Formation of the Eurasia Basin in the Arctic Ocean as inferred from geohistorical analysis of the anomalous magnetic field

A new combined magnetic database and a magnetic-profile map are developed for the Eurasia Basin as a result of adjusting all available historical and recent Russian and American magnetic data sets. The geohistorical analysis of magnetic data includes several steps: identification of linear magnetic anomalies along each trackline, calculation of the Euler rotation pole positions for the relative motion of the North American and Eurasian plates, analysis of temporal and spatial variations in the spreading rate, and plate reconstructions. The pattern of key Cenozoic magnetic isochrons (24, 20, 18, 13, 6, 5, 2a) is constructed for the entire Eurasia Basin. In the western half of the basin, this pattern is consistent with a recently published scheme [16]. In its eastern half, magnetic isochrons are determined in detail for the first time and traced up to the Laptev Sea shelf. The main stages in the seafloor spreading are established for the Eurasia Basin. Each stage is characterized by a specific spreading rate and the degree of asymmetry of the basin opening. The revealed differences are traced along the Gakkel Ridge. Systematic patterns in wandering of the Eurasia Basin opening pole are established for particular stages. The continent-ocean transition zone corresponding to the primary rupture between plates is outlined in the region under consideration on the basis of gravimetric data. The nature of different potential fields and bottom topography on opposite sides of the Gakkel Ridge is discussed. The characteristic features of the basin-bottom formation at main stages of its evolution are specified on the basis of new and recently published data. The results obtained are in good agreement with plate geodynamics of the North Atlantic and the adjacent Arctic basins.     

Thickness of the Earth's crust in the deep Arctic Ocean: Results of a 3D gravity modeling

The employed method of 3D gravity modeling is based on calculation of the gravity effects of the main density boundaries of the lithosphere, subtraction of these effects from the observed gravity field, and the subsequent conversion of the residual gravity anomalies first to the Moho depth and then to the total thickness of the Earth's crust and the thickness of its consolidated part. On the modeling, we also took into account the gravity effects due to an increase in the sediment density with increasing sediment depth and a rise of the top of the asthenosphere beneath the mid-ocean Gakkel Ridge. The resulting 3D models of the Moho topography and crustal thickness are well consistent with the data of deep seismic investigations. They confirm the significant differences in crustal structure between the Eurasian and Amerasian Basins and give an idea of the regional variations in crustal thickness beneath the major ridges and basins of the Arctic Ocean.     

New data on tectonics of Mendeleev Ridge and adjacent geological structures

The comprehensive analysis of potential field data and recent seismic data revealed two systems of fractures bounding horsts and grabens in terms of the Mendeleev Ridge. The northern part of the ridge is marked by development of pull-apart structures indicating the former existence of oblique extension settings. The area between Mendeleev and Alpha ridges is occupied by a wide NW?SE–extending sinistral strike-slip zone. It is concluded that these ridges are of continental origin representing former parts of Arctida (Hyperborea) in the pre-Cretaceous time. The ridges were separated and their crust significantly altered during Cretaceous tectono-magmatic activation in the region.