Geological structure of the northern part of the Kara Shelf near the Severnaya Zemlya archipelago according to recent studies

• Published in: Journal of Mining Institute
• Main Authors: Evgeny A. Gusev, Alexey A. Krylov, Dmitry M. Urvantsev, Yury V. Goremykin, Petr I. Krynitsky
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; Russian
• Published: Saint-Petersburg Mining University 2020
• Subjects: seismic mcs profiling; seismo-acoustic data; sedimentary cover structure; arctic shelf; kara sea; severnaya zemlya; Mining engineering. Metallurgy; TN1-997; Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Kara Sea; Severnaya Zemlya; Taimyr
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.31897/PMI.2020.5.1; https://doaj.org/article/bc732b13537143bf83f746a9557162d7

Until recently, the North of the Kara Shelf was completely unexplored by seismic methods. Seismic and seismo-acoustic data that have appeared in recent years have made it possible to decipher features of the regional geological structure. This study solves the urgent problem of determining the prospects for the oil and gas potential of the North Kara sedimentary basin. The relevance of the research is associated with determining the prospects of the oil and gas potential of the North Kara sedimentary basin. The aim of the study is to clarify the age of the reflecting horizons using data on the geology of the island, as well as to determine the tectonic position of the sedimentary cover and basement structures in the north of the Kara shelf. The sedimentary cover is divided into three structural levels: Cambrian-Devonian, Middle Carboniferous-Cretaceous, Miocene-Quarter. The Cambrian-Devonian complex fills the deep troughs of the North Kara shelf. The most noticeable discontinuity is the base of Carboniferous-Permian rocks, lying on the eroded surface of folded Silurian-Devonian seismic complexes. The blanket-like plate part of the cover is composed of thin Carbon-Quarter complexes. The authors came to the conclusion that the fold structures of the Taimyr-Severozemelskiy fold belt gradually degenerate towards the Kara sedimentary basin and towards the continental slope of the Eurasian basin of the Arctic Ocean. A chain of narrow uplifts within the seabed relief, which correspond to narrow anticlines is traced to the West of the Severnaya Zemlya islands. Paleozoic rocks have subhorizontal bedding further to the West, within the Kara shelf. Mesozoic folding in the North of the Kara Sea is expressed exclusively in a weak activation of movements along faults. At the neotectonic stage, the shelf near Severnaya Zemlya was raised and the Mesozoic complexes were eroded. The modern seismic activity of the North Zemlya shelf is associated with the ongoing formation of the continental margin.