Geology and History of the Gulf of Mexico

Research Article| March 01, 1972 Geology and History of the Gulf of Mexico OSCAR WILHELM; OSCAR WILHELM DeGolyer and MacNaughton, 5625 Daniels Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75206 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar MAURICE EWING MAURICE EWING Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York 10964 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information OSCAR WILHELM DeGolyer and MacNaughton, 5625 Daniels Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75206 MAURICE EWING Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York 10964 Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 20 Jul 1970 Revision Received: 14 Jan 1971 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Copyright © 1972, The Geological Society of America, Inc. Copyright is not claimed on any material prepared by U.S. government employees within the scope of their employment. GSA Bulletin (1972) 83 (3): 575–600. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1972)83[575:GAHOTG]2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 20 Jul 1970 Revision Received: 14 Jan 1971 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation OSCAR WILHELM, MAURICE EWING; Geology and History of the Gulf of Mexico. GSA Bulletin 1972;; 83 (3): 575–600. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1972)83[575:GAHOTG]2.0.CO;2 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 SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract The principal aim of this study has been directed toward a comprehensive interpretation of the historical development of the Gulf of Mexico. The initial stage was an analysis and correlation of seismic profiler records obtained over a considerable period, followed by an endeavor to correlate the results with the surface geology of the land areas surrounding the gulf.Indication of simatic oceanic crust beneath the abyssal gulf has led to the assumption that it had been a permanent ocean basin. A concept developed in this study proposes that the simatic crust was formed in late Paleozoic time. Subsequent environmental conditions remained epicontinental—including the environment of Jurassic salt deposition.Proceeding from this viewpoint, the origin of the Gulf of Mexico is proposed to be related o t the extensive regional subsidence of more than 10,000 ft during Cretaceous time, and its isolation came about by the continuous contemporaneous carbonate growth of the Florida and Yucatan platforms. Minimum rates of sediment deposition, compared to the rate of platform growth, led to consistent deepening of the gulf, which, accordingly, must be underlain by a thin Cretaceous section.Hypothetically, the Straits of Florida and the Yucatan Channel originated from erosion at the front of the Laramide tectogene when carbonate growth was halted, following the inundation by seaways.The Gulf of Mexico has been reduced to its present size by the invasion from the north and northwest of the huge Cenozoic mass of deposits—referred to as the Gulf Coast geosyncline. The last major volume of clastic sediments was deposited on the Mississippi cone in early Holocene time. However, the latest deposits from the Mississippi and other rivers were laid down on the continental shelves and a minimum of terrigenous material has been reaching the abyssal gulf by turbidity currents. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.