The crustal structure of the Norwegian Continental Margin and the Norwegian Basin according to magnetic and gravimetric measurements

• Main Authors: Roeser, H. A., Plaumann, S., Forstner-Ballheim, E.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 1975
• Subjects: Jan Mayen; Jan Mayen Ridge
• Online Access: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/56651/; https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/56651/1/Roeser_H_1975_C.pdf

Marine gravimetric and magnetic measurements indicate that the ernst of the western part of the Voring Plateau west of the Voring Plateau fault is probably of continental origin. The magnetic anomalies suggest a cover of plateau basalt which was presumably extruded along the Voring Plateau fault and an additional fault zone on the upper part of the slope between the V oring Plateau and the deep sea. The latter fault on the continental slope is thought to be the original continental margin. The crust in the area of the continental slope, the Norwegian Basin, and the rise to the Jan Mayen Ridge probably has formed by sea-floor spreading. Subsequently, magmatic rocks intruded into the seamount zone of the Norwegian Basin; the widespread lack of magnetic anomalies in the area could be related to the intrusions. The geophysical data are consistent with an interpretation of the seamount zone as a fracture zone similar to the Jan Mayen fracturc zone. It seems unlikely that the Norwegian Basin was ever the site of an active sea-floor spreading axis.