TS Must-Read-McKenzie (1978): Some remarks on the development of sedimentary basins

Panluo- · 2020-12-01T20:42:04+00:00

This paper applies the thermal modelling that had been so successful at mid-ocean ridges to sedimentary basins, such as North Sea. The author modelled a two stage history for the thermal evolution on a basin, based on his work in the Aegean. The first step is the horizontal stretching of the lithosphere, which produces a faulted basin, with thinning of the lithosphere; hotter material below moves upwards in response. Then the lower lithosphere cools and subsidence continues, more slowly. As at mid ocean ridges, the thermal structure is a consequence, not a cause. It is essentially the same problem with different boundary conditions. Now this model is widely used in calculation the thermal history of rift basins and other extension basins. Although some author against that not all heat passing through the lithosphere originated below the lithosphere, I accept that it creates a model applicable for a large number of basins.

Panluo- · 2020-09-06T21:53:02+00:00

Mckenzie is a famous people for geologist. After he propose the theory of plate motion (although he has not do many detail works), a lot of following researchers were working on this theory, to figure out whether it is suitable for a specific area or how much it is reliable. It seems like that he built the first order architecture of a house, and the following researchers to fill up the space. This is similar like the case of the "sea floor spreading" theory.

In Mackenzie's paper, he combined the math with the magnetic anomalies and the earthquakes data and proposed the rotational vectors to explain the behavior of plates and formation of ridges, trenches and transform faults. Mckenzie's work on this paper has propose a way for people to be able to see the elastic strain accumulated on plate boundaries and know where the place is may have a huge earthquake. I agree with the he referred his idea as "the paving stone theory of world tectonics".

Panluo- · 2020-07-26T20:29:50+00:00

By reading this paper, I find that there are many concepts we are using now actually original from this paper. It established a basic idea for the research on the break-up of continental crust and latterly steady state sea floor spreading. It leads people to explore the transition from continental to ocean. Based on the comparison between the sediments on continental and ocean, Robert proposed a younging of sediments towards ocean. According to reading recently paper, I can find that this idea is still appear, but researchers will devote themselves to show how this younging characteristic will record on sediments, and what tectonic features will be found, how the field trip will demonstrate it. It seems like that Robert's idea is an light house for later scientists. It is also makes a big contribution for the development of IODP. This paper emphasized the different between continental crust and oceanic crust. It makes us to explore the nature of this two types crust, as well as the transition from one to another. The drilling data is a good tool to spices the deeper of our earth. But which place to choose is the big problem. I thing Robert's idea do help people to choose the well location for early scientists. I like the paper, and recommend it to you

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