Structural analysis of the Leirdjupet Fault Complex in the southwestern Barents Sea
The Leirdjupet Fault Complex is located in the southwestern Barents Sea and trends N-S from the Loppa High towards the Stappen High between 73°-73°55'N at 21°E. The fault complex divides the Bjørnøya Basin into a deep western part and a shallow eastern part, the latter formally known as the Fin...
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| Format: | Master Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2012
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10852/12644 http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-32186 |
| Summary: | The Leirdjupet Fault Complex is located in the southwestern Barents Sea and trends N-S from the Loppa High towards the Stappen High between 73°-73°55'N at 21°E. The fault complex divides the Bjørnøya Basin into a deep western part and a shallow eastern part, the latter formally known as the Fingerdjupet Subbasin. A set of 2D seismic lines have been interpreted in order to constrain timing of faulting and study the subsequent structuring the area has been subjected to. The fault complex has been divided up into three segments, each representing different structural settings. The study addresses the possibility of fault segmentation and linkage by examining variations in the fault throw along the Leirdjupet Fault Complex. The Leirdjupet Fault Complex has been affected by at least three tectonic extensional events and subordinate phases of contraction. The extension which occurred during Late Paleozoic may have comprised two discrete phases of tectonic movement, implying that the initial phase of fault movement rapidly was succeeded by renewed activity. The Leirdjupet Fault Complex is a deep seated structure and is assumed to represent a class 1 fault, separating areas of different tectonic outline. The fault complexes, including the Leirdjupet Fault Complex, present in the southwestern Barents Sea are likely to have developed due to deep-seated zones of weakness inherited from earlier periods of tectonic activity. Observations relating the study area to the regional development of the southwestern Barents Sea indicate that the Leirdjupet Fault Complex might bound a northern continuation of the relict structural high, the Selis Ridge, situated below the present day Loppa High. |
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