Opening and Closure of the Neuquén Basin in the Southern Andes

This book offers insights into the Neuquén Basin's geological history, detailing sedimentation processes, multiple synrift stages, and significant tectonic events that shaped the region's complex structure and hydrocarbon reservoirs.

Opening and Closure of the Neuquén Basin in the Southern Andes offers a comprehensive examination of newly acquired data concerning the formation and evolution of the Neuquén Basin. This region is notable for housing Argentina's most significant hydrocarbon reservoirs, making it essential to understand the sedimentation processes and the timing of geological closures that have shaped the basin over time.

Over the past decade, extensive research has yielded insights into the complex geological history of the basin. The book reveals that the Neuquén Basin underwent multiple synrift stages during its development, indicating a dynamic geological environment. An aborted sag phase is highlighted, which is linked to the emergence of an early foreland basin in the late Early Cretaceous period. This phase set the stage for further geological transformations.

The narrative continues through significant geological events, including two extensional destabilizations occurring in the Late Cretaceous-Paleocene and late Oligocene periods, culminating in a Neogene magmatic expansion that coincided with the final stages of mountain building. These processes have contributed to a polyphasic structural complexity, leading to the exposure of a rich sedimentary record that characterizes the Neuquén Basin. Overall, the book serves as an essential resource for understanding the intricate geological history of this vital region in Argentina.