Canadian Arctic Prograded Margin Tectono-Sedimentary Element, SE Canada Basin

Abstract

Abstract The Canadian Arctic Prograded Margin Tectono-Stratigraphic Element (TSE) is located on the continental shelf and slope, which lie to the NW of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The TSE comprises a post-rift succession deposited on the eastern margin of the Amerasia Basin, and the strata range in age from Late Cretaceous to Pleistocene. Over much of the TSE, a major unconformity marks the base of the succession, and the underlying strata vary from Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous strata of the Canadian Arctic Rift Margin TSE to older Upper Paleozoic–Triassic strata of the Sverdrup Basin Composite Tectono-Sedimentary Element. Sparse reflection and refraction seismic data indicate that the succession can be more than 10 km thick. The TSE is divided into three structural domains with deformation increasing to the NE. The Southern Domain is extensional and is characterized by listric growth faults with rollover anticlines and tilted fault blocks. The pre-Oligocene portion of the Central Domain is deformed by broad folds with extensional faults in the younger strata. The pre-Oligocene succession in the Northern Domain is likely to be strongly folded and cut by thrust faults of the Eurekan Orogeny with extrusive and intrusive igneous rocks occurring in the Upper Cretaceous strata. Petroleum source rocks, as well as abundant reservoir and seal strata, occur throughout the TSE, indicating good potential for the presence of petroleum resources. The remote and environmentally sensitive location of the TSE, however, makes it likely that it will never be a target for petroleum exploration.