The deep-seated crustal structure in the western part of the Black Sea and adjacent areas: Seismic reflection measurement

In recent years the northwestern Black Sea has been investigated by a great number of geophysical methods. Charts of the M discontinuity and (isopachous) charts of the “granitic”, the “basaltic”, the Paleozoic, the Jurassic-Triassic, the Upper and Lower Cretaceous and the Eocene layers were plotted based on the results of the combined data of these investigations together with associated drilling data. The data for different velocity levels confirms the concept of layered-block structure of the crust, where large blocks are divided by deep faults penetrating to the upper mantle. Sedimentation within each block is continuous while reverse fault zones, dividing the East European Platform with a crustal thickness of more than 40 km and the Scythian Platform with a crust of about 30 km thick, and the latter from the Black Sea depression with crust of about 20 km, are discontinuous. Therefore, one can speak of a continuous-discontinuous nature of the sedimentation.

An inverse relationship in thicknesses of the “granitic” and sedimentary layers has been established. In places of intensive sedimentation the thickness of the “granitic” layer is less than that within the stable unsagging blocks. On the whole the greater the thickness of “basaltic” layer, the greater is the crustal thickness.

The relationship between the main geological structures of the area should be sought in the nature of structure of these “granitic” and “basaltic” layers.     

Formation of Thetis Deep metal-rich sediments in the absence of brines,Red Sea

Almost all Red Sea deeps contain metal-rich sediments covered by brine pools. It is generally agreed that these metal-rich deposits precipitated from overlying metal-rich brines that originated from migrating hydrothermal fluids. No brine pool has ever been reported in Thetis Deep, inciting us to evaluate if such a brine layer ever occurred in the deep during the past. In order to address that questioning, a study combining mineralogical, geochemical (major-, minor-, rare-earth elements) and isotopic (Sr, Nd, Pb) approaches was completed on cored sediments and extracted interstitial waters from inside and outside the deep.The sediments have an overall hydrothermal origin, as shown by the REE concentrations and patterns, metal contents, and Pb–Nd isotopic data, all pointing to a mantle signature. The intensity of the hydrothermal activity varied with time in the deep; the most intense episode resulting in an almost pure Fe-oxi-hydroxide layer. Varied chemical arguments, especially the Zr and REE data of the sediments, favor the fact that the whole sedimentation in Thetis Deep occurred in the absence of a stable, salt-rich and mineralized brine pool, and that no brine layer ever existed. This conclusion is supported by the constant Sr isotope composition of the sediment and its interstitial waters that are almost identical to that of the Red Sea seawater. The study also suggests that hydrothermal activity monitored fluid supplies that interacted differently with seawater in the different Red Sea deeps, resulting in an overall formation of metal-rich sediments, but along varied local conditions.     

Structure of the crust and upper mantle of the Black and Caspian Seas

Many geophysical characteristics of the Caspian and Black Seas' deep basins are similar, having: suboceanic type of the crust, low average seismic velocity, absence of earthquakes and relatively small variation of magnetic anomalies. However, the sediments in the Caspian Sea deep basin are folded whereas in the Black Sea they are approximately horizontal. The Caspian Sea also has a far greater thickness of sediment accumulation.

The deep basins of the Caspian, Black and Mediterranean seas represent a sequence having similar crustal structures but with a decreasing thickness of sediments and consolidated layer, in that order. It is possible that the intensive sinking and accumulation of sediments began earliest in the Caspian Sea and spreaded continuously to the Black Sea and then the Mediterranean Sea. The Caspian and Black Sea deep basins have existed for long time (perhaps from Paleozoic time or even earlier) as areas with a specific and related type of evolution.     

