丽水-椒江凹陷断裂构造运动学

丽水-椒江凹陷是晚白垩世以来发展起来的大陆边缘裂陷盆地.本文利用平衡剖面技术恢复计算了丽水-椒江凹陷不同构造部位各裂陷伸展期的盆地伸展量、伸展系数和伸展率.研究表明:研究区晚白垩世至古新世裂陷作用具有"幕式"渐进发展的特征,可划分为三个裂陷伸展期:早期(晚白垩世)的断陷主要由相对分散、独立的小断陷组成,控制半地堑凹陷的主断层主要以书斜式(domino-style)为主;中、晚期(古新世)的断陷由相互连通的半地堑凹陷组成,其主干断层以犁状(listric)或坡坪状(ramp-flat)正断层为特征.研究区不同构造部位其水平伸展率不同,表现为水平伸展量由南西向北东由大变小的特征,最大伸展期亦表现为由南西向北东变晚的规律.     

营口-潍坊断裂带新生代走滑拉分-裂陷盆地伸展量、沉降量估算

应用通过营口—潍坊断裂带及相关新生代盆地的地震剖面,采用专业软件分别计算了潍北凹陷、青东凹陷、莱州湾凹陷、黄河口凹陷、渤中凹陷、渤东凹陷、辽中凹陷和辽东凹陷的伸展量及构造沉降量,表明虽然同受断裂带走滑和软流圈上涌控制,但不同区段新生代伸展作用方向、主要发生时间和强度都有差别。南段是南北方向伸展,伸展作用主要发生在古新-始新世孔店组—沙河街组三段沉积时期;中段渤中—辽东湾南部地区具有多向伸展特征,近东西方向和南北方向伸展作用最为强烈,主要伸展作用发生在中-晚始新世、渐新世和新近纪,特别是以新近纪强烈伸展作用区别于其它地区;北段即辽东湾中-北部地区主要是北西—南东方向伸展,主要伸展活动发生在中始新世沙河街组三段和渐新世东营组沉积时期。文章总结了4种不同类型的沉降,指出新生代的构造活动随时间有自南向北推移和自两侧向中间迁移的规律,提出不同方向断裂带的活化和新近纪北东东向新生构造的形成是裂陷强度向中间迁移并产生4种不同沉降类型盆地的原因。     

南海北部白垩纪—渐新世早期沉积环境演变及构造控制*

南海北部珠江口—琼东南盆地白垩系—下渐新统记录了华南大陆边缘从主动陆缘向被动陆缘的转换过程。基于盆地构造-地层、单井相、地震相等特征的综合分析,结合南海中南部的沉积环境和区域构造演化,探讨南海北部白垩纪—渐新世早期的沉积环境演变及构造控制背景。研究发现: (1)南海北部白垩系广泛分布,古新统分布极为有限; 始新世早-中期,琼东南盆地只在部分凹陷深部发育了小规模的滨浅湖相和扇三角洲相沉积,珠江口盆地白云凹陷以大规模发育的湖泊相为特征; 始新世晚期—渐新世早期,琼东南盆地和珠江口盆地白云凹陷都受到海侵作用的影响,以海岸平原相和滨浅海相为主。 (2)构造演变包括5期:包括白垩纪安第斯型大陆边缘的“弧—盆”体系发育期,古新世区域隆升剥蚀山间盆地发育期,始新世早-中期裂陷发育,始新世晚期—渐新世早期陆缘破裂期,渐新世晚期东部海盆稳定扩张期。最后,探讨了南海盆地中生代末/新生代初的动力学转换过程及特征。     

