Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol.18, No.1, pp. 49- 74, 1995

©Copyright 2000 Scientific Press, Ltd.

PROBABLE CRETACEOUS-TO-RECENT RIFTING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO BASIN
An answer to Callovian salt deformation and distribution problems?
Part 2

J. M. Reed*

*Texex Exploration Consultants, 1319 Jefferson Ave., New Orleans, Louisiana 70115, USA.

Abstract

Part I of this paper (Journ. Petrol. Geol. 17, no. 4, pp. 429-444, hereafter referred to as Reed, 1994a) discussed the deformation and distribution problems presented by the thick Callovian salt found in the Gulf of Mexico Basin, and the enigma it presents to explorationists studying the area. Attempted solutions for the problems were discussed, together with reasons why these solutions have generally not been successful. A radical, new model was presented that would answer most of the salt problems; this model entails continuous rifting in the Gulf from Late Cretaceous to Recent times. This would imply that the Gulf of Mexico is a tectonically-active basin, in contrast to the more widely accepted passive-basin theory. This concluding section of the paper discusses evidence from the Gulf which supports the active-basin theory.