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Structure of the Gulf of Lions (Northwestern Mediterranean Sea): A Review

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Hydrocarbon and Petroleum Geology of France

Abstract

After a brief review of previous work, mainly related to the results of the deep penetration (ECORS) seismic lines, we present a picture of the Gulf of Lions tectonic framework based on a dense grid of seismic in­ dustrial lines. This region is divided into two zones: a northeastern one where narrow grabens are oriented NE-SW and a southwestern area where large and deep depressions are limited by faults and horsts which trend N-S. The onshore geology indicates that the second zone has been formed during the Late Eocene epoch in relati­ on to the western European graben system, whereas the NE-SW horsts and grabens are Oligocene in age and are connected to the opening of the northwestern Mediterranean basin. Beneath the Tertiary several deep reflections may represent a southward extension of Mesozoic rocks of the southeast basin and some Eocene thrusts. The thrusting surfaces have been reactivated during the sub­ sequent Oligocene rifting. The structure of the Gulf of Li­ ons is replaced in a general geodynamic framework.

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Authors
  1. C. Gorini
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  2. A. Mauffret
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  3. P. Guennoc
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  4. A. Le Marrec
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institut Français du Pétrole, B. P. 311, 1 & 4, Avenue de Bois-Préau, 92506, Rueil-Malmaison Cedex, France

    Alain Mascle

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© 1994 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Gorini, C., Mauffret, A., Guennoc, P., Le Marrec, A. (1994). Structure of the Gulf of Lions (Northwestern Mediterranean Sea): A Review. In: Mascle, A. (eds) Hydrocarbon and Petroleum Geology of France. Special Publication of the European Association of Petroleum Geoscientists, vol 4. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-78849-9_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-78849-9_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-78851-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-78849-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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