The role of climate in the development of salt-withdrawal minibasins in terrestrial settings

Salt withdrawal minibasins are of vast economic importance because they have the potential to store a large amount of hydrocarbons. However, in order to better understand these features detailed studies of outcrop analogs are required. Although much has been learned from studying the Sivas basin, Turkey, other sites require analysis in order to gain a more general understanding. This study focuses on the Plio-Pleistocene minibasin that lies adjacent to the Onion Creek Salt Diapir in Fisher Valley, Utah, United States. A curious feature of these sediments is the apparent presence of cycles that begins with gravels, followed by loose sands, finally terminated by paleosols. Magnetic Susceptibility measurements of the outcrop also display an apparent sinuosity when compared to depth. Furthermore the Middle Pleistocene transition, a period when Earth's climate cycles shifted from 41-ka to 100-ka cycles, appears to be recorded in the magnetic susceptibility data. This implies that climate was a significant factor in the development of this basin and further studies of terrestrial minibasins should consider the role of climate when studying facies changes.