Effect of the Red Sea brine-filled deeps (Shaban and Kebrit) on the composition and abundance of benthic and planktonic foraminifera

Composition and abundance of benthic and planktonic foraminifera in surface sediments of the brine-filled Shaban and Kebrit Deeps and some bathyal-slope environments in the northern Red Sea were examined for correlation with environmental conditions (e.g., bathymetry, sediment grain-size, organic matter, and carbonates) of the brine-filled deeps and normal Red Sea water. About 67 benthic foraminiferal species were recorded in these sediments. The lowest faunal density and diversity were recorded in the Shaban and Kebrit Deeps, whereas the highest density and diversity were recorded in the bathyal-slope sediments. Cluster analysis divided the benthic foraminiferal species into three major faunal assemblages. Buccella granulata–Gyroidinoides soldanii–Bolivina persiensis assemblage dominated the 650–1,300 m depth due to predominance of oligotrophic, highly oxygenated bottom waters. The Melonis novozealandicum–Spirophthalmidium acutimargo assemblage was recorded in the deep and bathyal-slope sediments indicating its tolerance for wider ranges of environmental conditions. The deeps were only dominated by the Brizalina spathulata assemblage indicating existence of un-totally anoxic conditions. The deeps yielded also very low planktonic foraminiferal density that may be attributed to occurrence of the seawater–brine interface which not only minimized the deposition of high buoyancy, large-test species (Globigerinoides sacculifer, Globigerinella siphonifera, and Orbulina universa), but also overestimated the small-test species (Globigerinoides ruber, Globoturborotalita rubescens, and Globigerinita glutinata) in the sediments. These findings should be taken into consideration when reconstructing paleoceanographic conditions of the Red Sea using core sediments from the brine-filled deeps.     

Geologic evolution of Bulgaria in light of plate tectonics

The Balkanide is a mobile belt within a micro-continent, which included both the Moesian Platform and Rhodope Massif. This micro-continent was rotated counter-clockwise during the Jurassic mainly in response to the sea-floor spreading of the Vardar ophiolite trough. The rotation led to the consumption of Triassic Tethys along the Dobrogea—Crimea—Caucasus Trend, producing the Cimmerian orogenic belt. Cretaceous rotation of the Italo-Dinaridian micro-continent led to the consumption of the Vardar ophiolites. An island arc (Macedonia—Rhodope—North Anatolia) was present at the consuming plate margin. Middle and Late Cretaceous marginal basins behind this arc included the Srednogorie and the Black Sea. Submarine volcanics, radiolarian cherts, and hemipelagic marls were deposited in the Srednogorie “eugeosyncline”. This sequence was folded during the early Tertiary Alpine orogeny, when the front of the Rhodope Massif was overthrust onto the Balkanides. The Black Sea meanwhile remained undeformed and can thus be considered a fossilized Cretaceous marginal basin.     

Regional and local geothermal conditions in the northern Black Sea

More than 100 new heat flow measurements have been collected in recent years (2002–2004) in different tectonic environments of the northern Black Sea. The northern periphery of the Black Sea is characterized by strong geodynamic and seismic activity, high sedimentation rates, diapiric structures, mud volcanism, and fluid and gas escape at the sea floor. We present new thermal data from the shelf, continental slope and deep-water basin, measured off-shore using a marine thermo-probe and on-shore in drill holes. Heat flow density ranges from 20 to more than 2,000 mW/m². For two local areas (the Dnieper gas seeps and the Dvurechenski mud volcano area), we discuss the relation between heat flow variability and the geological and physical processes in the near-bottom sediment layer. The Dnieper gas seeps area is characterized by strong small-scale heat flow variability and is controlled by fluid and gas migration. In the Dvurechenski active mud volcano, the near-bottom temperature in sediments is anomalously elevated because additional heat is carried out by mass flows of fluids and clay minerals. Away from the mud volcano heat flow quickly decreases to background values.     

