Proterozoic-Paleozoic histories of North Greenland: pivotal windows for deciphering the High Arctic tectonic puzzle

Current knowledge on the geological history in the Arctic suffers from key data gaps.

This proposal offers a unique, integrated approach to tackle several outstanding issues of the Proterozoic-to-Paleozoic tectonic development in North Greenland, one of the most undersurveyed areas in the World.

A thorough study of stratigraphy, metamorphism, geochronology, structural geology and deep lithospheric structure will add crucial references for improved tectonic models of the region.

The main aims are to reconstruct the robust paleogeographic position of North Greenland, to characterise deformation and metamorphism along major structures, and to understand the juxtaposition, lateral movement and relationships of terranes in the European-North American Arctic (North Greenland, Ellesmere Island, Svalbard) from the Mesoproterozoic to Carboniferous, including various orogenic events (Timanian, Caledonian, Ellesmerian).

The project will include research of archived and newly collected rocks from N Greenland, as well as analysis of newly collected earthquake data.This project builds on the unique opportunity to use Icebreaker Oden as a logistical platform, and on mutual scientific and infrastructural support with other projects.

For instance, it will enable activities focused on glacial history of N Greenland including deciphering provenance of recent glacial deposits, defining geological constrains on glacial flow and recording earthquakes related to deglaciation.