Opening and Closure of the Neuquén Basin in the Southern Andes (Springer Earth System Sciences)

This book provides an overview of newly gathered material focusing on the opening and closure of The Neuquén Basin. The Neuquén Basin contains the most important hydrocarbon reservoirs in Argentina and therefore is characterized by a profound knowledge of the sedimentation mechanisms and closure times. During the last 10 years a considerable amount of new information has been produced that illustrates a complex evolution that involves more than one synrift stage during its evolution, an aborted sag phase associated with the inception of a first foreland basin in late Early Cretaceous times, two extensional destabilizations in the Late Cretaceous-Paleocene and late Oligocene times and a Neogene magmatic expansion coetaneous to a last mountain building. These processes have produced a polyphasic complex structure that exhumed the rich sedimentary record that characterizes the basin. Acknowledgements Book Structure Contents Contributors Opening of the Neuquén Basin in the Western Gondwana margin The Syn-Rift of the Neuquén Basin (Precuyano and Lower Cuyano Cycle): Review of Structure, Volcanism, Tectono-Stratigraphy and Depositional Scenarios 1 Introduction 2 The Neuquén Basin: Major Aspects and Evolution 3 Rift Structure 4 Volcanism 5 Syn-Rift Tectono-Stratigraphy 6 Depositional Syn-Rift Scenarios 7 Final Remarks: Rift Model, Structure, Volcanism and Sedimentation References Tectono-Stratigraphic Evolution of the Atuel Depocenter During the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic Rift Stage, Neuquén Basin, West-Central Argentina 1 Introduction 2 Tectonic Setting 3 The Northern Neuquén Basin 4 Stratigraphic Setting for the Atuel Depocenter 4.1 Depocenter Infilling During the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic 4.2 Sedimentary Provenance Data 5 Structural Setting 5.1 Geometric Analysis 5.2 Kinematic Analysis 5.3 Dynamic Analysis 6 Discussion 6.1 Tectonic Implications for the Kinematic and Dynamic Analyses 6.2 Tectono-Stratigraphic Evolution 7 Concluding Remarks References Jurassic Uplift Along the Huincul Arch and Its Consequences in the Stratigraphy of the Cuyo and Lotena Groups. Neuquén Basin, Argentina 1 Introduction 2 Geological Framework 3 Materials and Methods 4 The Jurassic of the Neuquén Basin and the Cuyo Group 5 The Problem of the Challacó Red Beds 6 Evidence of Early Uplift and Erosion at the Huincul Arch and Their Consequences in the Stratigraphy of the Cuyo Group 7 Stratigraphic Analysis of the Challacó and Bosque Petrificado Formations 8 Regional Stratigraphic Consequences of the Early Uplift Along the Huincul Arch 9 Consequences for the Stratigraphy of the Picun Leufú Area 10 Conclusions References Environmental Controls and Facies Architecture of a Jurassic Carbonate Episode (La Manga Formation), Mendoza Province, Neuquén Basin 1 Introduction 2 Geological Setting 3 Biostratigraphy 4 Facies 5 Distal Outer Carbonate Ramp 5.1 Interpretation 6 Distal Middle to Proximal Outer Carbonate Ramp 6.1 Bioclastic Wackestones and Wackestone–Packstones 6.2 Interpretation 6.3 Sponge Mounds 6.4 Interpretation 7 Proximal Middle Ramp 7.1 Interpretation 8 Inner Ramp 8.1 Shoreface 8.2 Interpretation 8.3 Subtidal Shoal 8.4 Interpretation 8.5 Reefs 8.6 Interpretation 8.7 Shallow Subtidal Lagoon Facies 8.8 Interpretation 8.9 Tidal Flat Facies 8.10 Interpretation 9 Palaeokarst 9.1 Interpretation 10 Controls on Facies Distribution 11 Conclusions References Early Andean Magmatism in Southern Central Chile (33°–40° S) 1 Introduction 2 Geological Framework 3 Pre-Andean Magmatism 4 The Transitional to Clearly Subduction Related Arc-Magmatism 5 The Definitive Instauration of the Early Andean Subduction System 6 Northern Versus Southern Central Early Andean Arc 7 Preliminar Geochemical Characterization and Tectonic Implications for the Evolution of the Early Andean Arc in Southern Central Chile 8 Summary and Concluding Remarks References Controls on Deposition of the Tordillo Formation in Southern Mendoza (34°–36° S): Implications