The Taimyr fold belt, Arctic Siberia: timing of prefold remagnetisation and regional tectonics

Late Precambrian and Palaeozoic platform sediments from the Central–South Taimyr Peninsula (Arctic Siberia) are all remagnetised. The remagnetisation is prefold and is related to thermal remagnetisation caused by Taimyr Trap magmatism. The remagnetisation age is estimated to 220–230 Ma and, hence, is considerably younger than the ca. 251 Ma age for the main body of Siberian Trap flood basalts. The folding that affected the Taimyr region platform sediments also included the Taimyr “Traps,” hence, relegating Taimyr deformation to post-Mid Triassic time, and most probably, to a Late Triassic age. This shows that whilst thrusting terminated in the Urals during the Permian, crustal shortening continued in Taimyr, Novaya–Zemlya and the South Barents Sea, well into the Mesozoic.     

Recent discussion about the North-South bias of the major rift-valleys

The formation of the major rift-valleys is proposed to have been triggered off by the E—W oriented tensional “wave” caused by the slow rotation of the equatorial bulge passing as a stretching hoop through the Earth (Paleozoic—Mesozoic). This ‘wave’ follows the wandering of the polar axis through a great circle (e.g. Creer et al., 1969). The polar wandering is regarded as the readjustment of the Earth's rotational instability caused by the growth of a “weight” fixed on the surface of the Earth and endeavouring to increase its moment of inertia until the weight rotates on the new equator (Gold, 1950). This weight, which must topple the Earth through its fixed spacial axis of rotation, may be slowly developing Pangea. The “wave” of E—W tension is imposed on zones already under E—W tension, e.g., crests of N—S running welts, alias “craton ridges”. The intruding asthenosphere expands the crests and fractures them along tensional rift-valleys. These rifts may develop as spreading centers by gliding of the plates over a lubricating basalt magma.

The idea proposed by R. Schweickert (pers. commun., 1979) that the lithosphere is decoupled from the asthenosphere to an extent that the shell may rotate as a separate unit (as a means to explain how fixed plumes move in unison under the “roll” of the lithosphere) is dismissed. The subducted slabs act as braking flaps and cannot overcome the friction against the asthenosphere. The “roll” would be too young (50 m.y.), because the polar wandering according to Creer is much older.     

Geothermal structure of the eastern Pontides orogenic belt： Implications oceanic lithosphere Black Sea basin and the eastern for subduction polarity of Tethys

The numerical results of thermal modeling studies indicate that the lithosphere is cold and strong beneath the Black Sea basin.The thermal lithospheric thickness increases southward from the eastern Pontides orogenic belt（49.4 km） to Black Sea basin（152.2 km）.The Moho temperature increases from 367℃in the trench to 978℃in the arc region.The heat flow values for the Moho surface change between 16.4 mW m^-2 in the Black Sea basin and 56.9 mW m^-2 in the eastern Pontides orogenic belt. Along the southern Black Sea coast,the trench region has a relatively low geothermal potential with respect to the arc and back-arc region.The numerical studies support the existence of southward subduction beneath the Pontides during the late Mesozoic-Cenozoic.     

Formational history of the Wicklow Trough: a marine-transgressed tunnel valley revealing ice flow velocity and retreat rates for the largest ice stream draining the late-Devensian British–Irish Ice Sheet

The Wicklow Trough is one of several Irish Sea bathymetric deeps, yet unusually isolated from the main depression, the Western Trough. Its formation has been described as proglacial or subglacial, linked to the Irish Sea Ice Stream (ISIS) during the Last Glacial Maximum. The evolution of the Wicklow Trough and neighbouring deeps, therefore, help us to understand ISIS dynamics, when it was the main ice stream draining the former British–Irish Ice Sheet. The morphology and sub-seabed stratigraphy of the 18 km long and 2 km wide Wicklow Trough is described here from new multibeam echosounder data, 60 km of sparker seismic profiles and five sediment cores. At a maximum water depth of 82 m, the deep consists of four overdeepened sections. The heterogeneous glacial sediments in the Trough overlay bedrock, with indications of flank mass-wasting and subglacial bedforms on its floor. The evidence strongly suggests that the Wicklow Trough is a tunnel valley formed by time-transgressive erosional processes, with pressurised meltwater as the dominant agent during gradual or slow ice sheet retreat. Its location may be fault-controlled, and the northern end of the Wicklow Trough could mark a transition from rapid to slow grounded ice margin retreat, which could be tested with modelling.     

