Growth and linkage of a basin-bounding fault system: Insights from the Early Cretaceous evolution of the northern Polhem Subplatform, SW Barents Sea

Segmented growth of reactivated major bounding faults and their control on basin structures: Insights from the Nanpu Sag, Bohai Bay Basin, eastern China

“…As long-term active boundary faults, the XNZ Fault and BGZ Fault have undergone a multiphase tectonic evolution, and we use fault throw backstripping to characterize the linkage pattern and growth history of segments during different periods (Deng et al, 2017(Deng et al, , 2020Kairanov et al, 2019). The backstripping of the throws of the basin-bounding faults created by later extension suggests that during the early syn-riftIstage (after deposition of the Es3 Member), the XNZ Fault and BGZ Fault were in the soft linkage stage, and the XNZ Fault comprised at least 3 major isolated fault segments, while the BGZ Fault was divided into two segments (Figure 7d).…”

“…Analysing the evolution of basin‐bounding faults (i.e., basement‐involved normal faults) developed along the margins of rift basins, including initiation, propagation, reactivation and linkage with newly formed faults, is critical for understanding the evolution of the basin (Cartwright et al., 1995; Dawers & Underhill, 2000; Jackson et al., 2002; Kairanov et al., 2019; Machette et al., 1991; Marín et al., 2018; Morley, 1999; Schlische, 1992; Su et al., 2011; Tian et al., 2015; Wang et al., 2020). Observations from outcrops (Delogkos et al., 2020; Ferrill et al., 2017; Peacock & Zhang, 1993; Roche et al., 2020), subsurface seismic datasets (Deng et al., 2017; Deng & McClay, 2019; Fossen & Rotevatn, 2016; Lou et al., 2022; Wang et al., 2020), analog models (McClay & White, 1995; Roche et al., 2021) and numerical models (Peacock & Zhang, 1993; Welch et al., 2009) suggest that in the early stage of fault development, normal faults are usually composed of multiple isolated fault segments with different strikes, each of which has its own geometric, kinematic and even dynamic characteristics (i.e., plane and section structure pattern, throw distribution, genetic mechanism) (Gawthorpe & Leeder, 2000; Lou et al., 2022; Morley, 1999; Wang et al., 2020).…”

The Middle Jurassic to lowermost Cretaceous in the SW Barents Sea: Interplay between tectonics, coarse‐grained sediment supply and organic matter preservation

“…The western margin and southern part of the SW Barents Sea has experienced different extensional events from the late Palaeozoic to the Tertiary (Berglund, Augustson, Færseth, Gjelberg, & Ramberg‐Moe, 1986; Faleide, Vågnes, & Gudlaugsson, 1993; Gernigon et al., 2014; Sund, Skarpnes, Jensen, & Larsen, 1986). One of the extensional events occurred during the Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, affecting basins such as the Hammerfest, Tromsø, Bjørnøya and Nordkapp (Figures 1b and 2; Berglund et al, 1986; Blaich et al, 2017; Clark et al., 2014; Faleide et al., 1993; Kairanov et al., 2019; Marín et al., 2018b; Rojo, Cardozo, Escalona, & Koyi, 2019; Serck et al., 2017; Sund et al., 1986). The initiation of this extensional phase has been interpreted as Bathonian to Callovian, marked by a regional unconformity between the Stø and Fuglen formations boundary (Figure 3b; Faleide et al., 1993; Klausen, Müller, Poyatos‐Moré, Olaussen, & Stueland, 2019; Mulrooney, Leutscher, & Braathen, 2017).…”

“…An Aptian‐Albian extensional phase affected the western flank of the Loppa High, the Fingerdjupet Subbasin and the Hoop Fault Complex (Figure 1b; Faleide et al., 2019; Marín, Escalona, Grundvåg, Nøhr‐Hansen, & Kairanov, 2018a; Serck et al., 2017). During these extensional phases, fault complexes such as the Ringvassøy‐Loppa, Troms Finnmark and Bjørnøyrenna were active (Blaich et al., 2017; Faleide et al., 1993; Kairanov et al., 2019; Marín et al., 2018a). The Loppa High is interpreted to have been uplifted during the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous (Berglund et al, 1986; Glørstad‐Clark, 2010; Sund et al., 1986).…”

“…Upper Jurassic syn‐rift wedge‐shaped geometries have been imaged in seismic lines adjacent main fault complexes in the SW Barents Sea (Blaich, Tsikalas, & Faleide, 2017; Kairanov, Marín, Escalona, & Cardozo, 2019; Serck, Faleide, Braathen, Kjølhamar, & Escalona, 2017) and localized sandstone units have been penetrated by exploration wells (e.g. wells 7120/2‐2 and 7120/12‐1; Braut, 2018; NPD, 2020; Sandvik, 2014).…”