for the Kimmeridgian Tectonic Setting of the Neuquén Basin 1 Introduction 2 Geological Setting 3 The Tordillo Formation in the Northern Neuquén Basin 3.1 Sedimentary Environments 3.2 Provenance Analysis 3.3 Thickness Variations and Structural Evidence for Extension 3.4 Subsidence Analysis 4 Discussion 4.1 The Tordillo Formation in the Southern Neuquén Basin 4.2 Unconformities at the Base of the Tordillo Formation and the Proposed Araucanian Orogenic Phase 4.3 Tectonic Setting of the Neuquén Basin During the Kimmeridgian 5 Conclusions References Tectonic Setting of the Tordillo Formation in the Aconcagua Fold-and-Thrust Belt 1 Introduction 2 Geological Setting 3 The Tordillo Formation in the Aconcagua Fold-and-thrust Belt 3.1 Sedimentological Analysis 3.2 Petrographic Analysis 3.3 Thickness Variations 4 Discussion 5 Conclusions References Magnetostratigraphy of the Jurassic Through Lower Cretaceous in the Neuquén Basin 1 Introduction 2 Lower Jurassic: Geology and Paleomagnetic Sampling 2.1 Hettangian-Sinemurian 2.2 Pliensbachian–Toarcian 2.3 Paleomagnetic Analysis and Field Tests 2.4 Magnetostratigraphy 2.5 Lower Jurassic: Discussion 3 Middle Jurassic: Geology and Paleomagnetic Sampling 3.1 Paleomagnetic Analysis and Field Tests 3.2 Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility 3.3 Magnetostratigraphy 3.4 Middle Jurassic: Discussion 4 Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous: Geology and Paleomagnetic Sampling 4.1 Paleomagnetic Analysis and Field Tests 4.2 Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility (AMS) 4.3 Magnetostratigraphy 4.4 Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous: Discussion 5 Conclusions 5.1 Early Jurassic 5.2 Middle Jurassic 5.3 Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous References Orbital Controls and High-Resolution Cyclostratigraphy of Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous in the Neuquén Basin 1 Introduction 2 Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous Stratigraphy 2.1 Tithonian–Early Valanginian 2.2 Upper Valanginian–Lower Barremian 3 Methodology 4 Cyclostratigraphic Analysis 4.1 New Stratigraphic Sections for the Construction of the Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous ATS in the Neuquén Basin 4.2 Cycles Staking Pattern 4.3 Elementary Cycle Periodicity and Spectral Analysis in the Vaca Muerta Formation 4.4 Elementary Cycle Periodicity and Spectral Analysis in the Agrio Formation 4.5 High-Resolution Calibration of the Early Tithonian–Late Hauterivian in the Neuquén Basin 5 Orbital Controls on the Sedimentation in the Neuquén Basin 6 Conclusions References Sedimentology and Sequence Stratigraphy of the Agrio Formation (Late Valanginian–Earliest Barremian) and the Closure of the Mendoza Group to the North of the Huincul High 1 Introduction 2 Geological Setting 2.1 The Neuquén Basin 2.2 Stratigraphic Overview 3 Materials and Methods 4 Palaeogeography and Sedimentological Framework 5 Sequence Stratigraphy and Bounding Surfaces 6 The Pilmatué Member Analysis 6.1 Sequence I 6.2 Sequences II to V 7 Discussion 7.1 The Pilmatué Member 7.2 The Avilé Member 7.3 The Agua de La Mula Member 7.4 Huitrín Formation Interval 7.5 Hierarchy and Frequency 8 Conclusions References Closure of the Neuquén Basin in the Southern Andes Middle Jurassic-Late Cretaceous Paleogeography of the Western Margin of the Neuquén Basin (34° 30′–36° S) 1 Introduction 2 Geological Background 3 Analytical Methods 4 Mesozoic Stratigraphy of the Chilean Principal Cordillera 5 Zircon Provenance and Paleogeographic Evolution 5.1 Potential Sediment Sources 5.2 Zircon Provenance 6 Conclusions Supplementary Data References The Late Cretaceous Orogenic System: Early Inversion of the Neuquén Basin and Associated Synorogenic Deposits (35o–38o S) 1 Introduction and Geological Setting 2 Western Sector 3 Central Sector 4 Eastern Sector 5 Late Cretaceous Orogenic Erosion and Structural Domains 6 Late Cretaceous Detrital Zircon Provenance and Source Areas 7 The Late Cretaceous Orogenic System References Structural and Thermochronological