The structural evolution of the Halten Terrace, offshore Mid‐Norway: extensional fault growth and strain localisation in a multi‐layer brittle–ductile system

Marsh, Nicola; Imber, Jonathan B.; Holdsworth, R. E.; Brockbank, P.; Ringrose, Philip

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2117.2009.00404.x

Cited by 47 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 35 publications

(72 reference statements)

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“…Detailed descriptions of structures and basins in the Terrace area can be found elsewhere (e.g., Brekke, 2000;Marsh et al, 2010). We interpret the general geometry of the southern Halten Terrace (Fig.…”

Section: Basin Configurationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extension, hyperextension and mantle exhumation offshore Norway: a discussion based on 6 crustal transects

Osmundsen¹,

Péron‐Pinvidic²,

Ebbing³

et al. 2017

NJG

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In spite of its classification as `magmatic´, the rifted margin off Mid Norway evolved as a hyperextended margin in Late Jurassic and Cretaceous time, with a pre-breakup structural evolution that resembles that of magma-poor margins. Because the distal margin was not drilled to crystalline basement, considerable uncertainty exists with respect to the distribution of lithologies at depth. In this contribution, we discuss the implications of various scenarios for deep-seated lithologies and evaluate the possibilities for mantle exhumation in the deep margin offshore Norway. A suite of JurassicCretaceous, very large-magnitude, extensional faults that exhumed successively deeper structural levels seawards are well imaged in recent long-offset seismic reflection data. Based on these key profiles, we document the structural configuration that created the extremely sharply tapered south Møre margin as well as subhorizontal detachment faults in the distal Vøring margin. The latter were associated with rotated extensional allochthon and supradetachment basins and contributed to the exhumation of very deep levels including rocks from the lower crust and/or upper mantle. In the outer margin, truncation and excision of this system by a new set of incising detachment faults occurred later in the Cretaceous and the earliest Cenozoic. We discuss the relationships between these detachment systems under the distal and outer margins and positive structural features such as the Rån and Gjallar ridges. The interpretation of basement lithologies at depth in the distal margin is ambiguous due to overlap in physical properties. Based on a process-oriented evaluation of the different interpretation scenarios, we favour a model where mantle windows were exhumed in the footwalls of some of the master faults in the Cretaceous.

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Section: Basin Configurationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extension, hyperextension and mantle exhumation offshore Norway: a discussion based on 6 crustal transects

Osmundsen¹,

Péron‐Pinvidic²,

Ebbing³

et al. 2017

NJG

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“…Where relatively closely spaced 2D (Stewart et al ., ) or 3D (Richardson et al ., ; Marsh et al ., ) seismic reflection data are available, and where borehole data allow direct calibration of salt composition and thickness, a more complex picture of the relationship between sub‐ and supra‐salt fault arrays emerges. For example, Stewart et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Kane et al ., ); and (iii) the age, composition and thickness of the footwall and hangingwall stratigraphy, including the key salt layer, are constrained by boreholes (cf. Richardson et al ., ; Marsh et al ., ). We demonstrate that the degree of coupling between basement‐involved tectonics and salt basin physiography, during polyphase (>180 Myr) rifting, is a key control on the evolution of supra‐salt structural styles in salt‐influenced rifts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Structural style and evolution of a salt‐influenced rift basin margin; the impact of variations in salt composition and the role of polyphase extension

Jackson

Lewis

2015

Basin Research

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Because salt can decouple sub-and supra-salt deformation, the structural style and evolution of salt-influenced rifts differs from those developed in megoscopically homogenous and brittle crust. Our understanding of the structural style and evolution of salt-influenced rifts comes from scaled physical models, or subsurface-based studies that have utilised moderate-quality 2D seismic reflection data. Relatively few studies have used high-quality 3D seismic reflection data, constrained by borehole data, to explicitly focus on the role that along-strike displacement variations on sub-salt fault systems, or changes in salt composition and thickness, play in controlling the four-dimensional evolution of supra-salt structural styles. In this study, we use 3D seismic reflection and borehole data from the Sele High Fault System (SHFS), offshore Norway to determine how rift-related relief controlled the thickness and lithology of an Upper Permian salt-bearing layer (Zechstein Supergroup), and how the associated variations in the mechanical properties of this unit influenced the degree of coupling between sub-and supra-salt deformation during subsequent extension. Seismic and borehole data indicate that the Zechstein Supergroup is thin, carbonate-dominated and immobile at the footwall apex, but thick, halite-dominated and relatively mobile in high accommodation areas, such as near the lateral fault tips and in the immediate hangingwall of the fault system. We infer that these variations reflect bathymetric changes related to either syn-depositional (i.e. Late Permian) growth of the SHFS or underfilled, fault scarprelated relief inherited from a preceding (i.e. Early Permian) rift phase. After a period of tectonic quiescence in the Early Triassic, regional extension during the Late Triassic triggered halokinesis and growth of a fault-parallel salt wall, which was followed by mild extension in the Jurassic and forced folding of Triassic overburden above the fault systems upper tip. During the Early Cretaceous, basement-involved extension resulted in noncoaxial tilting of the footwall, and the development of an supra-salt normal fault array, which was restricted to footwall areas underlain by relatively thick mobile salt; in contrast, at the footwall apex, no deformation occurred because salt was thin and immobile. The results of our study demonstrate close coupling between tectonics, salt deposition and the style of overburden deformation for >180 Myr of the rift history. Furthermore, we show that rift basin tectono-stratigraphic models based on relatively megascopically homogeneous and brittle crust do not appropriately describe the range of structural styles that occur in salt-influenced rifts.

