Identifier

etd-07142014-103436

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Geology and Geophysics

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

Kinematic analysis of faults along the northern coastal plain of the Gulf of Mexico shows a correlation between pulses of faulting during the late Cenozoic and changes in the tectonic and climatic settings acting on the source areas which provide sediments to the Gulf. Pulses of faulting during the Oligocene-Early Miocene, Late Miocene, Pliocene, and Pleistocene correlate to major tectonic and climatic changes in the source region of sediments. Slip rates of faulting increase with younger events. The increase in slip rates is likely related to a combination of increase in sedimentation rates and pre-weakened Oligocene –Miocene rock that resulted from earlier faulting activity. The observations in this study also suggest that during the Pliocene and Pleistocene, crustal failure accompanying lithospheric flexure better explains the reactivation of faults on the coastal plain.

Date

2014

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Lorenzo, Juan M

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.1686

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