Geology of Alaska Bordering the Arctic Ocean

DutroJr., J. Thomas

doi:10.1007/978-1-4757-1248-3_2

Cited by 19 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Alternatively, many have supported the Lomonosov rifting model (Ostenso, 1974;Dutro, 1981;Kerr, 1981;Smith, 1987), which posits that the Arctic Alaska-Chukotka microplate originated near the Taimyr Peninsula of Russia. Considering the aforementioned problems with the paleomagnetic evidence, the strongest remaining argument against a Lomonosov rifting model is the transform morphology of the Lomonosov Ridge (Cochran et al, 2006).…”

Section: Tectonic Models For the Opening Of The Canada Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neoproterozoic glaciation on a carbonate platform margin in Arctic Alaska and the origin of the North Slope subterrane

Macdonald

McClelland

Schrag

et al. 2009

Geological Society of America Bulletin

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The rotation model for the opening of the Canada Basin of the Arctic Ocean predicts stratigraphic links between the Alaskan North Slope and the Canadian Arctic islands. The Katakturuk Dolomite is a 2080-m-thick Neo protero zoic carbonate succession exposed in the northeastern Brooks Range of Arctic Alaska. These strata have previously been correlated with the pre-723 Ma Shaler Supergroup of the Amundson Basin. Herein we report new composite δ 13 C profi les and detrital zircon ages that test this connection. We go further and use stratigraphic markers and a compilation of δ 13 C chemostratigraphy from around the world, tied to U-Pb ages, to derive an age model for deposition of the Katakturuk Dolomite. In particular, we report the identifi cation of ca. 760 Ma detrital zircons in strata underlying the Katakturuk Dolomite. Moreover, a diamictite present at the base of the Katakturuk Dolomite is capped by a dark-colored limestone with peculiar roll-up structures. Chemostratigraphy and lithostratigraphy suggest this is an early-Cryogenian glacial diamictite-cap carbonate couplet and that deposition of the Katakturuk Dolomite spanned much of the late Neoproterozoic. Approximately 500 m above the diamictite, a micropeloidal dolomite, with idiosyncratic textures that are characteristic of basal Ediacaran cap carbonates, such as tubestone stromatolites, giant wave ripples, and decameters of pseudo morphosed former aragonite crystal fans, rests on a silicifi ed surface. Chemostratigraphic correlations also indicate a large increase in sedimentation rate in the upper ~1 km of the Katakturuk Dolomite and in the overlying lower Nanook Limestone. We suggest that the accompanying increase in accommodation space, along with the presence of two low-angle unconformities within these strata, are the product of late Ediacaran rifting along the southern margin of the North Slope subterrane. There are no strata present in the Amundson Basin that are potentially correlative with the late Neoproterozoic Katakturuk Dolomite, as the Cambrian Saline River Formation rests on the ca. 723 Ma Natkusiak Formation. Detrital zircon geochronology, chemostratigraphic correlations, and the style of sedimentation are inconsistent with both a Canadian Arctic origin of the North Slope subterrane and a simple rotation model for the origin of the Arctic Ocean. If the rotation model is to be retained, the exotic North Slope subterrane must have accreted to northwest Laurentia in the Early to Middle Devonian.

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Section: Tectonic Models For the Opening Of The Canada Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neoproterozoic glaciation on a carbonate platform margin in Arctic Alaska and the origin of the North Slope subterrane

Macdonald

McClelland

Schrag

et al. 2009

Geological Society of America Bulletin

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“…The paleomagnetic evidence appears compelling, but opponents of this model argue that the almost vertical inclination combined with the ''seemingly pervasive remagnetization problem on the North Slope'' [Harbert et al, 1990, p. 577] make the results inconclusive, particularly since they only come from one location [e.g., Stone, 1989;Lane, 1997]. [ 5 6 ] ''Arctic Islands transform'' models ( Figure 16b) also assume that the northern margin of Alaska is a rifted margin, but that it rifted off of the northern Eurasian margin rather than Arctic Canada [e.g., Ostenso, 1974;Christie, 1979;Kerr, 1980Kerr, , 1981Dutro, 1981;Crane, 1987]. This model hypothesizes that the nearly straight continental margin of Arctic Canada is a transform margin [Kerr, 1981;Dutro, 1981].…”

