4D Arctic: A Glimpse into the Structure and Evolution of the Arctic in the Light of New Geophysical Maps, Plate Tectonics and Tomographic Models

Abstract

Knowledge about the Arctic tectonic structure has changed in the last decade as a large number of new datasets have been collected and systematized. Here, we review the most updated, publicly available Circum-Arctic digital compilations of magnetic and gravity data together with new models of the Arctic’s crust. Available tomographic models have also been scrutinized and evaluated for their potential to reveal the deeper structure of the Arctic region. Although the age and opening mechanisms of the Amerasia Basin are still difficult to establish in detail, interpreted subducted slabs that reside in the High Arctic’s lower mantle point to one or two episodes of subduction that consumed crust of possibly Late Cretaceous–Jurassic age. The origin of major igneous activity during the Cretaceous in the central Arctic (the Alpha–Mendeleev Ridge) and in the proximity of rifted margins (the so-called High Arctic Large Igneous Province—HALIP) is still debated. Models of global plate circuits and the connection with the deep mantle are used here to re-evaluate a possible link between Arctic volcanism and mantle plumes.

Rift systems of the Russian Eastern Arctic shelf and Arctic deep water basins: link between geological history and geodynamics

“…Some researches believe that the plateau has a thick crust of basaltic composition. Others state that the plateau has a continental basement with considerable rifting [Gaina et al, 2014;Pease et al, 2014]. In our opinion, the Alpha-Mendeleev Rise has a continental basement Vernikovsky et al, 2014;Petrov et al, 2016].…”

“…The Eurasian Basin has oceanic crust. Opening of the ocean started approximately at the Paleocene and Eocene boundary (about 56 Ma) and continues till the present time [Glebovsky et al, 2006;Gaina et al, 2014;Pease et al, 2014;Nikishin et al, 2014].…”

“…1) [e.g., Laverov et al, 2013;Vernikovsky et al, 2013;Gaina et al, 2014;Pease et al, 2014;Nikishin et al, 2014;Petrov et al, 2016;Drachev, 2016]. Different versions of the stratigraphy of the ocean's sedimentary cover were presented in [Kim, Glezer, 2007;Backman et al, 2008;Bruvoll et al, 2010Bruvoll et al, , 2012Rekant, Gusev, 2012;Mosher et al, 2012;Døssing et al, 2013;Dobretsov et al, 2013;Weigelt et al, 2014;Jokat, Ickrath, 2015;Nikishin et al, 2014;Brumley, 2014;Rekant et al, 2015;Evangelatos, Mosher, 2016].…”

“…The present-day Gakkel oceanic rift is known in the Eurasian Basin (e.g., [Glebovsky et al, 2006[Glebovsky et al, , 2013Gaina et al, 2014]). An abandoned Mesozoic (Early Cretaceous ?)…”

Ultraslow spreading, ridge relocation and compressional events in the East Arctic region: A link to the Eurekan orogeny?

“…Note the oblique orientation relative to the Gakkel Ridge of two features visible in the gravity data (labelled Ra-Ridge in the Amundsen Basin, and Rnridge in the Nansen Basin). The contour of these features and adjacent contours are shown in white in d (see review papers by [18,31,34]). It is now postulated that the oldest oceanic basin-the Canada Basin-is formed by all three types of crusts mentioned above (e.g., [32]).…”