| Sedimentary basins are depicted as chemical reactors in which various complex physical and chemical processes interact with one another. These processes and the consequences of their interactions are explored. The nonlinear and self-organizing phenomena emerging from this network of coupled processes are delineated and characterized. These phenomena are both interesting and have important implications for the exploration and management of some of the natural resources such as petroleum, minerals, and potable water. The main finding of this work centers around the mechanism underlying the generation of compartments containing sequestered fluids residing within the Earth's crust. |
