A coupled petrological–tectonic model for sedimentary basin evolution: the influence of metamorphic reactions on basin subsidence

The lithosphere is subject to fluctuations in temperature and pressure during the formation of sedimentary basins. These fluctuations cause metamorphic reactions that change the density of the lithosphere, which, in turn, influences basin subsidence. This contribution develops a model for sedimentary basin formation to assess the importance of this coupling. The model shows that basin subsidence is significantly affected by metamorphic densification. Compared to results obtained with cruder density models, metamorphic densification accelerates subsidence in the initial post-rifting stages as garnet becomes stable over an increasing depth interval within the mantle, an effect that amplifies the crust–mantle density contrast. For models with an extraordinarily cold lithosphere, uplift is generated as a late stage of basin evolution. In general, subsidence is not smooth but occurs instead in small steps reflecting periods of accelerated/decelerated subsidence. For typical crustal thicknesses, subsidence is controlled largely by reactions in the mantle, and particularly those determining garnet stability.