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Neogene crustal shear zone along the western Gulf of Mexico margin and its implications for gravity sliding processes. Evidences from 2D and 3D multichannel seismic data

¹ Collège de France, Chaire de Géodynamique, Europôle de l’Arbois, Bat Trocadéro, BP 80, 13545 Aix-en-Provence cedex, France.
² CNRS-UMR 6635, Collège de France, Europôle de l’Arbois, Bât. Trocadero, BP 80, 13545 Aix-en-Provence cedex, France.
³ PEMEX Exploración y Producción, Region Norte, Poza Rica, Veracruz C.P. 93370, Mexico.

No significant crustal deformation was registered along the western Gulf of Mexico margin since the late Jurassic except the well known Cenozoic gravity tectonics. This is marked by a major extension across the platform and the upper continental slope compensated downslope by shortening across the Mexican Ridges fold belt.

Based on extensive offshore 2D and 3D industrial multichannel seismic reflection data provided to us by PEMEX, we have evidenced significant Neogene deep-rooted deformation below the main décollement level (5 to 7 s-twtt) related to these gravitational processes. The main crustal deformation is outlined by a N170° trending deep-seated reverse fault zone, which flattens downwards near the Moho and merges upwards near the main Oligo-Miocene décollement level, close to the Neogene Mexican Ridges fold belt. This deep seated fabric is interpreted as the result of a dextral strike slip fault zone rather steep and linear into the north and connecting southwards to a N150° trending dextral wrench zone east of the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt.

We consider that this Neogene transpressive dextral motion could have triggered gravity sliding along the Mexican Gulf margin. It could be located at the continent-ocean boundary and is probably linked to conjugate dextral slip related to the late Neogene N140° trending left lateral slip along the Veracruz shear zone active since the Late Miocene. We discuss whether this deep thrust wrench zone is related with the eastward migrating Laramide orogeny front dated Paleocene-Eocene.

Key Words: Gulf of Mexico margin • Neogene • Deep-seated shear zone • Transpressive motion • Gravity tectonics • Décollement level

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Rangin, X. Le Pichon, J. Martinez-Reyes, and M. Aranda-Garcia GRAVITY TECTONICS AND PLATE MOTIONS: The western margin of the Gulf of Mexico Introduction Bulletin de la Societe Geologique de France, March 15, 2008; 179(2): 107 - 116. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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