Newark Basins” which are a chain of depositional troughs, from Nova Scotia to North Carolina, that received thick continental deposits of Middle-Late Triassic to Pliensbachian Newark Supergroup. These fluvial and lacustrine sedimentary rocks were dated, since 1973, successfully by paleopalynology indicating that they were emplaced from Late Triassic to Early Jurassic (192 to 202 m.y.).

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90369 © 2020 AAPG Hedberg Conference, Geology and Hydrocarbon Potential of the Circum-Gulf of Mexico Pre-salt Section, Mexico City, Mexico, February 4-6, 2020