A Tectonic Scheme for the Amerasia Basin of the Arctic Ocean

Abstract

A tectonic scheme of the Amerasia Basin was created for the first time on a 1 : 2 500 000 scale on the basis of integrated analysis of geological and geophysical data. The structural framework of the scheme was developed according to the mapping of the basement surface using reflection seismic sections; the surface was detailed on the basis of potential fields. The results of three-dimensional gravity modeling according to calculation of the Moho depths and consolidated earth crust thickness were used as the basic indicators of the origin of the crust. Tectonic elements of different ranks and kinematics were identified on the seismic sections and traced according to the potential fields. The created scheme is the most detailed out of those published previously. It demonstrates the features of the tectonic structure of individual geostructures and their nature and allows us to draw conclusions about the evolution of the Amerasia Basin.