Platform (geology)

Geologic provinces of the world (USGS)

  Shield

  Platform

  Orogen

  Basin

  Large igneous province

  Extended crust

Oceanic crust:

  0–20 Ma

  20–65 Ma

  >65 Ma

In geology, a platform is a continental area covered by relatively flat or gently tilted, mainly sedimentary strata, which overlie a basement of consolidated igneous or metamorphic rocks of an earlier deformation. Platforms, shields and the basement rocks together constitute cratons.

It is also common practice to use the term platform as a general term for a sequence of shallow water carbonate platforms. Carbonate platforms can develop in almost any tectonic setting, but they are particularly common along passive margins. Many oilfields produce from sediments deposited along carbonate platforms.

Various types of carbonate platforms are recognised, including (but are not restricted to) rimmed shelf, ramp, epiric platforms, isolated platforms and drowned platforms.

See also

• List of shields and cratons

References

• Parker, Sybil P. (Ed.). 1997. McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Geology and Mineralogy. New York: McGraw-Hill.
• Tucker, Maurice E. 1990. Carbonate Sedimentology. Oxford: Blackwell Science.