The reconstruction of thermal evolution in sedimentary basins is a complex issue and requires knowledge on the tectonostratigraphic evolution of the basin, the present and past heat flows, the thermal conductivity and porosity of the rocks, among other inputs. The classical approaches used to reconstruct past temperatures in basins are traditionally based on the numerical basin modeling and the direct measurement of paleo-temperatures on natural rock samples by means of thermometric methods. The two approaches are complementary and the common practice consists in calibrating the modeled thermal histories with constraints derived from LT thermometry and thermo-chronometry data. However, this procedure may be complicated by the lack of data in some areas of the basin and/or by the limitations of the different thermometers.
The development of new thermometers, applicable in the diagenetic realm which dominates sedimentary basins and possibly overcoming the limitations of the conventional tools, has been growing in the last few years.
Aim of this session is to solicit presentation and discussion of recent achievements in this field where the most innovative approaches to reconstruct thermal evolution in sedimentary basins have been developed or adopted alongside with more traditional tools, with possible applications to solve future energy issues and old geodynamic controversies.