Structure of the Hatton Basin and adjacent continental margin

Smith, L. K.; White, R. S.; Kusznir, Nick; Team, iSIMM

doi:10.1144/0060947

Cited by 17 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Smith et al (2005) estimated a total cover sequence thickness within the basin of about 4 km beneath the iSIMM seismic profile, which lies just to the north of the present study area and this is compatible with the adjacent parts of our model. Smith (2006) revised this interpretation to include up to about 7 km of cover, but with relatively high (> 5 km/s) velocities in its lower part.…”

Section: Hatton Basinsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…On the UK Hatton margin, mid-Cretaceous sediments have been proven in shallow boreholes (Hitchen, 2004). Results from wide-angle and normal incidence profiles acquired by the iSIMM project have been interpreted to show that the basin contains approximately 2 km of Cenozoic post-rift sediments resting on a 2 -4 km thick, higher velocity (4.3 -6.1 km/s) layer (Smith et al, 2005;Smith, 2006). The 'hummocky' nature of the upper surface of the lower layer (e.g.…”

Section: Hatton Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…5) suggests that it is capped by Palaeogene volcanic rocks extruded in a submarine environment, contrasting with the parallel-bedded seismic facies of the subaerial lavas on the surrounding highs (Boldreel and Andersen, 1994). Results from the RAPIDS, iSIMM and potential field modelling studies have suggested thicknesses for the crystalline crust beneath the Hatton Basin of between 10 and 20 km Kimbell et al, 2005;Smith et al, 2005;Smith, 2006).…”

Section: Hatton Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Three-dimensional gravity and magnetic modelling of the Irish sector of the NE Atlantic margin

2010

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A new 3D lithospheric model has been constructed using high-resolution gravity data from the Irish National Seabed Survey. The sedimentary component of the model incorporated density variations due to laterally varying overcompaction associated with Cenozoic denudation. After optimisation based on gravity inversion, regional crustal thickness variations were defined which are in reasonable agreement with the results of wide-angle seismic experiments. High crustal extension factors (β>5) characterise the deeper parts of the Rockall and Porcupine basins and in places the model indicates extreme stretching (β>10) beneath these basins. This could be because of instability in the gravity inversion, although other recent investigations have independently suggested similarly high extension factors. In contrast, the Hatton Basin is characterised by an apparent extension factor of about 2. The modelling resolves a pattern of NE-to NNE-trending local Mesozoic basins on the margins of the Rockall Trough, helping to delineate structures that were previously only sparsely sampled by seismic surveys. It appears possible that rifts with similar trends underlie the volcanic rocks which obscure the deeper parts of the Hatton Basin. The linear trends of the basins to the south and east of Ireland are interpreted to have been inherited from a basement fabric that was initially established during the late Precambrian assembly of this basement and subsequently subjected to Caledonian and Variscan reactivation. Magnetic modelling indicates that the variations in the thickness of the crystalline crust predicted by the gravity models can explain the regional magnetic anomaly patterns over the Rockall and Porcupine basins, but that significant additional magnetic material (probably igneous rocks of both Palaeogene and Cretaceous ages) is required to explain the anomalies in the Hatton Basin region. The magnetic signature of the Rockall Basin is distinctly different to that over the basement (of similar apparent thickness) formed during mid Cretaceous (C34N) opening of the ocean basin to the south. This is an impediment to hypotheses that invoke mid Cretaceous sea-floor spreading rather than intracontinental rifting to explain the development of the basin. The exception is in the extreme south of the basin where the volcanism associated with the Barra Volcanic Ridges combined with indications of relatively strong lithosphere could be evidence of incipient ocean opening.

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Section: Hatton Basinsupporting

confidence: 89%

Section: Hatton Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Hatton Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Three-dimensional gravity and magnetic modelling of the Irish sector of the NE Atlantic margin

2010

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“…More westward to the Hatton Bank, the crust is thickened partly due to the basalt extruding and underplating of mantle material. At the western margin of Hatton Bank, the crustal thickness decreased rapidly and normal oceanic crustal structure presented (Smith et al, 2005) (Fig. 9).…”

Section: Crustal Characteristics Of Ridgesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geological structures of ridges with relation to the definition of three types of seafloor highs stipulated in Article 76

Wang

2011

Acta Oceanol. Sin.

