Geologic evolution of North Sea and its tectonic framework

Journal Article · Tue Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1975 · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6921173

Ziegler, P A

The tectonic history of the North Sea area can be subdivided into 5 stages. (1) Caledonian geosynclinal stage (Cambrian-Devonian). Metamorphic and intrusive rocks of Caledonian age form the basement complex for much of the North Sea area. (2) Variscan geosynclinal stage. Devonian and Carboniferous deposition transgressed from the south over the eroded Caldonides and reached maximum thickness in the southern North Sea. (3) Permian-Triassic intracratonic stage. Following the Variscan orogeny, large parts of the North Sea were occupied by the rapidly subsiding intracratonic N. and S. Permian basins. (4) Rifting, taphrogenic stage. Development of the North Sea rift system started during the Triassic and dominated the paleogeographic setting of the area during the Jurassic and Cretaceous. (5) Tertiary, postrifting stage of regional basin subsidence. With the termination of rifting movements in the North Sea, the area became subject to regional subsidence leading to the development of a symmetrical intracratonic basin. (102 refs.)

• Research Organization: Shell Internat. Petr. Mij. BV
• OSTI ID: 6921173
• Journal Information: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States) Vol. 59:7; ISSN AAPGB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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02 PETROLEUM
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58 GEOSCIENCES
580100 -- Geology & Hydrology-- (-1989)
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CAMBRIAN PERIOD
DEFORMATION
DEVONIAN PERIOD
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
JURASSIC PERIOD
MESOZOIC ERA
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH SEA
PALEOZOIC ERA
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEAS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SURFACE WATERS
TECTONICS