The evolution of the North Atlantic Igneous Province and the opening of the NE Atlantic rift
Extract
The papers in this volume represent a step forward in our knowledge of the geological evolution of the North Atlantic from the Cretaceous-Palaeogene boundary through to the early Eocene. With the increase in hydrocarbon exploration activities in the Faroe-Shetland Basin (Fig. 1), new interpretations of the regional geology have become increasingly important, and the accuracy of the time frame for this work is vital to our understanding of the sequence of volcanic and sedimentary events.
The synthesis of data relating to Palaeogene volcanism and sedimentation along the Norwegian Margin byEldholmet al. emphasizes the importance of transfer zones, possibly inherited from the Proterozoic basement, in the distribution of sediments and volcanic products during rifting (Fig. 2). Furthermore, subsequent uplift and the development of marginal highs are invoked as factors which affected water circulation within the basins, leading to a deterioration in the Eocene climate. This work identifies the relevance of the North Atlantic Igneous Province (NAIP) as an influence on environmental systems on a global scale.
Ar-Ar and Pb-U isotopic age data show that the main period of continental flood basalt volcanism in the NAIP extended fromc. 60.5 Ma through toc. 54.5 Ma (Table 1). Biostratigraphical analysis of these volcanic-sedimentary sections (Jolleyet al. 2002) shows that the onset of this interval equates to the Late Paleocene Thermal Maximum (LPTM). New isotopic dating of the oldest part of the volcanic sequence on the Faroe Islands, the Lower Formation, byWaagsteinet al. has further confirmed the age
This 250-word extract was created in the absence of an abstract.
- © The Geological Society of London 2002
