Abstract: Neogene Extensional Tectonics of the Gulf of Paria (Eastern Venezuela-Western Trinidad)

Joan F. Flinch, Vishram Rambaran

The Gulf of Paria is located between the Eastern Cordillera of Venezuela and the northern ranges of Trinidad Island. The structure of the Gulf consist of a complex set of extensional basins that affect the Eastern Venezuela fold and thrust belt. This extensional province extends to the east into the Caroni Basin of northern Trinidad and to the west into the San Juan graben and small extensional basins of the Guanoco area. The most prominent structural features of the Gulf of Paria are: the Casanay Fault bounding the extensional province to the north, the Warm Springs Fault constituting the southern boundary of the region, and the Domoil and Gopa Highs located in the center of the Gulf of Paria constitute the most prominent structural features of the area. Fast extensional collapse since Late Neogene time resulted in deep half-grabens. These are characterized by large offsets along the major extensional faults and shallow-water sediment filling.

Extensional collapse in the Gulf of Paria was coeval with north-vergent thrusting in the Pedernales region. Late Pleistocene-Holocene compression resulted in minor positive inversion that affected the main basin-bounding faults.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90951©1996 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Caracas, Venezuela