Geodynamical framework and hydrocarbon plays of a salt giant: the North Western Mediterranean Basin

Abstract

The North Western Mediterranean Basin developed during the Oligocene-Miocene rifting of the Eastern Iberian-European magma-poor continental margin. The margin developed as a result of back-arc extension associated with the roll-back of the retreating Calabrian-Tethys subduction zone. Reinterpretation of 2D regional seismic reflection data suggests that rifting took place by hyperextension of the Iberian-European lithosphere. This process led to the seaward arrangement of distinct crustal domains, namely proximal, necking and distal. The late post-rift Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) gave place to significant margin erosion and canyon incision whose lowstand sedimentary by-products were largely deposited prior to the Messinian evaporitic sequences. Mesozoic-Cenozoic and Messinian to recent salt tectonics events have been recognized. A regional hydrocarbon play concept is here proposed for shelf to deep waters settings, including pre-salt, Messinian and post-salt plays.