Structural basin
A structural basin is a large-scale structural formation of rock strata formed by tectonic warping (folding) of previously flat-lying strata into a syncline fold. They are geological depressions, the inverse of domes. Elongated structural basins are a type of geological trough. Some structural basins are sedimentary basins, aggregations of sediment that filled up a depression or accumulated in an area; others were formed by tectonic events long after the sedimentary layers were deposited. Basins may appear on a geologic map as roughly circular or elliptical, with concentric layers. Because the strata dip toward the center, the exposed strata in a basin are progressively younger from the outside in, with the youngest rocks in the center. Basins are often large in areal extent, often hundreds of kilometers across. Structural basins are often important sources of coal, petroleum, and groundwater.
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (June 2025) |
| Oceanic crust: 0–20 Ma 20–65 Ma >65 Ma |
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (July 2025) |
A structural basin is a large-scale structural formation of rock strata formed by tectonic warping (folding) of previously flat-lying strata into a syncline fold. They are geological depressions, the inverse of domes. Elongated structural basins are a type of geological trough. Some structural basins are sedimentary basins, aggregations of sediment that filled up a depression or accumulated in an area; others were formed by tectonic events long after the sedimentary layers were deposited.
Basins may appear on a geologic map as roughly circular or elliptical, with concentric layers. Because the strata dip toward the center, the exposed strata in a basin are progressively younger from the outside in, with the youngest rocks in the center. Basins are often large in areal extent, often hundreds of kilometers across.
Structural basins are often important sources of coal, petroleum, and groundwater.
Examples
[edit]Europe
[edit]- Hampshire Basin, United Kingdom
- London Basin, United Kingdom
- Paris Basin, France
- Permian Basin, Poland, northern Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, the North Sea, and Scotland
- Turgay Basin, Kazakhstan
North America
[edit]Canada
[edit]Trinidad and Tobago
[edit]United States
[edit]- Albuquerque Basin, New Mexico
- Appalachian Basin, Eastern United States
- Big Horn Basin, Wyoming
- Black Warrior Basin, Alabama and Mississippi
- Delaware Basin, Texas and New Mexico
- Denver Basin, Colorado
- Illinois Basin, Illinois
- Los Angeles Basin, California
- Michigan Basin, Michigan
- North Park Colorado Basin
- Paradox Basin, Utah and Colorado
- Permian Basin, Texas and New Mexico
- Piceance Basin, Colorado
- Powder River Basin, Wyoming and Montana
- Raton Basin, Colorado and New Mexico
- Sacramento Basin, California
- San Juan Basin, New Mexico and Colorado
- Uinta Basin, Utah
- Williston Basin, Montana and North Dakota
- Wind River Basin, Wyoming
Oceania
[edit]Australia
[edit]
South America
[edit]- Chaco Basin, Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay
- Magallanes Basin, Chile
- Neuquén Basin, Argentina and Chile
- Paraná Basin, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay
- Llanos Basin, Colombia
See also
[edit]References
[edit]
General references
[edit]- Monroe, James S., and Reed Wicander. The Changing Earth: Exploring Geology and Evolution. 2nd ed. Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1997. ISBN 0-314-09577-2
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