Description

SEPM Special Publication 103

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Thermal histories of sedimentary basins are critical sources of scientific and practical information. They provide us with windows into past and present tectonic processes and the configuration of the crust and mantle. Using records of present and past temperature distributions, we can identify and constrain interpretations of tectonic events, distinguish different basin types and interpret pathways of fluid flow. These insights can be used calibrate basin and petroleum system models and to interpret and predict the distribution of minerals and petroleum, diagenesis and reservoir quality, and the geomechanical properties of rock units. This volume summarizes the current state of the art for many modern approaches used to estimate paleotemperature. Many techniques are now available based on both organic and inorganic components in the rock. Even techniques that are now many years old, such as apatite fission track analysis, have undergone significant advances in the past decade. This volume provides comprehensive reviews of the fundamental science underpinning each method and the basic principles used to interpret data, as well as case studies illustrating practical applications and the complexity of paleotemperature interpretation. Geoscientists from all sectors will find this volume to be a valuable resource in their work.