南海北部珠江口盆地中段伸展构造模型及其动力学

位于南海北部大陆边缘上的珠江口盆地发育NNE向、NE向、NW向、近EW向等多组基底断裂,盆地结构复杂,并表现出明显的时空差异性。本文基于珠江口盆地中段地震资料解释的构造样式的变化推断地壳中存在一条向南缓倾斜、呈坡坪式形态的拆离断层,古近系构造属于这条拆离断层上盘的伸展构造系统。北部的西江凹陷属于拆离断层伸展构造系统的头部,凹陷边界正断层铲式断层面形态向深层延伸并收敛在拆离断层面上,凹陷表现为半地堑“断陷”样式;中部的番禺低隆起对应于拆离断层的低角度断坪部位,拆离断层上盘断块的伸展位移导致两侧的恩平组超覆在低隆起上;南部的白云凹陷位于拆离断层的深部断坡部位,充填的文昌组和恩平组表现为“断坳”或“坳断”样式;南部隆起位于拆离断层深部断坪部位,其上盘发育的分支断层控制着荔湾凹陷古近系、新近系的发育并使之表现为复杂的断陷断坳构造样式。该模型强调拆离断层上盘与下盘、不同地壳结构层均发生不同程度的伸展变形,且伸展变形方式、应变量等存在时空差异,而拆离断层正是不同构造单元、不同地壳构造层之间的调节性构造面。总体上,拆离断层上盘以脆性伸展构造变形为主,分支断层控制不同构造单元古近纪的构造演化,下盘则是以韧性伸展变形为主,并拖曳上盘发生不均一的伸展应变;西江凹陷的伸展应变量大于拆离断层下盘的伸展应变量,白云凹陷的伸展应变量则小于拆离断层下盘的伸展应变量。以西江凹陷北部边缘的NE向铲式正断层为头部的拆离断层控制了文昌组沉积,但在恩平组沉积期被近EW向高角度正断层切割破坏而被遗弃,拆离断层系统的头部由西江凹陷北部边缘迁移至番禺低隆起。盆地结构及断裂系统的时空差异性受盆地基底先存构造、地壳与岩石圈结构及伸展量等多方面因素的影响,但主要是对软流圈流动及岩石圈热结构变化的响应。用软流圈由北西向南东流动拖曳上覆岩石圈发生伸展变形的动力学模型能合理地解释珠江口盆地中段古近系构造的形成和演化。     

Miocene formations and NE-trending right-lateral strike–slip tectonism in Thrace,northwest Turkey: geodynamic implications

In the Thrace Peninsula, Neogene units were deposited in two areas, the Enez Basin in the south and the Thrace Basin in the north. In the southwesternmost part of the peninsula, upper lower–lower upper Miocene continental to shallow marine clastics of the Enez Formation formed under the influence of the Aegean extensional regime. During the last stage of the transpressional activity of the NW-trending right-lateral strike–slip Balkan–Thrace Fault, which had controlled the initial early middle Eocene deposition in the Thrace Basin, a mountainous region extending from Bulgaria eastwards to the northern Thrace Peninsula of Turkey developed. A river system carried erosional clasts of the metamorphic basement southwards into the limnic depositional areas of the Thrace Basin during middle Miocene time. Deposition of fluvial, lacustrine, and terrestrial strata of the Ergene Formation, which conformably and transitionally overlie the Enez Formation, began in the late middle Miocene in the southwest part and in the late Miocene in the north‐northeast part of the basin. Activity along the NE-trending right-lateral strike–slip faults (the Xanthi–Thrace Fault Zone) extending from northeast Greece northeastwards through the Thrace Peninsula of Turkey to the southern shelf of the western Black Sea Basin began during the middle Miocene in the northern Aegean, at the beginning of the late Miocene in the southwest part, and at the end of the late Miocene in the northeast part of the Thrace region. Although the Neogene deposits in the Thrace Basin were evaluated as the products of a northerly fault, our data indicate that the NW-trending northerly fault zone became effective only during the initial stage of the basin development. The later stage deposition in the basin was controlled by the NE-trending Xanthi–Thrace Fault Zone, and the deposits of this basin progressively evolved north/northeastwards during the late Miocene. During the late early Miocene–late Miocene interval, extension within the Thrace region was part of the more regional Aegean extensional realm, but from latest Miocene time, it has been largely decoupled from the Aegean extensional realm to the south.     

Multistage deformation of linked fault systems in extensional regions: An example from the northern Perth Basin,Western Australia

Linked fault systems identified in the northern portion of the onshore Perth basin comprise north‐striking normal faults, the dominant structures in the basin, and hard linkages—east‐striking transfer faults. The former are either divided into segments of distinctive character by, or terminate at, the transfer faults. The fault systems were initiated by west‐southwest‐east‐northeast extension in the Early Permian but were reactivated by subsequent rifting with approximately east‐west extension in the Jurassic. They were also reactivated by the oblique extension of northwest‐southeast orientation associated with Gondwana continental breakup in the Late Jurassic ‐ earliest Cretaceous. In addition to reactivation, older structures of the linked fault families controlled the development of younger fractures and folds. During the oblique extension, the linked fault systems define releasing bends, characterised by a rollover anticline in the hangingwall of the Mountain Bridge Fault, and restraining bends where contractional folds are sites of major commercial hydrocarbon fields in the basin.     

