Seismic evidence of evaporite diapirs in the Chukchi Sea, Alaska

Journal Article · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Geology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1991)019<0477:SEOEDI>2.3.CO;2· OSTI ID:5667572

Thurston, D K; Lothamer, R T ^[1]

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1. Minerals Management Service, Anchorage, AK (USA)

An area of {approximately}500 km{sup 2} on the central Chukchi shelf contains diapirs and related structural features, including withdrawal synclines, pillow structures, and radial faults. These features were formed during Cretaceous and Tertiary time. The diapirs rise to the sea floor from a large north-trending graben of Tertiary age and pierce more than 5,500m of overlying Mesozoic and Cenozoic strata. The diapirs exhibit a columnar cross section and a circular plan view in their upper part, but are continuous or ridgelike near their base. Mobile material appears to emanate from strata of the upper Paleozoic lower Ellesmerian sequence which floor the graben. On the basis of seismic stratigraphy, structural associations, and morphology, the authors propose that these diapirs are composed of mobilized upper Paleozoic evaporites.

• OSTI ID: 5667572
• Journal Information: Geology; (USA), Journal Name: Geology; (USA) Vol. 19:5; ISSN GLGYB; ISSN 0091-7613
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
ALASKA
ARCTIC OCEAN
CENOZOIC ERA
CHUKCHI SEA
CONTINENTAL MARGIN
CONTINENTAL SHELF
CRETACEOUS PERIOD
DEFORMATION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EVAPORITES
FEDERAL REGION X
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC STRATA
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
GEOMORPHOLOGY
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
MESOZOIC ERA
NORTH AMERICA
ORIGIN
PALEOZOIC ERA
ROCKS
SEAS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SEISMIC SURVEYS
STRATIGRAPHY
SURFACE WATERS
SURVEYS
TERTIARY PERIOD
USA