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Cenozoic structural evolution on northern Banks Island, N.W.T. Canada

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Abstract

The onshore structural architecture and evolution of large segments of the Arctic continental margin are poorly known because of the generally poor outcrop of pre-Neogene rocks, the remoteness of the area and extent of Neogene cover. Fieldwork on Banks Island during the summer of 2016 has shown that the Devonian, Cretaceous and Paleogene deposits on northern Banks Island are characterized by a number of local, restricted deformation zones, which we interpret to indicate both dextral and subordinate sinistral strike-slip deformation along NNE–SSW striking structures parallel to the continental margin of Banks Island. The presence of Cenozoic strike-slip deformation on Banks Island extends the area of known Cenozoic strike-slip along the continental margin southwestward from where it has been previously documented on northern Ellesmere Island. In addition, field and seismic data indicate that the sedimentary rocks on Banks Island have been affected by extensional movements before and after the strike-slip deformation. The observation of strike-slip motion on Banks Island may imply a component of strike slip over the whole Paleogene North American margin.

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Acknowledgements

This research was conducted under Inuvialuit Land Administration License ILA16SN002, and NWT Scientific Research License 15800, and under the authorization of the Sachs Harbour Hunters and Trappers Committee. We would like to express our thanks to Parks Canada for permission to work in Aulavik National Park (License AUL-2016-21396) and to the NWT Department of Environment and Natural Resources for authorization to use the Polar Bear Cabin facilities and landing strip. We are also very grateful to our wildlife monitors Trevor, John, and Kim Lucas from Sachs Harbour for their assistance in the field and while in the camp. We are thankful to Aklak Air for fixed-wing and Great Slave Helicopters (René Gysler, Joseph Gourd) for helicopter support; aircraft logistics were coordinated by Polar Continental Shelf Project (PCSP). We would like to acknowledge and thank Suncor Energy and Husky Energy for digital seismic data used in this study and regionally on Banks Island, and we thank Suncor for permission to publish their data. Seismic data from National Energy Board reports have also been incorporated in regional interpretations. We would also like to thank an anonymous reviewer for constructive suggestions and comments that have improved the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR), Stilleweg 2, 30655, Hanover, Germany

    Karsten Piepjohn

  2. Natural Resources Canada, Geological Survey of Canada, 3303-33 Street N.W, Calgary, AB, T2L 2A7, Canada

    Elizabeth Atkinson, Keith Dewing, Rod Smith & Jennifer Galloway

Authors
  1. Karsten Piepjohn
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  2. Elizabeth Atkinson
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  3. Keith Dewing
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  4. Rod Smith
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  5. Jennifer Galloway
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Correspondence to Karsten Piepjohn.

Additional information

This article was selected from the third Circum-Arctic Structural Event workshop which was held in Hannover (Germany) in March 2017.

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Piepjohn, K., Atkinson, E., Dewing, K. et al. Cenozoic structural evolution on northern Banks Island, N.W.T. Canada. Arktos 4, 1–19 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41063-018-0046-y

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