泌阳凹陷新生代构造特征与形成机制及其与油气成藏的关系

根据地层层序特征 ,叠加在东秦岭造山带之上的泌阳凹陷伸展作用可以划分出 6个伸展作用幕。核二段沉积前泌阳凹陷以北东—南西向的伸展作用为主 ,构造变形受以正断层为主兼具左旋走滑分量的唐河—栗园断裂控制。核二段沉积期——廖庄组沉积末期构造应力场发生转变 ,以北西—南东向伸展作用为主 ,构造变形主要受以正断层为主兼具右旋走滑分量的泌阳—栗园断裂控制。断裂活动引起上盘构造变形 ,对先成构造进行改造。廖庄组沉积末期发生区域性的隆升作用 ,北西—南东向的伸展作用导致边界断裂上盘发生断块掀斜 ,地层遭受强烈剥蚀。核二段沉积以来尤其是廖庄组沉积末期 ,受北西—南东向不均匀伸展作用的影响 ,北西向走滑断层活动并影响盖层构造样式     

辽东湾—下辽河盆地新生代构造的运动学特征及其演化过程

辽东湾－下辽河盆地是一个富含油气的新生代裂陷盆地。裂陷作用使盆地区的地壳或岩石圈被不同尺度的断裂肢解为形体各异的断块体,并使这些断块体在复杂而有规律的运动过程中形成了裂陷盆地及盆地中的两个相对独立而又有关联的新生代构造系统──伸展构造和走滑构造。盆地构造的运动学特征可以用断块间的相对运动和断块体本身的运动来描述,包括水平伸展运动、差异升降运动、相对走滑运动和断块体掀斜运动等四种主要形式。本文描述和讨论了各种形式的“运动”在辽东湾－下辽河盆地中的表现特征,测算了新生代盆地的伸展量、沉降量等主要构造运动学参数,并在此基础上将盆地的新生代构造演化划分为早第三纪裂陷阶段和晚第三纪－第四纪后裂陷阶段。早第三纪的裂陷事件具有分期次、呈幕式的特点,进一步可以分为始新世和渐新世两个具不同特色的伸展幕。     

南海北部珠江口盆地珠一坳陷西江凹陷与陆丰凹陷差异裂陷过程定量分析

西江凹陷和陆丰凹陷均位于南海北部珠江口盆地珠一坳陷,前者盆地结构为两条NE向铲式边界断层控制的近对称地堑,后者表现为6条弯曲主干断层控制的“两洼夹一隆”构造格局。文章运用三维地震资料,在盆地结构、断裂系统描述的基础上,选取了两个凹陷共8条地震—地质剖面进行平衡剖面恢复,计算两幕裂陷阶段盆地伸展量、拆离深度等定量参数,并据此分析二者差异裂陷演化过程及与区域构造演化之间的联系。两个凹陷在新生代均经历裂陷一幕、二幕以及裂后拗陷阶段,其中每幕裂陷又可细分为早、晚两个亚幕。西江和陆丰凹陷的裂陷演化具有时空差异性。从裂陷一幕到二幕,二者伸展量都具有随时间减小的一般特征,其中西江凹陷的伸展量随时间持续减小,在裂陷二幕晚期仍具有较大伸展量,而陆丰凹陷在裂陷二幕早期伸展量略有升高,但在晚期伸展量急剧减小,其减弱程度远大于西江凹陷。两个凹陷的拆离深度都具有随时间逐渐加深的特征。在裂陷一幕早、晚亚幕,陆丰凹陷的拆离深度略大于西江凹陷。在裂陷二幕早、晚亚幕,西江凹陷的平均拆离深度由约8 km增长至9 km左右,而陆丰凹陷的平均拆离深度由约8 km跳跃式增长至约35 km。盆地的几何结构、断裂系统以及伸展量和拆离深度变化特征均反映陆丰凹陷在裂陷二幕晚期受热沉降作用或提前结束裂陷阶段,而西江凹陷在裂陷二幕之后结束裂陷作用。研究区的裂陷阶段自东向西逐渐结束可能受控于东北次海盆的扩张及南海的自东向西渐进式扩张。区域板块构造演化提供了珠江口盆地沿其轴向向SW方向伸展作用增强的差异伸展环境。该研究所揭示的盆地裂陷演化差异性对认识珠江口盆地的裂陷时限的时空分布和差异裂陷演化都具有重要的意义,也对认识南海北部大陆边缘裂陷过程提供重要的定量数据约束。     