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The ridge like seafloor highs with various geological origins can be classed into mid-ocean ridges, transverse ridges related to transform faults, hot spot/mantle plume originated ridges, microcontinent rifted from major continent, intra-plate arc formed by interaction of two oceanic plates, and tectonic ridges uplifted by later tectonic activity. Those ridges moved towards the convergent continental margins along with the underlain plate drifting and formed so-called accreted ridges commonly trending at a high angle to the continental margins. At divergent continental margins, the continental crusts were extended and thinned accompanying with magmatism, which formed high terrains protruding or parallel to the coastal line. The ridges worldwide have various origins and the crustal thicknesses and structures of them are diversity. The crusts beneath the microcontinents, and the transverse ridges along the transform margin, and the seafloor highs beside the passive continental margins are continental, while the crusts of other ridges are oceanic. Article 76 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) has classed the seafloor highs worldwide into three legal categories, namely oceanic ridges, submarine ridges and submarine elevations, for the purpose to delineate the outer limit of the coastal States' continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles. To define the categories of the legal seafloor highs to which the ridges with various geological origins belong, the continuities in morphology and geology including the rock types, crustal structures, origins and tectonic setting of the ridges and the coastal States' land mass with its submerged prolongation should be taken into account. If a ridge is continuous both in morphology and geology with the coastal States' land mass and its submerged prolongation, it is a submarine elevation stipulated in Article 76. If it is discontinuous in morphology, the ridge should be regarded as oceanic ridges. If a ridge is continuous in morphology but discontinuous in geology with the coastal States' land mass and its submerged prolongation, then it is a submarine ridge as stipulated in Article 76.

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“…Consequently, most research into the tectonic evolution of the Rockall Plateau has been heavily focused on the structure and formation of the western part of the plateau, in the context of a volcanic rifted margin Morgan et al, 1989;Spence et al, 1989;White and McKenzie, 1989;Smith et al, 2005;Elliott and Parson, 2008;White and Smith, 2009). In contrast, very little has been published about the post-rift history of the Rockall Plateau.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eocene post-rift tectonostratigraphy of the Rockall Plateau, Atlantic margin of NW Britain: Linking early spreading tectonics and passive margin response

Stoker

Kimbell

McInroy

et al. 2012

Marine and Petroleum Geology

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A regional study of the Eocene succession in the UK sector of the Rockall Plateau has yielded new insights into the early opening history of the NE Atlantic continental margin. Data acquired from British Geological Survey borehole 94/3, on the Rockall High, provides a high-resolution record of post-rift, Early to Mid-Eocene, subaqueous fan-delta development and sporadic volcanic activity, represented by pillow lavas, tuffs and subaerial lavas. This sequence correlates with the East Rockall Wedge, which is one of several prograding sediment wedges identified across the Rockall Plateau whose development was largely terminated in the mid-Lutetian. Linking the biostratigraphical data with the magnetic anomaly pattern in the adjacent ocean basin indicates that this switch-off in fandelta sedimentation and volcanism was coincident with the change from a segmented/transform margin to a continuously spreading margin during chron C21. However, late-stage easterly prograding sediment wedges developed on the Hatton High during late Mid-to Late Eocene times; these can only 2 have been sourced from the Hatton High, which was developing as an anticline during this interval.This deformation occurred in response to Mid-to Late Eocene compression along the ocean margin, possibly associated with the reorganisation to oblique spreading in the Iceland Basin, which culminated at the end of the Eocene with the formation of the North Hatton Anticline, and the deformation (tilting) of these wedges. A series of intra-Eocene unconformities, of which the midLutetian unconformity is the best example, has been traced from the Rockall Plateau to the FaroeShetland region and onto the Greenland conjugate margin bordering the early ocean basin. Whilst there appears to be some correlation with 3 rd order changes in eustatic sea level, it is clear from this study that tectonomagmatic processes related to changes in spreading directions between Greenland and Eurasia, and/or mantle thermal perturbations cannot be discounted.

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Structure of the Hatton Basin and adjacent continental margin

Cited by 17 publications

References 36 publications

Three-dimensional gravity and magnetic modelling of the Irish sector of the NE Atlantic margin

Three-dimensional gravity and magnetic modelling of the Irish sector of the NE Atlantic margin

Geological structures of ridges with relation to the definition of three types of seafloor highs stipulated in Article 76

Eocene post-rift tectonostratigraphy of the Rockall Plateau, Atlantic margin of NW Britain: Linking early spreading tectonics and passive margin response

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