Late Paleocene to Miocene compression in the Faeroe–Rockall area

Abstract

Compressional structures are observed at several locations in the Faeroe–Rockall Area. One of these, the Wyville–Thomson Ridge Complex, is part of the Scotland–Greenland Ridge which forms a barrier to the south-flowing deep cold arctic water from the Norwegian Sea. Interpretation of seismic multichannel reflection profiles suggests that the Wyville–Thomson Ridge Complex is the result of compression and that the Ymir Ridge and the Wyville–Thomson Ridge are ramp anticlines connected with a fault plane dipping to the north. A number of small highs offset by reverse faults to the south of the complex are interpreted as foreland thrust folds developed in relation to the tectonic evolution of the ridge complex. At least three Eocene to Miocene compressional phases are recognized. The first took place in late Paleocene–early Eocene and the second in Oligocene times. These compressional phases coincide with pronounced changes in the sea floor spreading geometry in the NE Atlantic. The third phase, in the middle or late Miocene, may possibly be associated with the complex Miocene spreading history of Iceland.