北黄海盆地构造变形及动力学演化过程

以北黄海盆地构造几何学、运动学特征为基础,探讨了北黄海盆地的构造变形样式及动力学演化过程。研究表明,北黄海盆地的构造变形包括伸展构造变形、挤压构造变形、扭动构造变形以及反转构造变形等,北黄海盆地发育的区域动力学背景即是以区域拉伸作用为主、且叠加有水平挤压作用以及相关的扭动作用,并由此导致了北黄海盆地是以一系列地堑、半地堑式坳陷组成的拉张断陷盆地;北黄海盆地的伸展、挤压与升降作用受控于板块相互作用引起的区域引张与挤压应力场并辅以深部软流圈的微弱上拱隆起作用,其动力学演化过程包括晚侏罗世—早白垩世伸展断陷、晚白垩世—古新世热隆、始新世—渐新世裂陷、渐新世末期—新近纪早期构造反转以及新近纪热沉降等5个阶段。     

Meso-Cenozoic geodynamic evolution of the Paris Basin: 3D stratigraphic constraints

3D stratigraphic geometries of the intracratonic Meso-Cenozoic Paris Basin were obtained by sequence stratigraphic correlations of around 1 100 wells (well-logs). The basin records the major tectonic events of the western part of the Eurasian Plate, i.e. opening and closure of the Tethys and opening of the Atlantic. From earlier Triassic to Late Jurassic, the Paris Basin was a broad subsiding area in an extensional framework, with a larger size than the present-day basin. During the Aalenian time, the subsidence pattern changes drastically (early stage of the central Atlantic opening). Further steps of the opening of the Ligurian Tethys (base Hettangian, late Pliensbachian;...) and its evolution into an oceanic domain (passive margin, Callovian) are equally recorded in the tectono-sedimentary history. The Lower Cretaceous was characterized by NE–SW compressive medium wavelength unconformities (late Cimmerian–Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary and intra-Berriasian and late Aptian unconformities) coeval with opening of the Bay of Biscay. These unconformities are contemporaneous with a major decrease of the subsidence rate. After an extensional period of subsidence (Albian to Turonian), NE–SW compression started in late Turonian time with major folding during the Late Cretaceous. The Tertiary was a period of very low subsidence in a compressional framework. The second folding stage occurred from the Lutetian to the Lower Oligocene (N–S compression) partly coeval with the E–W extension of the Oligocene rifts. Further compression occurred in the early Burdigalian and the Late Miocene in response to NE–SW shortening. Overall uplift occurred, with erosion, around the Lower/Middle Pleistocene boundary.     

陆相盆地幕式构造旋回与层序构成

构造沉降是陆相盆地层序形成和演化的关键因素，不同序次的结构幕控制不同序次的层序地层单位的形成和演化，根据构造沉降及其可容空间变化特点，重点论述陆相坳陷盆地和裂盆盆地的在拉张挤压和热沉降背景条件下层序的基本构成样式及其沉积特点，同时提出了构造层序和层序的几种可能的成因机制。     

渤海湾盆地黄河口凹陷东洼断裂体系发育特征及其变形过程的构造物理模拟

黄河口凹陷东洼是渤海盆地典型的盆缘洼陷,基于新一轮区域三维地震精细解释资料,采用构造解析与构造物理模拟技术相结合的方式,对黄河口凹陷东洼的断裂体系特征与构造演化过程进行研究.研究表明,受走滑和伸展变形的共同作用,研究了发育了以NNE-NE走向为主的走滑断裂体系和以EW-NEE走向为主的伸展断裂体系,断裂构造演化经历了孔店组-沙四段沉积时期的初始张扭裂陷阶段、沙三段沉积时期的走滑伸展裂陷阶段、沙一二段和东营组沉积时期的伸展萎缩持续走滑阶段、馆陶组和明化镇组沉积时期张扭变形阶段等4个阶段.其中,主走滑断层是在初始张扭裂陷阶段所形成的NE向伸展断层基础上持续活化而成;主伸展断层则形成于走滑伸展裂陷阶段的SN向伸展作用应力背景下.在伸展萎缩持续走滑阶段,各方位断裂在近SN向伸展作用下持续再活动,表现为走滑-伸展复合变形为主;在张扭变形阶段,先期主干断裂选择性活动,同时新生形成大量新近系的次级断层.      

