Abstract: Tectonic and Stratigraphic Evolution of the Southern Margin of the Eastern Venezuelan Basin

J. Di Croce, P. Vail, A. Bally

A regional study has been carried out within the Eastern Venezuelan basin, east of the Anaco Thrust Fault and continuing to the Orinoco Delta. Several regional strike and dip structural and stratigraphic transects were constructed using wells and seismic profiles.

Two major unconformities have been documented: (1) the Lower Cretaceous to Oligocene sequence unconformably overlies the extension of Precambrian-?Paleozoic craton; (2) the basal foredeep unconformity which forms during Oligocene to Lower Miocene and which may be time transgressive from west to east. The unconformities bound second-order tectono-stratigraphic units with corresponding overall transgressive-regressive cycles. Within the foredeep, several third-order Miocene to Plio-Pleistocene sequences are recognized and regionally correlated.

Key seismic boundaries are mapped, dated and compared to the Haq et al. (1988) eustatic curve. The ages of sequence boundaries are compatible with the eustatic curve. The principal results are presented in a series of paleogeographic maps showing temporal and spatial distribution of facies.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90986©1994 AAPG Annual Convention, Denver, Colorado, June 12-15, 1994