Heat flow and matter composition of the lithosphere of the World Ocean

An analysis of the geothermal data on the World Ocean, including those obtained by the author from research vessels of the Russian Academy of Sciences, shows that the heat flow depends on the petrological composition of the oceanic lithosphere. Mean heat flow values are observed in the regions with a lherzolite lithosphere (300–500 mW/m² depending on the age of the floor). The regions where the lithosphere contains harzburgite enriched with olivine are characterized by high heat flow values, while those with a lithosphere with an average mineral composition feature minimal heat flow values (～20–30% of the average heat flow). The intermediate contents of olivine correspond to intermediate heat flow values. Based on the calculations performed and on a combined analysis of the thermal and physical parameters of the mantle rocks of the ocean, we inferred that the dependence of the heat flow values on the petrological composition of the lithosphere is valid for marginal basins as well, including basins characterized by diffuse spreading. The results of the geothermal studies in the Tyrrhenian Sea, whose central part is formed due to diffuse spreading, indicate that, in the region of the Vavilov Seamount, the lithosphere is composed of rocks with a lherzolite composition, while the lithosphere in the region of the Marsili Seamount consists of harzburgites of an average mineral composition.     

莱州湾凹陷南部地区浅层沙三下亚段混积岩岩石学特征及成岩作用

通过对莱州湾凹陷区域构造地质背景、岩石学特征、沉积环境等分析,认为莱州湾凹陷南部地区古近系沙三下亚段的地层埋藏浅,广泛发育湖相碳酸盐岩与陆源碎屑岩的混合沉积,混合沉积特征主要为结构混合和互层混合。考虑到混积岩成分和成因的复杂性,本文在岩心、壁心观察、铸体薄片鉴定、荧光薄片鉴定和扫描电镜分析的基础上,对莱州湾凹陷南部地区混积岩样品进行了X-射线衍射分析和岩石有机质中碳氢氧元素分析,分析了碳酸盐岩和陆源碎屑岩混积的岩石学特征。结果显示:莱州湾凹陷南部地区浅层沙三下亚段混积岩中陆源碎屑平均含量为60.5%,碳酸盐矿物含量为28.2%,属于碳酸盐质陆源碎屑岩,混积岩主要为泥灰岩、灰质砂岩和砂质白云岩。其中,碎屑矿物主要以细-粉砂级石英为主,碳酸盐矿物主要为泥晶方解石;粘土矿物组合主要为伊蒙混层,其次为伊利石、高岭石和绿泥石;且三者呈均匀混合的特征。同时通过铸体薄片、扫描电镜和储层流体包裹体观察,综合分析成岩作用表明,埋藏浅的沙三下亚段混积岩储层主要经历了压实、压溶作用、溶蚀作用、胶结交代作用,其中胶结交代作用较强,而研究区压实、压溶作用对比渤海湾盆地大部分埋藏较深的古近系地层都弱,储集空间以原生粒间孔为主,其次为粒内溶蚀孔和微缝。压实、压溶作用弱和溶蚀作用强是研究区沙三下亚段储层物性好的主要原因。     

马里亚纳海槽热液区岩石矿物学和岩石化学特征研究

马里亚纳海槽中央轴裂谷中的小扩张脊部位 ,广布火山喷发的玄武岩体 ,海底热液硫化物就是从这些岩体的裂隙中喷溢堆积起来的。利用我国“大洋一号”船拖网所获岩样进行了矿物学和岩石化学特征研究 ,认定为高铝低钾的大洋底玄武岩或拉斑玄武岩系列和钙 -碱玄武岩。为进一步弄清马里亚纳海槽区热液活动岩石学条件和探讨海槽区热液物质来源提供科学证据     

A unique lacustrine mixed dolomitic-clastic sequence for tight oil reservoir within the middle Permian Lucaogou Formation of the Junggar Basin,NW China: Reservoir characteristics and origin

The middle Permian Lucaogou Formation in the Jimusaer Sag of the southeastern Junggar Basin, NW China, was the site of a recent discovery of a giant tight oil reservoir. This reservoir is unusual as it is hosted by lacustrine mixed dolomitic-clastic rocks, significantly differing from other tight reservoirs that are generally hosted by marine/lacustrine siliciclastic–calcitic sequences. Here, we improve our understanding of this relatively new type of tight oil reservoir by presenting the results of a preliminarily investigation into the basic characteristics and origin of this reservoir using field, petrological, geophysical (including seismic and logging), and geochemical data. Field and well core observations indicate that the Lucaogou Formation is a sequence of mixed carbonate (mainly dolomites) and terrigenous clastic (mainly feldspars) sediments that were deposited in a highly saline environment. The formation is divided into upper and lower cycles based on lithological variations between coarse- and fine-grained rocks; in particular, dolomites and siltstones are interbedded with organic-rich mudstones in the lower part of each cycle, whereas the upper part of each cycle contains few dolomites and siltstones. Tight oil accumulations are generally present in the lower part of each cycle, and dolomites and dolomite-bearing rocks are the main reservoir rocks in these cycles, including sandy dolomite, dolarenite, dolomicrite, and a few dolomitic siltstones. Optical microscope, back scattered electron, and scanning electron microscope imaging indicate that the main oil reservoir spaces are secondary pores that were generated by the dissolution of clastics and dolomite by highly acidic and corrosive hydrocarbon-related fluids.     

巴西桑托斯盆地盐下湖相碳酸盐岩储层特征

巴西盐下湖相碳酸盐岩是现今海外油气勘探的热点领域, 但中国关于该类储层特征的研究相对薄弱。通过综合应用岩心、薄片、物性测试等资料, 系统研究了储层岩石类型、储集空间类型、储层物性特征、成岩作用类型及其对物性的影响情况。研究表明微生物灰岩和生物碎屑灰岩是盆地的主要储层类型, 其中微生物灰岩由叠层石和鲕粒灰岩互层组成, 生物碎屑灰岩由贝壳灰岩组成。盐下微生物灰岩储层的孔隙类型以溶孔、晶间孔、粒间孔等次生孔隙和受过改造的原生孔隙为主; 生物碎屑灰岩储层的孔隙类型以铸模孔、溶孔、溶洞及晶间孔为主。盐下湖相碳酸盐岩储层整体物性较好, 具有中-高孔渗特征; 白云岩化和溶蚀作用是改善盐下湖相碳酸盐岩储层的主要成岩作用类型, 储层主要处于中成岩阶段, 少量处于早成岩阶段。     

Formation and distribution of coal measure source rocks in the Eocene Pinghu Formation in the Pinghu Slope of the Xihu Depression,East China Sea Shelf Basin

The Xihu Depression in the East China Sea Shelf Basin is a large petroliferous sedimentary depression, in which oil and gas reservoirs were mainly discovered in the Pinghu Slope and the central inversion zone. The oil-gas source correlation in the Xihu Depression was analyzed by hydrocarbon generating thermal simulation data via gold-tube pyrolysis experiments. The results indicated that the oil and gas in the Xihu Depression were mainly derived from coal measure source rocks of the Eocene Pinghu Formation. Therefore, the identification of coal seams is extremely crucial for evaluating coal measure source rocks in the Pinghu Formation in the Xihu Depression. Geochemical and petrological characterization pointed to input of terrigenous organic matter and redox conditions of the depositional environment as factors that govern the ability of the coal measure source rocks in hydrocarbon generation in the Xihu Depression. In this regard, the sedimentary organic facies in the Pinghu Formation were classified into four predominantly terrigenous and one mixed-source subfacies, which all varied in carbon and hydrogen content. The coal measure source rocks in the carbon- and hydrogen-rich tidal flat-lagoon exhibited the highest hydrocarbon generation potential, whereas the mudstone in the neritic facies was the poorest in its hydrocarbon yield. These results suggested that the coal measure source rocks in the Pinghu Formation likely developed in the Hangzhou Slope and the Tiantai Slope, both representing promising sources for oil and gas exploration.     

西沙岛礁基底花岗质岩石的锆石U-Pb年龄及其地质意义

西沙地块作为南海中散布的微地块之一,迄今尚缺乏有关中生代构造-岩浆活动的岩石学资料或证据。在2012-2013年,中海石油(中国)有限公司湛江分公司在西沙岛礁上设计实施了"西科1井"科学钻探,成功钻取了长达1 268.02 m的岩心,并在井深1 257.52 m处钻遇由变质岩和侵入岩组成的结晶基底。利用LA-ICP-MS分析测试技术,对取自岛礁基底的花岗质岩石进行了锆石U-Pb年龄测定,结合邻区和华南地区花岗质岩石的形成年代,探讨了与岩浆作用相关的大地构造环境。结果表明:西沙花岗质岩石在岩性上属碱长花岗岩和二长花岗岩,与南沙地块的花岗质岩石同为I型花岗岩,形成于活动陆缘构造环境下,其岩浆源区可能在一定程度上受到了幔源组分的影响;西沙岛礁基底花岗质岩石形成年龄在144~158 Ma之间,是晚侏罗世构造-岩浆作用的产物,在成岩时代上可与华南燕山期花岗岩进行对比,反映出由古太平洋板块俯冲机制诱发的燕山期岩浆活动对华南大陆和南海地区产生了广泛的影响;岩石学证据表明,西沙-中沙和南沙地块经历了燕山期多期次岩浆活动的改造,在基底构造上属华南大陆的延伸部分。     

华北东部青岛地区煌斑岩岩石地球化学特征与成因

华北东部青岛地区煌斑岩广泛发育,其岩石成因、构造环境等方面研究程度较低。本文通过研究其岩石学和地球化学特征,讨论岩浆的源区性质、形成的构造环境,进而推断研究区的地质演化过程。研究区内煌斑岩的SiO2含量(W(SiO2))为39.13%~51.26%,属于钾玄质碱性岩。样品的稀土元素整体表现出轻稀土元素富集、重稀土元素亏损的特征,Ce和Eu异常(分别用δCe和δEu表示)不显著。样品微量元素总体表现出大离子亲石元素(Ba、K、Pb)和轻稀土元素富集(LREE),而高场强元素(Nb、Ta和Ti)亏损的特征,具有典型的俯冲特征。源区为三叠纪时北向俯冲的扬子板块析出的熔体,交代上覆华北板块地幔橄榄岩而形成的地幔交代岩。白垩纪时,俯冲带岩石圈大范围坍塌,软流圈上涌形成伸展环境,地幔源区发生部分熔融,岩浆上升侵位形成煌斑岩。     

Reconnaissance study of organic geochemistry and petrology of Paleozoic-Cenozoic potential hydrocarbon source rocks from the New Siberian Islands,Arctic Russia

A reconnaissance study of potential hydrocarbon source rocks of Paleozoic to Cenozoic age from the highly remote New Siberian Islands Archipelago (Russian Arctic) was carried out. 101 samples were collected from outcrops representing the principal Paleozoic-Cenozoic units across the entire archipelago. Organic petrological and geochemical analyses (vitrinite reflectance measurements, Rock-Eval pyrolysis, GC-MS) were undertaken in order to screen the maturity, quality and quantity of the organic matter in the outcrop samples. The lithology varies from continental sedimentary rocks with coal particles to shallow marine carbonates and deep marine black shales. Several organic-rich intervals were identified in the Upper Paleozoic to Lower Cenozoic succession. Lower Devonian shales were found to have the highest source rock potential of all Paleozoic units. Middle Carboniferous-Permian and Triassic units appear to have a good potential for natural gas formation. Late Mesozoic (Cretaceous) and Cenozoic low-rank coals, lignites, and coal-bearing sandstones also display a potential for gas generation. Kerogen type III (humic, gas-prone) dominates in most of the samples, and indicates deposition in lacustrine to coastal paleoenvironments. Most of the samples (except some of Cretaceous and Paleogene age) reached oil window maturities, whereas the Devonian to Carboniferous units shared a maturity mainly within the gas window.     

琉球群岛以东海区沉积物重矿物分布及来源

琉球群岛东部海区沉积物中富含大量火山碎屑矿物、岛屿岩石遭受风化蚀变形成的普通角闪石以及水生的铁锰微结核,其重矿物种类、特征、组合分区等与火山作用、沉积环境、地形、物质来源等内外生因素密切相关。通过对本区重矿物的种类、特征及组合分区的研究,初步判断位于研究区北部、菲律宾板块向欧亚大陆俯冲而导致的正在活动的的琉球岛弧区为火山碎屑的主要源区,重矿物成分主要为水携成因来源,受同期火山作用控制;少量紫苏辉石来自先期形成的海岭或海底高原(如冲大东海岭、奄美海岭及九州海岭等)上的火山岩系,是经过剥蚀、搬运再沉积的产物;琉球群岛、九州等火山活动产物受海底高地等阻隔而在本区表现为向南或东南影响力逐渐减小;本区地质历史上的及正在进行的岩浆活动主要以基性及中性岩浆为主。此外,流经本区的黑潮对自生铁锰微结核的富集具有重要影响。     

Peculiarities of the magmatism and tectonics of the Knipovich Ridge

Petrological-geochemical data were obtained for intrusive rocks (gabbroids) recovered on the eastern flank of the Knipovich Ridge by deep-sea site 344 (DSDP, Leg 238). It was found that these rocks are similar to basalts and basaltic glasses studied in the adjacent sections of the ridge rift zone [7, 8]. This indicates that the intrusive rocks and erupted lavas are comagmatic. The gabbroids, basalts, and their quenched glasses were derived by differentiation in different-depth chambers and feeder channels. The petrochemical features of the gabbros and basalts (low Fe content, oxidized magnetic minerals) caused their weak magnetic properties. Owing to the multidirectional movements of the oceanic blocks, the bodies of the intrusive and effusive rocks their lost strict linearity and produced the mosaic anomalous magnetic field of the Knipovich Ridge.     

Diagenetic and sedimentary controls on porosity in Lower Carboniferous fine-grained lithologies,Krechba field,Algeria: A petrological study of a caprock to a carbon capture site

Fine-grained siliciclastic lithologies commonly act as sealing caprocks to both petroleum fields and host reservoirs for carbon capture (CO₂ sequestration) projects. Fine-grained lithologies are thus of great importance in controlling fluid flow and storage in the subsurface. However, fine-grained rocks are rarely characterised in terms of primary sedimentary characteristics, diagenesis and how these relate to their flow properties (i.e. sealing or caprock quality). Seventeen samples from Lower Carboniferous estuarine caprock to a gas field (also to be used as a carbon capture site), have been analysed using a range of petrological and petrophysical techniques. The rock unit that represents the caprock to this gas field was found to be predominantly silt grade with porosity values as low as 1.8%. In these rocks, caprock quality (porosity) is controlled by intrinsic and extrinsic factors linked to primary mineralogy and diagenetic processes. Depositional mineralogy was dominated by quartz, detrital mica, detrital clay (likely Fe-rich 7Å clay and illite–smectite) with minor feldspar and oxide phases. Diagenetic processes included compaction, minor feldspar dissolution and kaolinite growth and the more important processes of chlorite, siderite and quartz cementation, as well as the likely transformation of smectite into illite. Caprock quality is controlled by the primary quantity of illite-muscovite in the sediment and also by the localised extent of chlorite and quartz cementation. Deposition in an estuarine environment led to highly heterogeneous distribution of primary and diagenetic minerals, and thus caprock quality, between and within the samples.     

陆相湖盆海侵事件对烃源岩发育影响机制

海侵是影响湖盆烃源岩发育的重要事件之一,通过调研国内外相关文献,述评了这一领域的研究现状。海侵事件广泛分布于中国的松辽盆地、渤海湾盆地和苏北盆地以及国外多个盆地,海侵可通过古遗迹标志、矿物岩石学标志以及地球化学特征等识别。其次海侵烃源岩一般具有有机质丰度较高、有机质类型较好的特征,主要归因于海侵事件明显促进烃源岩发育,海侵作用一方面可能为湖水带来了大量的营养物质,显著提高了古湖泊生产力,另外一方面,盐度可能有利于形成稳定的水体分层,在水底形成强还原环境,促进有机质保存。以西非裂谷盆地（Termit盆地）为例,总结了海侵影响湖相烃源岩发育的模式。     

1984?2017年影响中国热带气旋灾害的时空特征分析

本文基于1984?2017年热带气旋灾情资料和中国气象局上海台风研究所整编的热带气旋最佳路径资料,分析了中国热带气旋灾害的时空特征,比较了不同盛行路径下热带气旋灾害的差异,探讨了盛行路径下热带气旋陆上持续时间变化及灾害潜在风险。结果表明:（1）1984?2017年,直接经济损失呈现上升趋势,但该损失在国民生产总值中占比和死亡人数则呈下降趋势。（2）3类盛行路径热带气旋直接经济损失具有区域性差别。近海转向热带气旋登陆中国的数目少、灾害轻,西行和西北行的热带气旋登陆中国的数目多、范围广、灾害重。其中西行热带气旋主要影响广东、广西和海南,西北行热带气旋主要影响广东、福建和浙江。（3）台风潜在风险影响因子—热带气旋陆上平均持续时间,近几十年来增加趋势显著,但不同盛行路径陆上平均持续时间增加原因不一。近海转向的热带气旋陆上平均持续时间增加与陆上平均移速减小有关,西行和西北行的热带气旋陆上平均持续时间增加主要由陆上平均移动距离增加所致。     

