| Title | Counterclockwise rotation of the Arctic Alaska plate: best available model or untenable hypothesis for the opening of the Amerasia Basin |
| Author | Embry, A F |
| Source | Polarforschung vol. 68, 2000 p. 247-255 |
| Year | 2000 |
| Alt Series | Geological Survey of Canada, Contribution Series 1999223 |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper |
| Province | Northwest Territories; Yukon |
| NTS | 107C; 107D/03; 107D/04; 107D/05; 107D/06; 107D/11; 107D/12; 107D/13; 107D/14; 107E/03; 107E/04; 107E/05; 107E/06; 107E/11; 107E/12; 107E/13; 107E/14; 107F; 107G; 107H/03; 107H/04; 107H/05; 107H/06; 107H/11;
107H/12; 107H/13; 107H/14; 117D; 117E; 117H |
| Area | Mackenzie Delta |
| Lat/Long WENS | -140.0000 -130.0000 72.0000 69.0000 |
| Subjects | geophysics; marine geology; paleontology; tectonics; structural geology; basins; arctic geology; climate, arctic; paleomagnetic poles; paleomagnetism; paleomagnetic interpretations; aeromagnetic
surveys; oceanography; oceanographic surveys; paleogeography; continental drift |
| Illustrations | location maps; geological sketch maps |
| Abstract | (Summary)
For the past thirty years the most widely aeeepted model for the opening of Amerasia Basin of the Aretie Oeean has been that the basin openecl by eountereloekwise rotation of
northern Alaska and acljaeent Russia (Aretie Alaska plate) away frorn the Canadian Aretie Arehipelago about a pole in the Maekenzie Delta region. Reeently LANE (1997) has ealled this modcl into question. Thus it is worth reviewing the main data and
arguments for and against the model to determine if indeed it is untenable as claimed by Lane, 01' is still the best available model. The main evidenee in favour of the modcl includes the alignment of diverse geologieal lineaments ancl the
eoineiclenee of Alaskan, Valanginian paleomagnetie poles with the eratonie one following plate restoration employing the rotation model. The odds of such restored matches oeeurring by chance are astronornic and thus sueh data provide very eonvineing
evidenee for the rotation hypothesis. Reeent gravity and acromagnetic data have allowed the interpretation of a former spreading centrc with flanking anornalies. The orienration of these features is compatiblc with the rotation hypothesis, thus
adding further support to the model. A review of the various points raised by LANE (1997) against the rotation model reveals that sorne arguments are bascd on insuffieient and inconclusive data, others are unsupported interpretations and still others
are based on a selective marshalling of data. Overall it is assessed that none of Lanc's points argue convineingly against the rotation model anel that such a model is elearly the best available one for the opening of the Amerasia Basin. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 211205 |
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