HR: 0830h
AN: T51F-0214    [PDF]
TI: Structural and Stratigraphic Correlations Between the Conjugate mid-Norway and NE Greenland Continental Margins
AU: * Tsikalas, F
EM: filippos.tsikalas@geo.uio.no
AF: Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1047 Blindern, Oslo, N-0316 Norway
AU: Faleide, J I
EM: j.i.faleide@geo.uio.no
AF: Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1047 Blindern, Oslo, N-0316 Norway
AU: Eldholm, O
EM: olav.eldholm@geo.uib.no
AF: Department of Earth Science, University of Bergen, Allegt 41, Bergen, N-5007 Norway
AU: Wilson, J
EM: jonas.wilson@geo.uio.no
AF: Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1047 Blindern, Oslo, N-0316 Norway
AB: Late Mesozoic-Cenozoic tectono-stratigraphic correlations between the conjugate mid-Norway and NE Greenland continental margins are provided based on the recently refined structural and stratigraphic framework off mid-Norway, new early opening plate reconstructions between Jan Mayen and Senja fracture zones, and a regional grid of seismic reflection profiles off NE Greenland. The Norwegian margin exhibits a distinct along-strike margin segmentation governed by across-margin transfer systems. In particular, the Bivrost Fracture Zone and its landward prolongations are well-defined features on the conjugate margins representing a first-order, across-margin tectono-magmatic boundary of prolonged structural inheritance. Regional transects across both margins reveal important vertical and lateral variations in crustal configuration and composition resulting from a complex history of rifting prior to and during the last Late Cretaceous-Early Tertiary rift episode leading to breakup and volcanic margin formation. Although the composite Late Jurassic-earliest Cretaceous rifting is the dominant tectonic episode we also observe structural and stratigraphic relations that indicate an Aptian-?Albian rift phase, probably coeval with similar events elsewhere on the NE Atlantic margins. Late Cretaceous rifting, with onset in middle Campanian time, is characterized by low-angle detachment faulting, culminating with regional uplift, intrusive igneous activity and subsequent erosion towards the end of the Paleocene. Thick seaward dipping reflector sequences manifest massive eruptions of lavas during breakup at the Paleocene-Eocene transition. The post-breakup passive margin development is characterized by the transport and deposition of large amounts of sediments in response to margin subsidence and continental uplift, particularly during two distinct phases of outbuilding in Oligocene and Plio-Pleistocene times. Of special interest are a number of mid-Cenozoic intra-basin inversion features recognized both off Norway and off Greenland, revealing a regional compressive regime.
DE: 8105 Continental margins and sedimentary basins
DE: 9325 Atlantic Ocean
DE: 9604 Cenozoic
DE: 9609 Mesozoic
SC: Tectonophysics [T]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting