Full description
This data collection is associated with the publication: Shephard, G. E., Müller, R. D., & Seton, M. (2013). The tectonic evolution of the Arctic since Pangea breakup: Integrating constraints from surface geology and geophysics with mantle structure. Earth-Science Reviews, 124(0), 148-183. doi: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2013.05.012
Publication Abstract
The tectonic evolution of the circum-Arctic, including the northern Pacific, Siberian and North American margins, since the Jurassic has been punctuated by the opening and closing of ocean basins, the accretion of autochthonous and allochthonous terranes and associated deformation. This complexity is expressed in the uncertainty of plate tectonic models of the region, with the time-dependent configurations and kinematic history remaining poorly understood. The age, location, geometry and convergence rates of the subduction zones associated with these ancient ocean basins have implications for mantle structure, which can be used as an additional constraint for refining and evaluating plate boundary models. Here we integrate surface geology and geophysics with mantle tomography models to generate a digital set of tectonic blocks and plates as well as topologically closed plate boundaries with time-dependent rotational histories for the circum-Arctic. We find that subducted slabs inferred from seismic velocity anomalies from global P and S wave tomography models can be linked to various episodes of Arctic subduction since the Jurassic, in particular to the destruction of the South Anuyi Ocean. We present a refined model for the opening of the Amerasia Basin incorporating seafloor spreading between at least 142.5 and 120 Ma, a “windshield” rotation for the Canada Basin, and opening orthogonal to the Lomonosov Ridge for the northern Makarov and Podvodnikov basins. We also present a refined pre-accretionary model for the Wrangellia Superterrane, imposing a subduction polarity reversal in the early Jurassic before accretion to North America at 140 Ma. Our model accounts for the late Palaeozoic to early Mesozoic opening and closure of the Cache Creek Ocean, reconstructed between the Wrangellia Superterrane and Yukon–Tanana Terrane. We suggest that a triple junction may also explain the Mid-Palaeozoic opening of the Slide Mountain, Oimyakon and South Anuyi oceans. Our digital tectonic model forms the basis for the development of future plate deformation and geodynamic models and provides a framework for analysing the formation and evolution of regional sedimentary basins and mountain belts.
Authors and Institutions
Grace E. Shephard - EarthByte Research Group, School of Geosciences, The University of Sydney, Australia. ORCID: 0000-0002-3459-4500
Maria Seton - EarthByte Research Group, School of Geosciences, The University of Sydney, Australia. ORCID: 0000-0001-8541-1367
R. Dietmar Müller - EarthByte Research Group, School of Geosciences, The University of Sydney, Australia. ORCID: 0000-0002-3334-5764
Overview of Resources Contained
This data collection includes the all of the files needed to visualise, recreate, and interact with the plate motion model developed and published in Shephard et al. (2013). The WGS 1984 datum is used for all shapefiles
List of Resources
Note: For details on the files included in this data collection, see “Description_of_Resources.txt”.
Note: For information on file formats and what programs to use to interact with various file formats, see “File_Formats_and_Recommended_Programs.txt”.
- Rotation file for the tectonic model (.rot, 373 KB)
- Present day coastlines (.gpml, .kml, .txt, .shp, total 46.8 MB)
- Age coded static polygons for the continents and oceans (.gpml, .kml, .txt, .shp, total 28.8 MB)
- Time-dependent plate boundaries (.gpml, .shp, .txt, total 60.8 MB)
For more information on this data collection, and links to other datasets from the EarthByte Research Group please visit EarthByte
For more information about using GPlates, including tutorials and a user manual please visit GPlates or EarthByte
Data time period:
Jurassic to present day (200–0 Ma)
Spatial Coverage And Location
text: Global
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