Constraints on the Exhumation of the Chos Malal Fold and Thrust Belt (37° S) 1 Introduction 2 Geological Framework 3 Structural Style of the Chos Malal FTB 3.1 Inner Zone 3.2 Outer Zone 4 Kinematic Evolution 5 Implications for the Petroleum Systems in the Neuquén Basin 6 Concluding Remarks References The Andean Foreland Evolution of the Neuquén Basin: A Discussion 1 Introduction 2 Regional Setting 3 Stratigraphy 4 Basin Evolution 5 Conclusions Appendix References Thermochronological Constraints on the Exhumation of the Malargüe Fold-Thrust Belt, Southern Central Andes 1 Introduction 2 Geological Setting 2.1 Structural Geology 2.2 Stratigraphy 3 Methodology and Samples 3.1 Low-Temperature Thermochronology 3.2 Apatite and Zircon Fission Track (AFT and ZFT) Analyses 3.3 Apatite (U–Th–Sm)/He (AHe) Analyses 3.4 Inverse Thermal Modeling 4 Results 5 Interpretation of Ages and Discussion 5.1 Late Miocene Rapid Cooling 5.2 Early–Middle Miocene Shortening, Foreland Basin Development, and Hydrocarbon Implications 5.3 Early Cenozoic Tectonic Quiescence 5.4 Late Cretaceous Shortening and Early Andean Evolution 5.5 Late Jurassic Localized Uplift 5.6 Conclusions References Late Cretaceous to Oligocene Magmatic Evolution of the Neuquén Basin 1 Introduction 2 Geological Setting of the Different Magmatic Stages in the Neuquén Basin 3 Lithological and Geochemical Features of the Late Cretaceous to Oligocene Magmatism in the Neuquén Basin 3.1 Late Cretaceous-Early Paleocene Magmatic Stage (70–56 Ma) 3.2 Early Paleocene-Eocene Stage (56-34 Ma) 3.3 Latest Eocene–Early Miocene Stage (34–20 Ma) 4 Geodynamic Evolution of the Neuquén Basin and Its Magmatic Implications Between Late Cretaceous and Oligocene Times 4.1 Subduction of the Farallon-Aluk Spreading Ridge (70–56 Ma) 4.2 Farallon-Aluk Spreading Ridge at Patagonian Latitudes (56-34 Ma) 4.3 Times Before and After the Farallon Plate Break-Up (34–16 Ma) 5 Conclusions References The Oligo-Miocene Tectonic Mode Switch: From a Brief Period of Widespread Extension to the Final Closure of the Neuquén Basin 1 Introduction 2 Geodynamic Modelling 3 Numerical Model and Set-up 4 Modelling the Oligo-Miocene Geodynamic Setting 5 Linking the Oligo-Miocene Geologic and Geodynamic Scenarios 6 The Oligo-Miocene Tectonic Mode Switch References Tectonics Associated with the Late Oligocene to Early Miocene Units of the High Andes (Cura-Mallín Formation). A Review of the Geochronological, Thermochronological, and Geochemical Data 1 Introduction 2 Geological Setting 3 Cura-Mallín Formation 4 Oligocene to Miocene Volcanogenic Basins in the Southern Central and Patagonian Andes 4.1 Abanico Basin 4.2 Ventana Basin 5 Fission Track Analysis 6 Discussion and Conclusions References The Miocene Magmatism in the Malargüe and Chos Malal Fold and Thrust Belts 1 Introduction 2 Tectonic Setting 3 Distribution and Age of the Neogene Magmatism in the Malargüe and Chos Malal FTBs 4 Geochemical Evolution of the Miocene Magmas in the Malargüe and Chos Malal FTBs and the Changing Geodynamic Framework 4.1 Late Oligocene-Early Miocene (25–18 Ma): Alkaline Magmatism in the Retroarc Zone 4.2 Early Miocene-Late Miocene (18–10 Ma): Slab Input into the Retroarc Zone 4.3 Latest Miocene-Pliocene (10–2.5 Ma): Easternmost Arc Expansion into the Retroarc Zone 5 Concluding Remarks References Plume Subduction Beneath the Neuquén Basin and the Last Mountain Building Stage of the Southern Central Andes 1 Introduction 2 Geological Setting 3 Mantle Plume–Andean Margin Interaction in the Neuquén Basin 4 Discussion and Conclusions References Quaternary Deformation in the Neuquén Basin, Explained by the Interaction Between Mantle Dynamics and Tectonics 1 Introduction 2 Sublithospheric Structure of the Southern Central Andes (36°–39° S) 3 Surface Uplift and Quaternary Deformation Evidence 4 Conclusions References Pliocene to Quaternary Retroarc Extension in the Neuquén Basin: Geophysical Characterization of the Loncopué Trough 1 Introduction 2 Geological Setting 3 Methods 3.1 Magnetic Data 3.2 Gravity Data Processing 4 Results 5 Discussion and Conclusions References