Modelling Salt Tectonics and Sedimentary Basin Evolution at

Modelling Salt Tectonics and Sedimentary Basin Evolution at Passive Margins. Implications for HC Exploration on the Scotian Shelf. Author: Sheila M Ballantyne Supervisors: Dr. Juergen Adam and Dr. Djordje Grujic Dalhousie University, Department of Earth Sciences Honours Thesis http: //www. csc. noaa. gov/benthic/mapping/applying/images/scotian. gif

The Purpose of my Honours Thesis • To gain a better understanding of • • the structural geology of passive rift margins, with an emphasis on salt tectonics and sedimentary processes. To relate the gravity driven experiments to the processes on the Scotian Shelf, and aid in HC exploration. To improve interpretations of geologic and geophysical data. 3 D Seafloor Stratigraphic and Structural Setting of the Scotian Margin after Wade et al. 1990, 1995. N-S Section from Shelf to Basin Salt Passive Salt Margin - Regional Structure US Coast GOM (Peel et al. 1995)

Experimental Set-up Each model is a 3 D scaled representation of the shelf, using silica as sand silicone putty as salt. The materials have specific rheological behaviours and physical parameters. ► The experiments are monitored using hi-res. digital time-series data, using Particle Imaging Velocimetry (PIV). ► Each experiment will be digitally analyzed and cut into crosssections for interpretation. ► • IW (time t + dt) • Displacement field data Photos courtesy of Juergen Adam

3 D Structure - Stagnation Shelf Slope Basin Surface View Shel f Shelf Slope Basin Photos courtesy of Juergen Adam

• My main focus will be experiments where the effects of varying the slope angle are explored. These experiments will be carried out over the coming months. Data from recent experiments will also be used. Acknowledgements: Canadian Superior Energy Inc. Awards Program Dalhousie’s Centre for Complex Geo-Systems Research team Thanks to Juergen Adam for the pretty pictures, and animations. Much thanks to Juergen Adam, Djordje Grujic, Csaba Krezsek, and Steve King for guidance! Photo from Juergen Adam