Geochemical analyses of rock core samples show that the basin peripher
y has experienced low thermal stress; present-day heat flows are in th
e range of 25-35 mW/m2 and have not been significantly higher than the
worldwide mean of approx. 63 mW/m2 since the mid-Permian. Present day
heat flows were determined from corrected borehole temperatures and r
ock thermal conductivities. Paleo-heat flows were determined by first-
order reaction kinetic modeling of several geochemical paleothermomete
rs (vitrinite reflectance, clay mineral diagenesis and relative propor
tions of sterane and hopane biological marker diastereomers).