Chemical investigations of Atlantis II and discovery brines in the Red Sea

Analytical data for the Atlantis II and Discovery deeps in the Red Sea are given. The data were collected in March and June 1976 during the 22nd cruise of R/V Akademik Kurchatov in the Indian Ocean. On board analyses were performed of density, chlorinity, Mg, Ca, Sr and trace elements. The salinity, calculated from the density, is related to the chlorinity by S = 1.67 Cl + 4.02. The Ca-salinity relation is linear for both deeps showing that intermediate waters are formed by mixing of the brines with Red Sea water (RSDW). The hot brine (62°C) in the Atlantis II deep contains approx. 80 mg/kg of Fe and Mn while the warm brine (45°C) in the Discovery deep has a very low concentration of Fe and approx. 50 mg/kg of Mn. Mixing of RSDW containing 2 ml/l of oxygen with the anoxic deep brines causes precipitation of hydrous Mn(IV) and Fe(III) hydroxides. These two processes occur at different depths in the two deeps due to the formation of the warm (48–49°) intermediate brine in the Atlantis II deep. The oxidation-hydrolysis reactions proposed are supported by alkalinity-depth profiles and measurements of pH. These reactions also explain most of the trace element distributions and the composition of the SiO₂-Fe(III) hydroxide slurry recovered by some water samplers in the Atlantis II deep.     

冲绳海槽西部陆坡第四纪沉积地层划分

冲绳海槽西部陆坡是认识深海斜坡沉积的重要区域。通过对高分辨率地震资料的精细解释,结合已有的研究成果,在冲绳海槽西部陆坡海底以下识别出4个主要的地震层序界面,相应地划分出四个主要地震层序,各层序分别对应全新世沉积层(Q4)、晚更新世沉积层(Q3)、中更新世沉积层(Q2)和早更新世沉积层(Q1)。从陆坡上部往下由斜交前积反射结构过渡到杂乱的反射结构,在地震剖面上可识别出杂乱的丘形反射单元,是滑塌体和重力流沉积的典型地震反射特征,反映出一种高能的、极不稳定的沉积环境。海槽轴部以平行-亚平行的地震反射特征为主,显示了稳定的深海-半深海的沉积环境。地震反射结构的多样性反映了冲绳海槽西部陆坡沉积环境的复杂性和沉机作用类型的多样性,沉积地层结构是多种因素共同作用的结果。东海陆架和冲绳海槽发育相同的第四纪地层垂向序列,同时冲绳海槽西部陆坡与东海陆架第四纪沉积层在层序界面、沉积层厚度、变形程度和产状等方面存在着差异,单靠地震资料来进行两个地区的地层对比存在着不确定性。     

Tectonic evolution of the triple junction off central Honshu for the past 1 million years

We discuss several models of the evolution of the trench-trench-trench triple junction off central Honshu during the past 1 m.y. on the basis of plate kinematics, morphology, gravity and seismic reflection profile data available for the area. The study area is characterized by large basins, 7–8 km deep on the inner lower trench slope on the Philippine Sea side and the deep (9 km) Izu-Bonin Trench to the east. Between the basins and the trench, there are 6–7 km-deep basement highs. The triple junction is unstable due to the movement of the Philippine Sea plate at a velocity of 3 cm/yr in WNW direction with respect to Eurasia (Northeast Japan), subparallel to the strike of the Sagami Trough. Generally we can expect the boundary area between the Philippine Sea and Pacific plates to be extended because the Pacific plate is unlikely to follow the retreating Philippine Sea plate due to the obstruction of the southeastern corner of Eurasia. The above peculiar morphology of the junction area could have resulted from this lack of stability. However, there are several possible ways to explain the above morphology.

Our gravity model across the trench-basement high-basin area shows that the basement highs are made of low-density materials (1.8–2 g/cm³). Thus we reject the mantle diapir model which proposes that the basement highs have been formed by diapiric injection of serpentinites between the retreating Philippine Sea plate and the Pacific plate.

