The Eurekan Orogeny: the tectonic culmination of the Sverdrup Basin, Canadian Arctic Islands

Sedimentation in the Carboniferous to end-Cretaceous Sverdrup Basin ceased with the onset of the end-Cretaceous to Paleogene Eurekan Orogeny. Uncertainties about the extent of Eurekan structures, and the intensity, timing and geodynamic cause of Eurekan deformation pose a significant risk for hydrocarbon exploration in the western Arctic. They are also an obstacle to resolving many of the older tectonic events in the region (e.g. the late Devonian Ellesmerian Orogeny).

Over several years, CASP geologists have carried out fieldwork in the Canadian Arctic Islands, focussing on the Carboniferous to end-Cretaceous Sverdrup Basin succession and more recently on the Cambrian to end-Devonian Franklinian succession. Several major Eurekan structures and the effects of Eurekan deformation in the Sverdrup Basin succession have been studied. Eurekan structures have also been compared with the older polydeformed Franklinian succession.

A review of the Eurekan Orogeny is currently underway and aims: 1) to distinguish the effects of the Eurekan Orogeny from older tectonic events, 2) to highlight the specific questions that remain about this important but enigmatic tectonic event, and 3) to allow us to target field sites where we can address these issues.