Regional tectono-sedimentary development of the highs and basins of the northwestern Barents Shelf

Ingrid Anell,Alvar Braathen,Jan-Inge Faleide

doi:10.17850/njg96-1-04

Abstract

Regional tectono-sedimentary development of the highs and basins of the northwestern Barents Shelf

Highlights

The shallow northwestern Barents Shelf has undergone multiple changes in stress regimes and continental collision, periodic rifting, uplift, large-scale subsidence, tilting and folding have contributed to the present configuration of emergent land areas, highs, basins and platforms (Fig. 1A)
We discuss the development of the northwestern Barents Shelf based on seismic interpretation which allows us to describe the outline, characteristics and timing of formation and reactivation of the main structural elements
The onset of formation of these earliest structural elements is difficult to pinpoint, but the dominant phase of formation is likely to be around the Carboniferous

Summary

Introduction

The shallow northwestern Barents Shelf has undergone multiple changes in stress regimes and continental collision, periodic rifting, uplift, large-scale subsidence, tilting and folding have contributed to the present configuration of emergent land areas, highs, basins and platforms (Fig. 1A). Al., 2001; Worsley, 2008; Barrère et al, 2009; Ritzmann & Faleide, 2009; Henriksen et al, 2011; Gac et al, 2012; Gernigon et al, 2014) It has previously been observed, for example, that the Sørkapp basin, which forms the main Carboniferous depocentre on the northwestern Barents Shelf (Fig. 2A), remained a sag between highs until the Late Triassic, when a new depocentre, the Sørkapp depression, developed towards the west (Anell et al, 2014a). The Barents Shelf is a shallow platform comprising a series of sub-platforms, highs and basins (Fig. 1A) (Rønnevik et al, 1982; Gabrielsen et al, 1990; Faleide et al, 1991, 2008; Gudlaugsson et al, 1998; Grogan et al, 1999; Worsley et al, 2001; Henriksen et al, 2011). Resolution and interference of multiples becomes prominent beneath structural highs and over condensed platform deposits, whereas acceptable resolution down to 3–4 seconds is usually available in the depocentres, some of the deep and narrow rift basins bounded by steep-sided faults are still difficult to distinguish

Results

Discussion

Conclusions