Prolonged Magmatic and Tectonic Development of the Caribbean Igneous Province Revealed by a Diving Submersible Survey

Using the diving submersible survey NAUTICA we investigated the central part of the Caribbean large igneous province (CLIP) to observe and sample internal portions of this proposed oceanic plateau. Most of the samples are gabbroic and doleritic rocks; basalts are scarce. Radiometric dating by ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar incremental heating experiments indicate that the intrusive rocks are Campanian in age (81–75 Ma). In some places these intrusive rocks underlie older Santonian (85–83 Ma) extrusive basaltic rocks, suggesting that the Campanian rocks represent a sill injection and an underplating episode. Results of the diving program supplemented by information from ODP and DSDP drilling sites document a 20 m.y. period (94–75 Ma) of igneous activity in the submerged portion of the Caribbean large igneous province (CLIP). In the northern part of the Beata Ridge late Campanian and/or post Campanian uplift is documented by prominent Maastrichtian (71–65 Ma) erosion and the establishment of a Paleocene-middle Eocene (65–49 Ma) carbonate platform. During and after the uplift an extensional period is indicated by seismic images and the subsidence (3 km depth) of the carbonate platform. Paleocene ages (55–56 Ma) determined on some volcanic samples are attributed to localised decompression mantle melting that accompanied the extension. We document a prolonged period of magmatic and tectonic events that do not fit with the current models of short-lived plateau formation during mantle plume initiation but shares many similarities with the constructional histories of other oceanic large igneous provinces.     

印尼马都拉海峡盆地上新统颗粒灰岩生物礁形成和演化模式

马都拉海峡盆地北部外陆架台地发育有E-W向一字排列的颗粒灰岩生物礁体。该生物礁是有孔虫（主要为抱球虫目）壳体经过各种沉积作用形成的堆积体,发育于早上新世挤压反转期盆地北部边缘区。由于生物礁生长发育所经历的特殊性,其岩石学特征等信息常常具有标志性的反映,因此礁体的剖面反射特征和地震属性相比于围岩会存在不小的差异。这些差异为人们利用地震解释和地震属性提取技术识别生物礁奠定了基础,如在地震剖面上,生物礁往往出现对称丘状外形反射、礁前斜坡前积反射、礁内部杂乱反射和不连续强反射的特征等等。以O-2井钻遇的存在抱球虫化石的马都拉海峡盆地上新统芒杜组沉积地层为研究对象,从地质背景入手,描述了盆地的新生代构造特征和发育各时期所对应的地层。通过进行层位标定和三维地震解释,结合地震属性提取技术,同时考虑到生物礁的发育形态与环境,最终获得了盆地抱球虫颗粒灰岩生物礁在空间上的分布。最后,本文结合盆地历史上的沉积构造活动,提出反转断裂带活动是研究区控制生物礁生长的重要因素,并据此总结了马都拉海峡盆地芒杜组台地边缘生物礁的发育模式。     

大洋岩石圈俯冲过程中流体活动的岩石地球化学记录:以中国西南天山(超)高压变质带为例

大洋岩石圈俯冲变质作用直接影响俯冲带岩浆作用和地幔组成的不均一性。近年的研究发现,大洋岩石圈俯冲变质作用非常复杂。本研究以采自西南天山富含脉体的变质岩样品为例来探讨大洋岩石圈俯冲作用过程中流体对元素地球化学行为的影响。根据岩石学特征,将该样品分为三部分:榴辉岩部分、退变蓝片岩部分和脉体。脉体以绿辉石为主、并普遍含有碳酸盐矿物和磷灰石,反映该样品经历过榴辉岩相变质条件下富CO_2、P和卤族元素的流体改造。样品的全岩Lu-Hf等时线年龄为332±24 Ma,这与前人用SHRIMPU-Pb锆石定年等方法得到的西天山峰期变质年龄一致。这三部分样品的全岩Th-U-Nb-Ta-Zr-Hf、稀土元素等不易迁移元素的配分模式均类似于洋岛玄武岩(OIB)的特征,表明其原岩与OIB类似。这三部分样品的K、Rb、Cs、Ba等元素相对亏损,且含量变化较大,在蓝片岩部分的含量明显高于榴辉岩部分,表现了这些元素的活动性。另外,白云母中富集Rb、Cs、Ba元素,以及K和Rb、Cs、Ba之间很好的相关性体现了白云母的存在对这些元素的控制作用。这些岩石样品主要经历了两阶段变质作用,即榴辉岩化过程和不同程度水化作用改造。第一阶段中,K、Rb、Cs、Ba等水溶性元素丢失,而第二阶段中,外来流体造成水化作用改造,并使水化程度高的蓝片岩部分形成了大量白云母等含水矿物,使这些元素表现出再富集并得以保存。因此,如果白云母稳定存在,俯冲大洋岩石圈简单变质脱水则难以解释岛弧岩浆高K、Rb、Cs、Ba等水溶性元素特征。     

