Lomonosov ridge and the Eastern Arctic Shelf as elements of an integrated lithospheric plate: Comparative analysis of wrench faults

Abstract

The notions of deformations in the juncture area of the Eastern Arctic Shelf and Lomonosov Ridge are highly contradictory. It has been suggested that these geostructures were divided by a large right-lateral wrench fault of the transform type, which is known as the Khatanga–Lomonosov Fault. Data obtained by interpretation of the A7 profile have been compared with seismic sections crossing large-sized wrench faults in other sedimentary basins. The investigations have shown that on the A7 profile there are no structures typical of large-sized wrench faults. The Eastern Arctic Shelf and Lomonosov Ridge, which are located on the same lithospheric plate, form an integrated structure where the ridge is a natural continuation of the shelf.