Estudio sismoestratigráfico y estructural de la parte sur de la Cuenca de Manabí mediante el análisis de 2-d MSC data.

Abstract

This work presents a seismostratigraphic and structural study of the southern part of the Manabí Basin through the interpretation and analysis of seismic reflection profiles, following the classic seismic interpretation criteria of Mitchum (1977) and Vail et al. (1977). In the study area, the unconformity of the seismic basement top, five regional unconformities and six regional seismic units that represent the sedimentary fill of the southern part of this basin were characterized. Then, a relative dating of the interpreted seismic units was obtained by correlating them with outcrops of the geological map of the Ecuadorian coastal margin, geological sections and previous regional studies of the Manabi Basin. The use and correlation of the Free-Air and Bouguer gravity maps with the geological and relief map of the coastal region allowed to observe the geographical and structural limits of the southern part of the Manabi Basin. In addition, it allowed to discuss the segmentation of the Manabi Basin. The seismostratigraphic and structural characterization allowed to propose the evolutive history of the southern part of the Manabí Basin, which has been defined by a model that consists of five stages from the Cretaceous to the Pleistocene. Finally, the proposed stages show the evolution and current geometry of the southern part of the Manabí Basin.