Cenozoic sediment bypass versus Laramide exhumation and erosion of the Eagle Ford Group: Perspective from modelling of organic and inorganic proxy data (Maverick Basin, Texas, USA)

Abstract The Cenozoic unconformity above the Late Cretaceous carbonates within Maverick Basin is a unique feature of Texas (USA). Hypotheses accounting for include (1) sediment bypass, and (2) ~6400 m erosion during Laramide orogeny. Both hypotheses have different implications burial history Eagle Ford Group (EFG) our understanding We generated clumped isotope data organic maturation proxies from same location. Carbonate temperatures obtained (113 ± 9 °C) represent recrystallization minimum estimate maximum temperature. This constraint significantly warmer than apparent derived using an Arrhenius equation (40–55 °C). Organic matter transformation carbonate respond to temperature over time scales therefore capture snapshots thermal particular chemical reactions that control respective processes. Using numerical forward modeling on combination two proxies, we new hypothesis: ~2800 sediments were accumulated then eroded late compression. less previous estimates, indicating impact orogeny in basin may been severe previously thought.