Composition and conditions for formation of neogene deposits at the Primorye continental slope in the area of Vladimir Bay in the Sea of Japan

The petrographic and micropaleontological studies of the rocks in the sedimentary cover of the Primorye continental slope in the area of Vladimir Bay in the Sea of Japan made it possible to establish that the sedimentary cover is represented in this area by two different facial complexes of Late Miocene rocks. The first facial complex consists of terrigenous rocks (siltstones, sandstones, and conglomerates) that were accumulated under relatively shallow-water conditions of the shelf and the uppermost part of the continental slope. The second one is formed by diatomaceous-clayey rocks under more deep-water conditions, mainly in the upper part of the continental slope. The carbonate nodules that are widely distributed among the deposits of the first complex but are also recorded in the second one were formed as a result of diagenetic processes in the terrigenous or silicious-terrigenous sediments that had been formed. With respect to their age, the Late Miocene deposits are characterized by a full succession of diatomaceous zones over 10.0–5.5 mln yr. The sediments of the first facial complex accumulated during the first third of the Late Miocene (10.0–8.5 mln yr), while those of the second began to accumulate somewhat later, but their accumulation continued until the late Miocene (9.2–5.5 mln yr).     

基于灰色预测模型的我国海上风电发展规模和趋势研究

为掌握我国海上风电发展规模和趋势,进而为海上风电发展决策提供参考,文章基于灰色系统理论的3种模型,对全国和主要沿海地区海上风电发展规模和趋势作出预测。研究结果表明:装机量可作为海上风电发展规模的预测指标;通过历史数据模拟,GM（1,1）比NDGM和DGM（2,1）的拟合效果更好且预测精度较高,适用于海上风电装机量预测;GM（1,1）对海上风电发展的短期（1～3年）预测准确率较高,而中长期（5～10年）预测准确率有待检验;海上风电主要地区的装机量将持续增长,但各地区呈现不同的增长率;江苏海上风电发展在多年快速增长后可能放缓,广东和福建有望“接棒”江苏而成为海上风电大省;国内海上风电产业仍处于成长阶段,经济稳妥的发展策略是必然选择。     

Evolution of the western Barents Sea

Information from multichannel seismic reflection data complemented by seismic refraction, gravity and magnetics forms the basis for a regional structural and evolutionary model of the western Barents Sea during post-Caledonian times. The western Barents Sea contains a thick succession, locally > 10 km, of Upper Paleozoic to Cenozoic sedimentary rocks covering a basement of probably Caledonian origin. The area is divided into three regional geological provinces: (1) an east-west trending basinal province between 74°N and the coast of Norway; (2) an elevated platform area to the north towards Svalbard; and (3) the western continental margin. Several structural elements of different origin and age have been mapped within each of these provinces. The main stratigraphic sequence boundaries have been tentatively dated from available well information, correlation with the geology of adjacent areas, and correlation with the interregional unconformities caused by relative changes of sea level. The main structural elements were developed during three major post-Caledonian tectonic phases: the Svalbardian phase in Late Devonian to Early Carboniferous times, the Mid and Late Kimmerian phase in Mid Jurassic to Early Cretaceous times and Cenozoic tectonism related to the progressive northward opening of the Norwegian-Greenland Sea. The sediments are predicted to be of mainly clastic origin except for a thick sequence of Middle Carboniferous — Lower Permian carbonates and evaporites. Salt diapirs have developed in several sub-basins, especially in the Nordkapp Basin where they form continuous salt walls that have pierced through > 7 km of sediments.