Complex rift geometries resulting from inheritance of pre-existing structures: Insights and regional implications from the Barmer Basin rift

Structural studies of the Barmer Basin in Rajasthan, northwest India, demonstrate the important effect that pre-existing faults can have on the geometries of evolving fault systems at both the outcrop and basin-scale. Outcrop exposures on opposing rift margins reveal two distinct, non-coaxial extensional events. On the eastern rift margin northwest–southeast extension was accommodated on southwest- and west-striking faults that form a complex, zig-zag fault network. On the western rift margin northeast–southwest extension was accommodated on northwest-striking faults that form classical extensional geometries.Combining these outcrop studies with subsurface interpretations demonstrates that northwest–southeast extension preceded northeast–southwest extension. Structures active during the early, previously unrecognised extensional event were variably incorporated into the evolving fault systems during the second. In the study area, an inherited rift-oblique fault transferred extension from the rift margin to a mid-rift fault, rather than linking rift margin fault systems directly. The resultant rift margin accommodation structure has important implications for early sediment routing and depocentre evolution, as well as wider reaching implications for the evolution of the rift basin and West Indian Rift System. The discovery of early rifting in the Barmer Basin supports that extension along the West Indian Rift System was long-lived, multi-event, and likely resulted from far-field plate reorganisations.     

Distinct continental margins and associated stratigraphic architecture patterns during the seafloor spreading of South China Sea

In this paper we compare four types of stratigraphic architectures around the continental margins in the South China Sea (SCS) based on a plentiful of seismic profiles. The results indicate that stratigraphic patterns are not only related closely to structure regimes of peripheral of the SCS, but also are restrained by crust structure from continental crust to oceanic crust. In the extensional setting, depositional centres during the syn‐spreading stage are located in the strong extensional area. A wedge‐decrease continental crust represented by the Pearl River Mouth type is characterized by high deposition and subsidence rate during the syn‐rifting and syn‐spreading stages in the distal zone. And in the Zhongjiannan type with a continental ribbon, high deposition and subsidence rate during the syn‐rifting and syn‐spreading stages are present in the proximal zone. However, in the southern and eastern margins with compressional setting, the Liyue and Zengmu microcontinent blocks are separated from the South China with the seafloor spreading of SCS, in which a confined or relative thin syn‐spreading deposits are presence. High deposition and subsidence rate is closely related to the collision or subduction condition during the post‐spreading stage in the Liyue bank type and the Zengmu type, a huge progradational clinoforms are present along the subduction and collision margin. Therefore, this study shows distinct stratigraphic architecture in different continental rifted margins, distinct depositional and subsidence characteristics formed during the process of lithospheric rupture can provide an effective method for the study on the continental marginal sea in the western Pacific.     

南海南部陆缘礼乐盆地新生代的构造—沉积特征及伸展机制: 来自NH973-2多道地震测线的证据

针对“973”项目中“南海大陆边缘动力学与油气资源潜力”这一研究课题, 对在南海南部陆缘礼乐盆地采集的NH973-2测线进行了研究.对地震剖面的解释共划分出6个层序界面, 将地层划分为4个构造沉积单元.根据地震解释, 对不同时期断层的水平断距进行了测量及分析, 获取了与脆性拉张相关的伸展信息: 研究区的拉张作用可以分为2期, 主要的拉张作用发生在大陆裂谷阶段(古近纪), 形成了一系列的地堑—半地堑以及翘倾断块; 第2期拉张作用的时期为晚渐新世—早中新世, 断层活动强度明显变弱.在南海南部陆缘广泛发育了碳酸盐沉积, 其发育的时代和南海的海底扩张时期一致.对穿越礼乐滩区地震剖面伸展特征的分析表明, 根据断层水平断距获得脆性伸展因子与根据重力反演获得的全地壳伸展因子之间存在差异, 表明研究区的拉张在纵向上并非是均一的, 新生代的拉张经历了深度决定拉张模式.      

南海东南部陆缘Nido灰岩发育特征及其构造控制因素

南海东南部陆缘发育一套晚渐新世-早中新世碳酸盐岩(Nido灰岩)与南海海底扩张历史吻合.为系统了解Nido灰岩构造控制因素,基于大量钻井、拖网和地震资料,刻画碳酸盐岩沉积相特征和时空分布规律,分析构造变形对其控制作用.结果显示:Nido灰岩呈大规模连片分布在研究区东北至西南部.以乌鲁根断裂为界,东北部灰岩呈北西倾向,与...     

