West Barents Sheared Margin Composite Tectono-Sedimentary Element, Norwegian–Greenland Sea and Fram Strait

Abstract

The West Barents Shear Margin developed in response to breakup and initial opening of the NE Atlantic and links to the Arctic Eurasia Basin. It consists of three first-order segments: (1) a southern sheared margin segment bounding the deep SW Barents Sea basins; (2) a central rifted margin segment west of Bjørnøya; (3) a northern initially sheared margin segment that later was exposed to oblique extension west of Svalbard. The geometry of the margin included releasing as well as restraining bends that inflicted substantial impact on the deformation along the sheared margin. In light of the recent years' structural, stratigraphical and sedimentological investigations, the first-order three-fold subdivision of the Barents shear margin has been strengthened and expanded on. It is become even clearer that this subdivision reflects the margin geometry and the shifting farfield and local stress configurations. Prior to the final stages of rifting and breakup of the NE Atlantic in the Paleogene, the study area was part of a broad and extensive basin province comprising deep sedimentary basins. The line of breakup was cutting diagonal across the regional basin province so that different parts of it are now located in the mid-Norwegian margin, in the NE Greenland margin and in the SW Barents Sea. These areas share a long and complex history of multiple rift phases throughout Late Paleozoic and Mesozoic times, and information from these areas is integrated in the description of the West Barents Shear Margin Composite Tectono-Sedimentary Element. The marginal basins in the SW Barents Sea are the least explored area on the Norwegian continental shelf and sporadic exploration activity has had limited success. A petroleum potential still exist that will be elaborated in renewed upcoming activity.