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Seismic study of major faults in Svalbard
and the Barents Sea
Jean-Baptiste Koehl
jean-baptiste.koehl@uit.no
Outline
1 2
3
The Svalbard Archipelago is made of three terranes accreted together during the
Caledonian Orogeny showing dominantly N–S-trending fabrics, folds and faults.
2
Labrousse et al. (2008) Gasser (2014)
Gasser (2014)
W
Braathen et al. (2018)
The previously inferred terrane boundaries do not appear on seismic data.
2
Koehl and Allaart 2021
If major terrane boundaries do not appear on seismic data, it is probably because
they do not exist.
2
Gasser (2014)
?
?
?
?
?
W
Braathen et al. (2018)
?
A major N–S-trending basement ridge in Isfjorden may represent the southwards
continuation of the Bockfjorden Anticline.
2
Blinova et al. (2013)
A major N–S-trending basement ridge in Isfjorden may represent the southwards
continuation of the Bockfjorden Anticline.
2
NW
0.5
SE
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
The potential continuation of the Bockfjorden Anticline in Isfjorden appears offset
by > 10 km left-laterally, and c. 5 km vertically down to the south.
3
???
Gasser (2014)
?
?
?
?
?
?
A major NW–SE-striking, NNE-dipping thrust fault system appears on seismic data
in Storfjorden and central Spitsbergen.
3
N
NS
Koehl et al., accepted (Solid Earth)
The major NNE-dipping thrust system in Storfjorden crosscuts the whole
Svalbard Archipelago, and reactivated several times in the Phanerozoic.
3
???
Gasser (2014)
?
Timanian thrust systems crosscut the whole northern Norwegian Barents Sea, Svalbard
and the Fram Strait.
3
Timanian thrust systems crosscut the whole northern Norwegian Barents Sea, Svalbard
and the Fram Strait.
3
Koehl et al., accepted (Solid Earth)
Svalbard’s three basement terranes were already accreted in the late Neoproterozoic (at
ca. 600 Ma), thus suggesting that Arctic tectonic plates have been relatively stable.
4
Cocks & Torsvik (2002)
Torsvik et al. (2010)
Labrousse et al. (2008)
650–550 Ma
Conclusion
Timanian (ca. 650–550 Ma) thrust faults crosscut Svalbard and the Barents Sea,
thus providing anchor points for future plate tectonics reconstructions.
Conclusion
1
Timanian (ca. 650–550 Ma) thrust faults crosscut Svalbard and the Barents Sea,
thus providing anchor points for future plate tectonics reconstructions.
Conclusion
1
2
Timanian (ca. 650–550 Ma) thrust faults crosscut Svalbard and the Barents Sea,
thus providing anchor points for future plate tectonics reconstructions.
Conclusion
1
2
3
Timanian (ca. 650–550 Ma) thrust faults crosscut Svalbard and the Barents Sea,
thus providing anchor points for future plate tectonics reconstructions.
650–550 Ma