Multistage tectono-stratigraphic evolution of the Canavese Intracontinental Suture Zone: New constraints on the tectonics of the Inner Western Alps

The Canavese Intracontinental Suture Zone (CISZ) within the Inner Western Alps represents the remnant of a long-lived minor subduction zone involving a narrow, thinned continental crust/oceanic lithosphere seaway between two continental domains of the Adria microplate (i.e., the Sesia Zone and the Ivrea-Verbano Zone). As opposed to many suture zones, the CISZ mostly escaped pervasive tectonic deformation and metamorphism, thus preserving the original stratigraphy and allowing the relationships between tectonics and sedimentation to be defined. Through detailed geological mapping (1:5000 scale), structural analysis, stratigraphic and petrographic observations, we document evidences for the late Paleozoic to late Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the CISZ, showing that it played a significant role in the context of the tectonic evolution of the Inner Western Alps region from the early to late Permian Pangea segmentation, to the Jurassic Tethyan rifting, and up to the subduction and collisional stages, forming the Western Alps. The site of localization/formation of the CISZ was not accidental but associated with the re-use of structures inherited from regional-scale wrench tectonics related to the segmentation of Pangea, and from the subsequent extensional tectonics related to the Mesozoic rifting, as documented by crosscutting relationships between stratigraphic unconformities and tectonic features. Our findings document that evidences derived from stratigraphy, facies indicators, and relationships between tectonics and sedimentation in the shallow crustal portions of suture zones, such in the CISZ, are important to better constrain the tectonic history of those metamorphic orogenic belts around the world in which evolutionary details are commonly complicated by high-strain deformation and metamorphic transformations.     

Review of the chronostratigraphic charts in the Sinú-San Jacinto basin based on new seismic stratigraphic interpretations

Disperse and punctual studies; absence of integration of data ranging from local to regional focus; interpretations based only on lithostratigraphic features; and interpretation of data premised on an allochthonous origin of the Caribbean plate, are some of factors that increase the confusion and uncertainty in understanding the Sinú-San Jacinto Basin. The sedimentary record of Upper Cretaceous to Eocene has been traditionally interpreted as the record of deep-water settings. However, recently these sediments have been related to shallow marine and deltaic settings. Second problematic point is about the deposition environment of the Oligocene to Late Miocene succession. Some studies suggest canyons, turbidites and sediments deposited in deep-water settings. However, recent studies propose deltaic and shallow marine settings. The last stratigraphic problem is related to the controversial fluvial vs. shallow marine interpretations of the Pliocene sediments. Based upon seismic stratigraphic analysis in recent and reprocessed 2D seismic data, integrated with well data, we propose chronostratigraphic charts for the northern, central and southern zones of the Sinú-San Jacinto Basin. Twenty seismic facies based on amplitude, continuity, frequency and geometry of seismic reflectors and twelve seismic sequences were recognized. The seismic stratigraphic analysis in this study suggests that the sediments of Upper Cretaceous to Paleocene/Eocene were associated to continental to shallow marine settings. Lagoons, coastal plain and carbonate platform dominated during this period. The Oligocene to Middle Miocene record was characterized by deep-water deposition, whereas the Late Miocene to recent sedimentation was characterized by falling base level, characterized by deltaic and fluvial deposits. Five syn-rift sequences with wedge-shaped geometry were identified in this study. Three Triassic to Jurassic syn-rift sequences were characterized by seismic facies typical of fluvial to lacustrine and flood plain sedimentation. Two Cretaceous to Paleocene syn-rift sequences were characterized by seismic facies related to lagoons to coastal plain settings. Normal high-angle faults with a northeast-southwest direction related to rifting processes controlled the development of these sequences. The sheet-drape post-rift section was characterized by passive margin settings in the northern part of the Sinú-San Jacinto Basin and by diachronic tectonic inversion of older normal faults during Cenozoic, predominantly in the central and southern zones. The stratigraphic record related to the Mesozoic to Early Cenozoic rifting; the shallow marine sedimentation during Eocene and the tectono-stratigraphic continuity across the northern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela is coherent and well explained by the in situ origin of the Caribbean plate and is not explained by the “allochthonous” model.