Epigenesis of Sediments in the Cascadia Accretionary Prism, Western Continental Margin of United States

Upper Miocene to Holocene sediments from the Cascadia accretionary prism and its oceanic surroundings drilled during ODP Leg 146 are studied in order to reveal their alteration during the accretion. The conclusion is made that methane-bearing solutions play a leading role in the transportation of material and the formation of mineralogical-geochemical zonality within the prism. A considerable intensity and high rates of epigenetic alteration are noted. It is shown that low heat flow, absence of progressive subsidence of the accretionary prism, open character of the system relative to water circulation, and heterogeneity of the sedimentary sequence hindered the successive development of epigenesis.     

Riftogenesis in the Arctic: Processes,Evolution Trend,and Hydrocarbon Generation

Lithology and Mineral Resources - The article examines the regional patterns of rifting in the Arctic and assesses the impact of large (supra-regional) rift systems on the geological evolution of...     

Basic tectonic features of the Knipovich Ridge (North Atlantic) and its neotectonic evolution

The geological and geophysical data primarily on the structure of the upper sedimentary sequence of the northern Knipovich Ridge (Norwegian-Greenland Basin) that were obtained during Cruise 24 of the R/V Akademik Nikolai Strakhov are considered. These data indicate that the recent kinematics of the northern Knipovich Ridge is determined by dextral strike-slip displacements along the Molloy Fracture Zone (315° NW). This stress field is superimposed by a system related to rifting and latitudinal opening of rifts belonging to the ridge proper. Thus, the structural elements formed under the effect of two stress fields are combined in this district. Several stages of tectonic movements are definable. The first stage (prior to 500 ka ago) is marked by the dominant normal faults, which are overlain by the lower and upper sedimentary sequences. The second stage (prior to 120–100 ka ago) is characterized by development of normal and reverse faults, which displace the lower sequence and are overlain by the upper sequence. Both younger and older structural features reveal peaks of tectonic activity separated by intermediate quiet periods 50–60 ka long. The stress field of the regional strike-slip faulting is realized in numerous oblique NE-trending normal and normal-strike-slip faults that divide the rift valley and its walls into the segments of different sizes. Their strike (20°–30° NE) is consistent with a system of secondary antithetic sinistral strike-slip faults. The system of depressions located 40 km west of the rift valley axis may be considered a paleorift zone that is conjugated at 78°07′ N and 5°20′ W with the NW-trending fault marked by the main dextral offset. The stress field that existed at this stage was identical to the recent one. The rift valley axis migrated eastward to its present-day position approximately 2 Ma ago (if the spreading rate of ～0.7 cm/yr is accepted). The obtained data substantially refine the understanding of the initial breakup of continents with the formation of oceanic structural elements. The neotectonic stage is characterized by combination of different stress fields that resulted in the formation of a complex system of tectonic structural units, including those located beyond the recent extension zone along the rift axis of the Knipovich Ridge. The tectonic deformations occurred throughout the neotectonic stage as discrete recurrent events.     

Structure of the precambrian sedimentary cover and upper part of the basement in the Central Russian Aulacogen and Orsha Depression (East European Platform)

The Precambrian sedimentary section and upper part of the basement of the Central Russian Aulacogen and Orsha Depression, two largest structures located beneath the Moscow Syneclise are analyzed. It has been established that the Late Riphean Central Russian Aulacogen was initiated on the Proterozoic crust of the Transcratonic belt that separates different-aged geological blocks of the East European Platform basement. The Orsha Depression is superposed both on sedimentary complexes of the aulacogen and rocks constituting structures surrounding the Transcratonic belt. Boundaries of the sedimentary cover and basement are outlined and a new structure (Toropets-Ostashkov Trough) is defined. The Precambrian section recovered by Borehole North Molokovo is proposed to serve as a reference one for the Central Russian Aulacogen. The CMP records demonstrate seismocomplexes, which allow one to trace rock members and sequences defined by drilling. Eight seismocomplexes, combination of which varies in different structures, are defined in the Upper Riphean-Vendian part of the sedimentary section. The section of the Central Russian Aulacogen includes the following sedimentary complexes: dominant gray-colored arkoses (R₃¹), variegated arkoses (R₃²), red-colored arkoses (R₃³), and volcanosedimentary rocks (V₁²). The section of the Orsha Depression consists of dominant red-colored quartz sandstones (R₃⁴), glacial and interglacial (V₁¹), and variegated volcanogenic-terrigenous sediments. The upper seismocomplex (V₂) is composed of terrigenous and terrigenous-carbonate rocks. It represents the basal unit of the Moscow Syneclise, which marks the plate stage in development of the East European Platform. The upper part of the basement corresponds to a seismocomplex (Pr₁) represented by dynamometamorphosed rocks that form a tectonic mélange. Analysis of the lateral and vertical distribution of the defined seismocomplexes made it possible to specify the structure of the Riphean-Vendian part of the sedimentary cover and to revise their formation history in some cases.     

