Evolution of Oceanic Crust in the North Atlantic and Implications for the Arctic Tectonics

Carmen Gaina¹ and Trond H. Torsvik^2
1Center for Geodynamics, Geologic Survey of Norway, Trondheim, Norway.
²PGP, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.

Seafloor spreading in the North Atlantic ocean from Mesozoic until present day involved relative motion between three major tectonic plates: North America, Greenland and Eurasia and a number of microplates. Relative motions between these tectonic plates and movement of northern Pacific terranes since the Jurassic led to the development of the Arctic region as we know it today.

Studying the connection between the two realms involve good knowledge of the development of the North Atlantic and Arctic margins and oceanic basins and ideally, model uncertainties. Here we review the kinematics of North Atlantic from the Azores fracture zone northward and asses the implications of different models for locating the plate boundary between North Atlantic and Arctic. One set of models imply extension before opening of the Eurasia basin and we postulate that this was accommodated in the proximity of Alpha-Mendeleev Ridge. New models of global plate circuits and the connection with deep mantle are used to re-evaluate the (possible) connection between the Arctic volcanism and the Iceland plume.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90130©2011 3P Arctic, The Polar Petroleum Potential Conference & Exhibition, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, 30 August-2 September, 2011.