|
Original Article |
1 1Département de Géosciences de l'Université, Géologie et Paléontologie, Pérolles, Ch du Musée 6, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland (e-mail: jon.mosar@unifr.ch)
2 2Norsk Chevron, Karenslyst Alle 2, Skøyen, 0212 Oslo, Norway
3 3VISTA, c/o Geological Survey of Norway, Leif Eirikssons vei 39, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway
4 4Institute of Petroleum Technology and Applied Geophysics, NTNU, N-7494 NTNU, Norway
The Tertiary development of the Norwegian continental margin was dominated by the opening of the Arctic–North Atlantic Ocean. The correct identification of magnetic anomalies and their ages and the analysis of spreading rates during the formation of this ocean are important in understanding the development of the region and specifically the history of its passive margins. Three ocean domains, the Ægir, Reykjanes and Mohns regions, were investigated in an effort to understand the lateral changes in structural development of the passive margin after continental break-up. Spreading rates generally slowed down from 2 cm a–1 after Early Eocene initiation of sea-floor spreading, to values around 0.5 cm a–1 in Oligocene time. An increase in spreading rates to around 1 cm a–1 coincided with the positioning of the Iceland hotspot under the North Atlantic mid-ocean ridge. At the same time, the European plate changed its absolute plate motion from a north-directed drift to a motion more towards the east. The location of inversion structures in the Vøring and Faeroes Basin rather than in the Møre Basin is related to differences in spreading rates. The Mohns and the Reykjanes Ridges produced more ocean floor than the Ægir–Kolbeinsey Ridges. Asymmetric ocean-floor formation in the Ægir Ridge led to differential stress at the base of the lithosphere, which probably explains the absence of inversion features in the Møre Basin (less mantle drag). Furthermore, upper plate margins such as the Vøring Basin and possibly the Faeroe Basin have a lower compressional strength than lower plate margins such as the Møre Basin, and therefore preferentially developed inversion structures. Along the transform boundaries separating the domains, additional stress probably built up along extension of the transform zones into the extended continental crust. This additional stress probably also assisted initiation of the inversion structures in the Vøring Basin and the Faeroes area. The amplification of the inversion structures in the Vøring Basin and the Faeroes Basin was subsequently caused by a variety of processes related to sedimentation and uplift–erosion.
Keywords: Norwegian Sea, Tertiary, sea-floor spreading, passive margins, inversion tectonics.
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  S. P. Holford, P. F. Green, I. R. Duddy, J. P. Turner, R. R. Hillis, and M. S. Stoker Regional intraplate exhumation episodes related to plate-boundary deformation Geological Society of America Bulletin, 2009; 121: 1611 - 1628. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. M. Roberts, R. I. Corfield, N. J. Kusznir, S. J. Matthews, E.-K. Hansen, and R. J. Hooper Mapping palaeostructure and palaeobathymetry along the Norwegian Atlantic continental margin: More and Voring basins Petroleum Geoscience, 2009; 15: 27 - 43. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. G. Dore, E. R. Lundin, N. J. Kusznir, and C. Pascal Potential mechanisms for the genesis of Cenozoic domal structures on the NE Atlantic margin: pros, cons and some new ideas Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 2008; 306: 1 - 26. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. D. Ritchie, H. Johnson, M. F. Quinn, and R. W. Gatliff The effects of Cenozoic compression within the Faroe-Shetland Basin and adjacent areas Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 2008; 306: 121 - 136. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Scheck-Wenderoth, T. Raum, J.I. Faleide, R. Mjelde, and B. Horsfield The transition from the continent to the ocean: a deeper view on the Norwegian margin Journal of the Geological Society, 2007; 164: 855 - 868. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. Meyer, J. van Wijk, and L. Gernigon The North Atlantic Igneous Province: A review of models for its formation Geological Society of America Special Papers, 2007; 430: 525 - 552. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. B. Sorensen Stratigraphy, structure and petroleum potential of the Lady Franklin and Maniitsoq Basins, offshore southern West Greenland Petroleum Geoscience, 2006; 12: 221 - 234. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. A. Ziegler and P. Dezes Crustal evolution of Western and Central Europe Geological Society, London, Memoirs, 2006; 32: 43 - 56. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Cloetingh, P. A. Ziegler, F. Beekman, P. A. M. Andriessen, N. Hardebol, J. Van Wijk, and P. Dezes Thermo-mechanical controls on Alpine deformation of NW Europe Geological Society, London, Memoirs, 2006; 32: 113 - 127. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. R. LUNDIN and A. G. DORE NE Atlantic break-up: a re-examination of the Iceland mantle plume model and the Atlantic-Arctic linkage Geological Society, London, Petroleum Geology Conference series, 2005; 6: 739 - 754. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. KEEP and M. HARROWFIELD Basement reactivation and inversion mechanisms in the Timor and Norwegian seas Geological Society, London, Petroleum Geology Conference series, 2005; 6: 861 - 871. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. S. KIMBELL, J. D. RITCHIE, H. JOHNSON, and R. W. GATLIFF Controls on the structure and evolution of the NE Atlantic margin revealed by regional potential field imaging and 3D modelling Geological Society, London, Petroleum Geology Conference series, 2005; 6: 933 - 945. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. JOHNSON, J. D. RITCHIE, K. HITCHEN, D. B. MCINROY, and G. S. KIMBELL Aspects of the Cenozoic deformational history of the Northeast Faroe-Shetland Basin, Wyville-Thomson Ridge and Hatton Bank areas Geological Society, London, Petroleum Geology Conference series, 2005; 6: 993 - 1007. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. S. STOKER, D. PRAEG, P. M. SHANNON, B. O. HJELSTUEN, J. S. LABERG, T. NIELSEN, T. C. E. VAN WEERING, H. P. SEJRUP, and D. EVANS Neogene evolution of the Atlantic continental margin of NW Europe (Lofoten Islands to SW Ireland): anything but passive Geological Society, London, Petroleum Geology Conference series, 2005; 6: 1057 - 1076. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. J. Roberts, R. J. ROBERTS, T. H. TORSVIK, T. B. ANDERSEN, and E. F. REHNSTROM The Early Carboniferous Mageroy dykes, northern Norway: palaeomagnetism and palaeogeography Geological Magazine, 2003; 140: 443 - 451. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