New Data on the Structure of the Megatransform System of the Doldrums (Central Atlantic)

Doklady Earth Sciences - The geological and geophysical data acquired during cruise 45 of R/V Akademik Nikolaj Strakhov regarding the structure of the Doldrums megatransform system in the Central...     

Structure and composition of the sedimentary cover in the Knipovich Rift valley and Molloy Deep (Norwegian-Greenland basin)

The multidisciplinary approach is used to analyze the structure of the sedimentary cover in the northern Knipovich Rift valley, Molloy Fracture Zone and synonymous basin, Svyatogor and Hovgard rises, Gorynych Hills, Litvin and Pogrebitskii seamounts, and western slope of the Spitsbergen Archipelago studied in Cruise 24 of the R/V Akademik Nikolaj Strakhov. Materials of the bathymetric survey with multibeam echo sounder, as well as continuous seismic and vertical acoustic profiling, revealed two main (NNW- and NNE-trending) systems of fractures in the neotectonic structure of the region. It was established that a system of NNE-oriented fractures, linear zones of the dominant development of keyboard deformations included, is consistent with the strike of magnetic anomalies reconstructed for this region. Tectonic aspects of the Knipovich Rift and prospects of its further development are considered. Based on the wave field pattern of continuous seismic profiling (CSP) records, four seismocomplexes indicating contrasting sedimentation settings and intense tectonic processes at different formation stages of the northern Norwegian-Greenland Sea are conditionally defined in the sedimentary cover of the study region. It was established the Molloy Fracture Zone is responsible for a system of horizontal reflectors of acoustically transparent structureless light spots (“blankings”) in the upper well-stratified part of the sedimentary section, which are characteristic of areas with ascending pore fluids. The micropaleontological study (palynomorphs of higher plants, dinocysts, planktonic foraminifers, and diatoms) revealed the presence of Miocene assemblages in sediments. Benthic foraminifers include late Paleocene-middle Eocene assemblages. The composition of rock-forming components demonstrates a directed succession of mineral-terrigenous associations from the feldspar-quartz type to mesomictic quartz-graywacke type.     

Multidisciplinary Investigation of the Transform Fault Zones Doldrums and Vema during Cruise 45 of the R/V “Akademik Nikolaj Strakhov”

Oceanology - Herein we provide information on the integrated geological, geophysical, sedimentological, paleoceanographic, hydrophysical and biological investigations in the Central Atlantic during...     

Neotectonic morphotructures in the junction zone of the Cape Verde Rise and Cape Verde Abyssal Plain,Central Atlantic

Acoustic profiling carried out with an Edgetech 3300 prophilograph in the junction zone of the Cape Verde Rise, Cape Verde Abyssal Plain, and Grimaldi and Bathymetrists seamounts in the Central Atlantic during Cruise 23 of the R/V Akademik Nikolaj Strakhov allowed us to obtain new data on neotectonic deformations in the ocean and to propose their interpretation. It has been established that neotectonic movements occurred in the discrete manner: blocks of undeformed rocks alternate with linear zones of intense deformation spatially related to paleotransform fracture zones, where anticlines, horsts, diapir-like morphostructures, and grabens were formed. The Cape Verde Ridge is a large horst. Its sedimentary cover is disturbed by thrust (?), reverse, and normal faults, steeply dipping fracture zones, and folds. Three stages of tectonic movements—Oligocene-early Miocene, pre-Quaternary, and Holocene—are recognized. The tectonic deformations occurred largely under near-meridional compression. Extension setting was characteristic of the Cape Verde Ridge and the Carter Rise in the Holocene.     

Structure and stages in development of the cataplatform cover in the Central Russian‒Belomorian province

The results of correlation between seismic sequences (based on the CMP data) and lithostratigraphic units (based on drilling data) of the preplate sedimentary section are discussed. By the structure and interrelations of seismic sequences, as well composition and facies features of lithological varieties, three successive stages in the formation of the cataplatform cover of the province are recognizable: (1) main stage of the graben formation in the Central Russian and White Sea?Pinega regions; (2) terminal stage of the graben formation?initial stage of postrift subsidence in all regions; (3) the formation of a ‘protosyneclise” (non-riftogenic depression) in the Orsha region. The model for explaining the formation of the Orsha depression is proposed.