


A world-wide resource for interpretation
Global Basement Terranes, a world-wide, cost effective interpretation GIS solution containing over 1300 continental basement terranes, is a culmination of over 12 years' research, data collection and interpretation; documenting the type, age, general composition and tectonic history of basement terranes for every continent.
Global Basement Terranes provides new venture teams with the foundation for understanding the relationship between basement terranes, the overlying sedimentary basins and their petroleum systems. The framework enables more accurate predictions of the occurrence and distribution of petroleum play elements.
The benefits
Available in a range of license types, Global Basement Terranes supports a number of positive user outcomes.
- Provides the most comprehensive compilation and interpretation of basement terranes, including a review of conjugate continental margins.
- Understanding of the relationship between basement terranes, the overlying sedimentary basins and their petroleum systems.
- Understanding of timing of deformation, tectonic history and plate reconstruction through time.
- Accurate prediction of the occurrence and distribution of petroleum play elements.
- GIS format database with extensive references and attributes.
INCLUDED Attributes for each terrane
All terranes are assigned attributes that include:
- Unique Identifier
- Terrane Name
- Abstract
- Terrane Type
- Megaterrane
- Basement Age
- Stratigraphic Basement Age
- Minimum Stratigraphic Age
- Minimum Age (Ma)
- Minimum Stratigraphic Stage
- Minimum Stratigraphic Series
- Minimum Stratigraphic System
- Minimum Stratigraphic Era
- Minimum Stratigraphic Eon
- Maximum Stratigraphic Age
- Maximum Age (Ma)
- Maximum Stratigraphic Stage
- Maximum Stratigraphic Series
- Maximum Stratigraphic System
- Maximum Stratigraphic ERA
- Maximum Stratigraphic EON
- References
- Subset Continent
Included GIS data layers
Each Global Terranes License includes the following data layers:
- Type
- Megaterrane
- Basement Age including Basement Stratigraphic Age and Basement Age (Ma)
- Terrane Stratigraphic Age Range
For all Terranes:
- Minimum Stratigraphic Age
- Maximum Stratigraphic Age
For Precambrian Terranes:
- Minimum Stratigraphic Stage including System, Era and Eon
- Maximum Stratigraphic Stage including System, Era and Eon
Phanerozoic Terranes:
- Minimum Stratigraphic Stage including Stage, Series, System, Era and Eon
- Maximum Stratigraphic Stage including Stage, Series, System, Era and Eon
Proven methodology
Mapping basement terranes
All basement terranes are mapped from the detailed integration, processing and interpretation of georeferenced scientific and publically available datasets including:
- Gravity and Magnetic Data
- Digital Elevation Model (DEM)
- Terrane Maps georeferenced from literature
- Geological Maps (e.g. USGS, One Geology, Country Surveys)
- Well Data
- Seismic Data
A Global Basement Terranes license includes a tectonostratigraphic summary of each basement terrane derived from our extensive up-to-date literature review, and supplemented by our potential field interpretation. Collectively, the Global Basement Terranes database provides an understanding of terrane formation and deformation through time, and helps to improve plate reconstructions.
Our approach to terrane interpretation
Attributing terrane type and age can be somewhat ambiguous with many different ways of attributing these parameters to a terrane depending on the information available. Complex geological history can result in a terrane that may be defined by several types or be assigned different ages.
For example, an island arc terrane that is accreted along with its associated basins and accretionary wedge and subsequently intruded by a continental arc, does not fit nicely into a single terrane type. Ambiguity in age arises from protracted deformation or thermal history or deformational/thermal events that only affect a portion of the terrane.
Global Basement Terranes provides a solid foundation for regional assessment and prioritisation of exploration areas. The tectonic history
combined with the general composition and terrane type provide the basis for evaluation of rheology, which can then provide key information for basin modelling.

Global Terranes is available as pre-defined subsets as shown on the map above. The inset image shows a sample of terranes coloured by terrane type.Oceanic terranes are not shown on the image.
Flexible licensing options
Licensing Global Basement Terranes is easy. A range of flexible licenses are available including:
- Global enterprise-wide licenses
- Individual desktop licenses
- Individual sub-set data licenses (flexible combination licensing) - License the region you are interested in.
- Combination licensing with Frogtech Geoscience SEEBASE® Regional Multi-Client studies also available.
Interested in a Global Basement Terranes, get in touch with us.