Malvinas Basin

Malvinas Basin
Cuenca de Malvinas
Map showing the location of Malvinas Basin
Map showing the location of Malvinas Basin
Coordinates51°30′S 63°30′W / 51.500°S 63.500°W / -51.500; -63.500
EtymologyIslas Malvinas
LocationArgentine Shelf, Southern Atlantic
RegionPatagonia
Country Argentina
 United Kingdom
State(s)Santa Cruz Province
Falkland Islands
Characteristics
On/OffshoreOffshore
BoundariesRío Chico-Dungeness High (W)
Scotia-South American plate boundary (S)
Part ofCircum-Atlantic basins
Area~180,000 km2 (69,000 sq mi)
Hydrology
Sea(s)Southern Atlantic Ocean
Geology
Basin typeRift basin
OrogenyBreak-up of Pangea
AgeEarly Jurassic-Holocene
StratigraphyStratigraphy
Field(s)non-commercial

The Malvinas Basin (Spanish: Cuenca de Malvinas) is a major sedimentary basin in the Argentine Shelf offshore southern Patagonia. The basin borders to the west with the Río Chico-Dungeness High that separates it from the Magallanes Basin.[1] The southern boundary is formed by the Scotia plate boundary.[2] Contrary to the neighbouring North Falkland and Magallanes Basins, the Malvinas Basin is not known to have commercial hydrocarbon reserves.[3]

  1. ^ Gallardo, 2014, p.51
  2. ^ Foschi & Cartwright, s.a., p.42
  3. ^ Baristeas et al., 2013