The K-Ar systematics of illite/smectite (I/S) mixed layers in deeply buried shales from the Gulf Coast, the North Sea and the Mahakam Delta basins have been compared to provide additional perspectives on the diagenetic evolution of these minerals. Comparison of the results suggests that illitization proceeds similarly in the 3 basins, at least for the increase in the illite-layer and K contents, despite differences in the provenance of the detrital components, the ages of deposition, the depths of burial and the tectonic history of the basins. Analysis of the trends with depth in the illite-layer and K contents of I/S-enriched size fractions of shales in the North Sea and the Mahakam Delta basins shows that these trends represent segments of the more complete trends from I/S minerals of the Gulf Coast area.

The trends with depth in the radiogenic 40Ar contents and in the K-Ar ages of the I/S-rich fractions in the North Sea and Mahakam Delta basins suggest that, relative to the reference trends of the Gulf Coast area, the K-Ar system of the clay material is more dependent on the behavior of the radiogenic 40Ar than on the occurrence or non-occurrence of detrital grains in the size fractions. Recasting of the available data suggests that retention of radiogenic 40Ar by the illite-type minerals occurs in the intense illitization zone and release occurs in the deeper part of the basins. We therefore speculate that the illitization process of the I/S mixed layers of progressively buried shale-type sediments could be controlled by a transformation process integrating dissolution of detrital components in poral rock environments relatively impermeable to radiogenic 40Ar. These excesses, which might be partly or completely erased in deeper parts of the sedimentary basins, question the application of the K-Ar dating method on clay minerals extracted from shales.

Reinterpretation of published data for shale cuttings from the Gulf of Mexico sedimentary basin identifies three reaction zones for illite formation with increasing depth for well CWRU6. In a shallow zone (1.85 to 3 km), non-expanding illite-like layers formed primarily by the coalescence of smectite 2:1 layers around interlayer K+. In a middle zone (3 to 4 km), illite crystals neoformed from solution as coarser K-bearing phases and smectite were dissolved by organic acids. In the deepest zone (>4 km), illite recrystallized as less stable illite crystals dissolved, and more stable illite crystals grew during mineral ripening. The progressive loss of radiogenic argon in the deepest zone yielded a constant apparent age for the clays with depth, an effect previously attributed to “punctuated diagenesis.” The above hypothesis for illite formation emphasizes the need to establish the zone (i.e., the reaction mechanism) from which shales were derived before making detailed geologic interpretations based on illite mineralogy.

In this paper we describe the stratigraphy and sediments deposited in Lake Samra that occupied the Dead Sea basin between ∼ 135 and 75 ka. This information is combined with U/Th dating of primary aragonites in order to estimate a relative lake-level curve that serves as a regional paleohydrological monitor. The lake stood at an elevation of ∼ 340 m below mean sea level (MSL) during most of the last interglacial. This level is relatively higher than the average Holocene Dead Sea (∼ 400 ± 30 m below MSL). At ∼ 120 and ∼ 85 ka, Lake Samra rose to ∼ 320 m below MSL while it dropped to levels lower than ∼ 380 m below MSL at ∼ 135 and ∼ 75 ka, reflecting arid conditions in the drainage area. Lowstands are correlated with warm intervals in the Northern Hemisphere, while minor lake rises are probably related to cold episodes during MIS 5b and MIS 5d. Similar climate relationships are documented for the last glacial highstand Lake Lisan and the lowstand Holocene Dead Sea. Yet, the dominance of detrital calcites and precipitation of travertines in the Dead Sea basin during the last interglacial interval suggest intense pluvial conditions and possible contribution of southern sources of wetness to the region.

A basin-scale hydrogeological study of the inverted northern Broad Fourteens Basin, Netherlands offshore, has resulted in a reconstruction of geological evolution, an estimate of Late Cretaceous topography and model scenarios of syn-inversion meteoric water infiltration. This study was performed in the scope of a basin-scale analysis of the hydrogeological setting and hydrodynamic evolution of the Broad Fourteens Basin. This analysis is aimed at obtaining quantitative knowledge of depositional history and hydrogeological parameters, and qualitative knowledge of hydrodynamic evolution of the Broad Fourteens Basin from Carboniferous to present-day. We present an overview of the tectonic and depositional history, the most likely hydrogeological setting and model scenarios of Late Cretaceous meteoric water infiltration in the northern Broad Fourteens area.

We constructed a detailed south-west north-east geological cross-section of the present-day northern Broad Fourteens Basin, and reconstructed Late Cretaceous basin geometry and topography. Using this geometry in a numerical model of density-dependent topography-driven fluid flow, we modelled several scenarios of meteoric water infiltration with estimated ranges of basin-scale permeabilities and water table head. Results indicate that a deep freshwater lens was developed during Late Cretaceous inversion, if the basin-scale hydraulic conductivity of the Rijnland and Altena Groups was at least 1⋅10-9 to 1⋅10-10 m/s, which is in general the highest value for claystones.