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“…For mechano‐stratigraphic purposes we refer to all post‐Zechstein stratigraphy as cover ( cf . Richardson et al ., ; Marsh et al ., ).…”

Section: Dataset and Workflowmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These evaporites introduce regionally significant detachment horizons, which strongly modify the structural style of rift basins by permitting the decoupling of basement and cover structures (e.g. Nalpas & Brun, ; Jackson & Vendeville, ; Stewart et al ., , ; Alves et al ., ; Richardson et al ., ; Marsh et al ., ). During the early stages of basement extension, evaporites may limit the upward propagation of a basement fault tip, resulting in the basement fault being mechanically decoupled from, but being responsible for, a forced‐fold in the supra‐evaporite cover (Withjack et al ., ; Hodgson et al ., ; Koyi & Petersen, ; Stewart et al ., , ; Maurin & Niviere, ; Withjack & Callaway, ; Kane et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Mobile evaporite controls on the structural style and evolution of rift basins: Danish Central Graben, North Sea

et al. 2012

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The Southern Tail‐End Graben, Danish Central Graben, is characterized by a lateral variation in the thickness and mobility of pre‐rift Zechstein Supergroup evaporites, allowing investigation of how supra‐basement evaporite variability influences rift structural style and tectono‐stratigraphy. The study area is divided into two structural domains based on interpretations of the depositional thickness and mobility of the Zechstein Supergroup. Within each domain, we examine the overall basin morphology and the structural styles in the pre‐Zechstein and supra‐Zechstein (cover) units. Furthermore, integration of two‐way travel‐time (TWT)‐structure and ‐thickness maps allows fault activity and evaporite migration maps to be generated for pre‐ and syn‐rift stratal units within the two domains, permitting constraints to be placed on: (i) the timing of activity on pre‐Zechstein and cover faults and (ii) the onset, duration and migration direction of mobile evaporites. The northern domain is interpreted to be free from evaporite‐influence, and has developed in a manner typical of brittle‐only, basement‐involved rifts. Syn‐rift basins display classical half‐graben geometries bounded by thick‐skinned faults. In contrast, the southern domain is interpreted to be evaporite‐influenced, and cover structure reflects a southward increase in the thickness and mobility of the Zechstein Supergroup evaporites. Fault‐related and evaporite‐related folding is prominent in the southern domain, together with variable degrees of decoupling of sub‐Zechstein and cover fault and fold systems. The addition of mobile evaporites to the rift results in: (i) complex and spatially variable modes of tectono‐stratigraphic evolution; (ii) syn‐rift stratal geometries which are condensed above evaporite swells and over‐thickened in areas of withdrawal; (iii) compartmentalized syn‐rift depocentres; and (iv) masking of rift‐related megasequence boundaries. Through demonstrating these deviations from the characteristics of rifts free from evaporite influence, we highlight the first order control evaporites may exert upon rift structural style and the distribution and thicknesses of syn‐rift units.

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The structural evolution of the Halten Terrace, offshore Mid‐Norway: extensional fault growth and strain localisation in a multi‐layer brittle–ductile system

Cited by 47 publications

References 35 publications

Extension, hyperextension and mantle exhumation offshore Norway: a discussion based on 6 crustal transects

Extension, hyperextension and mantle exhumation offshore Norway: a discussion based on 6 crustal transects

Structural style and evolution of a salt‐influenced rift basin margin; the impact of variations in salt composition and the role of polyphase extension

Mobile evaporite controls on the structural style and evolution of rift basins: Danish Central Graben, North Sea

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