Section: Models For the Formation Of The Amerasian Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[ 5 6 ] ''Arctic Islands transform'' models ( Figure 16b) also assume that the northern margin of Alaska is a rifted margin, but that it rifted off of the northern Eurasian margin rather than Arctic Canada [e.g., Ostenso, 1974;Christie, 1979;Kerr, 1980Kerr, , 1981Dutro, 1981;Crane, 1987]. This model hypothesizes that the nearly straight continental margin of Arctic Canada is a transform margin [Kerr, 1981;Dutro, 1981]. Seismic data that could classify that margin as transform or rifted is not available.…”

Section: Models For the Formation Of The Amerasian Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphology and structure of the Lomonosov Ridge, Arctic Ocean

Cochran

Edwards

Coakley

2006

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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The Lomonosov Ridge is a band of continental crust that stretches across the Arctic Ocean and separates the Mesozoic Amerasian Basin from the Cenozoic Eurasian Basin. From about 87°N north of Greenland across the Pole to about 86°N, the Lomonosov Ridge is a single highstanding blocky ridge with minimum depths of ∼950–1400 m. South of 86°N on the Siberian side, the ridge breaks up into a series of ridges spread over a width of about 200 km. In this region a highstanding blocky ridge with minimum depths of ∼650–1400 m bounds the Eurasian Basin and continues to the Siberian continental margin. This ridge is continuous with the single ridge making up the Lomonosov Ridge toward North America and is the former outermost continental shelf of Eurasia bounding the Amerasian Basin. The Eurasian Basin margin of the Lomonosov Ridge consists of a series of rotated fault blocks stepping down to the basin that result from nearly orthogonal rifting to form the Eurasian Basin. No rotated fault blocks are observed on the Amerasian Basin margin of the Lomonosov Ridge. On the Amerasian Basin side, Marvin Spur, a linear ridge separated from Lomonosov Ridge by a deep basin, parallels Lomonosov Ridge on the North American side of the pole. At the bend in the Lomonosov Ridge near the North Pole, Marvin Spur continues along strike across the Makarov Basin. South of 86°N toward Siberia, a continuous outer ridge makes up the Amerasian Basin edge of the Lomonosov complex with a series of basins and ridges between it and the former Eurasian shelf. The outer ridge marks an abrupt boundary between the Lomonosov Ridge complex and the apparently oceanic crust of the Makarov Basin. The outer ridge and Marvin Spur very closely follow small circles about a pole located on the Mackenzie delta. The observed structure on the Amerasian Basin side of the Lomonosov Ridge is analogous to that observed at well‐studied shear margins and supports rotational models for the development of the Amerasian Basin.

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“…In northern Alaska coal seams developed in upper Cretaceous marine and non-marine sandstones (Dutro 1981). Early Cretaceous rocks from EIlesmere Island contain coaly sandstones (Churkin et al 1981).…”

Section: Coal Occurrences In Circum-arctic Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nordic Seas surface ice drift reconstructions: evidence from ice rafted coal fragments during oxygen isotope stage 6

Bischof

Koch

Kubisch

et al. 1990

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Sixteen long sediment cores from the eastern Arctic Ocean, the Fram Strait and the Norwegian-Greenland Sea, documenting 200 000 years of sedimentation, were studied for their qualitative dropstone composition (>500 lain-fraction). In sediments from oxygen isotope stages 1-5, coal particles are usually subordinate components of the coarse fraction. In contrast to younger deposits, coal content in oxygen isotope stage 6 (186-128 ka) varies between 20% and 65% in the eastern Arctic Ocean and the Fram Strait and between 5% and 20% in the Norwegian Sea. Southward decreasing coal content and similarities in maturity and petrography of the coals indicate that the coal was transported by iceberg or sea ice rafting more than 1000 km to the south. It is suggested that during intervals of oxygen-isotope stage 6 drifting ice carried abundant coal fragments from the eastern Arctic Ocean southward through the Fram Strait into the eastern Norwegian Sea. Thus, surface circulation was then opposite to that of today.

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Geology of Alaska Bordering the Arctic Ocean

Cited by 19 publications

References 8 publications

Neoproterozoic glaciation on a carbonate platform margin in Arctic Alaska and the origin of the North Slope subterrane

Neoproterozoic glaciation on a carbonate platform margin in Arctic Alaska and the origin of the North Slope subterrane

Morphology and structure of the Lomonosov Ridge, Arctic Ocean

Nordic Seas surface ice drift reconstructions: evidence from ice rafted coal fragments during oxygen isotope stage 6

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