Geologic Processes
Sedimentary Burial
Sedimentary burial is more typical when thinking of burial processes. Sedimentary burial is the deposition of sediments on and area of interest such as a sedimentary basin, oceans, or other locations typically leading toTectonic Burial
Tectonic Burial specifically refers to burial of material on a area of interest as a result of tectonic processes such as aEvidence for tectonic burial
Radiometric Dating
One way of identifying a tectonic burial event is throughMetamorphism
When rocks or sediments get buried they begin to increase in temperature and pressure as the mass above accumulates. Metamorphism occurs at temperatures greater than 200 °C and pressures greater than 300 MPa. Burial metamorphism overlaps with diagenesis with an increase in pressure and temperature. Sedimentary rocks buried at depths of a couple kilo meters will begin generating temperatures above 300 °C without differential stress.Thermochronology
Tectonic burial events can be distinguished by Thermochronology. During a tectonic burial event rocks increase in heat until they reach theirVitrinite Reflectance
Sediment deposition over a basin with organic material can create a primary component of coal,Effects
Coalification
It has been debated that burial depth may play a role into the advancement of coalification. Early in the 19th century it was thought to be caused purely by the pressure caused by burial, in some coal fields high ranking coal was found that made some geologists think that burial pressure increased the coalification rate.Oil
Oil can be another product of tectonic burial. Oil is created in this fashion over a series of steps starting with the deposition of carbonate sediments followed by cracking and multiple stages of filling of oil like inclusions.Pressure-Temperature-Time paths
One of the largest effects that tectonic burial has is a change in the pressure-temperature time paths, this can be identified by looking for metamorphism or by using thermochronology. Burial of greater depths have the ability to reset fission track dates.Examples
Tectonic burial in southern Apennines.
In the southern Apennines fold and thrust belts, indicators record timing of exhumation of sedimentary units.Tectonic burial in the Persian Gulf.
Evidence for the timing of diagenesis and oil migration.Tectonic burial and Coal production.
Tectonic burial and its relationship to the advancement of coalification.References
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