Geological assessment of shallow faults and structural disturbances from the eastern Scotian Shelf and Laurentian Channel area

Abstract

An analysis of over 12,000 km of airgun seismic reflection profiles and Huntec DTS high resolution seismic reflection profiles revealed considerable tectonism on the eastern Scotian Shelf and Laurentian Channel area. Much of the deformation occurs within the bedrock of the Orpheus Basin and on the Cape Breton Island Shelf. The deformation appears to be mainly pre-Quaternary, as structural deformation within the surficial sediments appears quite limited. However, only 2,000 km of the high resolution seismic reflection profiles that could resolve surficial faulting exist in the area. Forty-two clearly defined bedrock faults and two surficial sediment faults were identified. Displacements of up to 35 m were within preQuaternary bedrock. A displacement of 1 m within the surficial sediments was the maximum recognized. A relationship between bedrock and surficial sediment faulting was not determined mainly due to a lack of critical data. Furthur investigation with high resolutiion seismic reflection systems over areas of known bedrock faulting would resolve the relationships.