The stretched basin model proposes that the basins have been formed by stretching of the Philippine Sea plate wedge. We estimated the extension to be about 10 km at the largest basin. We reconstructed the morphology at 1 Ma by moving the Philippine Sea plate 20 km farther to the east after closing the basins, and thus obtained 8 km depth of the 1 Ma trench, which is similar to that of the present Japan Trench to the north. Although this stretched basin model can explain the formation of the basins and the deep trench, other models are equally possible. For instance, the eduction model explains the origin of the basin by the eduction of the Philippine Sea basement from beneath the basement high, while the accretion model explains the basement highs by the accretion of the Izu-Bonin trench wedge sediments. In both of these models we can reconstruct the 1 Ma trench depth as about 8 km, similar to that of the stretched basin model.

The deformation of the basement of the basins constitutes the best criterion to differentiate between these models. The multi-channel seismic reflection profiles show that the basement of the largest basin is cut by normal faults, in particular at its eastern edge. This suggests that the stretched basin model is most likely. However, the upper part of the sediments shows that the basement high to the east has been recently uplifted. This uplift is probably due to the recent (0.5 Ma) start of accretion of the trench wedge sediments beneath this basement high.     

Conrad Deep, Northern Red Sea: Development of an early stage ocean deep within the axial depression

The northern Red Sea represents a continental rift in its final stage and close to the following stage of seafloor spreading. Ocean deeps within the evaporites of the northern Red Sea seem to accompany this process and are thought to be surface expressions of first seafloor spreading cells. In 1999 during R/V Meteor cruise M44/3 a dense multichannel seismic and hydroacoustic survey was conducted in order to investigate the initial formation process of the Conrad Deep, a young northern Red Sea deep. Three seismic units were differentiated in the uppermost part of the Miocene evaporites and the Plio-Quaternary sediments. A weakness zone within the evaporites, oblique to the main extension direction of the Red Sea, led to a transtension process within the evaporites that opened the deep. Its formation is directly related to the emplacement of magmatic bodies in its vicinity and the focusing of the Red Sea extension to the axial depression. The Conrad Deep is an intra-evaporite basin that cannot be regarded as surficial expression of a basement structure as the low shear strength of the evaporites decouple the sediments from the basement. However, its position and shape in combination with the accompanying geophysical anomalies point to a strong correlation with the Red Sea rifting process.     

Did postglacial catastrophic flooding trigger massive changes in the Black Sea gas hydrate reservoir?

After the Last Glacial Maximum, the semi-land-locked Black Sea basin was flooded by warm water from the Mediterranean Sea. This major sea level rise and change of physical water properties had a large impact on the gas hydrate reservoir in the sediments below. Modelling of the regional response of the gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ) to the Black Sea flooding 7100 years ago shows that a strong effect of near-bottom temperature increase pushes the gas hydrate reservoir to a large shrinking of 15–62% that may release up to 1.1–4.6 Gt of methane. This catastrophic scenario is, however, delayed because of the transient nature of the heat wave propagation. The large-scale reduction of the GHSZ is only to take place within the next thousand years. At present, widespread hydrate dissociation is only expected to occur where there is a minimum water depth for hydrate stability.     

Regional heat flow patterns in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin

The regional geothermal pattern of the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin has been studied using available temperature data from wells. Average heat conductivity for various geological formations has been estimated on the basis of net rock studies by Canadian Stratigraphie Services. These data and observations of temperature made in “shut-in holes” in some of the oil pools have been used in heat flow estimations by the Bullard method.The geothermal gradient and heat flow within the basin are exceptionally high in comparison with the other world wide Precambrian platform areas. Especially high geothermal gradient areas are found in the northwestern part of the Prairies Basin in Alberta and British Columbia and most of southeastern and southwestern Saskatchewan. Areas of low gradient are found mainly in the Disturbed Belt of the Foothills, southern and southeastern Alberta, and the Peace River area in British Columbia. Neither the analysis of regional heat conductivity distribution nor the heat generation distribution of the basement rock of the Prairies Basin evaluated on the basis of U, Th and K data after Burwash (1979), explain the observed heat flow patterns of the Prairies Basin. Comparison of heat flow patterns with some of the hydrogeological phenomena suggests the significant influence of fluid flow in the basin formations on geothermal features. Low geothermal gradient areas coincide with water recharge areas and high hydraulic head distribution regions.The phenomenon of upward water movement in the deep strata and downward flow through much of the Cenozoic and Mesozoic strata seems to control the regional heat flow distribution in the basin. The analyses of coal metamorphism in the upper and middle Mesozoic formations of the Foothills Belt and in the central Prairies Basin suggest that the pre-Laramide paleogeothermal heat flow distribution was different from the present one. It is very probable that the Foothills Belt area was characterized by a higher geothermal gradient than the central part of the Prairies Basin, i.e. opposite to the present picture.     

南海西北次海盆及其邻区的地热流特征与研究

西北次海盆是南海海盆的一个重要构造单元,揭示西北次海盆的地热流特征对于整体认识南海海盆热状态和热结构至关重要.沿着OBS2006-1地震剖面采集的一批实测地热流数据显示,该热流探测剖面横穿南海北部陆坡、西北次海盆、中沙隆起、东部次海盆4个构造单元,结合地震解释剖面等资料对西北次海盆进行地热流特征分析及研究.结果表明:西北次海盆的平均热流密度值为104.5±9.9 mW/m2,与中沙隆起相邻的东部次海盆北部的平均热流密度值为97±2.5 mW/m2,热流密度值的空间变化与地幔埋深起伏相对应,并受地幔热源所控制;通过研究热流异常点,发现水深相近的相邻站位之间的海底表层沉积物温度差异是判别测站受海底地下水热循环影响程度和类型的依据之一;用最新海洋地热流探测成果,结合区域地质与地球物理资料,推测西北次海盆形成演化时代与西南次海盆相近,只是它的生命史比较短暂.      

Stratigraphic and structural characteristics of the Romanian Black Sea shelf

The Western Black Sea basin opened during Cretaceous times by back-arc rifting in association with a north dipping subduction at the rear of the Cretaceous–Early Tertiary Pontide volcanic arc. The sedimentary wedge developed on the shelf of the Romanian Black Sea sector reflects a complex interplay between large scale rifting, uplift of the orogenic flanks, large-scale post-rift subsidence and sea level changes. We examine the detailed structural configuration of this sector for a regional correlation with the adjacent offshore in Ukraine and Bulgaria. The evolution of the western Black Sea basin started in the Albian–Cenomanian times, when two extensional phases with significantly different directions (N–S and subsequently E–W) lead to the formation of a complex interplay between isolated blocks organised in horsts and grabens generally deepening eastwards. Superposition of normal faults footwall blocks from the two extensional episodes generated a deeply subsided area with enhanced accommodation space, i.e., the Histria Depression, and, consequently, recorded a larger thickness of Paleogene sediments in the post-rift stage. (Re)activation of faults and associated folding reflects repeated inversion during the Late Cretaceous–Oligocene times, associated with subsequent periods of non-deposition and/or erosion during moments of basin fill exposure. These periods of inversion recorded in the Black Sea are controlled by coeval orogenic deformations taking place in the Balkans, Pontides and the Crimean thrust belt. Sea level fluctuations during the Neogene and late Alpine tectonics in the neighbouring orogens caused massive sedimentation followed by sediment starvation and/or significant erosion. Large thicknesses of sediments accumulated during the Pontian, presumably associated with an extensional episode deepening the distal parts of the basin and with differential compaction structures. The interpretation of a high-quality seismic dataset combined with published data allowed the correlation of major structural units and lineaments defined onshore towards the Carpathians with the ones deeply buried below the western Black Sea basin sediments. Unit correlations are furthermore used to derive an integrated tectonic image of the western Black Sea area.     

