Open AccessPetrochemistry and tectonic setting of Lower Cretaceous tholeiites from Franz Josef Land, U.S.S.R.
Author(s) -
John C. Bailey,
C. Kent Brooks
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
bulletin of the geological society of denmark
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.674
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 2245-7070
pISSN - 0011-6297
DOI - 10.37570/bgsd-1988-37-04
Subject(s) - rift , cretaceous , geology , basalt , geochemistry , petrochemistry , structural basin , tectonics , mantle (geology) , arctic , stage (stratigraphy) , paleontology , oceanography
The whole-rock geochemistry and mineral chemistry of six samples of Lower Cretaceous tholeiitic basalt from Franz Josef Land, U.S.S.R., have been studied. Geochemical criteria indicate that the basalts are initial rifting tholeiites characterised by low contents of Ti and other H-elements, suggesting derivation from a depleted mantle source. These tholeiites formed during a Lower Cretaceous rifting stage in the formation of the Arctic Ocean basin, most likely the opening of the Canada Basin.