Life span and fate of basins

Research Article| August 01, 2004 Life span and fate of basins Nigel H. Woodcock Nigel H. Woodcock 1Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EQ, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Nigel H. Woodcock 1Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EQ, UK Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 25 Feb 2004 Revision Received: 21 Apr 2004 Accepted: 22 Apr 2004 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2004) 32 (8): 685–688. https://doi.org/10.1130/G20598.1 Article history Received: 25 Feb 2004 Revision Received: 21 Apr 2004 Accepted: 22 Apr 2004 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Nigel H. Woodcock; Life span and fate of basins. Geology 2004;; 32 (8): 685–688. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G20598.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The life span of each main class of sedimentary basin is estimated from published data. Life spans vary over at least three orders of magnitude, from 100 m.y. for passive-margin and intracratonic basins. The life-span estimates are used to calibrate a chart of basin groups that focuses on the likely basin fates; i.e., depositional, deformational, or thermal. Consequent fates, predetermined by the tectonic setting of a particular basin class, are distinguished from contingent fates, which are independent of basin type. Accretion of trench-basin fill is, for example, a consequent fate, whereas inversion (far-field shortening) of a rift basin is a contingent fate. Life-span data are also used to calibrate the Wilson Cycle and indicate that it has an average duration of ∼260 m.y. This is certainly an underestimate, because basin life spans are an imperfect proxy for the duration of subduction and collision zones. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.