Geological structure of the Arctic
Abstract
Until recent years, the general geologic structure of the Arctic remained obscure because its entire central part is occupied by the waters of the polar seas, making the relationships of the structures of the surrounding continents appear quite uncertain. During a number of years (1945-1952) the author, on behalf of the Arctic Institute of GUSMP, conducted thematic work to decipher the geological structure of the Central Arctic. To solve this problem, a summary of new materials on the structures of the northern part of the surrounding continents and islands, as well as interpretation of geophysical and bathymetric data on the central part of the Arctic (gravimetry, magnetometry, seismometry) was performed. As a result of the review of the actual material on the geological structure of the coasts and islands of the Polar Basin, it is possible to outline the location of the geological structures of the Arctic, as well as to assume their continuation to the north. At the same time, new geophysical data are an important addition to the geological data, which makes it possible to trace the continuation of the main structures in the areas enclosed by the waters of the Polar Basin. Geophysical data are the basis for solving structural questions for three areas: 1) north of Spitsbergen and Severnaya Zemlya; 2) north of the Novosibirsk Islands and 3) on the meridian of Wrangel Island, at 77° N.
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