雄安新区地热地质模型探究：来自地球物理的证据

雄安新区内地热资源丰富，区内有牛驼镇地热田、容城地热田和高阳地热田，地热资源开发利用较早，但是对其深部热源机制仍未形成统一观点。为了研究雄安新区内地热田深部热源机制，在新区及外围进行了深反射地震和长周期大地电磁探测，对取得的同剖面的深反射地震和大地电磁数据进行处理和综合解释，探明了研究区从地表至莫霍面范围内地质构造和电性结构。下地壳结构在深反射地震剖面与大地电磁剖面上有很好的对应关系。电阻率低值区对应着在深反射地震剖面上存在一系列反射同相轴，且同相轴可以延续到莫霍面，电阻率高值区对应着在深反射地震剖面上无明显连续反射同相轴，尤其是在莫霍面之上呈现地震反射近似"空白区"。结合区域地热资料构建了研究区深部地热地质模型，对新区内深部地热机制进行了解释。该模型为"二元"生热模型，其热源包含两个部分，深部地幔热源和地壳放射性元素衰变生热。放射性元素衰变生热占地表热流的接近30%，而幔源热流在地表热流中的占比可达约70%。在牛驼镇下方，莫霍面以上，由于地幔热物质上涌造成下地壳上隆，幔源岩浆底侵作用于下地壳形成了局部热异常，该热异常具有低速高导的地球物理特征，认为是牛驼镇地热田和容城地热田的深部热源；以区域断裂为热通道，大地热流由深部向上传导、扩散到牛驼镇凸起和容城凸起顶部，对碳酸盐岩储水层进行加热，形成地热储层；上覆新近系沉积地层是良好的热盖层。     

Depth-to-magnetic source analysis of the Arctic Ocean region

Approximately 400,000 line kilometers of high quality, low level Arctic aeromagnetic data collected by the Naval Research Laboratory, the Naval Oceanographic Office and the Naval Ocean Reseach and Development Activity from 1972 through 1978 have been analyzed for depth to magnetic source. This data set covers much of the Canada Basin, the Alpha Ridge, the central part of the Makarov Basin, the Lincoln Sea, the Eurasia Basin west and south of the 55°E meridian and the Norwegian-Greenland Sea north of the Jan Mayen Fracture Zone. The analysis uses the autocorrelation algorithm developed by Phillips (1975, 1978) and based on the maximum entropy method of Burg (1967, 1968, 1975). The method is outlined, examples of various error analysis techniques shown and final results presented. Where possible, magnetic source depth estimates are compared with basement depths derived from seismic and bathymetric data.All major known bathymetric features, including Vesteris Bank and the Greenland, Molloy and Spitsbergen fracture zones, as well as the Mohns, Knipovich and Nansen spreading ridges and the Alpha Cordillera appear as regional highs in the calculated magnetic basement topography. Shallow basement was also found under the northeastern Yermak Plateau, the Morris Jesup Rise and under the southern (Greenland-Ellesmere Island) end of the Lomonsosov Ridge. Regional magnetic source deeps are associated with such bathymetric depressions as the Canada, Makarov, Amundsen, Nansen, Greenland and Lofoten basins; more localized magnetic basement deeps are found over the Molloy F.Z. deep and over the Mohns, Knipovich and Nansen rift valleys. A linear magnetic basement deep follows the extension of Nares Strait through the Lincoln Sea toward the Morris Jesup Rise, suggesting the continuation of the Nares Strait or Wegener F.Z. into the Lincoln Sea. A sharp drop in the regional magnetic source depths to the southeast of the Alpha Ridge suggests the Alpha Ridge is not connected to structures in northwest Ellesmere Island as previously postulated from high altitude aeromagnetic collected by Canadian workers. A regional deep under the east Greenland shelf west of the Greenland Escarpment suggests the presence of 5–10 km of post-Paleozoic sediments.