No less than 15–20 sedimentary basins are now known on the Antarctic continental landmass and surrounding continental shelves. Reconstruction of their tectonic and stratigraphic evolution is a specialized task. Owing to the polar position of the continent, the Pacific and Atlantic global geostructures are closely spaced there and the interplay between them is strong enough to result in hybridization of the characteristic tectonic features of the various basins. The present morphostructure of the southern polar region of the Earth is characterized by a prominent circumpolar zoning. Therefore, the sedimentary basins form a gigantic ring along the continental margin, including both the shelf proper and the edge of the continent. Within the ring, the basins are associated with different types of margins successively replacing each other, from the Mesozoic magmatic are in the Pacific segment to the classic passive margin off East Antarctica. The formation of the sedimentary basins in the Antarctic segment of the Pacific mobile belt was a part of a single process of geosynclinal development, whereas on the craton flank the process was superposed on the continental structures by rifting during Gondwana fragmentation. During post-break-up tectonism, continental glaciation played an important part in the formation of the sedimentary basins.

The Antarctic continent and the peripheral ocean regions are the primary source of information on the Cenozoic cryosphere and events leading up to its development at least 36 million years ago. From a variety of data it is now apparent that the southern high latitudes have been subjected to a dynamic alternation of ice sheet expansion and decay through the late Palaeogene and Neogene. This history of climate change was accompanied by, and certainly strongly influenced by, significant vertical and horizontal lithosphere changes, including the evolution of major internal seaways and mountain ranges. The imprint of this record is preserved in the marine successions of the polar basins, in the world's bathyal and abyssal ocean basins and in the continental shelves of other continents, including those of the Northern Hemisphere. The Antarctic and extra-Antarctic terrestrial and marine data bases have developed separately in the past three decades and geospheric and biospheric information must now be integrated across latitudes. Future success in deciphering climate change depends on a better understanding of glacial–deglacial cycles from the point of view of both direct Antarctic and indirect or proxy extra-Antarctic data, through the complete temporal range of 107 to 103 years. Unfortunately, much of the high latitude record for the past 65 million years of earth history is presently veiled by thick ice sheets/ice shelves and deep and often ice-covered marine waters. Without the intensive application of the most advanced remote sampling equipment on the continent and in the Southern Ocean it will be difficult for this region to contribute significantly to global change and global climate programmes.

We have analysed 129 stratigraphic sections from the Timan–Pechora basin, from its adjacent continental shelf and from the South Barents Sea basin, in order to determine whether existing models of extensional sedimentary basin formation can be applied to these intracratonic basins or whether new mechanisms of formation need to be invoked. The subsidence history of each section has been calculated using standard backstripping techniques. An inverse model, based on finite-duration lithospheric stretching, has then been used to calculate the distribution of strain rate as a function of time required to fit each subsidence profile. Results demonstrate an excellent fit between theory and observation. By combining our analysis with independent field-based and geophysical observations, we show that the Timan–Pechora basin underwent at least four phases of mild lithospheric stretching during the Phanerozoic (β<1.2). These phases occurred in Ordovician, Late Ordovician–Silurian, Middle–Late Devonian and Permian–Early Triassic times. Growth on normal faults, episodes of volcanic activity and regional considerations provide corroborative support for the existence of all four phases. Although less well constrained, subsidence data from the South Barents Sea basin are consistent with a similar Early–Middle Palaeozoic history. The main difference is that Permian–Early Triassic extension is substantially greater than that seen onshore. This similarity implies structural connectivity throughout their respective evolutions. Finally, subsidence modelling demonstrates that rapid foreland basin formation, associated with the Uralian Orogeny, was initiated in Permo-Triassic times and is confined to the eastern margin of the Timan–Pechora basin. Coeval foreland subsidence does not occur on the eastern margin of the South Barents Sea basin, supporting the allochthonous nature of Novaya Zemlya. The most puzzling result is the existence of simultaneous lithospheric extension and foreland loading in Permian–Early Triassic times. This juxtaposition is most clearly seen within the Timan–Pechora basin itself and suggests that convective drawdown may play a role in foreland basin formation.

In this paper, we consider a 2D mathematical modelling of the verticalcompaction effect in a water saturated sedimentary basin. This model isdescribed by the usual conservation laws, Darcy's law, the porosity as afunction of the vertical component of the effective stress and theKozeny-Carman tensor, taking into account fracturation effects. This modelleads to study the time discretization of a nonlinear system ofpartial differential equations. The existence is obtained by a fixed-pointargument. The uniqueness proof, by Holmgren's method, leads to work out a linear, strongly coupled, system of partial differential equations andboundary conditions.